Comments on: The Perils of Parliamentary Democracy http://thecrossedpond.com/2008/11/30/the-perils-of-parliamentary-democracy/ "A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one." Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:29:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jack http://thecrossedpond.com/2008/11/30/the-perils-of-parliamentary-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-19492 Jack Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:49:52 +0000 http://thecrossedpond.com/?p=6826#comment-19492 Could someone comment on why the Liberal Party would go with Dion as PM rather than select someone with less distinct recent history of failed leadership? Is the Liberal Party machinery and structure so defined as this was not a feasable move? Could someone comment on why the Liberal Party would go with Dion as PM rather than select someone with less distinct recent history of failed leadership? Is the Liberal Party machinery and structure so defined as this was not a feasable move?

]]> By: Brad http://thecrossedpond.com/2008/11/30/the-perils-of-parliamentary-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-19491 Brad Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:49:13 +0000 http://thecrossedpond.com/?p=6826#comment-19491 Tim, I know you're reading this. Chime in! Tim, I know you’re reading this. Chime in!

]]> By: Cameron http://thecrossedpond.com/2008/11/30/the-perils-of-parliamentary-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-19490 Cameron Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:23:04 +0000 http://thecrossedpond.com/?p=6826#comment-19490 The wheels are definitely turning. Here's a graph showing the current makeup of Parliament: <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45260000/gif/_45260707_canada_elec_pie_226.gif"/> And here are some highlights from <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7760506.stm" rel="nofollow">this</a> great BBC article: <blockquote>The prime minister could try to ride his luck and let the confidence vote go ahead on 8 December, or he could try to stave off defeat by asking the Governor General to suspend parliament until 27 January when the government is set to table its budget. The opposition Liberals and New Democrats signed a formal agreement to form a coalition that would govern until 30 June 2010 and have the tacit support of the separatist Bloc Quebecois. The new prime minister would be the Liberal leader, Stephane Dion, who led his party to a serious defeat in the 14 October polls and had already announced plans to step down next May.</blockquote> The wheels are definitely turning. Here’s a graph showing the current makeup of Parliament:

And here are some highlights from this great BBC article:

The prime minister could try to ride his luck and let the confidence vote go ahead on 8 December, or he could try to stave off defeat by asking the Governor General to suspend parliament until 27 January when the government is set to table its budget.

The opposition Liberals and New Democrats signed a formal agreement to form a coalition that would govern until 30 June 2010 and have the tacit support of the separatist Bloc Quebecois.

The new prime minister would be the Liberal leader, Stephane Dion, who led his party to a serious defeat in the 14 October polls and had already announced plans to step down next May.

]]> By: Brad http://thecrossedpond.com/2008/11/30/the-perils-of-parliamentary-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-19477 Brad Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:36:01 +0000 http://thecrossedpond.com/?p=6826#comment-19477 And it looks like the liberal coalition will indeed try to stage <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/12/01/coalition-talks.html" rel="nofollow">something of a coup</a>. Despite the fact that the conservatives got a plurality from the electorate less than a month ago, they're going to try to <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/12/01/coalition-talks.html" rel="nofollow">push and win the no confidence vote</a> and form Canada's first coalition government. And it looks like the liberal coalition will indeed try to stage something of a coup. Despite the fact that the conservatives got a plurality from the electorate less than a month ago, they’re going to try to push and win the no confidence vote and form Canada’s first coalition government.

]]> By: Brad http://thecrossedpond.com/2008/11/30/the-perils-of-parliamentary-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-19452 Brad Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:59:57 +0000 http://thecrossedpond.com/?p=6826#comment-19452 <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/546315" rel="nofollow">Dion may indeed be the next prime minister</a>, if the liberals can hold together. N.B. not Celine, I don't think. Parliamentary systems are kewl. Dion may indeed be the next prime minister, if the liberals can hold together. N.B. not Celine, I don’t think.

Parliamentary systems are kewl.

]]> By: Mortexai http://thecrossedpond.com/2008/11/30/the-perils-of-parliamentary-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-19450 Mortexai Mon, 01 Dec 2008 03:03:15 +0000 http://thecrossedpond.com/?p=6826#comment-19450 Too Canadian is a very dangerous thing. I read Solomon Gursky Was Here and it took weeks to recover. Too Canadian is a very dangerous thing. I read Solomon Gursky Was Here and it took weeks to recover.

]]> By: Cameron http://thecrossedpond.com/2008/11/30/the-perils-of-parliamentary-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-19449 Cameron Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:11:27 +0000 http://thecrossedpond.com/?p=6826#comment-19449 Too...Canadian? Too…Canadian?

]]> By: Rojas http://thecrossedpond.com/2008/11/30/the-perils-of-parliamentary-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-19448 Rojas Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:43:40 +0000 http://thecrossedpond.com/?p=6826#comment-19448 tC;dr tC;dr

]]> By: Brad http://thecrossedpond.com/2008/11/30/the-perils-of-parliamentary-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-19447 Brad Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:49:16 +0000 http://thecrossedpond.com/?p=6826#comment-19447 Thanks for posting on this. I've been meaning to make a pass at it myself (you did much better than I would have). One thing to ad: one of the reasons behind the current toxic political environment is the electoral atmosphere ginned up by the parties in their quest to reach a majority, or to stop it. Particularly the ads, both Harper's people (and negative ads on Dion), and the series of "ambiguous doomsaying" ads the liberals ran against the current government created a lot of bad blood. For instance, the conservatives ran some stuff making fun of Dion's accent, the liberals ran stuff saying Harper intended to quarter the military in Canada's cities. Our election looked pretty polite compared to theirs, and that's saying something. As a result, when it came time to either govern as a strong minority, or oppose as an enfeebled coalition, none of the parties have had a very easy time moving past the election mode into the governance mode. Again, elections and campaigns matter. Thanks for posting on this. I’ve been meaning to make a pass at it myself (you did much better than I would have).

One thing to ad: one of the reasons behind the current toxic political environment is the electoral atmosphere ginned up by the parties in their quest to reach a majority, or to stop it. Particularly the ads, both Harper’s people (and negative ads on Dion), and the series of “ambiguous doomsaying” ads the liberals ran against the current government created a lot of bad blood. For instance, the conservatives ran some stuff making fun of Dion’s accent, the liberals ran stuff saying Harper intended to quarter the military in Canada’s cities. Our election looked pretty polite compared to theirs, and that’s saying something.

As a result, when it came time to either govern as a strong minority, or oppose as an enfeebled coalition, none of the parties have had a very easy time moving past the election mode into the governance mode. Again, elections and campaigns matter.

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