Seems every now and then we get a few people bitching like hell about our appointed Senate. Some have some good arguments that it is nothing more than an old boy’s club for the politicians and such. Appointees are payoffs according to some, including Stephen Harper. Course that was before he appointed one of his own Tory workers to be a Senator and then made him a Cabinet Minister. Yet Harper pledges to introduce legislation to make the Senate an Elected Office.

“Fulfilling our commitment to make the Senate more effective and more democratic, the government hopefully this fall will introduce a bill in the House to create a process to choose elected senators,” Harper said as he became the first prime minister to appear before a Senate committee. ( full CBC story )

I guess he really does love George Bush and America. I mean instead of insuring that we move forward, Mr Harper wishes to push us backwards, so that our checks and balances get mired down in mediocrity and partisan politics, just as has and does exist today in the United States. This is what he wants for Canada, which doesn’t surprise me, but all the talk about electing the Senate doesn’t truly address the issues he claims an elected Senate will fullfill.

To begin with, let’s keep in mind that the appointed Senate is a check and balance on the House of Commons. No, it can’t prevent legislation, but it can hold it up as it did in the Mulroney era on the NAFTA agreement. Parliament was forced to debate the issue when the sitting government had a clear majority in place. Something NO ELECTED SENATE will be able to do.

While the Appointed Senate did hold it up, in the end, it didn’t prevent it. Though many wish it had, given how the Americans have honored that useless treaty. I mean have we gotten the illegal tarriffs back yet on our softwood lumber? Remember, that was a hot issue back then, that this NAFTA would improve our trade in areas like softwood lumber. Look at the industry since, and tell me again, how good is NAFTA?  At least the Appointed Senate forced the issue to be discussed and yes, people did vote back Mulroney and in doing so gave us NAFTA, Michael WIlson deficits and worse, but the point isn’t what we got, the point is that an non elected body was able to give US the VOTER an opportunity to debate the issue. Something the majority Mulroney Government didn’t want or even attempt.

That reason alone makes all the stupid appointments and grief worth it.

Another reason is that when a person is appointed, they have no additional worries. I mean they don’t have to concern themselves with raising huge sums of money to run for office again. Political parties do not need to raise even more sums of money to run candidates for more political offices.

Without the need to campaign, an Appointed Senator can better render a decsion than someone elected. I mean let us be honest here, if you are forced to vote for a bill, and the bill will hurt the people who contribute to your re-election, how quick will you be to vote against that piece of legislation?

Stephen Harper talks about transparency, yet by forcing an elected Senate onto the nation, what he is doing is handing over the keys of government to big business and narrow minded special interest groups. Politicians and Political Parties need campaign contributors and with an added bunch of elected officials, the need becomes even greater. With a greater need, comes greater temptation and so while Mr Harper talks about Honest Government, his policies are really designed to corrupt our entire system. It removes a check and balance that has worked. Sure not the best, but better than the alternative.

I suppose my real objection is that I can see the way an elected Senate works, by simply watching CNN or FOX or MSNBC. I mean look at what is happening in the States and ask if that is what we want for Canada?

Endless bloodshed in Iraq because no body was able to question Bush’s assertions let alone prevent him from invading Iraq.

No border security despite 9/11 and that was FIVE YEARS AGO!

Secret Prisons holding people prisoner without any legal oversight.

Erosion of Civil Rights, such as wiretapping that took FIVE YEARS to overturn

Torture of Prisoners that is still not settled. 

The US Senate has passed numerous legislation such as the proposed Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants, something a large majority of US Voters oppose, yet the Senate passed it and because the House of Representatives can’t agree, there is NO NEW IMMIGRATION BILL in the United States. Worse, important criteria such as Border Security is waylaid while this impasse continues.

Look at the number of indictments against sitting US Federal Politicians from both sides before you decide whether or not to import that style of Democracy into Canada. Even Trudeau has his moments with the Senate and even then, despite being a Liberal Majority, they managed to still hold Parliament accountable. Who is doing that in the United States today?  Any political branch of government?

Check out the laws passed after 9/11 by the Senate and Representatives such as the Patriot Act I and II and ask, is this a true check and balance system? The people who count, the Voters, are unable to get informed of important details, and when they oppose the legislation, it is too late because there is NO CHECK against the elected Politicians until the next election. At least with our Appointed Senate, we have a check that can delay legislation until that time, and isn’t that worth a bit more than total confusion or worse, horrendous bills such as the Patriot Act Bills?

Off to the right is a poll, have your say and if you feel like it, post a comment as well here. I mean this is our Country, so let us have our voice. An elected Senate puts Canada a step backwards, and adds greater influence from those who are a true minority, the Super Rich and Elite. That is what an elected Senate is fueld by, not by you or me, which is why I hope that Harper holds to his promise, and calls an election if the current appointed Senate stalls his bill.

Least we’d have one more shot at turfing him out, and for voicing our opinion before the big corporations take over, if Stephen Harper gets a majority government.

Those are our choices, to hold the line and keep Canada Canadian, or to sell out like Stephen Harper and his Klansmen wish, and become mediocre, just like the United States has become. Think about it, because an elected Senate means more political ads, more campaign contributions, and worse, more temptation.

Is that what you wish?

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