tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23948057.post5161883116779175411..comments2008-12-02T12:47:07.925-05:00Ben Burdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06372169478978720740ben@eagle.caBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23948057.post-36928151714353171562008-12-02T12:34:00.000-05:002008-12-02T12:34:00.000-05:00The problem with some people is they don't seem to be able to look at the Big Picture. It's not about one person's unwillingness for his or her tax dollars to go to a political party, it is for the benefit of all of us, and democracy itself. Parties need basic stability so they can grow (or not)and provide the citizens with the choices that are after all, what democracy is! <BR/><BR/>Without that government financial support, the only parties that would have a dime are the parties that favour the rich, who can afford to donate all the cash required. Low income people who can't afford to donate may prefer a political party that looks after their interests, not their lords and masters.<BR/><BR/>And that, dear readers, is why it is so important for legitimate political parties to have base funding from the Feds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23948057.post-64805184101567973432008-11-28T10:21:00.000-05:002008-11-28T10:21:00.000-05:00Spare me the silly platitude. I pay $$$ to support the Bloc Quebecois to constantly disparage my unworthiness as a Canadian, and its work to break up this splendid democracy. Sheesh, Ben, you need to do better than flog this political party welfare scheme as the finger in the dike to prevent the demise of democracy. It is not worth coercing the $$$$ from me. I believe in free choice, not coercion. I should be free to choose to support or not support financially any given political party, not be coerced to pay to support them.Wally Keelerhttp://poetency.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23948057.post-858868167163557202008-11-28T09:56:00.000-05:002008-11-28T09:56:00.000-05:00If all this crazy talk about a snap election amounts to anything, I am cheering for a coalition government instead. The opposition parties should have gone to the Gov. Gen. before the election was called and proposed that idea.<BR/><BR/>It's worked before, and it can't be worse than having that nasty man Stephen Harper in charge.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23948057.post-34984457531685608292008-11-28T08:24:00.000-05:002008-11-28T08:24:00.000-05:00Wally<BR/>The price of democracy $1.95 is cheap compared to people having the ability to buy political parties.<BR/>benBen Burdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06372169478978720740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23948057.post-34068090878373329532008-11-27T23:10:00.000-05:002008-11-27T23:10:00.000-05:00So I am coerced to finance assorted political parties. Why is this supposed to be a good thing for me? What bang do I get for my buck?Wally Keelerhttp://poetency.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com