Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Friday, September 21, 2012

PMO to Tories: Shut up about flag

OTTAWA – Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is sticking to the party line, refusing to criticize the separatist premier of Quebec for hiding the Canadian flag during swearing-in ceremonies this week.

“There’s a new government in Quebec,” he said in Whitby. “They’re just getting organized. Let’s let them do that and let’s see if we can focus together on what really matters to people in Quebec and the rest of the country, and that is about economic issues.”

Flaherty’s comments track closely with orders from the Prime Minister’s Office, mistakenly e-mailed to reporters on Thursday.

The note warns MPs to talk about the economy when asked about the new Parti Quebecois government in Quebec City, instead of the “old constitutional battles of the past.”

Meanwhile, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair has dismissed the entire controversy as an “internal issue” for Quebec.

None of that stopped the Tories and Dippers from sniping over Quebec sovereignty during question period in the House of Commons when NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice challenged the Conservatives to produce new conflict of interest rules for ministers.

Tory MP Pierre Poilievre changed the subject to Boulerice’s past donations to a hardline Quebec separatist party and asked the New Democrat if he is now a federalist.

Boulerice countered with a reminder of a Tory election financing controversy.

“I would like to say three words in the House: In and out,” said Boulerice.

Poilievre pounced on the comment with some word play.

“Does he believe that his province should be in the country or out of the country?” he asked. “On this side, we are clear. We want Quebec in. We believe in Canada.”

The verbal sparring comes as a Conservative who championed a bill to defend the right to fly the Maple Leaf continues to declines interview requests.

John Carmichael’s office said the MP has no time over the next week to talk about the flag controversy.

Original Article
Source: sun news network
Author: DANIEL PROUSSALIDIS 

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