Michael Moore Statement on Canadian Election

[dragon wench]

I'm not certain if Michael Moore is actually the author of this, but regardless, I found it mildly amusing

Michael Moore is currently in production on his next movie. As an avid lover of all things Canadian, he has issued the following statement regarding Canada's upcoming election on Monday:

Oh, Canada -- you're not really going to elect a Conservative majority on Monday, are you? That's a joke, right? I know you have a great sense of humor, and certainly a well-developed sense of irony, but this is no longer funny. Maybe it's a new form of Canadian irony -- reverse irony! OK, now I get it. First, you have the courage to stand against the war in Iraq -- and then you elect a prime minister who's for it. You declare gay people have equal rights -- and then you elect a man who says they don't. You give your native peoples their own autonomy and their own territory -- and then you vote for a man who wants to cut aid to these poorest of your citizens. Wow, that is intense! Only Canadians could pull off a hat trick of humor like that. My hat's off to you.

Far be it from me, as an American, to suggest what you should do. You already have too many Americans telling you what to do. Well, actually, you've got just one American who keeps telling you to roll over and fetch and sit. I hope you don't feel this appeal of mine is too intrusive but I just couldn't sit by, as your friend, and say nothing. Yes, I agree, the Liberals have some 'splainin' to do. And yes, one party in power for more than a decade gets a little... long. But you have a parliamentary system (I'll bet you didn't know that -- see, that's why you need Americans telling you things!). There are ways at the polls to have your voices heard other than throwing the baby out with the bath water.

These are no ordinary times, and as you go to the polls on Monday, you do so while a man running the nation to the south of you is hoping you can lend him a hand by picking Stephen Harper because he's a man who shares his world view. Do you want to help George Bush by turning Canada into his latest conquest? Is that how you want millions of us down here to see you from now on? The next notch in the cowboy belt? C'mon, where's your Canadian pride? I mean, if you're going to reduce Canada to a cheap download of Bush & Co., then at least don't surrender so easily. Can't you wait until he threatens to bomb Regina? Make him work for it, for Pete's sake.

But seriously, I know you're not going to elect a guy who should really be running for governor of Utah. Whew! I knew it! You almost had me there. Very funny. Don't do that again. God, I love you, you crazy cold wonderful neighbors to my north. Don't ever change.

Michael Moore

(Mr. Moore is not available for interviews because he now needs to address the situation in Azerbaijan. But he could be talked into it for a couple of tickets to a Leaf's game.)

[fable]

Cute. It has Moore's touch, but then, many people could do just the same kind of thing, so it's hard to say.

I'm still marveling at Canadians electing a man who has said he and his party will, when in office:

1) Strongly ramp up Canadian armed forces. Big budget increases.

2) Cut taxes.

Where do Canadians, who enjoy the best social service net in the Western Hemisphere, think the money is going to come from to achieve #1, after #2 is achieved? Granted, Canadians have a very strong economy, thanks to a Liberal Premier is as strong on that as he is weak on public expression, which is saying a lot. But once the Neo-Con in Conservative clothing goes through the budget surplus Canada possesses, then just like Bush, the money's going to come from somewhere to do everything else. Right now, the US is poised for an economic nosedive. The US federal government didn't even have to bailout money to pay for Hurricane Katrina--it had to borrow on its interest to get foreign lenders to do it all. O Canada...

Hey, I almost forgot:

3) Kyoto will be dashed, because the Neo-Con Premier-wannabe says it's very unrealistic. Canada will set realistic standards, which he won't discuss.

4) He also hates abortion rights, gay rights, and likes the idea of religion in schools.

And here I thought Canada was a nation that learned from the mistakes of its bumbling neighbors to the south! Guess now it's our turn to laugh at you guys. Or what say we sensible ones abandon ship, and maybe move to Costa Rica?

[dragon wench]

Actually, Harpy has come under considerable scrutiny for his apparent inability to budget..
He has made a huge list of election promises, and swears he'll stay in the black Even an economist actually hired by the Tories themselves recently stated that the numbers do not add up.

Sadly... the Canadian public, much like the public everywhere, does not, in general, vote with thought, ideals/values or research. Rather, they tend to vote against parties. It tends to run something like this.
"Well we're getting bored/disgruntled with these guys, so we'll give this other gang a try. They're all politicians and therefore all corrupt, so it probably doesn't make much difference anyway."

In other words, we have a bad mix of apathy, little awareness and cynicism.

It's funny isn't it? How neo-cons always love to trash liberals for overspending, yet they themselves are the worst offenders....

Hmm... jumping ship sounds promising. Though, my health couldn't tolerate a tropical climate.. I do, however, have access to an EEC passport. It may come to that one day...

[fable]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragon wench Actually, Harpy has come under considerable scrutiny for his apparent inability to budget.. He has made a huge list of election promises, and swears he'll stay in the black Even an economist actually hired by the Tories themselves recently stated that the numbers do not add up.

Much the same was said of the Republicans' budget in 2000 and 2004. But few people listened, because people want emotional security, not facts, from an election. They want to be told the future will be bright, and whenever they need food, they'll be able to open their mouths and have roasted pigeons fly in. Dr. Feelgood Reagan did it in the 1980s, despite racking up the highest budget deficit ever seen by the US until that time. Shrub's budget deficit, though, is infinitely worse, despite having completely dismantled the social net (save for social security, which he tried to destroy without success).

Sadly... the Canadian public, much like the public everywhere, does not, in general, vote with thought, ideals/values or research. Rather, they tend to vote against parties. It tends to run something like this.
"Well we're getting bored/disgruntled with these guys, so we'll give this other gang a try. They're all politicians and therefore all corrupt, so it probably doesn't make much difference anyway."

Another reason to toss out the outmoded, laughable two-party system, and go for a representational parliamentary model that accords seats by how well parties do. The problem with this kind of reform is that no party that shares heavily in power wants to do it, and loss their control. With more parties comes more choices, and the ability to form coalitions takes on real meaning.

It's funny isn't it? How neo-cons always love to trash liberals for overspending, yet they themselves are the worst offenders....

Not much of that going on here, these days. After 25 years of largely neo-con government, the Republicans (who contain the vast majority of neo-cons, though not all) have gained a rep according to polls of being heavy spenders. And the recent spate of high profile corruption scandals is now doing to them what they in turn did to the Dems back in 1980.

Hmm... jumping ship sounds promising. Though, my health couldn't tolerate a tropical climate.. I do, however, have access to an EEC passport. It may come to that one day...

What do you think about learning Hungarian?