NDP Leader Layton: Democracy Tastes Bad
August 21, 2009 · By Matthew Campbell
Perhaps the NDP should’ve spent last weekend’s convention looking to remove a different initial from it’s name; the Canadian Press is reporting tonight that the fourth party’s leader Jack Layton (Toronto Danforth) had this to say about the prospects of an election this fall:
It’s like that cough medicine – you know, it tastes bad, but sometime you’ve gotta take it….
Given how many Canadians fought over the past century to defend this apparent ill feeling in Mr. Layton’s throat, an apology is well within order. At least Layton’s socialist comrade, Gilles Duceppe (BQ, Laurier-Saint-Marie) was able to express the same views in a far more tasteful manner:
“If you’re asking people whether they’re willing or not to go to the polls people will say, ‘Well, we just had an election a year ago,’ ” Duceppe said.
“On the other hand if you ask them, ‘Do you agree with the Tories’ attitude on Employment Insurance,’people will say, ‘No.’And people are telling me, ‘Could we get rid of that government?’
In a somewhat timely manner, the New Democrats, through their leader, have reminded Canadians just why they are not to be trusted with even a whiff of power. A party which cannot respect the historically precious privilege of free elections, a practice we saw denied to millions of Iranians this past June and one which was earned by the spilling of many Canadians’ blood over the decades of this nation, does not deserve the trust or even the admiration of the Canadian public. In light of this outrageous comparison it is Jack Layton himself, not our elections, who is in bad taste.
We must thank our lucky stars that the NDP will never form a government in our lifetime. The only problem I can see is if the Libs form an unholy alliance with the NDP …..
I’m no fan of the NDP generally, but I’ve gotta ask – what on earth are you going on about?
Is the quip about not “respecting free elections” some reference to the attempt at a coalition last fall? What’s so undemocratic about a coalition, with more seats than the Conservatives, forming a government? Parliament is composed of its members, not parties (which are really just a convenience for sorting out alliances). Didn’t Mr. Harper suggest a coalition to Mr. Duceppe while he was in opposition in order to bring down Mr. Martin’s Liberals?
Perhaps the author should look up Peter Russell or other constitutional experts on why coalitions are sometimes necessary. Surely it can’t be expected that the opposition (who are there to oppose) meekly agree to whatever bills the government chooses to put on the table. Coalitions are a way to avoid continually going back to the polls when a minority government ignores the reality of having too few votes to pass its own agenda, as happened with Mr. Harper’s budget in 2008.
That’s the lamest Red Scare I’ve seen in a long time!
Matthew, that made no sense at all.
Maybe a 2nd draft would be in order. I also don’t quite get it.
Werner, since you obviously do get it, can you translate?