A Post by a Green Voter that Does Not Support the Coalition
Subject: Justice
This was sent to me via the cmmgreens@greenparty.ca e-mail contact on the GPC site. I had a very good exchange with Karen. She was ticked off, but very rational, and despite my initial doubt she told me she had voted Green (for Jake) in the last election:
"I have just freaked out about the OC Transpo bus strike so I might as well continue the tirade. The Canadian people have spoken and we elected Harper. Get over it. Work together to make Canada strong.
A coalition is a miscarriage of justice and makes our country UNDEMOCRATIC!! Be my guest and over-throw Harper but the Canadian people spoke and they would rather re-elect him as a majority then allow you to ruin the principle of election process. You people should be ashamed. We will have to re-write my childs grade five textbook on politics
I, my husband, my parents, my inlaws, my friends...all feel the same. We will personally go door to door for the conservatives out of spite for the rest of you. The liberals publicly suggest the conservatives cannot be trusted; like they should talk. The only trustworthy group is the Bloc becuase they at least know what they want and right now I don't want to be a part of Canada either!
I enjoy the spirit of democracy and Canada has tremendous potential. Let the Green party be the voice of the environment. Let the Liberals and Conservative battle out economic policies so that they are fiscally responsible but elastic enough to help. Let the NDP represent the poor and disadvantaged. If you each could focus and learn from each other this country could be the best country in the world. I used to think it was but you all make me ashamed right now.
Mr. Harper stacking the senate when the people are behind you is a big political mistake. Every Canadian hates the senate because it is a useless waste of money so why lose a lead. You should spend your time declaring transportation an essential service for all Canadians!"
Karen M.
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Comments
There is a lively discussion
There is a lively discussion around this posting on TRSSASTT that can be found here:
http://trssastt.blogspot.com/2008/12/stupid-voter-that-does-not-support....
Legitimacy
A government needs to not only be legitimate but to maintain the appearance of legitimacy. The recent poll showing how ignorant Canadians are wrt governance issues tells us that a great many Canadians just don't understand how parliament works. Nevertheless, those people are citizens and they must consent to be governed. The Con's were successful in muddying the waters and playing on the ignorance of the masses. A coalition government is being portrayed as a coup d'etat.
As long as the coalition is perceived to be illegitimate (whether it actually is or not), it cannot succeed.
If we have another election soon and the coalition remains intact, coalition partners should act like partners. That means there should be large numbers of non-compete agreements where parties withdraw from races to avoid vote-splitting and to defeat Con's. I find it a bit hard to believe in a coalition when the NDP and Libs have been so bitter toward one another up until now. A weak coalition would be worse than none. It would poison the well for any future coalitions.
JB
Our Exchange....
I thought that it might be interesting for the readers of the above post to see the exchange between myself and Karen from the above e-mail. I've posted it chronologically:
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From: Murray Reeves
Subject: Re: Justice
Received: Friday, December 12, 2008, 9:59 AM
Hi Karen -
Thanks for taking the time to include us in your feedback.
I understand that you are very frustrated about the situation we are now seeing in our parliament, as are many Canadians. In our local Carleton-Mississippi Mills Green Party Association and membership we've seen a wide range of opinions and emotions on this issue.
On the whole what I observe (and personally feel) is not dissimilar from what you state in your fourth paragraph: That the actions of the government and reactions of the opposition have not been aligned to what Canadians demand. Canadians are expecting a cooperative, functioning parliament in which the parties work together to solve the problems that are facing our country today. The partisan acts and manipulations to acquire more power are not appreciated. MP's need to get to work and earn their pay.
I cannot speak for the Green Party as a whole, but our Greens local association has taken the position that we neither support or refute the "Coalition" prospect. We choose to focus on what needs to be done to create a functioning parliament, where all parties are required to cooperate and find common ground to produce effective decisions and legislation. We are focussing on the issues and potential solutions, not the political manouvers.
In the spirit of letting our members and the community see real opinions right from our community, I'd like your permission to post your e-mail on our web site blog at cmmgreens.ca. It would be posted objectively, as written, and can be anonymous if you prefer. It will be open for comments if posted.
From what you write I'm guessing that you are not a Green Party supporter, but regardless we appreciate your opinions and input. If for any reason you do wish to get more information on the party, our local association, or just discuss subjects you feel are import feel free to contact us again via the cmmgreens@greenparty.ca.
Regards, and Best Wishes for a happy Holiday Season,
Murray Reeves
CEO
Carleton-Mississippi Mills
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From: KAREN
Sent: Friday, December 12, 2008 8:07:15 PM
Subject: Thanks I was a green supporter: Justice
Wow thanks for replying Murray. I appreciate your candor and honesty.
I actually voted for the Green party in the last election. I thought it was important that the conservatives know that part of their votes are lost because of their environmental policies.
Your party had one of your members (a man but not your leader) do a commercial urging people to vote. He was very charismatic and spoke with integrity. He is one of the reasons I did decide to go ahead and vote Green.
Unfortunately, if Green decides to gang up with the dreaded Liberals then you lose my support now and in future. I appreciate having your email address to let you know my thoughts. It is so wonderful to have this kind of discourse.
Thanks
Karen
I hate to say this..
..but unfortunately, Karen appears to be one of those Canadians polled by the Dominion Institute last week who knows little or nothing about how Canadian parliamentary democracy works or how this particular model of parliamentary democracy works.
I refer Karen to a rather harsh response of her letter at this website, but I can understand the blogger's frustration with Karen.. because it's voters like her - uninformed of the Canadian electoral system as they are - that allow Harper and his Conservative propaganda machine to spread lies about "coups" and other distortions, and be allowed get away with it, because a majority of our voters like Karen don't know anything about how our system of government works, and they take the word of the Cons. to heart.