I want to fully support the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) but things like this make me pause (Hat Tip Andrew). I'm very conservative in fiscal and governmental affairs, but lean very liberal in social issues and I think the question of Same Sex Marriage (SSM) is not something political parties should be fighting elections over. This may piss some people off, but SSM is not the most important question facing out political parties at the end of the day.
I want the CPC to try and win an election on smaller government, better funded and equipped military, and addressing the constant growth of Health Care costs. The issue of SSM should be a simple free vote in the Commons and that's that. Having party policies of whether to support or oppose such a personal and involved issue simplifies it to an insulting degree and running ads to turn it into an election issue is not what is required here.
I want to support a party that is focused on the important matters of governing a country and not the relatively minor matter of the definition of the word "marriage".
2 comments:
Bill - generally I agree with you, just 2 comments:
1) I'd prefer to see health care left for the provinces to deal with, the federal government should focus on its own responsibilities.
2) It's not just social issues which worry me about the CPC. I'm fiscally very conservative, but I don't trust the CPC on this issue.
For one thing, the record under the Liberals is one of the best in the world on this file.
For another, the last Conservative platform was built on the same type of overly optimistic projections that got the Americans into trouble.
For another, the CPC generally seems more like a Neo-Con party than a Conservative party and from Harris to Campbell to Bush to Reagan there's a very consistent pattern of fiscal irresponsibility from these types of folks.
For another, the right wing media mouthpieces, especially the National Post, have really started to downplay the importance of the debt and debt repayment - For example in their coverage of the TD study last week, they stripped out all references to the need to continue debt repayment.
It all points to a CPC government bringing in irresponsible tax cuts which plunge as back into deficit.
"For another, the CPC generally seems more like a Neo-Con party than a Conservative party and from Harris to Campbell to Bush to Reagan there's a very consistent pattern of fiscal irresponsibility from these types of folks."
Whoa, stop right there! Harris had some issues but I do not buy the fiscal irresponsibility label. When his party was elected Ontario was spinning out of control financially and had the largest debt of any non-nation government in the world. In The World.
The Common Sense Revolution helped turn it around.
Mike Harris cannot be blamed for everything that is wrong with Ontario today despite many efforts to do so.
This rant has been brought to you by Bill. Carry on.
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