Fed Gov

[Brenda]

Anyone else a tad disappointed that the government hasn't collapsed? There's nothing like a constitutional type crisis to make politics interesting.

[republican]

Personally I'm glad as the last thing Canada needs is this type of political instability. And besides would you really want to see a minority government where the Bloc are the balance of power?

[][\/][att]

As much as I am proud to be Canadian, I am quickly losing faith in our country. My paradigms are being shaken as i type this. I am sick of being forced to choose the lesser of evils. Why can't we have an authentic option?

I would like our government to realize that, although we have a great reputation internationally, and can use our cliche to our advantage while outside of our borders, we are NOT the perfect sanctuary that much of the world sees us as. We cannot keep hiding behind that detached generalization and think that everything will always turn out OK. Don't get me wrong - of course there are many places in which the quality of living is worse than here - but if we are so proud of our reputation, why are we not trying to maintain that??

Canada has so much potential, and yet instead of striving to make the best of that, our politicians would rather point fingers, make excuses, and cry about everything. Divide and conquer, within ourselves. It seems as if our politicians' long-term goal, for us Canadians, is to extinguish each other. Why does this ridiculous situation even exist? After living in 4 provinces over the last year, I have realized that this mentality not only separates the parties from each other, but the population amongst provinces as well.

In the current mindset of the majority of our population, I am saddened, disgusted, and anxious about how our future looks currently. It would be hypocritical for most of our politicians to ever criticize Bush's moral of 'If you are not with us, you are against us.'

I don't believe I'd be alone if I said I am waiting for Canada to earn my trust.

It hurts to write this. But I can't lie to myself; this is reality to me right now.

[Brenda]

Living behind a curtain of clichés or looking at them from the outside is generally easier than tearing them down and showing what really happening. We’re all complicit in perpetuating the illusion.

And why is that? Could it be because we are sitting comfortably, adamantly certain that the regional and provincial perspective that we subscribe to is right? Could it be that we have bought into the divide and conquer concept and naturally expect antagonistic relationships between levels of government and among the provinces?

You could have the most earnest politician or political party who wants to focus on governance but instead is dragged into the jeering practices of politics. We want action, we want to see them on the news and we want to see them standing up for us.
Obviously, it’s more important to “see” something being done than have it actually happen.

It’s about creating the illusion as many are satisfied with just that.

The first question is, what can we do about it?

[republican]

I agree Brenda, but I think what we can do is have each individual refuse to accept it. If we just say no to all the junk going on. Its like that everywhere though-not just Canada. In the UK for instance everyone whines about Blair but he just won his thrid straight term. Is it because the majourity of Brits are stupid? No. Is it because there is no alternative-to some yes but to me no. Its because we do not create our own alternative and we could, we really could.
Af for regionalism. A lot of people think the Bloc stand up for Francophones-not me. I think they want us to hate Francophones as it stirs hatered. If we ignore the govs we can shape our destiny

[MerrySage]

The U.K. has bad government because the great, whining British public can't be bothered to get off their booze soaked butts and vote. Less than 40% voter turnout in this country, regardles if its a local or national election. The candidates on offer might not be much, but its more than people in many countries get.

The right to vote is a precious thing and its criminal to abuse or neglect it.

My dad always said, if you don't vote, you got no right to b*tch about it later.

I very disturbed too by what I'm reading about the going's on back home. Politics has never been a clean career option but I'm shocked by the level of corruption and abuse thats been unearthed. Canada is universally admired and its people liked everywhere on the Planet for our standard of living and positive attitude. Time to remind our politicians that they are there to work for us, not for their own interests.

[republican]

Yeah thats true. As I say I place the blame of corrupt governments on the elctorate. Only %40 voted but the fact is, we have the power and we choose not to use it.