On Notice
Test of Leadership Time:
Stephen Harper, you've got exactly 24 hours from right now to do something and do something good about these two clowns Rotor and Tipple eating at a certain trough funded by my taxes, or else I'm going to have to get used to jaded cynicism. And who wants that?
I'm a fair man - I'm happy to give the PM time to act before I judge. I'm not going to blame him personally for the cock-up, but I'll of course blame him if he doesn't take some action.
This is not a victimless crime - this is a deliberate abuse of public money. And further, it's a sign of a too heavily-funded government with too much money to spare. Something has just clicked in my head and changed me, as of this evening. I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore. I used to begrudge but accept taxes in Canada - for some reason, I've snapped over this. It's just sunk in that they are swimming in more money than they know what to do with.
I'm emailing the PMO. 24 hours to act - starting.... NOW.
Stephen Harper, you've got exactly 24 hours from right now to do something and do something good about these two clowns Rotor and Tipple eating at a certain trough funded by my taxes, or else I'm going to have to get used to jaded cynicism. And who wants that?
I'm a fair man - I'm happy to give the PM time to act before I judge. I'm not going to blame him personally for the cock-up, but I'll of course blame him if he doesn't take some action.
This is not a victimless crime - this is a deliberate abuse of public money. And further, it's a sign of a too heavily-funded government with too much money to spare. Something has just clicked in my head and changed me, as of this evening. I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore. I used to begrudge but accept taxes in Canada - for some reason, I've snapped over this. It's just sunk in that they are swimming in more money than they know what to do with.
I'm emailing the PMO. 24 hours to act - starting.... NOW.
posted by Jacques Beau Vert at 5:09 PM
10 Comments:
It's always the folks at Public Works isn't it? If the department itself weren't so important, I'd recommend pulling a repeat of Chretien's disbanding of the Airborne Regiment. Throwing the baby out with the bathwater is rarely a good idea, but I'm sure that some folks will see Public Works in the news again and wonder how this could happen.
RGM has the right idea, if you ask me.
Completely deluded.
Although, I met a guy who lived his life off CIDA contracts. Well, he did, plus his girlfriend in Bangkok.
What did CIDA learn him? That for less than a loony, you can have a hell of a night in Bangkok.
Agreed JBG, I'd like to see how this is dealt with.
5pm and no word.
Well, there's still a few hours left.
"It's just sunk in that they are swimming in more money than they know what to do with."
You know, I may be a greeny but I know I'm more right-wing than you Jason. This attitude is the core precept of the problem that most Albertans have with Ottawa. Great, you can be cynical with Harper but what are the options at this point?
How can you get rid of contracting to the government? You can get rid of Public Works but then the problems will surface in other departments. Perhaps I'm naive but the contracting needs to be done somehow. Do you believe centralizing this contracting process in one place is the problem? It would seem to be effient from a distance.
Brian, I'm pretty much no-winged, or maybe both-winged.
I'm not "cynical or Harper" so much as I am "cynical on government in general".
I was plenty, plenty cynical before, let me tell you - but he had seemed like such a breath of fresh air.
I dimly recall Mulroney, but really mostly know Chretien and Martin. Chretien was avuncular but didn't inspire me, and don't get me onto Martin.
I had thought, Wow, so THIS is what a leader looks like... maybe I'll just go Conservative if this is what it means (I've voted all over the map depending on local candidates).
I just feel a bit let down - he's kind of winding down and falling off the wagon. No "fireside chats" to explain to Canadians why he supports Israel unquestioningly (I don't mind his support, he just should have brought the country around to his side, and united us), no re-assuring the nation that soldiers die for a cause bigger than us, impersonal and detached announcement of AIDS funding -- he's not a big enough camera hog, I guess. Martin, Clinton, Bush2, they'd be eating up the chances to tell the world they were doubling spending.
I'm not down on Harper - again, it's just a slow realization that he's Good, but not Great, which I held out hopes of him being.
Just want to be clear that I'm definitely not "down" on a right-wing PM for being simply "right-wing".
God I can ramble...
Anyway, I support most of Alberta's positions - and if their position is, "It's hunky-dory for the government to take my money so long as it's being used properly, but use it properly or just fuck the hell off," then chalk another point of agreement up between us. ARGH!!
I'm just disappointed that Harper hasn't come out expressing some outrage and determination to see right down over these clowns, that's all.
The answer?? I dunno. My best armchair suggestion is - cut Public Works' budget in half so they have to actually think about what they want to spend on.
How about this...
"I was so cynical before, and Harper really made me let that go - now it's back again." That's all.
I forget what time I posted this at, but I can't see Harper saying anything at this point.
Hello, Jaded Cynicism. Harper's not much better than the other Prime Ministers I've known. Better, but not much. I had high hopes for ya, big guy - really high.
Maybe he'll change my mind around. But since I'm a Jaded Cynic about his leadership as of right now, I have to say: I'll believe it when I see it.
Maybe not 24 hours, but they're at least taking some action.
Myself, I became jaded when I sent an e-mail to Harper (my MP) as a financial supporter and constituent after he cancelled Energuide and other enviro-programs. I got a form e-mail (in a couple of days) that stated "Thanks, we like to hear the opinions of our constituents". Oh well.
That is some action, although it came a little too late to me.
Still hopeful about the enviro legislation, but am already fairly disappointed in this government - not really that "new" and "different".
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