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I have been reading the blogs today and overwhelmingly we (progressive bloggers) agree that war is counterproductive. What really pisses me off is that we all agreed this 50 years ago, in the sixties. And if I am not mistaken, we came to the same conclusion after the Great War and then again after the Second World War. So where is the disconnect?
The problem is that war is productive for certain key industries. Oil. Aerospace. Security. Police. Banks. These Corporations, people under the law, use their bags of laundered money to corrupt governments. Yes, they all hire ex-government people to wheelbarrow those bags of money to Parliament Hill or Capital Hill and bribe our elected representatives to vote in favour of war. The mainstream media is fully complicit, providing propaganda in support of these decisions.
I would be willing to bet that 90% of the world’s population would prefer peace. Maybe I’m wrong. What if we were given the choice to fund healthcare and education or go to war? Shouldn’t that be our choice, since we, the people are paying for this, not to mention providing the warrior class to wage this monstrosity? As a citizen in a so-called democracy, I strongly object to the priorities of the current minority government. I also take grievious exception to the behaviour of the opposition in propping up this ideological regime. We have no choice but to conclude that the opposition is actually the same ideology with a different logo.
I can tell you for a fact that as a citizen of Canada, I am currently without representation, both in the Legislature in Victoria and in the House of Commons in Ottawa. Last week my MP in the riding of Esquimalt-Juan De Fuca announced his resignation. He will sit until the next election. The week before, my Premier also announced his resignation, followed the next day with the astonishing announcement that he would not step down and that he would continue to implement sweeping changes to government here.
As a citizen of Canada and BC, I have to ask the question; “If I have no representation, then isn’t it true that I do not have to pay taxes?” I don’t mind paying taxes, if they are fair and if they are redistributed with wisdom and forethought. How many of you agree that this is not the case any longer? We buy first strike single engine fighter jets and sports venues when we need food security, stable jobs and energy security.
Now our Prime Minister is emboldened to feel that he can command the military without the mandate of the people through our House. Our so-called loyal opposition has no problem with that. I have a problem with that. And so should you. This is where I need your help. I intend to save our sons and daughters who serve in the military from the slaughter that will surely be caused by the Prime Minister and his ideological and logistical nightmare of a decision. I cannot do this alone. I need a grassroots viral push from all of you. We need to make this an election decision and we need to be ruthless. Iggy is also the enemy. Are you with me?
If I may play Devil’s advocate here, any military missions in foreign nations are actually the government’s call & a vote isn’t required according to parliamentary law. This was on the books long before Stevie the junta lite dictator came on the scene.
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/ResearchPublications/prb0006-e.htm#legal
Here’s the probable reasoning behind it
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/ResearchPublications/prb0006-e.htm#legal
With thousands of Canadian Forces (CF) personnel deployed overseas in peace support and other military operations, there has been debate over Parliament’s role in authorizing the international deployment of Canadian Forces. Some argue that Parliament should be involved in related discussions much sooner and have more formalized authority over the final decision, while others counter that such requirements would hinder the government’s ability to respond quickly to crisis situations around the globe.
I tried doing research as it pertained to minority governments; there are none. Just says “government”.
furthermore,while some past missions were taken to a vote; there are precedents that went by relatively unnoticed, or the missions were more supported that this law was ignored.
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Vote+Afghan+mission+would+create+constitutional+convention+expert+argues/3803123/story.html
He (Phillip Lagasse) notes that Parliament had a say when Canada declared war on Germany, but not Italy or Korea; that the Commons was recalled when Canada joined the Gulf war; that there were no parliamentary votes on Canadian deployments in Bosnia, Kosovo, or the first one in Afghanistan
While Bob Rae was idiotic in shooting off his mouth yesterday, no matter whether the Liberals support the Afghan mission or not, this one is legally within Stevie’s sole discretion.
As for Harper, he didn’t flip flop; it was his intent all the time to remain in Afghanistan past the deadline. Check the date on the article below. Then read it.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/10/08/mackay-troops-afghanistan008.html
Sound familiar? Furthermore, as Dave at the Galloping Beaver pointed out, Stevie isn’t going against the originally voted on resolution to back out in 2011; the agreement only said that Canada would leave Kandahar; not Afghanistan. Again, when they sign their agreements; always important to check the wording.
http://thegallopingbeaver.blogspot.com/2010/11/lies-confusion-and-things-that-dont-add.html
Nope, Stevie never changed his mind; he was just waiting for the right moment to spring this on everyone. He simply remained mum, despite ol’ Petey MacKay’s comments last year.
While we may not like it, the Liberals, on the other hand, have consistantly supported staying in Afghanistan in some sort of “non-combat” mission, nor have they ever made an secret of it. We may not like their stand on it, but they have remained consistant on it and never hid it.
The problem is that war is productive for certain key industries. Oil. Aerospace. Security. Police. Banks. These Corporations, people under the law…
Bingo! Thank you! That’s exactly why we’re there. That’s exactly why the US is always in conflict with someone and we’re following suit. Nothing to do with helping girls and women or catching Bin Ladin and his bush whacking thugs. In fact, particularly during tough economic times, war is a big job program. Read Robert Reich’s article below and see how big of a jobs program it is in the US. I suspect it is the same here, in CAnada.
http://www.truth-out.org/robert-reich-americas-biggest-jobs-program-is-us-military62313
Good post.
I only wanted to point out what is. I’m not saying the parliamentary law regarding parliamentary votes on military missions is right. Only pointing out what is. I always believed that knowledge is power, no matter how much we don’t wanna know.
I think there is a lesson to be learned on complacency though…we never said anything about the previous missions that happened without a parliamentary vote; probably most of us didn’t even know or even care about the law. We trusted our previous leaders. too much trust. It just so happens that now, we leave that discretion; that awesome power with a fascist dicator like Stevie Spiteful.
Yes, exactly. The Harpercons did not invent the wheel, they just lowered it. Now, though, is the time where we have to reinvent the wheel, when it comes to foriegn policy.
We are really smart people, we can figure out that war is redundant and that we can accomplish so much more through diplomacy. We may need to lead the charge for diplomacy. I am ready, are you?