A group recently popped up on facebook. No-one knows where it came from, and reading the comments the joke is that it was an immaculate conception. Can this Onion Ring get more fans than Stephen Harper? The answer, overwhelmingly, is yes. It can.
At the time I am writing this there are 108,166 fans and it is growing by the minute. It took 5 days to reach that incredible number. This page isn't just fun. And it is fun. Why, even "Stephen Harper" himself has joined. Complete with his sweater vest, lego hair and kitten. Just go read the comments for a while. It is a huge political statement if I have ever seen one.
I recently blogged about the Canadian Against Proroguing Parliament group(CAPP).
I watched as the CAPP group was dismissed as "a little facebook group", "elites", "the chattering classes". Now the Onion Group is being dismissed as silly. I wouldn't be too quick to do that. The big difference between the Onion Ring group and the CAPP group is that majority of the CAPP group is already engaged, they are older, and they vote. Oh, the CAPP group has been a major game changer. Yes, they have been a game changer. They have raised awareness of an issue that would otherwise have not even have been on the radar of most unsuspecting Canadians - a tactic that the Conservative government counts on. But this Onion Ring group could work hand in hand. This could also be a real game changer. Imagine how this could raise awareness for young voters.
If the Onion Ring group was silly, the neo-cons wouldn't be taking it so seriously. They wouldn't be there trying to disrupt the flow. And I've seen that. Trying to spread false information. In my opinion, something has to be a threat or they wouldn't be wasting their time on this. Which brings me to another point. One of my all time favorite rants that sums up how I feel about the current state of Canadian politics is told by Canada's funny man, Rick Mercer. Yes, news has become entertainment and entertainment has become news. In a minute and and a half Rick tells us that Canadians aren't aware of what goes on in their country, they don't care, the government tries to make it worse by misleading the public and that we have a right and duty to be engaged. That's a lot of information to pack into a minute and a half, but oh so critical.
So, on that note, how do we engage? When will we start to:
1)be aware of how our government operates?
2)care how our government operates?
3)be aware that they are misleading us?
4)care enough to actually take the time to try and change it?
It's simple folks. Next election exercise your right and duty and vote. It's simple really. Find out about your candidates and you mark and X on a ballot. It can change not only the future of your country, but your future and the future of your children and their children. Think of the rights that have been won by those before us. Many people have died fighting for our rights and freedoms. All you have to do is vote.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament - From Facebook to filling the streets to filling the ballot box
"What's that?" she asked.
"Well", I replied, "It's a group that I have been following with keen interest, and I think others should too."
"Okay. I'll join. But I don't know anything about politics and don't ask me to do anything."
And so the story goes. Exactly what our politicians count on to continue to run this country. Ignorance and apathy. When the Dominion Institute conducted their poll in 2008 and discovered that approximately half of our population had no idea how our parliament worked, that in itself was a crisis. When our government tried to make it worse by deliberately misleading the Canadian public, that should have been criminal.
For a group that was dismissed as elites and the chattering masses, it seems to be having quite an impact. The right wing pundits try to discredit the rallies, stating it means nothing. Really? When is the last time that many Canadians took to the streets to express their displeasure at the government over anything? In the middle of winter? Oh, I think you would be wise not to dismiss these rallies, Mr. Harper. Don't look now, but the chattering elites are revolting.
I think for most, prorogation isn't the issue. We've heard all the stale right wing talking points. It's the abuse of power. And in this case, it is the straw that broke the camels back. It's not just the chattering elites that are upset. Oh no. It's the "no good bastards" unemployed and the "left wing fringers" women and the list goes on. People know how the Harper government feels about Canadians, and this is just a slap in the face of democracy.
So now, I ask you. Where does this group go? The rallies were great. The flash rallies are great. The 31 days of action are great. Keep the pressure on. But my big concern is getting people who aren't currently engaged in the political process educated and involved. What we want to see is a change in government. We don't want to see "business as usual" when the House resumes on March 3. We don't want to forget that we were slapped in the face. To do that, we need to get people engaged and active. Ignorance and apathy is what they count on. They are the Harper government's secret weapons. What can CAPP do to change that?
I know there are people who are doing a great job of educating and engaging. The challenge should be - get out the vote. It's important to do what CAPP is doing, but it can't end there. The important work will be done during the next election. People who don't traditionally vote need to be educated on the issues. Do the unemployed know that their own government thinks that they are "no good bastards"? Are students aware how their government works and how the decisions made impact them? Maybe if they were engaged, some wouldn't end up with $50,000 student loans when they were finished their degree. These are issues that affect people who should be voting. Why don't they? This is something we need to ask well beyond the scope of the prorogation issue and remind ourselves that our government wants to keep people uninformed.
As part of your 31 days of action, who will you talk to about voting in the next election?
"Well", I replied, "It's a group that I have been following with keen interest, and I think others should too."
"Okay. I'll join. But I don't know anything about politics and don't ask me to do anything."
And so the story goes. Exactly what our politicians count on to continue to run this country. Ignorance and apathy. When the Dominion Institute conducted their poll in 2008 and discovered that approximately half of our population had no idea how our parliament worked, that in itself was a crisis. When our government tried to make it worse by deliberately misleading the Canadian public, that should have been criminal.
For a group that was dismissed as elites and the chattering masses, it seems to be having quite an impact. The right wing pundits try to discredit the rallies, stating it means nothing. Really? When is the last time that many Canadians took to the streets to express their displeasure at the government over anything? In the middle of winter? Oh, I think you would be wise not to dismiss these rallies, Mr. Harper. Don't look now, but the chattering elites are revolting.
I think for most, prorogation isn't the issue. We've heard all the stale right wing talking points. It's the abuse of power. And in this case, it is the straw that broke the camels back. It's not just the chattering elites that are upset. Oh no. It's the "no good bastards" unemployed and the "left wing fringers" women and the list goes on. People know how the Harper government feels about Canadians, and this is just a slap in the face of democracy.
So now, I ask you. Where does this group go? The rallies were great. The flash rallies are great. The 31 days of action are great. Keep the pressure on. But my big concern is getting people who aren't currently engaged in the political process educated and involved. What we want to see is a change in government. We don't want to see "business as usual" when the House resumes on March 3. We don't want to forget that we were slapped in the face. To do that, we need to get people engaged and active. Ignorance and apathy is what they count on. They are the Harper government's secret weapons. What can CAPP do to change that?
I know there are people who are doing a great job of educating and engaging. The challenge should be - get out the vote. It's important to do what CAPP is doing, but it can't end there. The important work will be done during the next election. People who don't traditionally vote need to be educated on the issues. Do the unemployed know that their own government thinks that they are "no good bastards"? Are students aware how their government works and how the decisions made impact them? Maybe if they were engaged, some wouldn't end up with $50,000 student loans when they were finished their degree. These are issues that affect people who should be voting. Why don't they? This is something we need to ask well beyond the scope of the prorogation issue and remind ourselves that our government wants to keep people uninformed.
As part of your 31 days of action, who will you talk to about voting in the next election?
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