SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Politics : Canadian Political Free-for-All -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: DeplorableIrredeemableRedneck who wrote (12872)12/1/2008 11:28:44 AM
From: stan_hughes1 Recommendation  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 37246
 
Not to belabor the point, but it's my understanding that the 'party funding per vote' system was established in response to the formal elimination of the previous system where large personal and corporate donors could deduct massive political contributions from their taxes, and were perceived as being able to buy their way into power in the worst third-world type way

Or at least that's the official story. FWIW, people I know who follow such things tell me that the real reason the system was changed was because Chretien wanted to try to stick it to Martin by making it impossible for Martin to glide into power on the back of his large corporate support. Just don't ask me to prove that or give you the names of my sources

Whatever the real motive, when large donations were outlawed, a substitute system needed to be found, and that's where the $1.95 per vote protocol came from. Perhaps the new method doesn't seem reasonable to you, but it seems reasonable to me -- you're going to pay for it one way or the other anyway, because the former donation system resulted in the same cost effects, only they came instead in the form of taxes not being collected because of the unlimited deductibility of corporate donations -- so it's not as if extra money is now going out the door under the new protocol despite the BS you hear to the contrary

One clear benefit of the $1.95 method IMO is that an emerging and/or 'non business aligned' party like the Green Party which now garners 8% of the Canadian popular vote but not yet any seats is able to obtain at least some degree of non-partisan financial support, rather than being left to completely fend for itself in a world where Mom with the $10 donation who enjoys the view of the nearby mountainside could never hope to compete with the $10,000 donation of the company that wants to clearcut the same mountainside

And no, I am not a tree hugger. Canadians just need to be real careful about what they wish for in wanting a US-style system where elected officials get sold to the highest bidder -- you really don't want to do that, trust me



To: DeplorableIrredeemableRedneck who wrote (12872)12/1/2008 11:29:37 AM
From: gg cox  Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 37246
 
Monkey ,those liberals are so hungry for power, they're going to team up with NDP Catus Jack Layton, and the Bloc and take it, like some banana republic cooooo??

Good thing we have gun laws in this country or these salivating, power at any cost, hungry nut bars would be storming parliament hill, armed!!!

Good grief,, consult with the appointed APPOINTED governor general figure head and she is going to decide?? LOL ...two months after a democratic election??

If Stefano ,Iggy and Rae think they can get away with this end run ...WE should all be storming parliament hill!

Figures out today Canada's economy grew by 1.3 %

As we know the opposition parties of the day were not trying to bring down governments over BC's withering softwood lumber, nor worried about mill closures in northwestern Ontario, but vote rich golden horse shoe southern Ontario,,,now that's a different story... ""we need action and right now!!"" and we will bring down the government any way we can.

Chretien and Broadbent should stay retired, and dragging out former leaders...all defeated along the way..is turning into a farce.

If we need another 30 million election then that is what we need .

And no I am not a Conservative.