Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Taxpayer-funded MP mail-outs target Trudeau

The Liberal Party’s research office was gleefully distributing these proposed mailers for Conservative MPs that attack new leader Justin Trudeau’s experience and judgment.

The letter attached says that Tory MPs can sign off and allow the Conservative Research Group to handle mailing out the so-called “10 per center” on their behalf. The cost to send to 40,000 households is about $175 out of each MPs’ budget. (That is to say, $175 ultimately drawn on the taxpayer-funded exchequer. But, really, at this point, who’s counting?)

The frilly typography and glimmering star motif is consistent with the attack ads the Tories are running on TV and, combined with the reference to Trudeau’s work as a “drama teacher for 2 years,” stops just short of implying he is a charter member of the glee club.

It also notes under the heading of inexperience that he was also a camp counselor, a bungee jump coach and white-water rafting instructor. No mention, alas, of his work as a nightclub bouncer in Whistler, B.C.

The householders also repeat the intentionally out-of-context quote used in the TV ad that ascribes to Trudeau his paraphrasing of his father’s views about Quebeckers.

Original Article
Source: ottawacitizen.com
Author:  Glen McGregor

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