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*whew*

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"I think it's important to always carry enough technology to restart civilization, should it be necessary." Mark Tilden

   

"The truth is just the truth, we need more of it and it is never foolish."

What is the "truth" here? What if Layton has managed to throw Harper a life line by using the Legislative Committee as a tactic to delay the issue until the next election as some enviromentalists are suggesting? Will he have been duped by Harper or a victim of his own cleverness?

What does it have to do with truth? It has far more to do with political strategy but that can have either intended or unintended consequences. The effect is that, at least in the short term, the environmental issue is something the government can put to rest.

   

Well you are right, it has been sent to committee and Layton is effectively silenced. What was the alternative though, say nothing and let it pass? At least this is another "something" the NDP can point to and say "we're defending Canada". The issue may be gone in the short term but it's not gone and if it resurfaces during an election campaign, that'll be good too. I doubt that Jack Layton would want to be the guy that "brought down the government just in time for a christmas campaign" anyway. The NDP needs every Canadian voter's attention during a campaign while the other two seem to be content with the less than 2/3rds of us voting.

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Everybody got to deviate from the norm

   

“What does it have to do with truth? It has far more to do with political strategy but that can have either intended or unintended consequences. The effect is that, at least in the short term, the environmental issue is something the government can put to rest.”

I accept your point to a certain extent but the alternative is totally unacceptable. More prominent politicians have to have the guts to stand up and face this issue head on. Layton’s stance or attitude has to become the norm. Harper’s reaction of course was predictable. He can listen while having no intentions of changing his position whatsoever. Our elected representatives have to get in the face of their own party leaders as well has the ruling party.

It’s certainly possible if not probable that the Income Trust issue has more to do with over shadowing Conservative environmental idiocy than Layton’s attempts to communicate with Harper.

   

I don't believe teh income trust issue was directly related to the environment.

The income trust issues was something they had to deal with and fast as large corporations like Telus and Bell Canada were moving to that model. It underlines the problem with corporate values.

Ecomonic fundamentalism teaches two conflicting principles. The first is that corporate CEOs should act in their individual self-interest. The income trust fad inflated the price of the stock. This benefited CEOs who often gain the bulk of their remuneration through stock options. By moving to an income trust they would gain either through the inflated value of stock or through higher payouts in dividends. According to one source I read today investment bankers were also big winners and others in the business of stock trading.

Without retained earnings for reinvestment, eventually the business behind the income trust would become unviable as an enterprise. The second principle of economic fundamentalist is constant economic growth. The income trust model, a profit taking model, would lead to stagnation and eventually economic decline.

Faced with the potential for economic disaster as large telecommunications companies began to convert to the model the government had to act and act fast. They should have have done so much sooner.

   

Excellent points, Mike and thoughts I’ve held for decades.

In a sane world Jane and John Doh would, out of conscientious would never have allowed leaders, rulers and the like to have gotten a foothold let alone rise to positions of power so the can use the rest of us.


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Diogenes said:
"I am Diogenes the Dog. I nuzzle the kind, bark at the greedy and bite scoundrels."

   

Agreed. I don't suggest that the two are related, but whether intended or not the news is focused away from the environmental plan and directly on Income Trusts. Deliberate or not the results are the same.

   

LOL!

   

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