<strong>Written By:</strong> Diogenes
<strong>Date:</strong> 2006-10-19 08:47:50
<a href="/article/1947507-conservatives-suspend-outspoken-mp-garth-turner">Article Link</a>

"The theme of confidentiality was not being respected in their opinion and it restricted the ability for members to operate in a confidential way," he explains.

Turner remains stoic and defiant in the face of his banishment.

"Of course I'm upset," he concedes. "It's always upsetting when you lose your family. Am I angry? No. Life's too short."

The Prime Minister's office has denied any involvement in the decision.

Turner has criticized the government often on his weblog and has taken issue with his colleagues over a number of different topics.

He was critical when Harper chose former Liberal David Emerson for his cabinet, arguing it smacked of the Belinda Stronach party switch that so angered fellow Tories.

And he doesn't like his party's stance on the environment, calling the Conservative measures to fight climate change "half measures", "junk science" and "a sell-out to the tar sands."

He's also opposed the Tories on their tax credit plan.

<a href="http://www.citynews.ca/4502.htm">http://www.citynews.ca/4502.htm</a>







[Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on October 19, 2006]

   

"Stephen Harper, who has forbidden party members from talking government policy with the press." What does Little Stevie want his politicians to talk about - arts and crafts?<br />
<br />
The concept of political rhetoric was developed by the Ancient Greeks and is as old as democracy itself. The Greek system was designed to strongly encourage citizen participation through various methods, including public speech.<br />
<br />
By censoring Mr. Turner and not permitting him to speak his mind, the Harper Government is going against one of the most basic fundamental principles within a democracy. Therefore, the million dollar question is:<br />
<br />
Since the Harper team ideology is in total contrast with these principles, what business does he have being the leader of a supposedly free democratic country?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://rhetorica.net/textbook/greek.htm">http://rhetorica.net/textbook/greek.htm</a>

   

Most people do not research the full context of any politicians views. Politicians use sound bites and simplistic repeated phrases to brain wash their audience. Harper may constantly refer to "freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law" but to fully understand what is meant by these terms one needs to put them in the context of the whole body of his work and his actions.

It is hard to believe that Garth Turner was surprised by being booted from caucus. The new Conservative Party operates on the basis of hierarchy and central control. Harper made this comment in an interview while seeking the leadership of the Canadian Alliance when asked about his view of the grassroots: "Among the volunteers, the tens of thousands of people who work for the party and contribute to it, they have a fair degree of freedom of speech and action--they're volunteers. But for the professional wing of the party, people in high and elected senior positions, I don't think they can fall back on the term grassroots. They're expected to act as a disciplined, professional, hierarchical organization."

Even the general membership of the party has very little, if any, freedom to oppose the direction the hierarchy dictates. While Harper talks about "individual freedom" that freedom is curtailed by "punishment" for exercising it when opposed to the views of the hierarchy. Within that punishment takes various forms: failure to inform them of party events, shunning, removal from office, personal attacks, the cancelling of membership, and so on. This rigid control creates a highly disciplined membership but, as one former Conservative told me, takes the "party" out of Party.