Unrepresented

Whereas I fully agree with you on these points, I really don't think that Facebook protests are effective. It is just too easy to register and way too easy to dismiss them.

For the most part, I agree with you. The thing is, you shouldn't look at it as an organised protest of dedicated people. Rather, it's a barometer of what the public thinks about a particular issue. It's like a pettition-signing more than anything. And 209,000 signatures is impressive regarding any issue.

Think of it another way: the Conservatives count on a large faction of Canadians to be uninformed about the long list of anti-democratic tricks they've been playing in Ottawa. With that many people in the Facebook group, that's bound to put a dent in their blind support.

Those who say they will be on parliament hill, mean they will be keeping their office hours, they will be attending meetings, they will continue to do as they know how to politically do.

Think of parliament like a university and the MPs as profs who have office hours. If they can't do their job, they still try to be accessible to those who might reach them. Politicians of all stripes and colours are intelligent and very connected people who know their constituents will call or knock on their door with concerns, and issues. You would be surprised to see the people who show up, the actions ordinary and sometimes somewhat nutty citizens take to bring issues to the attention of those in power. Just because a government is not in active parliament or voting on legislation does not mean that the politicians are sitting on their thumbs, it is impossible. The number of things changing and moving and happening on a daily basis politically is mind blowingly complex.

Never underestimate the volume of intellectual activity, lobbying and analysis that is constantly going on within the political sphere. There are an incredible number of people engaged and actively contacting members of all levels of government ALL THE TIME. There are no "off-seasons", there are no "political vacations". The complexity of contemporary issues is such that at all hours there are people contributing to the political discourse and direction of not only our country, ideology but the future of the planet. When MPs really do lose touch with the public about certain matters, (which I found rarely happens without swift repercussions) actions in response are taking place. Most of what is going on never reaches the headlines of any major newspaper. The media tends to think its boring when a few members of parliament override parliament security to let several thousand people into the parliament buildings for a daylong "People's Parliament" discussing gross challenges to Canadian democracy and problems with transparency in decision making.

Which has happened. I was there. It took the work of thousands of people across the country. It taught me the biggest danger is not a government doing nothing but a government working behind closed doors, in unofficial, unmonitored, and unaccountable capacities. It's not so much a problem that they are "taking time off" or that they are "taking a vacation from" responsibility, as this is simply not what is happening. It is that many if not most of these political figures will continue to keep working and making decisions. They will continue to formulate responses, policies and negotiating our future in a way that will not be transparent. Where there will be little if any accountability, insight or knowledge as to what is happening.

It is unfortunate that so many myths persist about how politics and political activity takes place. If we actually really saw how the system functioned, really saw the way knowledge and decisions flowed we'd be forced to devise a more humanistic approach.

Isis, you're right of course. My choice of words should have been more accurate. I know that from a number sources, the business of politics never really takes a vacation. I guess what I meant was that the business of the House: debate has been abandoned -- essentially allowing Harper to take a vacation from his most arduous responsibility, listening to the people.

Dan, you have a gift for explaining these things in a way which makes it crystal clear why they are so important! Ems and I are headed to the event tomorrow!

I'm glad to hear it! I miss you guys :-(

Well technically we don't quite live in a democracy, we have a constitutional monarchy. I think of it more as a quasi-democracy. :P

Having said that, I just want to know why on earth the Governer General has apparently become Harper's bitch? Seriously .. agreeing to this two years in a row? I expect shit like that from Harper acting out of personal interest, but what the hell does Michaëlle Jean think Canada has to gain? I must be missing something here.

Heh. The funny thing about the Governor General is that her role is that since she's an appointed body, her position is essentially an undemocratic one, so if she were ever to throw her weight around, I think a lot of us (myself included) would be upset that someone unaccountable to the public were setting public policy. In most parliamentary democracies, the understanding is that while the PM must ask the GG's permission, that permission should always be granted because (s)he supposedly represents the Will of the people.

The real question we should be asking here is why have Ignatief, Layton and Duceppe not gone to the Michelle Jean already with a plan for a coalition?

Well from what I've heard of Iggy, he's supposedly anti-prorogue but also anti-coalition. (I don't know why, but that's what I heard when this shit happened last year.) They need him on board to do it.

Yep, I've heard the same. I wish I knew what his problem was :-(

Oh and one thing I meant to say .. the idea behind the Governer General being meant to grant permission to the PM is based on his having the confidence of parliament. He clearly doesn't, which is the reason he's pulling the prorogue shit in the first place. So that's why I'm baffled that she's granting it. But yeah, it'd be nice if the other party leaders were approaching her with their concerns too (I have no idea whether any of them have in any way).