Canada 150 BS: Very Right Wing Lineup On Socio-Econ Issues

I think the Canada 150 thing is BS to start with. It's not like there aren't already tons of ideas out there already, all the ideas that will be mentioned in fact, nor that MPs, insiders & the membership don't already know these ideas. It's simply a BS PR-exercise to advance party profile and certain agendas within the party. Many may consider that necessary & canny politics. But BS is BS, all the same. And among the listed co-chairs, Torjman seems the only outsider (Ax is insider) sympathetic to a more socially-minded perspective as regards socio-economic issues. Sure, there a lot of others on environmental and development-foreign affairs questions. But on socio-economic issues, it is heavily packed towards same old right wing BS, which is bizarre when you consider that the membership is VERY red-liberal, about 2-1, as study after study has demonstrated, as have our occasional real and fair leadership races. The whole thing is clearly a set-up to try to dress up CD Howe/TD positions as wise middle course strategy, and get membership and Canadians onside, while not offering any real chance for opposing views and proper debate. BS. While Iggy has been doing better on detainee issue and after, this reeks of Iggiocy typical of man and his followers in the past. If they wanted this to be intellectually respectable, they should have got more left-wingers (union leaders, intellectuals, CCPA, etc.). It will be seen for what it is, at this rate: BS. If this stuff is what you want to do, don't hide behind Robson & Co.'s skirts, come out and say it yourselves, fellas. Intellectually sleazy BS. Foreign Affairs, Environment & Development are well-balanced. But Socio-Economic is a complete set-up. And it will be seen as such, if this lineup is any indication. People aren't fools, eh?

If people behave coherently and honourably, there will be no conference, or it will be ignored, as major political events will have overtaken it. You know how I get exercised about democracy and responsible government? Well, that's all meaningless if MPs and party officials are too cowardly to come out and speak their minds on these issues. They're smart people. They have studied all these issues. They know their communities. Political parties should avoid such extra-parliamentary BS, and let MPs do their jobs, not just representing their constituents, but more importantly, arguably, advancing their own views, within the party, the country and their constituency. MPs of the LPC & Canada liberate yourselves, you have nothing to lose but your chains. Wouldn't it be more fun, interesting and informative to have a few open caucus meetings, televised, so we can watch MPs debate each other? And who knows, one day, we may even have real debate in the HoC! Or is that too radical a suggestion (Lafontaine-Baldwin & the Roundheads would like to know).