A blog on objective thought in today's irrational, subjective world tackling some of the hardest questions of existence using reason and logic.
Published on January 10, 2006 By John Galt In International
Yes, you heard that right. The objectivist saying that he's thinking about voting for the liberals.

Why?

Because Paul Martin just pledged to remove the not-withstanding clause (i.e. the we don't really want a constitution clause) from the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Of course he was quick to note that it would be a Federal only amendment to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but hey, it's a start.

This is important because?

Because the government does absolutely nothing useful for Canadians (i.e. the only two things that they're supposed to do, military and justice they drop the ball on) thus the best possible thing is to make sure that the government can't meddle in our lives. The fringe benefit is that without the not-withstanding clause our constitution actually has a spine, and Canada actually has a fairly libertarian supreme court now so you can affect real change for freedom be using the supreme court to force the government to do something about their evil, freedom infringing ways (i.e. anti-same-sex marriage laws)

Hence we have Steven, I've-never-met-a-bible-I-didn't-like Harper who thinks that his religion should somehow play a part in the governing of a country, and Paul what's-my-name-again? Martin who can't do anything, but at least he balances the budget and only wastes millions on corruption instead of billions on forced slavery called socialism.

End result is a do nothing government (exactly the way it should be) that is completely incompetent and that has empowered the supreme court to overthrow all of the evil laws and for which they will either do whatever the supreme court says is right, or do nothing at all to undo whatever the court struck down.

This is the best possible thing Canada could ever hope for, baring someone with a brain and a set of moral values that aren't contradictory coming into power, which of course isn't going to happen.

So yes, I think I'm going to vote liberal if Martin will back up his claims during the debate. Not because he's the best man for the job, but because he is willing to get rid of all of the tools that the government has to enslave me while they accomplish little or nothing.

Comments
on Jan 11, 2006
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.
on Jan 11, 2006
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.
on Jan 11, 2006
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.
on Jan 12, 2006
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.
on Jan 13, 2006
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.
on Jan 13, 2006

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.

on Feb 03, 2006
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.
on Feb 03, 2006

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!