Harper's Grand Plan: Decentralize Internally, Rebuild Canada's Muscle Abroad

Toronto Star ^ | 01/26/05 | Thomas Walkom

[goldstategop]

"Our national identity was not forged by government policy. It does not flow from any one program. ... Our Canada is rooted in our shared history, and in the values which have and will endure."

[goldstategop]

Stephen Harper is a different kind of conservative. He wants to decentralize Canada internally and rebuild the country's external power so it can shoulder its Anglosphere responsibilities. To him, Canadian identity is not determined by Liberal Party programs or government diktat but by Canadian values stemming from the country's history. Smaller government and rebuilding the military. It sounds Reaganesque - and for Canada - quite revolutionary. The Conservative Revolution is getting underway up North.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[DB]

Call me skeptical.

[goldstategop]

The Conservatives don't have a mandate to slash social programs or to reduce the size of the federal government. They got a limited mandate to clean up the government, cut taxes and get tough on crime. Nothing more. A more ambitious conservative agenda isn't in the cards until they are successful on the issues they promised voters they'd address.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[tort_feasor]

Harper has the luxury of huge surpluses do to the spike in oil prices. During the debate the candidates were beating up Martin for downplaying the surplus, so the federal government didn't have to pay more to the provinces.

[sneakers]

bump!

[goldstategop]

Odds are he'll become more popular. Basically, I think the correct prescription is to reduce federal involvement in day to day life and empower the provinces. All of the 10 get the same status as Quebec.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Alberta's Child]

Call me skeptical, too. Decentralizing and increasing external commitments are mutually exclusive objectives.

[goldstategop]

You mean internal liberty and defending the country's sovereignty? You can't have a free society without enhancing the authority of local jurisdictions and to defend Canada's existence requires a strong military. Admittedly, accomplishing both objectives is a tall order. As Mark Steyn says, under the Liberals, Canada had a government that prioritized all of life's secondary impulses and ignored the primary ones. The Conservatives have a lot of work to do to change that mindset.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[concrete is my business]

This writer states, "The United States is looking at Alberta's tar sands to supply the bulk of its future petroleum needs and wants Canada to ensure that no one else gets it."

Leave it to the Red Star to ignore the basic facts on the ground.

Canada has oil.

The USA buys oil.

Canada needs money for their oil.

The USA has money for oil.

Transportation of this oil from seller to buyer is not that tough. The infrastructure i.e. railroads and highways is in place.

The only thing REALLY needed is for the Feds (especially the socialists) in both countries to stay out of the way.

[Unam Sanctam]

He won't be able to go too far to prevent Canada's laws that basically criminalize free speech if one says anything remotely critical of homosexual activity or homosexual marriage. He won't be able to reverse the Supreme Court imposed same sex marriage...