I say Jack lets it die. He will score points big time with rural and western voters. As the odds on favorite to lead the merged dipper/lib party this cant hurt. As for the downtown Toronto latte sippers..screw 'em.
Hey BCL, looks like if you want to get a decent comment thread going these days you need to post about Israel (or maybe about all that coalition talk). But I understand your reticence, as it may attract your side's crazies like flies to honey.
To stand by your convictions, and lose seats. Or to appease the voters, and gain them.
Seems the NDP is doing the latter.
But, in fairness, the creation of the Gun Registry in the first place by the Liberals was more of the same, and the recent "tough on crime" efforts of the Conservatives is as well.
Great to be a voter, where principles all are flexible depending upon where the votes go.
I think a principled vote should be an informed vote - the Tories have been hiding pertinent facts - how can anyone vote on misinformation with a good conscience?
How does Jack call himself principled when evidence and reports and studies show the registry is worth keeping?
The difference between the gun registry and the tough on crime legislation is that the registry is actually useful, and thus worth the money it costs.
Forget that, because people do and will say that the registry isn't useful. Instead, you should point out that getting tough on crime generally increases crime. It costs more than the gun registry (and will continue to cost more) and creates more criminials. Hooray!
Nonetheless, for most libertarians it is of far less concern than making a farmer fill out a registration for his shotgun at a pittance. That's just beyond the pale.
Most criminologists are sceptical of the utility of the gun registry system - and would, in fact, point out that gun crime rates have been dropping long before the registry.
However - rather than continue the emotional debate - I would recommend - one of the most interesting articles I have read in some time, which never really comes down on either side, but points to the "Hall of Mirrors" created by the Canadian media and politicians - "Guns, crime and social order: A Canadian perspective" by James Sheptycki:
It's worth a read from either side of the debate to allow you to ask yourself some tough questions, most pointedly, "Why am I really supporting/opposing the gun registry?"
"Most criminologists are sceptical of the utility of the gun registry system - and would, in fact, point out that gun crime rates have been dropping long before the registry."
That's nice, but then I never claimed it decreased crime.
It is not emotional to point out the registry is used, often, by the police to solve crime, though I do understand your need to characterize an argument that disagrees with you that way - seems easier than actually addressing it.
Last I heard taking fingerprints and storing them on a data base does not decrease crime, and yet the police keep doing it. I wonder why?
"All I know is my vote depends on whether Layton whips the vote. I like Linda Duncan, but I'm not voting NDP without a whipped vote on this."
Linda Duncan supports keeping the gun registry. Her only serious opponent is a Conservative who is unswervingly opposed to the gun registry. If you support the gun registry you have a STARK choice - vote for gun registry supporters Linda Duncan or vote for her Tory gun registry opponent. There is no other option.
Yes there is - I vote for the liberal candidate because the liberals whipped their vote.
This issue is that important to me. Who cares if Duncan votes for the registry if Layton is going to allow her caucus colleagues to kill it? What difference does it make if my MP is CPC or NDP, when on this issue they vote the same way.
I say Jack lets it die. He will score points big time with rural and western voters. As the odds on favorite to lead the merged dipper/lib party this cant hurt. As for the downtown Toronto latte sippers..screw 'em.
ReplyDeleteHey BCL, looks like if you want to get a decent comment thread going these days you need to post about Israel (or maybe about all that coalition talk). But I understand your reticence, as it may attract your side's crazies like flies to honey.
ReplyDeleteI have nothing particularly interesting to say about Israel at the moment.
ReplyDeleteThe eternal dillema of politicians of any stripe.
ReplyDeleteTo stand by your convictions, and lose seats. Or to appease the voters, and gain them.
Seems the NDP is doing the latter.
But, in fairness, the creation of the Gun Registry in the first place by the Liberals was more of the same, and the recent "tough on crime" efforts of the Conservatives is as well.
Great to be a voter, where principles all are flexible depending upon where the votes go.
All I know is my vote depends on whether Layton whips the vote. I like Linda Duncan, but I'm not voting NDP without a whipped vote on this.
ReplyDeleteThe difference between the gun registry and the tough on crime legislation is that the registry is actually useful, and thus worth the money it costs.
ReplyDeleteI think a principled vote should be an informed vote - the Tories have been hiding pertinent facts - how can anyone vote on misinformation with a good conscience?
ReplyDeleteHow does Jack call himself principled when evidence and reports and studies show the registry is worth keeping?
The difference between the gun registry and the tough on crime legislation is that the registry is actually useful, and thus worth the money it costs.
ReplyDeleteForget that, because people do and will say that the registry isn't useful. Instead, you should point out that getting tough on crime generally increases crime. It costs more than the gun registry (and will continue to cost more) and creates more criminials. Hooray!
Nonetheless, for most libertarians it is of far less concern than making a farmer fill out a registration for his shotgun at a pittance. That's just beyond the pale.
Most criminologists are sceptical of the utility of the gun registry system - and would, in fact, point out that gun crime rates have been dropping long before the registry.
ReplyDeleteHowever - rather than continue the emotional debate - I would recommend - one of the most interesting articles I have read in some time, which never really comes down on either side, but points to the "Hall of Mirrors" created by the Canadian media and politicians - "Guns, crime and social order: A Canadian perspective" by James Sheptycki:
http://www.iansa.org/regions/namerica/documents/guns-crime-Can-ccjAug09.pdf
It's worth a read from either side of the debate to allow you to ask yourself some tough questions, most pointedly, "Why am I really supporting/opposing the gun registry?"
"Most criminologists are sceptical of the utility of the gun registry system - and would, in fact, point out that gun crime rates have been dropping long before the registry."
ReplyDeleteThat's nice, but then I never claimed it decreased crime.
It is not emotional to point out the registry is used, often, by the police to solve crime, though I do understand your need to characterize an argument that disagrees with you that way - seems easier than actually addressing it.
Last I heard taking fingerprints and storing them on a data base does not decrease crime, and yet the police keep doing it. I wonder why?
"All I know is my vote depends on whether Layton whips the vote. I like Linda Duncan, but I'm not voting NDP without a whipped vote on this."
ReplyDeleteLinda Duncan supports keeping the gun registry. Her only serious opponent is a Conservative who is unswervingly opposed to the gun registry. If you support the gun registry you have a STARK choice - vote for gun registry supporters Linda Duncan or vote for her Tory gun registry opponent. There is no other option.
Yes there is - I vote for the liberal candidate because the liberals whipped their vote.
ReplyDeleteThis issue is that important to me. Who cares if Duncan votes for the registry if Layton is going to allow her caucus colleagues to kill it? What difference does it make if my MP is CPC or NDP, when on this issue they vote the same way.