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In the 2011 federal election, over a quarter of eligible voters, didn't vote. 27% of the non-voters didn't care about the election.
Many of the people who voted were frustrated with their own non-Conservative provincial government, the NDP and Liberals, so they voted for the opposite federally. Two wrongs don't make a right.
What many voters failed to see is the clash between the provincial and the federal governments during Harper's first term, beginning in 2006. He counted on that ignorance, destroyed any faith people had in other parties, and won a second term. Divide and conquer.
I've heard many of Harper's supporters say they perceive him to be a strong leader. They're right in their perception, and belief that Canada needs strong leadership. However, there is a difference between strength and dictatorship.
Hold my hand and I'll give you a tour of the darkest part of the cave, where a fire burns bright. Then we will walk out of the darkness and into the sunlight together.
Elimination of Democracy
Deep in the cave, on the lowest level, there is a fire that burns at the heart of democracy called Debate. Without at least two sides offering differing views of an issue in order for the leader to make a fair final judgement, debating becomes one-sided and pointless.
The death of democracy.
Fast-tracking dangerous legislations, including the crime omnibus, in Parliament has been happening at record speed since Harper was voted into a second term, based on the false notion it's in Canada's best interests.
While Members of Parliament such as Peter Van Loan from the article above, claim their approach, albeit aggressive, is in line with democracy and fair debate. This is a lie.
Look away from the spell-binding light of the fire for a moment and acknowledge the created shadows on the cave walls. Not a single amendment made by the NDP Opposition has been accepted.
There is no fairness, the Senate is one-sided, and Parliament is corrupted by the Tories.
Now we turn away from the searing heat of the cave fire and endure the chill of darkness. Keep holding my hand for two more stops on this tour.
Lack of Cooperation between Federal and Provincial Healthcare
Although many similar cases can be found across Canada, for the sake of simplicity, I'm going to use Manitoba as a specific example.
Manitoba has been an NDP province for 40 elections. It's a social-democratic province, a system that directly contradicts Harper's aggressive conservatives. Gary Doer was the province's Premier for a number of years until he stepped down to accept a job as ambassador, and he was well-loved.
As NDP as Manitobans are, the majority of voters, voted for Harper, a Conservative. In the previous election, the majority voted NDP.
There have been many problems in Manitoba in the past few years, such as lack of hospital beds, no preparations for the increasing elderly population, and little to no winter maintenance. Manitoba averages 6 to 10 feet snow per year, so lack of snow removal has been a disaster.
Manitobans blamed the loss of Gary Doer, who was a prime example of a good, strong leader. Manitobans have accused the NDP of acting like progressive conservatives. This is untrue. Here's the difference.
Harper hadn't been voted into power yet when Doer was first elected in 1990. Greg Selinger, the current Premier and also leader of the Manitoba NDP, has been doing nothing but dealing with the Harper government.
Funny the perceptions of the Manitobans. They're right. The Manitoba NDP has been acting like progressive conservatives, but not by choice.
Due to lack of support or cooperation from the Harper government, hospital services have been cut. Not enough beds and not enough helping hands.
A homeless man, Brian Sinclair, waited 34 hours in the ER at the Health Sciences, and died of a bladder infection caused by a blocked catheter.
While everyone seeks to blame the Manitoba government, the federal government has turned a blind eye and has been very quiet about the incident.
Take my hand again, I'll show you the last stop in the tour and explain why Herr Harper and his army has refused responsibility.
Enemy of Canada
Many things are worded differently here. We've been so bombarded with American media since North American free trade was established in 1988, that most have either forgotten or simply don't know the Canadian terminology.
"Enemy of Canada" is the American equivalent of "terrorist." The term, in Canadian laws, only applies to times of war, and not always applied correctly. Japanese Brittish Columbia residents, during World War II, were declared "enemies of Canada" and confined. That's a sad and shameful aspect of our history that few are willing to acknowledge, and all want to forget.
Canada is not at war with any country right now, not since 1945. The war is actually happening in our own backyards, and it's fiction created by Harper.
Having anyone or any group declared officially as "enemies of Canada," would allow the government to activate laws regarding suspected terrorists. This would include torture and imprisonment.
It's bullying, plain and simple.
The following people and groups have been threatened with being declared "Enemies of Canada" or "Adversaries".
Andrew Frank, employee of ForestEthnics who criticized the west coast oil pipeline project.
The brave Andrew Frank opened a big can of worms which lead people to find out all environment groups and First Nations who oppose the pipeline are also documented as "adversaries" of Canada.
As you can see from the above, these are not terrorists. They're Canadian citizens, people who care about the environment, who simply don't fall in line with Harper.
Now here's comes the explanation I promised to provide. Brian Sinclair, who died waiting in the ER, was First Nations.
Harper is more than a dictator. He's walking a fine line and veering toward genocide of anyone who simply opposes him.
See that spot of light ahead? Join me now, and I'll show you.
We're Canadians. Most of us don't have guns, but we do have pens and computers.
And we have The United Nations.
Read and study the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. You'll find the darkness. You'll find that the Tories under Stephen Harper's rule has, or are at risk of, violating numerous articles covered by the Declaration, including article 25 which states access to basic medical care is a human right.
Arm every Canadian citizen, every man, woman and child, with this most powerful ammo – The Declaration of Human Rights.
Harper wants a war. So be it.
Dark times have fallen on Canada. Get used it and adjust your eyes to the darkness. Then, when you're ready, give up the illusions of shadows created by the cave fire, recognize them for the smokescreens they really are, and walk with me into sunlight, even if it hurts your eyes. The price of freedom is worth it.
"Better to be the poor servant of a poor master, and to endure anything,
rather than think as they do and live after their manner."
- Allegory of the Cave, Plato
