The Rants of Issachar
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
How healthy is our democracy?
Carla's blog entry on the recent federal poll numbers had a comment about the Conservative party and the recent failed Conservative ammendment that would have killed the governments gay marriage legislation. Leaving aside the whole gay marriage issue, I want to comment about the way the vote went down in the house.
The Liberal party was against the amendment as it would kill their bill.
The NDP was against it as they see gay marriage as a civil rights issue.
The Bloc Québécois was against it.
The Conservatives were for it because it was their bill.
But the breakdown of the votes tells a different story.
34 Liberals voted against their party.
4 Conservatives voted against theirs.
3 Block MPs's voted against their party.
1 NDP MP abstained. (Bev Desjarlais)
Now that's the way democracy is supposed to work! MP's voting the way they think! Whipped voting just gives us democracy by cabinet most of the time and that's very unhealthy for our country. I don't care what you think of gay marriage, you should be in favour of free votes for our representatives.
And shame on Jack Layton, Bev Desjarlais and the NDP caucus. Bev, you said you were voting against the government bill so why not vote in favour of the amendment? You had your party colleague Peter Stoffer backing up your right to vote your mind (even though he doesn't agree with you) and you let yourself get steamrolled into hurting our democratic system by a leader who doesn't believe in free votes by elected representatives.
As a sidenote: Why did it take only the first google hit to tell me about the Liberals voting against the party, but more searching to tell me about the Conservative and Bloc MP's voting against their party positions? Incomplete news is irritating.
The Liberal party was against the amendment as it would kill their bill.
The NDP was against it as they see gay marriage as a civil rights issue.
The Bloc Québécois was against it.
The Conservatives were for it because it was their bill.
But the breakdown of the votes tells a different story.
34 Liberals voted against their party.
4 Conservatives voted against theirs.
3 Block MPs's voted against their party.
1 NDP MP abstained. (Bev Desjarlais)
Now that's the way democracy is supposed to work! MP's voting the way they think! Whipped voting just gives us democracy by cabinet most of the time and that's very unhealthy for our country. I don't care what you think of gay marriage, you should be in favour of free votes for our representatives.
And shame on Jack Layton, Bev Desjarlais and the NDP caucus. Bev, you said you were voting against the government bill so why not vote in favour of the amendment? You had your party colleague Peter Stoffer backing up your right to vote your mind (even though he doesn't agree with you) and you let yourself get steamrolled into hurting our democratic system by a leader who doesn't believe in free votes by elected representatives.
As a sidenote: Why did it take only the first google hit to tell me about the Liberals voting against the party, but more searching to tell me about the Conservative and Bloc MP's voting against their party positions? Incomplete news is irritating.
5 Comments:
Posted by: 
DreaParty whip may, however, help efficiency. . .shouldn't you be for that, you're a conservative?
DreaParty whip may, however, help efficiency. . .shouldn't you be for that, you're a conservative?
Posted by: issacharFirst and foremost I believe in democracy. Just spinning a roulette wheel would be even more efficient, but it wouldn't be a very good idea.
issacharFirst and foremost I believe in democracy. Just spinning a roulette wheel would be even more efficient, but it wouldn't be a very good idea.
Posted by: Carla>I believe in democracy
whoa! that brought back memories. That was what my sign said at my first (and last) protest, during my poser-photographer days when I went to a proest to take photos. The plan was the hold it in case just in case. It was awesome. Unfortunately, no pepper spray, although Srgt. Pepper was there.
Carla>I believe in democracywhoa! that brought back memories. That was what my sign said at my first (and last) protest, during my poser-photographer days when I went to a proest to take photos. The plan was the hold it in case just in case. It was awesome. Unfortunately, no pepper spray, although Srgt. Pepper was there.
Posted by: issacharIt's sad that you can serve the public in the RCMP for years, more than 20 of those being a specialist in crowd control, (a specialty I would find difficult and stressful), and after all that, all most people know about you is that your nickname is "Sergeant Pepper".
issacharIt's sad that you can serve the public in the RCMP for years, more than 20 of those being a specialist in crowd control, (a specialty I would find difficult and stressful), and after all that, all most people know about you is that your nickname is "Sergeant Pepper".
Posted by: Carla>It's sad
yes it is.
Operation Srgt. Pepper Freedom.
(former part serious, latter part sarcastic. My theory is you're still getting used to my online sense of humour.)
Carla>It's sad yes it is.
Operation Srgt. Pepper Freedom.
(former part serious, latter part sarcastic. My theory is you're still getting used to my online sense of humour.)
