Election issues

[Croghan27]

Gigi - when Boom Boom replied this:

Oh, don't get him wrong, Croggy - McGuinty isn't backing away from funding health care, I think he's just completely intimidated (and scared) by how big a responsibility health care is today, and how much more so it is going to be in the future when boomers retire.

That is just what went through the foggy croggy Saturday monring mind.

If they actually gave a flying F about HEALTH they would fund preventive measures and ensure that people of all income levels could afford things like, oh, fresh vegetables and decent food.

But with more of a Boom Boom spin on it.

As in encouraging: Wouldn't that require not only a government response, but also more citizens actually taking some responsibility for themselves? Like exercise some self-discipline when it comes to pigging out on junk food, fast food, alcohol, and smoking, and getting some daily exercise?

The idea of having 'health laws' gives me cold shivers, but promting 'healthy' comsumption and and behaviour activities gives me that warm fuzzies. Many companies give their employees rebates for or even supply exercize facilities - could not something be included in the tax regime.

How many ka-zillions have been laid upon the failing automotive industry lately? Could not fresh and healthy food stuffs be promoted in the same way? or perhaps a tax credit for places like the YMCA or similar establishments?

When reading Boom Boom's initial and somewhat depressing entry, it occured to me that this could be turned about and made into a positive and happy-happy  :D  initiative.

Fuzzy thinking on a fuzzy Saturday morning    after an unhealthy Friday night.  :wink:

[lagatta]

That is true. Also building non-profit community recreational centres and swimming pools where none exist.

Building arenas in Northern communities has done a lot of good for First Nations and Inuit youth, for example.

But even in cities, often there is nothing within walking distance.

[deBeauxOs]

In the absence of all-purpose thread regarding "generic" yet misogynistic violence against women, I'll note that Scott Neigh, aka A Canadian Lefty in Occupied Land blogged this today, the YWCA statement regarding the absence of discussion on this still urgent issue, during the Ontario elections.  

"At YWCA Toronto we see causes of violence against women as they affect each of the services we provide," says YWCA Toronto Chief Executive Officer Heather McGregor. "We see the connections between abuse and the factors that prevent women from leaving abusive partners including insufficient post- shelter funding; inadequate access to safe, affordable and permanent housing; and the overwhelming lack of affordable, high-quality childcare. With a week left before Ontarians head to the polls, what are the parties' positions on the development of a more effective domestic violence action plan?"

 It's now up at ProgBlogs

[Toedancer]

Why I'm voting for Dalton McGuinty on Bob's Blog.

http://www.bobrae.ca/node/154

Blech!

[Gigi]

Why I'm voting for Dalton McGuinty on Bob's Blog.

OK, what did we do to deserve that, or was it a case of, "I saw it, you should have to too, " in which case, I can't complain (Infinite Hasselhoff).

[Toedancer]

To be honest Gigi, I am absolutely sickened by the bloated upper classes of the politicos. Soon I have no doubt the merkins and HarpoCo. will start levying a tax to support the f wars to spread democracy like margarine, even if you prefer butter. It seems like a 'upper class hobby' rather than good foreign policy. Rae does damage to Dion to my mind. I can never forget what he did to the disabled in his time as Premier of Ontario. Just can't, imprinted. And now he waxes so full of shit. Just keep heaping everything onto our present and future generations, is pretty much the stupidest fucking idea I ever heard of. After reading Bob's Blob, even if I was a Liberal I'd immediately park my vote to the alternative. He disgusts me.

[Gigi]

When you read Rae's background, it is very hard to understand why he (or David Miller for that matter) positioned himself in the NDP.  A stint helping homeless people really doesn't eradicate a lifetime of teachings.

It has always just seemed preternatural to me.

[Toedancer]

Shame. So they introduced gaming.

[Toedancer]

Shame. So they introduced gaming.

ETA - I don't think Bob was a deceivin steven kinda guy or anything, but I definitely think he never took the NDP seriously, in fact I don't think even the NDP take themselves seriously. Cuz if they do, they sure have a funny way of showing it. Their base is about hope and release of suffering for the underdog and real representation, that base is a changing and morphing as we speak. They are just not good enough anymore and they are at odds with their base. They need to be clear so we can all move on.

[skdadl]

Bob Rae is an utter bore. Ignatieff is unquestionably worse, but they're peas in a pod. Two pod people. The Canadian people have done nothing to deserve them.

[Croghan27]

Bob Rae is an utter bore. Ignatieff is unquestionably worse, but they're peas in a pod. Two pod people. The Canadian people have done nothing to deserve them.

well spoken, skdadl -

My font of a lot of observations put it this way: (he also advises not to talk to him, it's jess like talk'in to yerself.)

"Don't follow leaders
Watch the parkin' meters"

Rae has made moves in the correct direction - but has later blown it completely. The excitement of a socialist leaning government died with 'Rae Days', and even if Iggy has said some good things, they all  founder on A Lesser Evil.

I have seen Broadbent, who ranks just above God in my pantheon, brought up short when he went against the expressed wishes of the Party in Convention, as with Grant Notley, the only person to rank higher than Ed.

If we have done something to deserve them it has been to ignore our own, collective wisdon and thoughts and put faith in a Leader. (no matter who)

[deBeauxOs]

Bob Rae is an utter bore. Ignatieff is unquestionably worse, but they're peas in a pod. Two pod people. The Canadian people have done nothing to deserve them.

And neither of them have done anything worthy of deserving political leadership, in any party, from Canadians.

[Croghan27]

Canada is not alone in having miss-thinkers. It is sad, but true, that the only institution more divorced from the thinking of Americans than their government, is their media. Unfortunately, in some case they are the same.

Glenn Greewald in Salon this morning writes about how two commentators in the WaPo claim to have their finners on the pulse of both America and within the Washington beltway. (and they are definitely NOT the same thing).

Both columns do nothing, literally, beyond mindlessly repeating what Bush loyalists have told them -- in Broder's case, the whole column simply recites what was told to him by RCCC Chair Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, and in Iganitius's case, he does nothing but uncritically repeat what unnamed "senior administration officials" whispered into his grateful, flattered ear. There is not a critical thought expressed about any of it. Like the obedient puppets that they are, they simply adopt what they are told as their own opinions and then write it all down.

From what I know of both Iggy and Rae - they both do variations of this dance. (to date myself) The see the lay of the land, rather than 'which way the wind blows' - take it for their own and announce they are progressive for it.

Well known to them is that the 'lay of the land' is a conservative lay (and not a good lay at all  :wink: ). Rae, as much as any knows that Liberals are such in name only, they are Conservatives in wolf's clothing.

But there they are, both of them, faux Progressives and giving the real thing a bad name for it.