I guess this decision makes sense if you trust Martin to fulfill his campaign promises, and if you believe he has the political influence to overcome any opposition, and if you're sure that he is not excessively beholden to lobbies or special interests that might dissuade him.

I have been reading Latour's articles on the election, and it seems that if the Liberals win, they will again be ruled by the NDP, which if I read you correctly is the worst possible scenario.  But who ever wins, keep us colonialists informed.  It is kind of fun to watch an election and not have to worry about who wins.

will again be ruled by the NDP, which if I read you correctly is the worst possible scenario.

actually, the worst possible scenario would be the NDP not getting a majority in the House this time.

The NDP are the greatest evil there is in the Canadian political system. (Because socialism lowers the standard of living of everybody, not just the rich and it doesn't, contrary to popular propoganda raise the standard of living of the poor. In fact if you look at all of the statistics in every country in the world, the wealth and standard of living of the poor is directly proportionate to the lack of socialism in the country. (i.e. 97% of those below the poverty line in the United States own a TV, VCR, DVD and have cable TV, whereas in Russia, 97% of the population is just empoverished by the same American Standards (and no I'm not making this up))

Martin is no more likely or unlikely to keep his campeign promises. Further this issue has absolutely no one that will block the repealing of it, because to block the repealing of the not-withstanding clause would be like saying "I believe that I have the right to tell you what to do and how to do it and enslave you." Which of course is what they say with all of the socialist garbage that they spew on a daily basis, but in that they can hide it under Altruism. When you're talking about saying it directly that's another story.

So maybe he won't keep it, but neither will Harper who is looking more socialist than the liberals every day. So I might as well vote for the guy that might do it, instead of the guy that definately wont'.

And BTW, a federal amendment to the Charter only requires a 75% majority vote in the house of commons and does not require any other say-so. Hence why Martin's position is far more enlightened than Harper's plan to ammend it to remove the clause AND add property rights (great idea) because Martin's will actually happen, wereas getting the Feds and 10 provinces to agree when you have Querbec as part of the dominion is essentially impossible. Especially when Querbec is the only government in Canada to ever use the not-withstanding clause in the first place. (anti-english signs... bill C6 I believe...) Martin will get essentially 100% of the vote on this in the house, so it will happen if he tables it. Harper will have at least Querbec blocking it, so it won't happen.

I am diametrically opposed to the notwithstanding clause, but I have no faith that Martin will take any steps towards actually removing it unless he can use it to harm his opponents (read Harper). This smacks of politcal opportunism.

I have been reading Latour's articles on the election

Latour is politically naive.

The NDP are the greatest evil there is in the Canadian political system.

You got that straight. I somewhat know Jack Layton. Not only have I met him personally, but he is also my M.P. His attitude is typical of most socialists; none of us are capable of taking care of ourselves without government intervention. And to accomplish that, they need many of our dollars as they know how to spend them better than we do. After all, it is not business that creates jobs and wealth, it is government...I could go on, but you get the point.

I will be voting Conservative in this election.

Latour is politically naive.

Until this article, he was the only canadian perspective we were getting.  If you would like to write on this, like John did, I would be happy to read it.  As I said, it is kind of fun to watch an election that you have no say in, or that does not really affect you.  Kind of a introspective into what outsiders (other than some buttinskies) see us doing every 4 years.

Well I can live with the result. A minority conservative government ensures that absolutely nothing will happen for the next 2 years until the next election because the Conservatives won't align themselves with the block bloq because they'll lose badly in the next election for that, they won't align themselves with the NDP because the NDP are irrelivent and can't make a majority with anyone, so they have to agree with the liberals. End result is a do nothing government, which baring a truely objectivist, government is the best possible thing we could hope for.

Here's to hamstringing the government! Whohoo! Party time for 2 years while business gets way ahead of government and makes them irrelivent.

End result is a do nothing government, which baring a truely objectivist, government is the best possible thing we could hope for.

Why cant we get so lucky!