THE CONSERVATIVE HIPSTERS
Friday, December 22, 2006
Merry Christmas
I hope you all have a very, Merry Christmas.
And if you don't celebrate Christmas, I hope Dec 25th is a nice day of relaxation and fun with friends and family.
All the best,
Q
And if you don't celebrate Christmas, I hope Dec 25th is a nice day of relaxation and fun with friends and family.
All the best,
Q
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Elected (almost) Senate
Well not quite.
More a "consulted" senate.
I realize that we are in a minority and we have to take baby-steps, but even for a die-hard conservative like me, these little incremental changes seem stupid.
If you want to run an election on senate reform, let's have a full blown list of proposals (even the ones that will take constitutional changes) and put them out there so we all know where the heck we are headed.
I can't keep defending our lack of action and the Fortier appointment to my non-political (but equally ticked off friends) when we actually don't know what we are doing.
Q
More a "consulted" senate.
I realize that we are in a minority and we have to take baby-steps, but even for a die-hard conservative like me, these little incremental changes seem stupid.
If you want to run an election on senate reform, let's have a full blown list of proposals (even the ones that will take constitutional changes) and put them out there so we all know where the heck we are headed.
I can't keep defending our lack of action and the Fortier appointment to my non-political (but equally ticked off friends) when we actually don't know what we are doing.
Q
Monday, December 11, 2006
Mandatory Retirement in Ont
It is not often that I agree with Peter Kormos, but his comments in this article make sense.
Having a mandatory retirement keeps the workforce vital. It helps corporations by allowing them to replace high paid workers with younger, less expensive workers.
In my case, I plan to retire earlier than 65 (about 29 years earlier :-) ) but I think the goal for governments shouldn't be forcing people to work past 65 or not work as the case may be. Governments should be educating people on how to take control of their finances while they are still in high school, so that everyone who wants to can retire when they choose to.
Q
Having a mandatory retirement keeps the workforce vital. It helps corporations by allowing them to replace high paid workers with younger, less expensive workers.
In my case, I plan to retire earlier than 65 (about 29 years earlier :-) ) but I think the goal for governments shouldn't be forcing people to work past 65 or not work as the case may be. Governments should be educating people on how to take control of their finances while they are still in high school, so that everyone who wants to can retire when they choose to.
Q
Friday, December 08, 2006
Gay Marriage - Losing the Motion
I am glad it was, for all intents and purposes, a free vote (the BQ and NDP requiring all their members to vote against it was not actually much of a stretch, really).
I am not happy that those who oppose the concept of same-sex marriage are planning to continue lobbying and try to keep the issue alive. Or stop supporting the conservatives who voted against the motion.
Here's an idea for those who support marriage in general. Why not lobby the government to implement programs that make it more desirable to be married? (I don't know, how about introducing income splitting as an option.... oh wait).
if you really support marriage, give the government of the day a list of ideas, policies and programs that would make it easier to be married, stay married and raise a family.
I have the same problem with those who want to oppose abortion by making it illegal. Why not lobby the government for programs and benefits for those who choose to keep their child (either increased tuition support for single mothers or 100% maternity leave coverage, etc.)
Those who are pro-choice would not be able to complain if they honestly believe it should be a woman's choice, how could they complain about programs making it easier to make it a real choice.
Just my rambling thoughts on a Friday morning, and probably rather incoherent.
Q
I am not happy that those who oppose the concept of same-sex marriage are planning to continue lobbying and try to keep the issue alive. Or stop supporting the conservatives who voted against the motion.
Here's an idea for those who support marriage in general. Why not lobby the government to implement programs that make it more desirable to be married? (I don't know, how about introducing income splitting as an option.... oh wait).
if you really support marriage, give the government of the day a list of ideas, policies and programs that would make it easier to be married, stay married and raise a family.
I have the same problem with those who want to oppose abortion by making it illegal. Why not lobby the government for programs and benefits for those who choose to keep their child (either increased tuition support for single mothers or 100% maternity leave coverage, etc.)
Those who are pro-choice would not be able to complain if they honestly believe it should be a woman's choice, how could they complain about programs making it easier to make it a real choice.
Just my rambling thoughts on a Friday morning, and probably rather incoherent.
Q
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Stephane Dion Citizenship
In the interest of full disclosure, I should start by saying that until fairly recently, I held a British passport based on the fact that my parents are both English. It made travel to the old sod a lot easier.
However, I have never considered myself anything but Canadian.
I think it is time that Canada review the whole concept of dual (or multi) citizenships. I believe that if you are a Canadian, and you want to enjoy the benefits and privleges that being a Canadian entails, you should renounce any other citizenship.
The fiasco in Lebannon only further underlines the reality that our citizenship is considered a convenience rather than something to be proud of.
Stephane, give it up.
Or better yet, don't. I am certain that no one will bring it up in the next campaign :-)
Q
However, I have never considered myself anything but Canadian.
I think it is time that Canada review the whole concept of dual (or multi) citizenships. I believe that if you are a Canadian, and you want to enjoy the benefits and privleges that being a Canadian entails, you should renounce any other citizenship.
The fiasco in Lebannon only further underlines the reality that our citizenship is considered a convenience rather than something to be proud of.
Stephane, give it up.
Or better yet, don't. I am certain that no one will bring it up in the next campaign :-)
Q
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Same Sex Marriage
I was going to post about the same-sex marriage debate that will take place today and the vote tomorrow.
However, I have made my total ambivalence to this issue know in the past and since I have not been blogging for a while, I thought it would be better to give an update on a smattering of issues:
1) My lack of blogging
I have been watching the debates and politics and reading my favourite blogs and quite honestly I haven't felt I have had too much to contribute. There are better/wittier bloggers out there, and I have been content to read the other blogs. This will change. I have a little more time on my hands come the new year and I will be making many observations and trying to rebuild my meager following :-)
2) Stephane Dion
I am not going to underestimate Stephane Dion and I am certain that neither is the Prime Minister. He is too smart for that. If the Tories had been serious about environmental protection and climate change, we could have headed this guy off at the pass. While taxes and healthcare are major issues, the environment is a sleeper issue and if we could take if for our own, we would be one step ahead.
3) Ed (what's his head) the new Alberta Premier
I have to admit I was interested to see what Ted Morton would do and how he would run Alberta. It would have been nice to see a real conservative agenda implemented. As for old Ed (I honestly haven't figured out to spell his last name yet), I guess sometimes bland works.
4) My recent electoral defeat
Now that I have had a chance to reflect, I realize that ultimately my loss was my own fault. Two things, this time around I didn't knock on enough doors. The great unwashed does not follow politics in general and even less so with municipal politics. I can say that while I recieved several nice endorsements from the paper (after the fact) the majority of my ward did not know what I had been doing. I should have spent more time promoting what I had done, rather than what I still wanted to do. I hate the whole concept of "my resume is better that your resume" approach to municipal politics, and I was trying to stimulate debate with a series of proposals that people told me they wanted to see implemented. Unfortunatley I forgot to blow my own horn in my literature and not knocking on enough doors sealed my fate.
5) What's next
I am leaving my current employer at the end of this year and find myself in the enviable position of being able to pick and choose what I do next. It is my intention to help out with the upcoming federal and provincial campaigns as a volunteer and spend some personal time working on four things (re-learning french, taking piano lessons, playing my guitar more and getting back into shape). Oh, and update my blog more often.
Q
However, I have made my total ambivalence to this issue know in the past and since I have not been blogging for a while, I thought it would be better to give an update on a smattering of issues:
1) My lack of blogging
I have been watching the debates and politics and reading my favourite blogs and quite honestly I haven't felt I have had too much to contribute. There are better/wittier bloggers out there, and I have been content to read the other blogs. This will change. I have a little more time on my hands come the new year and I will be making many observations and trying to rebuild my meager following :-)
2) Stephane Dion
I am not going to underestimate Stephane Dion and I am certain that neither is the Prime Minister. He is too smart for that. If the Tories had been serious about environmental protection and climate change, we could have headed this guy off at the pass. While taxes and healthcare are major issues, the environment is a sleeper issue and if we could take if for our own, we would be one step ahead.
3) Ed (what's his head) the new Alberta Premier
I have to admit I was interested to see what Ted Morton would do and how he would run Alberta. It would have been nice to see a real conservative agenda implemented. As for old Ed (I honestly haven't figured out to spell his last name yet), I guess sometimes bland works.
4) My recent electoral defeat
Now that I have had a chance to reflect, I realize that ultimately my loss was my own fault. Two things, this time around I didn't knock on enough doors. The great unwashed does not follow politics in general and even less so with municipal politics. I can say that while I recieved several nice endorsements from the paper (after the fact) the majority of my ward did not know what I had been doing. I should have spent more time promoting what I had done, rather than what I still wanted to do. I hate the whole concept of "my resume is better that your resume" approach to municipal politics, and I was trying to stimulate debate with a series of proposals that people told me they wanted to see implemented. Unfortunatley I forgot to blow my own horn in my literature and not knocking on enough doors sealed my fate.
5) What's next
I am leaving my current employer at the end of this year and find myself in the enviable position of being able to pick and choose what I do next. It is my intention to help out with the upcoming federal and provincial campaigns as a volunteer and spend some personal time working on four things (re-learning french, taking piano lessons, playing my guitar more and getting back into shape). Oh, and update my blog more often.
Q
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