Did you ever pay a lot to buy something and then had a really bad experience with it? You bought a used car without thorough inspection because... well, it looked pretty clean and well-maintained but six months later the engine or transmission failed. OR you bought APC backup power supply and it had really poor wiring and intermittent allocation of electricity in sockets. A TDK CD that didn't backup your files. Or shoes that seemed fine at the store and when you come home the shoes around the ankles were too high and it scrapes the skin against the back of your foot when you walk. Or ice-cream that tasted like soggy cardboard. It happens to the best of us. Its called false advertising. We are mislead my statements that persuade us into commercial transactions that we might otherwise avoid. Sometimes the governments also use deception as a tool to change our beliefs and perceptions on how the world is and should be. They create names, slogans, news and advertisements to inundate our minds with their ideas, to misdirect and manipulate our emotions, to manufacture our consent.
For example, this whole week we heard and saw in the news, Asad's military murdering protestors on Syrian streets. Just today CBC broadcasted a live telecast from Syria where Asad's opposition urged the international community to intervene and remove him from power. His regime killed 4,000 civilians. How cruel and inhumane! You are probably disgusted right now. But wait a second, why are you getting all worked up over a piece of information? For all you know, this rhetoric is created by marketers to sell you an idea of a totalitarian Syrian leader whom you will hate so your country can go bomb him out like bin Laden, Saddam and Qadhafi.
My collegues at the Political Science Department often scuff my arguments as conspiracy theories. But what if I told you that NY Times admitted in a matter-of-fact way the use of mainstream writers by the CIA to spread propaganda? In fact Washington Post acknowledged that the media works hand in glove with the CIA. The Independent said the CIA has taken over the news. MSNBC is part of the CIA. William Schaap, a Criminal Justice Lawyer from Chicago testified in open court, after 20 years of investigation, that the CIA uses the media for to further its military agendas. Just google the information for all I care, the US government pays off journalists to report false news.
Still if people want to believe in Santa Clause, the tooth fairy, leprechauns and the media (Fox News, CNN, Geo or Al Jazeera), then this is their business or rather, should I say - their loss! Einstein said, two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity. So, I never underestimate the number of stupid people in circulation. How else can you explain wearing Jemma Fringe-Trim Jacket and Tate Silk Miniskirt in the snow? Or drifting in a minivan? Or eating chocolate with chopsticks? The world just gets stupider and stupider with each day. If 4,000 people died in Syria then 9,000 people are shot to death every year in the United States. If Asad is arresting his citizens then US has arrested and jailed over 2 million people within its borders and over a thousand in Guantanamo. Why doesn't Canada put any sanctions on the US? Until there are observers allowed to investigate, lets freeze all US assets and wars, put a ban on travel on all US citizens and politicians; embargo on investments in the US, a block on sale of American goods and an end of dealings with US banks and the American dollar. I am absolutely appalled by my government's double standards. If Syria does something its criminal but if United States does the same, a trillion times worse than suddenly its okay? Who are we anyway, to put sanctions on Syria? O because Syria is not democracy so it must be punished? Canada is also not a democracy. Our democracy is sirf naam ki.
Democracy is when the population has the freedom to elect its government. Its when the control of the country is in the hands of its majority. Its a practice of social equality through fair elected representation. Yadi Yadi Yada.... Canada is none of this fancy bakwas. This article is dedicated to exposing Canada. Lets take a good look at our government, we are not democratic! Our Prime Minister has total power over the country.
Canada has not one but three heads of state: the Queen, the Governor General and the Prime Minister. The Queen is the official head of state. She is represented by the Governor General who elects the Prime Minister. Our vote doesn't really count for anything, the three heads just back each other up. The Queen represents Canada and embodies the people. She is central to the legal system: court cases are initiated in her name and crime is prosecuted on her behalf. The Governor General is appointed by the Queen on the advise of the Prime Minister. The public has no say. The GG appoints our senators and judges, the lieutenant governors and other offices. The GG also appoints Speaker of the Senate, gives royal assent to legislation and recommends money bills to the House of Commons. He is the guy who decides our taxes. The GG can also dissolve the government and elect another Prime Minister. Which really defeats the purpose of having any elections at all. He is the commander-in-chief of the country. All war plans and strategies are effectively in his hands.
The Prime Minister of Canada is the Cabinet maker. This gives him the power to set government agenda. He choses his advisors from the executive branch. Then gives the executive branch their protfolios to work on. He is the leader of his political party. He controls the party organization, personnel, strategy and policy. He is the chief policy maker, he has the first word on party policy. He leads the House of Commons. You know when you go to vote for your MP? Yea, your MP works for this guy. The Prime Minister is our MP's boss. The Prime Minister appoints government agents, diplomats, councils, ambassadors, and foreign ministers. Essentially everyone in the Canadian government, both home and abroad is hired by the Prime Minister. He can ratify almost anyone into any position just like that. What this means, is that the Prime Minister not only has the power to assign individuals to their posts but he also retains the ability to elevate or discipline individuals over time. So the PM is able to use his appointments and job appraisals to solidify the ranks of loyalists and dismiss those who do not serve his interests.
For example, in 2006, when Harper became PM, you must have noticed cabinet change. Then he shuffled only to ministers. Then in 2007 he replaced the Minister of Environment, Treasury Board, Justice, Citizenship and Immigration. Later in the same year, he replaced the Ministers of Industry, Defense and Foreign Affairs. Basically, Harper elevated to power his favourites and demoted the ones he was discontent with. This is the same time when Harper gave $7 billion to Canada to beef up its security and he gave an additional $8 billion for offshore patrol ships to be deployed before 2013. Harper made Israeli security permanent agenda for the Canadian government. Harper further declared Islam the great threat to Islam. Under Harper, niqab was banned in Quebec, the Shari'a rulings for family law cases were banned in Ontario. Simultaneously, Harper gave in to the US to enhance security across the border. The Canadian government under Harper can turn you in to the US should you cross the border. Then G20 summit happened and more than 900 people were arrested in Toronto in a single week. All because some big shots in suits wanted to secure more wealth for the wealthy (for the economic meltdown), for the creation of carbon market (making environmental prudency a commodity that can be bought, sold and traded) and privatization of education and health care. This would not be possible if Harper the Cabinet Ministers didn't have Harper's back.
What's more absurd is that the British North America Act makes no formal reference to the position of the Prime Minister. So in reality, the Prime Minister can do anything - literally make any executive or legislative deliberations without restraint. He has full autonomy. The PM also decides when to hold elections. So the PM can capitalize upon the movement of polls and catch the opposition unprepared. The elections depend more on image and style then party platforms. Less than 48% of Canadian vote anyway. So however becomes the Canada's Prime Minster has the absolute political power and allegiance. Global and Mail accepts that Canada is secretly a dictatorship. Then why such a big fuss over Asad and Syria? Let them be and try and fix things at home.
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