What's wrong with Stephen Harper... I could write a book on that, there's so much on that topic, but I will try to keep this short.
To start with, Stephen Harper is an neocon ideologue whose out of synch with the values of the majority of Canadians. For example, rather than upholding Canada's commitment to international peacekeeping, Harper has sought a more militaristic foreign policy (Afghanistan being a key example). He has also undermined Canada's commitment to multiculturalism and open immigration through his recent immigration reforms that give almost dictatorial powers to the Immigration Minister. As well, Harper idolizes Bush and the Republican Party, even though a recent survey has shown that only 12% of Canadians would support Republican nominee John McCain.
Harper is so ideological that he even ignores facts - such as Harper's foot-dragging on climate change despite overwhelming evidence showing that its the challenge of our generation.
Internationally, Harper has played an obstructionist role on issues from poverty, to human rights, to the environment, thus tarnishing our country's reputation.
Due to his ideological rigidity and lack of charisma, Stephen Harper would normally be completely unelectable. It was only because the Liberal Party was seriously divided in 2006 that he became Prime Minister. Harper should remember this when he tries to shove a rightwing agenda down our throats.
Ironically, Harper defeated the Liberals on a promise of "clean" and "open" government and has provided anything but. He's built a reputation as a control-freak, and his government is scandal-plagued (from Cadmangate, to NAFTA-gate, to the Screiber-Mulroney affair, to, more recently, the Bernier-Couillard affair).
Finally, Harper and his Conservatives are just plain mean-spirited which has created a divisive and poisonous atmosphere in Ottawa. He played divide and conquer with the Liberals over Afghanistan, using the lives of our troops as a pawn in his political game. Harper has also abused the non-confidence motion to try and humiliate Dion. He's even resorted to racial slurs when he tried to accuse a Sikh Liberal MP of links to terrorism.
I could go on, but I'll leave it there. These are a few of my thoughts on what's wrong with Stephen Harper.
" For example, rather than upholding Canada's commitment to international peacekeeping, Harper has sought a more militaristic foreign policy (Afghanistan being a key example)."
ReplyDeleteThis is whats wrong with Liberals in Canada. They are so stupid, they try to lay the blame on Harper for Aghanistan while YOU know that it was the Maritn Liberals who sent the troops to Kandahar.
You're post is nothing but horseshit and immature.
If Martin's Liberals committed that blunder then why did the smart guy Harper not pull out?
ReplyDeleteJonhnathon, being rude will not promote your cause whatever it may be or may be you are not capable of having a cause.
That much is true. Peacekeeping for Canada died long before Harper took power. At the end of the cold war, the Liberals had some intention to make us the premiere peacekeeping nation of the world, but they failed to convince the military brass (and all of their taxpayer funded "think-tanks") who apparently preferred the hi-tech toys involved in NATO ops.
ReplyDeleteTrue, Harper named a former defence industry lobbyist as his first defence minister. He's also cranking up military spending without the "force review" he had demanded of the Liberals.
But peacekeeping? No, even the Liberal gov't left Dallaire out to dry, and let all those people in Rwanda die, just to "prove" that peacekeeping was a waste of time. The great Canadian institution quietly died away.
Go here and see:
http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/operations/current_ops_e.asp
There's one guy in Cyprus right now, believe it or not.
Greg, Liberals probably started this trend and Harper put the final nail in the coffin. Nonetheless it is very sad.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment.
LD, why not keep your post short. Approach it from the other direction - what is right with him?
ReplyDeleteI'm not thrilled with the Liberal record on Afghanistan either. Martin got blindsided by the hollow assurances given by Rick Hillier about what Kandahar entailed. Dion promised to act accordingly by insisting the mission end on time. That led to extensions to 2009 and now 2011 and Dion went along with it without demanding that the Cdn govt get assurances from NATO and the US that they would guarantee replacement forces for us by 2010 latest.
Of course, much as I fault Dion for that, Harpo is PM and it was ultimately his obligation to ensure we had the proper guarantees BEFORE we committed to these extensions. He knew, full well, that, without them, there's no way we'll be able to extricate ourselves in 2011. Even the Senate pointed that out last month.
MoS, good one. My statement on Harper will be very short, "nothing".
ReplyDeleteAs usual, I agree with your analysis 100%.