tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752248293841210684.post7866075546275709550..comments2023-10-23T10:13:57.033-07:00Comments on The Proud Islamist: Random politicsThe Proud Islamisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13991098224999002013noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752248293841210684.post-77274623573907917982008-12-09T15:51:00.000-08:002008-12-09T15:51:00.000-08:00Hi Matt, thanks for your questions:1. No, "parliam...Hi Matt, thanks for your questions:<BR/><BR/>1. No, "parliamentary" does not equal "democratic." That said, no system can be perfectly democratic unless you want to have a general referendum on every bill. What's clear is that over 60% of Canadians voted for somebody other than the Conservatives and a majority of ridings went to another party. A coalition government is, by virtue of these facts, a far more democratic option when compared to a minority government that does not have the confidence of the House.<BR/><BR/>2. Well, you tell me. In the end, the Bloc isn't sitting with the government in either arrangement, it is just propping it up on confidence motions (unless something happened that I've missed, in which case you might be right) In the case of the Liberal-NDP coalition, the Bloc only committed to 18 months.<BR/><BR/>The Bloc might have demanded that Federal workplaces commit to 101, but a) Did the other two agree? (I can't see Dion saying yes to that), and b) will they make it a confidence motion?<BR/><BR/>Remember that if the Bloc brings down the coalition prematurely, it's their funeral as much as anyone else's.The Proud Islamisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13991098224999002013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752248293841210684.post-77026374809839174742008-12-08T21:28:00.000-08:002008-12-08T21:28:00.000-08:00Two questions:1. Is it the case that "parliamentar...Two questions:<BR/><BR/>1. Is it the case that "parliamentary" can always and completely be equated to "democratic"? More specifically, could it be that, although the Coalition would be legal, the GG accepting the PM's resignation and appointing the LO - in this set of circumstances - might be the less democratic option?<BR/><BR/>2. Isn't there a fundamental difference in the nature of the Coalition's constant allegiance to the Bloc in its proposed use of the executive's powers, and the Tories' vote by vote allegiance to the Bloc on a legislative basis? Consider the Bloc's demand that Bill 101 be applied to federal workplaces in Quebec - a law that depends upon the notwithstanding clause to remain constitutional.matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05963046409309506777noreply@blogger.com