Harper...Again?

I am usually not a fan of partisan political bashing, but this election campaign, I feel compelled to speak up. It has been less than two weeks since the campaign began, and Stephen Harper has already got me asking...are you kidding me? Let's look at some of the more questionable decisions Harper has made recently.

From the very start, Harper declared that he will only be taking a maximum of five questions at each of his stops around Canada. So you're attending his rally but the 5 members of the press already asked questions? Too bad for you.

Speaking of attending rallies, if you wish to do so then you have to sign up prior to the event. That all seems alright until you come to realize that all of the sign up sheets get screened ahead of time. Screened for what, you ask? Criminal records? Nope. Just the usuals, like whether you are curious about other parties or even interested in saving the world. So far, the conservative volunteers have ejected people from the rallies for reasons such as posting a picture on Facebook posing with Ignatieff, wearing a t-shirt promoting alternative energy, and even for promoting the usage of reusable water bottles around campus. Are these people not going to vote, come May 2? Are they any less entitled to taking part in the Canadian democratic process? If Harper's wanting to convert his minority into a majority this time, would these not be the exact people that would help him do so?

All of the parties have their own Youtube accounts. All of them allow for viewer comments, except for the Conservatives. They tell us we matter. The people of Canada matter. They are running for us. Why is it, then, that our voices are being suppressed and our word not being heard? Are they seriously that afraid of critique? You'd think after multiple bouts of their minority leadership, they would be used to the critics and be able to implement it positively.

Well, maybe he doesn't have to listen. After, he did change "The Government of Canada" to "The Harper Government".

Stephen Harper says that there are only two true contenders, the Conservatives and the Liberals, and that is the only debate that matters. He brought up the idea of a debate between just the two leaders, and then when Ignatieff agreed to it, Harper said that he will only participate in the debates that had already been scheduled by the media and none others. Rick Mercer has offered to host such a debate, so I guess we shall wait and watch what excuse Harper comes up with this time.

Speaking of inconsistencies, when Paul Martin was in power, Stephen Harper had approached the other parties in the minority (Duceppe and Layton) to form a coalition to bring down the Liberal government. Both the other leaders have confirmed, this but Harper maintains that he did no such thing, and that if Ignatieff were to form a coalition with the other two then the world might just end.

All this is just what has cropped up in the past couple of weeks. Let us not forget the several counts of contempt that caused the parliament to dissolve, the billion dollar security at the summits, the lost UN Security Council bid, the elimination of an emissions control goal, the mounting federal deficit, the lack of confidence in his governance in parliament, the multiple prorogations, and the fact that this is the 4th federal election Canada has seen in 7 years.

Is this really the man we want to hand a majority to? Come May 2, make your voice count!


Edit 04/07: Seems like some big names like Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene would agree with me:

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/971204--party-favours-election-ephemera?bn=1