Thought Experiment Continued
Real Tory.
That could be the name. Or something smarter. But, for the moment let’s go with Real Tory, RT for short.
Real Tory would be a Canadian political party designed to lose. But, in losing it would destroy any hope the CPC had of a majority government. The basic strategy is outlined here.
Real Tory is, pure and simple, an interim means of exerting pressure on the CPC to govern from the right.
A Real Tory platform (which I’ve recycled) (aka, list of demands) would be extensive:
- repeal of s. 13 of the CHRA
- a pledge to reduce government spending by a real 3% per year (No BS about “as a percentage of GDP, real spending with real year over year cuts.) until a real cut of 25% has been achieved
- a pledge to apply all surpluses resulting from the 3% spending reduction program to retire the National Debt and only then to cut taxes
- the creation of a fully equipped, rapid deployment, special forces brigade in the Canadian Forces
- a statement that Canada will support democracy and oppose non-democratic and failed regimes (and that the criteria for democracy would be set at or near the levels of freedom – including freedom of speech and association – enjoyed by Canadians)
- a pledge to immediately halt immigration from non-democratic states and to scrutinize the bona fides of landed immigrants from such nations with the intention of deporting any landed immigrants who pose a threat to the security or the culture of Canada
- a pledge to eliminate family class immigration from all nations (but with generous visitors visas provided that the visitor had family in Canada prepared to put up a bond to cover medical and other costs)
- a suspension of the refugee claimant program until the problems with that program have been addressed
- a one strike and you’re out policy for refugee claimants and landed immigrants who are convicted of serious criminal activity – and yes drug trafficking is serious (see below)
- the development of strongly pro-natalist programs and policies
- the withdrawal of the Federal government from as many areas of shared federal provincial responsibility as possible
- Abolition of the Senate (it looks beyond reformation and really contributes nothing that a few think tanks couldn’t do better, faster and cheaper)
- a reduction of 3% per year in the total amount of money available for equalization with the intention of eliminating all but two year “emergency” grants over 15 years.
- the formation of an advisory committee on Global Warming charged with providing to the Canadian people and the Canadian government an objective assessment of the certainty of the science underlying the claim of global warming, man’s contribution to that warming (if any), Canada’s contribution to that human induced warming (if any), and the costs and benefits of alternatives
- the repeal of such sections of the Canada Health Act which preclude private insurance or providers and a requirement that any facility that has been in any manner, directly or indirectly, financed with federal money, make its facilities available to private providers (for a reasonable fee) when those facilities would otherwise not be used.
- the sale of the CBC broken up into a) television licenses sold to the highest bidder on a regional basis, b) radio licences sold to the highest bidder on a regional basis, c) all other assets sold to the highest bidder. The only rules for the auction being that a bidder may not hold more than two radio or television licenses in Canada (Alternatively, and just for fun, move CBC HQ to Moosejaw and sell the Frum Center)
- the abolition of the CRTC
- the abolition of the Department of Indian Affairs and a buyout or other settlement of all aboriginal claims of any sort.
- the equalization of the qualifications for EI across the country and a reduction in the premium to bring EI into accord with actual requirements
- the abolition of all farm marketing boards beginning with the Wheat Board.
- the immediate and complete decriminalization of marijuana and its ancillary products
- the provision of heroin, cocaine and other “hard” drugs free to persons registered as addicts
- the complete decriminalization of prostitution and ancillary activities with the age of consent for these activities set at 18
- the elimination of all but essential governmental advertising, sponsorship and grants where essential is defined as essential to the efficient workings of the government (think invitations to tender and legal notices)
- the elimination of the Department of of National Heritage and Multiculturalism (some funding would still continue but would be passed through Treasury Board or Public Works)
- the elimination of SOW (again)
- the replacement of 50% of the Board of the Canada Council with citizens chosen by lot. Similarly, for all grant applications at least one of the referees would be a citizen chosen by lot who would be entitled to veto any application – funding would remain in place but the product would change (Same rules for the National Film Board and Telefilm)
- the elimination of both the Canadian Human Rights Commission and Tribunal – we have the Charter and the Courts
- the elimination of Industry Canada – we have trade associations
- A review of the activities and effectiveness of SSHRC and the NRC
Now, do you think a Real Tory Party with that manifesto could secure 1000-2000 votes per marginal riding? I do.
And virtually all of those votes would be at the expense of the CPC. Which would mean Harper would lose between 5 and twenty ridings depend upon the Liberal’s capacity to elect a strong leader.
Harper and the children running his political operation know they can be screwed from the right. Even as they dispatch Jason Kenny to woo the vismins they are well aware that they are alienating their base. In Alberta that does not matter; but in at least forty ridings in Canada it does.
The objective of Real Tory would not be to win the seats; rather it is to put pressure on the CPC and Harper to address the concerns of the conservative interest. (And, by the way, my socon friends – whose policies I have no time for – are just as capable of organizing their own alternative.)
It is great to blog away and hope that the bright boys in the PMO realize they have nothing to lose and lots to gain by killing s. 13 or actually reducing spending. But hope is for Obamaites. Real power, as Mao pointed out, comes from the barrel of a gun. So long as the CPC is locked into pander mode and can count on the right to support them in lieu of an alternative they will govern like Liberals. Put a gun to their head and they just might try the conservative option.
November 12th, 2008 at 5:59 am
Out of curiosity, what would you do about the other radio monopolies, like Clear Channel, along with the media monopolies like CanWest Global? Wouldn’t a Real Tory be anti-monopoly as well?
Where’s that equality I keep hearing about? As a woman in tech, well, I haven’t seen it yet. (Me: “We need the ESA certification on this transformer. It’s under 25V but it’s going in a wiring closet with 120V equipment.” Him: “Ok, let me talk to the tech.” Me: “I am the tech. The electrical input to the ballast is here, and the DALI wiring, which is 25V, is here on the other end, and the transformer will go there.” Him: “Hmm. Yeah, I’ll need to speak to the tech.”)
November 12th, 2008 at 6:02 am
Oh yeah, and re federalism: becoming the US? Hasn’t been working well for them recently.
I totally agree with your drugs/prostitution liberalization. You must be from the west coast. People in Ontario are way more right wing. Might not be so popular out here.
November 12th, 2008 at 6:17 am
Mm, one other thing. No immigration from non-democratic states? Why in hell not?
November 12th, 2008 at 6:54 am
Ok I’m in!
November 12th, 2008 at 7:38 am
Love the Manifesto.
Now who will be our leader and where does one sign up?
November 12th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Forgot to add another possible demand!
>Abolition of tax free or special status for all Special Interest Groups masquarading as Charities that are actually thinly disguised political lobby groups.
November 12th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Include good Scotch on your list of free drugs and I’ll sign up as an addict. Include Cab. Sauv. and Merlot and I’ll be a candidate!
Seriously, while I could live with decriminalization, I am not sure what entitles anyone to free anything from government (ie, from you and me, Jay), whether they register as an addict or not. If you personally would like to use your own funds to buy de-criminalized cocaine and heroin and distribute it randomly among addicts, go ahead.
On EI, I would stipulate that all industries and occupations be treated identically, and that the program could not be used as a prop for “seasonal” industries – if the economic value-added does not carry a person for a year, then we shuld scale back the activity, not subsidize it. The rest of the platform is fine, although on the age of consent for prostitution, etc, I would prefer 19, but that’s a quibble.
November 12th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Renee, remember that the objective of Real Tory would not be to win; rather it would be to take 1000-2000 votes away from the CPC in marginal ridings. So it does not have to be popular enough to win in Ontario, just popular enough to get those swing votes.
November 12th, 2008 at 9:18 am
I would add to the list:
– owing to its traditional religious significance only in their culture, hand over the entire tobacco growing, processing, distribution and retailing industry to all First Nations societies in Canada. Elements of those societies not able to participate directly in said growing, processing, etc., etc., to be compensated by, and within, the new found wealth framework. “Brother’s keeper” and all that shit. No recourse to, or involvement by, Feds. – eliminate taxes on tobacco and tobacco products; offset tobacco tax revenue decreases against cost savings of Indian Affairs’ elimination – message to current tobacco industry: “Sorry, SOL! No compensation. You see, it was and remains a religious thing.” – affect commensurate staff reductions/redeployments at Canada Revenue Agency, RCMP, CBSA, etc., or beef up Department of Defence. – encourage provinces to follow suit … under pain of reassessing transfer payment formulas – retain one solitary book-keeper in PCO or Department of Finance to track the to’s and fro’s to ensure they net out to zero and report annually to Parliament. – apply an immediate across-the-board 50% reduction – period – to all federal Grants and Contributions; strike a single national sum for acceptable future annual G & C levels; divvy up pot by province on a per-capita basis; place residual organizations still in business after these reductions on province-by-province spreadsheets; include spreadsheets in annual individual tax return mailings with instructions, “Choose your top 10.” Math to be done at Department of Finance.
November 12th, 2008 at 9:50 am
“>Abolition of tax free or special status for all Special Interest Groups masquarading as Charities that are actually thinly disguised political lobby groups.”
Please tell me that includes churches.
November 12th, 2008 at 10:09 am
I wish you great success. Where can I send my cheque.
As for a better name … I always liked Reform Party.
November 12th, 2008 at 10:16 am
KevinG I like Reform Party too but its taken. Besides, Preston wanted to win seats, this party merely wants to push policy. Much cheaper.
Running would just be the threat.
Renee…I have never been a big fan of tax exemptions for churches…or at least those with “Outreach Ministries” or “Liberation theologies” so sure, let’s cut the exemptions.
November 12th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Renee = Yup.
Churches, Mosques, Synagogs will henceforth have to pay their way.
All donations via the Collection Box will have to be declared as a taxable benefit.
No tax free status for UN or other diplomatic employees or missions. All Embassies will be required to pay property taxes according to the local tariff.
Only one exempt will be the Salvation Army.
November 12th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
“Real Tory is, pure and simple, an interim means of exerting pressure on the CPC to govern from the right.””
It’s worth a try, I suppose, but I fear it will be futile in the end. The CPC is not conservative at heart, they just dress that way to differentiate themselves from the Liberals.
November 12th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
I’m with you on all but the drugs policy Jay.
Singapore’s LTI strategy has much much more successful at reducing rates of drug slavery and halting the spread of drug related crime and disease. Spending tax money on free dope for addicts may be popular with the pot-addled populace of Vancouver, but is a non-starter anywhere else.
That strategy, succinctly:
People on drugs get a mandatory 4 years in prison / rehab separate from the regular prison population. If you’ve ever had a junkie in the family you’ll understand why it takes that long and has to be that harsh. Their recidivism rate is less than 1 in 1000, even for hard drugs like heroin.
People selling drugs receive a sentence equal to that for first degree murder. In SG that is death by hanging. Again, if you’ve ever had a junkie in the family you’ll understand why that is.
SG has the lowest rate of drug use in the world. Unlike Insite and similar schemes, LTI works.
November 12th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Wait, I’ve had a junkie in the family and I totally disagree with you. I also fail to understand your logic – if recidivism is 1/1000 – 0.1% – then, er, that’s pretty damned good. So why a mandatory sentence? (Considering recidivism is like 60% in the US overall… and the average in Canada is about 5%, and that mandatory sentences basically remove the ability of judges to consider context.) Do you really mean recidivism, or do you mean rates of addiction relapse?
I do know that treatment programs have mixed results, but minimum sentences simply institutionalize people who can otherwise function aside from their addiction. It’s only scarcity that leads to crime. Harm reduction programs in Europe, for example, close to what the RT list advocates, do fairly well – they may not cure addiction, but they let addicts live relatively normal lives, care for their families, and generally lowers crime and upps the return on social capital that is invested in its citizens.
November 12th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
(Also, Singapore has no free speech – you think the CHCR is bad? Some bloggers were recently tried for sedition after making racist remarks. Also? Singapore has the highest execution rate IN THE WORLD. Doesn’t seem like their vaunted programs are, er, working so well, eh?)
November 12th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
HAIL, I HAVE OPINIONS.
Sorry, Jay. Feel free to put a comment limit per post on me =)
November 13th, 2008 at 5:22 am
abolition of all farm marketing boards ….. change to:
Abolition of mandatory participation and force financial self sufficiency through membership fees – let them wind down through attrition on their own.
Not too keen on the hard drugs free system …
November 13th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Jay:
Good point about a So-Con splinter party. If the idea is to win, one party is better than two, but if the idea is to bleed votes, then two are better than one: if one protest party doesn’t suit a voter, he might be attracted to the other. (But how to choose? Dear me!—As a socon I’ll have to get back to you on that.)
Less is more when it comes to protest-party policy, but let me suggest one further bullet point for your list: pare our UN contribution down to the amount that supports useful international memberships (WHO, WMO, ICAO, ITU, etc.), withdraw our ambassador, and accredit a very junior secretary at the NYC consulate-general as charge-d’affaires, with instructions to vote against the “international community” whatever the issue.