crazed monkey

Canadians are smug: Hear hear for Ernie Eves:

I’m still not sure what the big deal about the Ontario government’s decision to release the budget outside of the legislature. As Ernie says, the house will not be sitting. […] And how can it be “a slap in the face to parliamentary democracy”. It’s our money!

First of all, the legislature is not sitting because the Conservative party dissolved the provincial Parliament until April 30. Secondly, Ernie Eves is presenting the provincial budget, arguably the most major event in the parliamentary calendar, to the public before the legislature has the chance to debate and grant approval. By doing so, Eves is effectively stating that the opinion of your provincial representative, and by extension your opinion, does not matter, and that he will do what he damned well pleases. This decision insults not only every MPP in the legislature, but also every voter in the province of Ontario. If you aren’t insulted, you aren’t paying attention. Thirdly, this presentation, which will take place before a hand-picked private audience in an environment controlled by the Premier, is obviously a pre-election photo opportunity for the flagging Conservatives, paid for by your tax dollars. Lastly, conservatives usually respect the tradition of institutions and this change not only sets a horrible precedence but also runs contrary to what Ernie Eves has argued in the past:

In 1992, alluding to then-premier Bob Rae, Mr. Eves told the legislature: “How does his government expect the opposition and the public to treat his government with any respect if he does not treat the system we’re operating in with any respect?”

Personally, I can’t wait for the next provincial election. This budget fiasco is one of many situations where the Ontario Conservatives have been surprisingly up-front with their disdain for the provincial voters. At practically every turn they have proceeded with their agenda regardless of public opinion. Sadly, this seems to be an ever-growing trend in so-called “democratic” governments.

Posted on March 26th, 2003 in politics - No Comments »

The Globe And Mail: Briton jailed for owning books on terrorism:

London – An unemployed computer programmer was sentenced Wednesday to a year in jail for amassing a library of books about bomb-making and terrorism.

Good God. Has it truly come to this? Here are some instructions on how to make bombs and here are some instructions on how to make botulism toxin which I will print out. Now someone come arrest me!

Posted on March 19th, 2003 in politics - No Comments »

This is odd. I’ve been seeing a barrage of hits from all over the US for searches for “operation iraqi freedom”. Just now I found this weblog post in my referers. Someone pinch me. I can’t find what is truly going on as that Google search returns one of my weblog entries as the only search result! I knew I should have trademarked that phrase.

Someone fill me in!

Folks, this is the real deal. I just heard it on a local news station. You can also find it at the following “legitimate news” links:

• MSNBC (Special forces already inside Iraq: Chemical response expected to U.S. Operation Iraqi Freedom)
• Guardian (Blair battles on after record rebellion): Anti-war MPs vowed to fight on; they are convinced that disaster awaits Mr Blair during the campaign dubbed Operation Iraqi Freedom by the US yesterday.

I never thought that someone would actually name the war “Operation Iraqi Freedom”. It was a name I thought of as a joke. I mean, how exactly are these Iraqis being freed? By the 3000 bombs which will hail down from above? At the time, the name seemed absurd. Trust the US government to once again become their own parody.

Regardless of the absurdity of the name, you can bet that I will try and find some way to milk this for all it’s worth. As the one who originally thought up the name, I must be entitled to something!

Update (03/19 12:45): The hits keep coming in, now numbering in the hundreds from all over the world and from varying search engines, discussion boards and weblogs. The shock of the naming has long gone, only to be replaced by pity; pity for an administration which couldn’t come up with a name which doesn’t so easily lend itself to parody. Mind you, the name is not yet official so the US administration can still redeem itself.

The Google bubble should burst any minute now.

Update (03/19 13:32): Gary Turner’s Weblog: Pre-Emptive Copyrights:

Actually, I wonder if a bunch of high google ranking anti-war bloggers ‘hi-jacked’ the name for the operation, if that would constitute negative, unpatriotic behaviour?

You’re damned right it would! That’s why I should have registered operationiraqifreedom.com when the first few dozen hits came in. Hey, if more people link to this site and include the words “operation iraqi freedom”, there’ll be at least one anti-war weblog in the top ten search results.

Update (03/19 20:16): The Google bubble has finally burst. Nothing to see here, folks.

Posted on March 18th, 2003 in politics - No Comments »

Canadians are smug: Guest blogger – my business partner:

I want to tell how, as a Canadian citizen I am embarrassed by my government’s behavior over the past year or so. I am ashamed by my Prime Minister’s utter lack of honor, fortitude and courage. Unfortunately our government and federal political system is not representative of the people.

That last statement is so incorrect as to be laughable. Almost 60% of Canadians oppose a American military action outside of the UN, so our PM’s stance is indeed representative of the people. Furthermore, if any of the “coalition of the willing” required the consensus of their people, there wouldn’t even be a war:

• US: 47% are in favour of invading Iraq if the US decides not to offer the resolution to the UN and says it will proceed with military action without any new vote in the UN. This is precisely what is happening, and a minority in the US support this action!
• UK: 15% say Britain and the US should take military action regardless of whether they get a second UN resolution. Furthermore, Prime Minister Blair faces a rebellion within his own party and is reduced to pleading for party backing on Iraq.
• Australia: Polls show at least two-thirds of Australians oppose war in Iraq without U.N. backing and [Prime Minister] Howard said he was aware the government’s decision might upset many people.

There is very little support for this war on a global scale. It is clear that the administration of those countries which support an unsanctioned attack on Iraq don’t give two shits what their people think. They are going to go through with it no matter what and do their best to “educate” their people so they can manufacture support. This brings to mind a quote which has been circulating these past few months:

“Of course the people don’t want war. But after all, it’s the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it’s always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it’s a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger.”

The source is, of course, Hermann Goering during the Nuremberg trials.

Posted on March 18th, 2003 in politics - No Comments »

Today’s rally was similar in size to January’s rally, which was a bit of a disappointment. I blame the “inevitable” nature of the coming war for keeping people away. Hell, I was almost tempted to sit this one out as it seemed so futile. In contrast, Montréal’s rally managed to attract some 200,000, many times more people than Toronto’s February rally. Toronto, why can’t you be more like Montréal?

In addition to being similar in size to January’s rally, today’s rally was also similar in spirit. Indeed, the lead banner was shared with Homes Not Bombs, a local chapter of Food Not Bombs which supports homes for the homeless. Mind you, it was somewhat relevant as one of their current goals is to convert Toronto’s Moss Park Armoury into a homeless shelter. A noble goal to be sure, but one whose presence I felt detracted from the advertised anti-war rally. Don’t trick me into rallying for your cause and don’t automatically assume I support it just because I’m present at an anti-war rally.

Similarly, just because I am at an anti-war rally does not mean that I may support your communist (Marxist-Leninist, Trotskyist or otherwise) or International Socialist party, organisation, group, commune or what have you. I also continue to find it insulting at how speakers at Toronto’s anti-war rallies (this one and January’s in particular) blame the impending war on some multinational, conservative, pro-globalisation agenda, as if the left can do no wrong. Certainly, big business probably comes into play, but this line likely alienates those who, like myself, are opposed to this war on principles not related to the anti-globalisation movement. If you wish to widen support, stick to select arguments which can attract and persuade the most people. Keep your anti-globalisation cries for protests more relevant to that cause and audience. Focus, people!

If you are not completely turned off by anti-war rallies by now, there is another one scheduled for mid-April. Should war arise, there will be a culmination of people outside the US consulate in Toronto as soon the bombs start to drop. It’s never too late to stop a non-sanctioned war.

Posted on March 15th, 2003 in politics - No Comments »