MrJapan
PO1
Joined: 27 Sep 2004
Posts: 465
Location: Chiba, Japan
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 Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 1:05 pm Post subject: M&M again ;) |
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Here's an interesting read I stumbled across 
CanadianFreePress
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Open letter to Michael Moore
By Gary Reid
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Dear Michael,
I read your advice to Canadian voters posted on your website on January 22, the day before our national election. For some reason, you seem to be the biggest Canada lover or hugger or whatever in the United States.
Even though you had the good sense to put the disclaimer in your piece that you, as an American, shouldn’t be telling us what to do, please note that we don’t have the slightest objection to Americans offering us advice. In fact, some of the best ideas that we lift are from America; note our thriving business in generic pharmaceuticals, for instance, not to mention an automotive sector that is bigger than the one in your home state of Michigan, where autos began.
But there is a qualifier. The advice has to be good, and be seen to be good.
You suggested that we should overlook the corruption of the Liberal government to avoid the consequences of electing a Conservative government, like the conservative government in the United States.
Now, Michael, really!
You know us well enough by now to understand that what we consider a conservative in Canada would be a liberal in the U.S., and what we call a liberal would be a socialist in your bailiwick, and what we call a socialist would either be classified as a communist or simply outlawed in America. So, we are talking apples and oranges here when you try to draw comparisons between your conservatives and ours.
Let us forget the political labels and look at the substance. You were not compelling in explaining why we should not care about the criminal activities of our ruling classes. I believe Liberal Prime Minister Chretien, who reigned during the most corrupt period, put it quite adroitly: "Who cares if a few million got stolen?"
Well, we now have the results from the voting and it appears that a fair number of Canadians care about that stuff.
I am wondering, in light of the unfolding Abramoff bribery scandal amongst the Republicans in the Congress, if you are advising your Democrat friends who are running for office this year not to make too much of the corruption issue on the hustings. As a rule of thumb, it is probably not advisable to give Canadians advice you would not be prepared to give to Americans.
You mention we have a parliamentary system and there are other means of taking care of bad guys in office. Do you really understand the British parliamentary system?
George W. Bush, the president that you don’t like very much, can only dream of the powers of our prime minister. You will note that I used the word "reign" when referring to Mr. Chretien. That was not done lightly in a country where the Queen of England is still the reigning head of state.
Imagine what the U.S. would look like, Michael, if Mr. Bush had the undisputed authority to appoint every member of the U.S. Supreme Court — not simply nominate — but appoint. What if Mr. Bush could also appoint every single member of the United States Senate?
What if he had total control over the country’s finances and was not beholden in that respect to a Congress? What if members of his own party in Congress disagreed with him and he could fire them, not from public office, but from the party?
What if Mr. Bush did not automatically go out of office every 4 years and was not limited to a total of 8 years, but, in effect, could stay indefinitely, provided he could get re-elected?
Are you getting the picture of our government, and the power that resides in the office of the Prime Minister, Michael?
There are no mandatory plebiscites, or automatic referenda, or recall rights, like you have in some of your states.
In Canada, the reality is that if you do not exercise your power as a citizen by voting the scoundrels out of office during an election, you are effectively screwed. The way our voters protect themselves is to deny a questionable party a majority mandate.
Finally, Michael, even though you are highly political and rub some folks on the other end of the political spectrum the wrong way, we do appreciate your unabashed enthusiasm for our country.
You might be surprised to know that there are a considerable number of us who have kind thoughts and feelings toward Americans and America, even when we differ on some the policies coming out of Washington.
We wanted to elect people to national office who reflect that view and not the American-bashing one that the Liberals have spewing out for 13 years. That is why we sent the Conservatives to Ottawa.
Your friend,
Gary Reid
Gary Reid is a freelance writer and a public affairs consultant. Gary can be reached at letters@canadafreepress.com. |
MJ |
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