June 17th, 2004

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Politics
37 Comments »

Who is Alan Robberstad?

UPDATE: According to Russil Wvong (from the comments in this posting to the BlogsCanda E-Group), Alan Robberstad’s email address may be arobberstad@lockerbiehole.com. Alan or Lockerbie & Hole admin, if you’d like me to remove this, email me at darren AT darrenbarefoot FULL-STOP com and I’ll happily do so.

And why is he responsible for political spam? Today I was forwarded either:

  • An email from one man raging against the machine
  • A cleverly-constructed email meme from the Conservative Party campaign.

It looks like those mostly-loathsome Internet jokes that people forward around, with multiple carets before each line and a couple of lengthy arrays of email addresses. Judging by the carets and addresses, hundreds of people have seen this message in my thread alone.

However, it’s actually a polemic from one Alan Robberstad of Edmonton, Alberta, who has written an anti-Liberal, pro-Conservative rant and encourages his readers to ‘forward the e-mail RIGHT NOW!!’ Google tells us that Mr. Robberstad worked at Lockerbie & Hole Contracting in Edmonton in 2000, on something called the Mechanical Estimating Team (see page 2 of this PDF). I mention this just to verify that he appears to be an actual person.

While I’m not crazy about the content, a hokey email like this is an exceptional idea for some grassroots campaigning. The email comes from a friend, so it’s trusted. More importantly, the content has a down-home, everyman feel to it that could have wide appeal. Has anybody else received this, or something similar to it from other parties? If not, they better get busy crafting their own messages from angry men and women from across the country.

Read on to see the lengthy message in all its glory:

My name is Alan Robberstad
I am a Canadian.
One voter out of millions of Canadian voters.

Paul Martin is no friend of mine.
Liberal governments have not made my life any better. Liberal governments have made the future worse for my children.

Jean Chretien and the Liberal Party became Prime Minister many years
ago. Guess who was the Liberal Finance Minister…..Paul Martin…LEST WEFORGET

Since 1993:
(1) My taxes have increased.
(2) My family’s share of the national debt has increased.
(3) My personal expenses have increased.
(4) My waiting time to see a doctor has increased.
(5) My concerns for my family’s safety have increased.
(6) My costs to educate my children have increased.
(7) Government interference in my life has increased.
(8) My personal debt has increased.
(9) My income has stayed more or less the same.
(10) My savings have decreased.
(11) The buying power of my dollar, in Canada, has decreased.
(12) The value of my dollar, in the U.S., has decreased.
(13) My trust of elected officials has decreased.
(14) My trust in the justice system has decreased.
(15 )My trust in the immigration system has decreased.
(16) My hope that a Liberal won’t waste my tax dollars has decreased.
(17 )My dreams for a better future for my kids, in Canada, have disappeared.

That is my story since the Liberals came to power.

I am not voting for Paul Martin’s Liberals.
I am voting against Paul Martin and his Liberal Party on June 28, 2004.

I am voting for Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party.
Do I like the Conservatives?
Not particularly……I don’t really like Politics.

I am not political by nature.

I am not passionate about politics.
I am a middle age guy (48).
I live in a small house on a fairly quiet street in Edmonton. I have a wife, Kathy, and two children (ages 19 and 17). I have no pets. I am a middle class man. I don’t usually say too much.

Until now.

Now I am going to say something!

In 35 of the past 37 years, Canada has been ruled by:

(1) Pierre Trudeau - a multi-millionaire lawyer from Quebec.
(2) Brian Mulroney - a multi-millionaire lawyer from Quebec.
(3) Jean Chretien - a multi-millionaire lawyer from Quebec.
(4) And now we are going to vote for Paul Martin???? – a multi-millionaire lawyer from Quebec???

The leader of the Conservative party, Stephen Harper, is:

(1) Not a lawyer.
(2) Not a multi-millionaire.
(3) Not from Quebec.

Stephen Harper says that the Conservative party will:

(1) Reduce my taxes.
(2) Pay off the national debt as fast as they can.
(3) Shrink the size and influence of the federal government.

That’s good enough for me.
I’m going to give the Conservative party a chance with my vote.

But wait!
Paul Martinis now saying the same thing.
My mother told me forty years ago:
“Fool me once - shame on you.
Fool me twice - shame on me!”

The Liberals have had 34 years to be financially responsible.
Remember, Jean Chretien was Trudeau’s Finance Minister. Remember also, Paul Martin was Jean Chretien’s Finance Minister These people have been raising my taxes for thirty four years. They have been mis-spending my tax dollars for 34 years.
34 years!

And now Paul Martin says he’ll stop taxing and spending.
No way.

Thank you for reading my story so far!
Why am I telling my story to you?
Although I feel alone, I know that I am not alone.
Your story may be similar to mine.
And you may also feel alone.
One small voter in the midst of millions of voters.

What can you and I do together to change things?

Here is my idea:
Lets you and I join up together.
Just you and I.
Together.
As a small team of two.

How can you and I fight a huge political machine?

You and I have two things that we can use:
(1) Our individual personal connections.
(2) The Internet.

The Internet is supposed to be this global zing tool, right? Let’s put it to use.
I have 27 Canadians in my personal e-mail address book.
I am sending this e-mail to each of them.

I’m asking you to do two things:
(1) Forward this e-mail to every Canadian in your own address book.
(2) Vote against Paul Martin and the Liberal Party on June 28.

Vote for the Conservative candidate in your riding.
I have probably written this e-mail too late.
As I said I am not politically adroit.
I feel like Peter Finch, in the 1976 movie “Network”, when he shouted:
“I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!”

Please, forward the e-mail RIGHT NOW!!
As I type these last few words the voting begins in less than 18 days.

432 hours till voting begins.
I hope the Internet is as fast as some people claim it is.

This may not work.
This e-mail may “fizzle out” and go nowhere.
But you and I will have tried, won’t we have?

My best wishes to you.
My best wishes to Canadians everywhere.

My thanks to David Stokes from Toronto He actually wrote this just
(5) days before the last federal election in 2000.
Fool me once - shame on you.
Fool me twice - shame on me!”

Alan Robberstad
Edmonton, Alberta
June 10, 2004@ 3:00 p.m.

Cross-posted to BlogsCanada’s election blog.

Comments: 37 Responses so far

morph
June 17th, 2004
11:21 am

Ahh yes, the clear alternative and logical conclusion to a gov’t that tax and spends is to vote for a gov’t that promises to tax cut and spend.

We won’t have alot of social services to show for our spending but we will have a lot of debt.

Interestingly enough the last time the Conservatives were in power the debt went from $194 billion to $488 billion.

If Mulroney had broken even the current debt would be around $250 billion.

If you compare Martin forecasted budgets to Harper forecasted budgets you will find that Harper’s budgets would have continually resulted in deficit.

[Reply]

Andrew
June 17th, 2004
3:07 pm

ahh Morph, but Mulroney was a multi-millionaire lawyer from Quebec…clearly the problem ;)

[Reply]

Andrew
June 17th, 2004
3:14 pm

a rant from my friend Meagan who also recieved the email this morning…she hit reply all with this (very well put IMO):

All hail Conservative propaganda! If any of you are interested in the real conservative platform, go to,
http://www.conservative.ca
Of course you should also look at the platforms of the other parties so check out
http://www.liberal.ca
http://www.ndp.ca
http://www.greenparty.ca/
http://www.blocquebecois.org/
http://www.communist-party.ca/

and for the latest news on all the parties,
http://www.cbc.ca
http://www.ctv.ca
http://www.canada.com/national/features/voxpoll/index.html

Rather than wasting yours and others time by sending out mass email propaganda, take 10 minutes, look at the party’s page, then some research and become informed. Don’t be part of the 49% of non-voting Canadians, exercise your right to vote. Your brain is the most powerful tool for change, but only if you use it. If you aren’t informed but vote anyway, you are just as guilty as those who don’t even bother to cast a ballot.

IF YOU DON’T VOTE YOU CAN’T COMPLAIN

[Reply]

Mel
June 18th, 2004
8:49 am

Unlike Mr. Robberstad, our nation’s finances aren’t the only agenda item I’m basing my vote on this year. The fact that many of the Conservative candidates are leftover Canadian Alliance supporters who are American-loving, right-wing anti-abortion zealots that support the “traditional” definition of marriage makes me a little leery of their party and its agenda - hidden or not.

Personally, I’d much rather see a mass email that points out pros and cons of each major party, with links similar to those Andrew provides. Then again, I wouldn’t slight Mr. Robberstad for voicing his opinion so effectively. It’s better to have voters that are informed to some degree than no voters at all.

[Reply]

Terri
June 19th, 2004
11:51 am

I read Alan Robberstad email - I was quite surprised at how much I enjoyed reading it.. Thinking, all the while .. Yes! Yes! That is the way I feel! That is what I think. But instead of blindly going out and blasting it out to all my friends (the well-written man VS big brother), I took the time to research it. I took the time to read what others have to say about it. I see their points of view .. re: conservative propaganda .. but all in all I conclude that I liked what I read. I want an economist not a lawyer at the top. Just me and my naivety.

Ps remember it was Finance Minster Paul Martin that was in charge when during the Sponsorship Scandal and now he wants get to the bottom of it. Phu..lease!! You, Sir! Were in charge of it - you know perfectly well what went on. And no amount of spin doctoring will make me believe otherwise.

Just my point of view - T.

[Reply]

Murray
June 19th, 2004
7:58 pm

Interesting thing about the Robberstad rant - there are a number of errors. In fact, Martin is not from Quebec but Ontario - Windsor to be precise.

There are others.

I phoned his residence today but, alas, he is out. In Vancouver apparently.

Murray

[Reply]

Scott
June 20th, 2004
1:43 pm

I received this email and responded with comments of my own interspersed. I then sent it to everyone on the list attached to the email. Unfortunately, I don’t have mr. Robberstad’s email address yet. Here’s what I sent out (if it will fit):

I got this email forwarded to me. It is regarding the liberal government and its past history. I am adding my thoughts (in blue type). Sorry about all the >chevrons>.
Feel free to reply.
~ Scott

> > > NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL, THIS IS JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT . . .
> > > Hello.
> > > My name is Alan Robberstad
> > > > > > >I am a Canadian.
> > > > > > >One voter out of millions of Canadian voters.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >Paul Martin is no friend of mine.
> > > > > > >Liberal governments have not made my life any better.
> > > > > > >Liberal governments have made the future worse for my
> > > > > > >children.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >Jean Chretien and the Liberal Party became Prime
> > > > > > >Minister many years ago.
> > > > > > >Guess who was the Liberal Finance Minister…..Paul
> > > > > > >Martin…LEST WEFORGET

Yes. Lest we forget that Canada’s debt has decreased by leaps and bounds under the liberal gov. Lest we forget that it is a “law of nature” that things will continue to cost more by means of inflation. This means that taxes will always need to be increased, just how much, is a matter of debate.

Let’s not forget how drastically the Canadian deficit has decreased under the liberal gov. Do you know what that means?

> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Since 1993:
> > > > > > > (1) My taxes have increased.

– They ALWAYS will!

> > > > > > > (2) My family’s share of the national debt has increased.

– Perhaps you need to manage your finances better?

> > > > > > > (3) My personal expenses have increased.

– Perhaps you need to manage your finances better?

> > > > > > > (4) My waiting time to see a doctor has increased.

– The provincial liberal gov. in Ontario is trying to address that. Our healthcare system will inevitably die. It simply needs too much money to run efficiently. The provincial ontario liberals will be creating more nursing jobs, more daycares, etc. This can’t logically be done without raising taxes. It irritates me to no end to hear people bitching about paying taxes. How else is the gov. supposed to provide all the services and roadways, etc without our money?

> > > > > > > (5) My concerns for my family’s safety have increased.

– The do what you need to do.

> > > > > > > (6) My costs to educate my children have increased.

– Education costs will always increase along with inflation. Teachers want regular raises just as you do. So do the janitors and companies which provide the teaching tools. Think about it.

> > > > > > > (7) Government interference in my life has increased.

–Rarely a good thing.

> > > > > > > (8) My personal debt has increased.

– Perhaps you need to manage your finances better?

> > > > > > > (9) My income has stayed more or less the same.

– Perhaps you need to ask for a rasie or get a new job? Or live simpler.

> > > > > > > (10) My savings have decreased.

– Perhaps you need to manage your finances better?

> > > > > > > (11) The buying power of my dollar, in Canada, has decreased.

– Why blame the liberals? Cause you need someone to blame?

> > > > > > > (12) The value of my dollar, in the U.S., has decreased.

– You think so?

> > > > > > > (13) My trust of elected officials has decreased.

– Understandable.

> > > > > > > (14) My trust in the justice system has decreased.

– What is Just to one person is not necessarily Just to another.

> > > > > > > (15 )My trust in the immigration system has decreased.

– I suppose you want no immigrants? Your ancestors were immigrants.

> > > > > > > (16) My hope that a Liberal won’t waste my tax dollars has decreased.

– Understandable.

(17 )My dreams for a better future for my kids, in Canada have disappeared.

– Don’t tell them that. Use your time instead by reducing your energy needs, reduce the amount of stuff you buy, and recycle your waste. Embrace a simpler life. I highly recommend it. It’s quite enjoyable.

> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >That is my story since the Liberals came to power.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >I am not voting for Paul Martin’s Liberals.
> > > > > > >I am voting against Paul Martin and his Liberal Party on June
>28,
> > > 2004.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >I am voting for Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party.

– Great. The man who would’ve had us fighting in Iraq. That big joke of a war. The man who would stand in the way of two people who love each other. This by preventing same-sex marriages. What does it matter to me what homosexuals do? To you?
Harper is a man who promises all the same things every politician ever has.

> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >Do I like the Conservatives?
> > > > > > >Not particularly……I don’t really like Politics.
> > > > > > >I am not political by nature.
> > > > > > >I am not passionate about politics.
> > > > > > >I am a middle age guy (48).
> > > > > > >I live in a small house on a fairly quiet street in Edmonton.
> > > > > > >I have a wife, Kathy, and two children (ages 19 and 17).
> > > > > > >I have no pets.
> > > > > > >I am a middle class man.
> > > > > > >I don’t usually say too much.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >Until now.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >Now I am going to say something!
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >In 35 of the past 37 years, Canada has been ruled by:
> > > > > > > (1) Pierre Trudeau - a multi-millionaire lawyer from
>Quebec.
> > > > > > > (2) Brian Mulroney - a multi-millionaire lawyer from
>Quebec.
> > > > > > > (3) Jean Chretien - a multi-millionaire lawyer from
>Quebec.
> > > > > > > (4) And now we are going to vote for Paul Martin???? - a
> > > > > > > multi-millionaire lawyer from Quebec???

– Canada could’ve done worse, don’t you think? We have one of the highest standards of living in the world. We live like kings and queens. The liberal gov. has had something to do with that. We are a very respected country around the world. Thank the liberal governments.

> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >The leader of the Conservative party, Stephen Harper, is:
> > > > > > > (1) Not a lawyer.
> > > > > > > (2) Not a multi-millionaire.
> > > > > > > (3) Not from Quebec.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >Stephen Harper says that the Conservative party will:
> > > > > > > (1) Reduce my taxes.

– Yeah, like that will work.

> > > > > > > (2) Pay off the national debt as fast as they can.

– As fast as the liberals have been doing? Not likely. Especially not by collecting LESS tax money!

> > > > > > > (3) Shrink the size and influence of the federal government.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > >That’s good enough for me.
> > > > > > >I’m going to give the Conservative party a chance with my vote.

– Lets not hope we experience another war. Wouldn’t want your kids involved, or suffer the economic and psychological consequences.

> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >But wait!
> > > > > > >Paul Martinis now saying the same thing.
> > > > > > >My mother told me forty years ago:
> > > > > > >”Fool me once - shame on you.
> > > > > > >Fool me twice - shame on me!”
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >The Liberals have had 34 years to be financially responsible.
> > > > > > >Remember, Jean Chretien was Trudeau’s Finance Minister.
> > > > > > >Remember also, Paul Martin was Jean Chretien’s Finance Minister
> > > > > > >These people have been raising my taxes for thirty four years.
> > > > > > >They have been mis-spending my tax dollars for 34 years.

– Exaggeration.

> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >34 years!
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >And now Paul Martin says he’ll stop taxing and spending.
> > > > > > >No way.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >Thank you for reading my story so far!
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >Why am I telling my story to you?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >Although I feel alone, I know that I am not alone.
> > > > > > >Your story may be similar to mine.
> > > > > > >And you may also feel alone.
> > > > > > >One small voter in the midst of millions of voters.

– Hopefully, a minority.

> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >What can you and I do together to change things?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >Here is my idea:
> > > > > > >Lets you and I join up together.
> > > > > > >Just you and I.
> > > > > > >Together.
> > > > > > >As a small team of two.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >How can you and I fight a huge political machine?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >You and I have two things that we can use:
> > > > > > > (1) Our individual personal connections.
> > > > > > > (2) The Internet.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >The Internet is supposed to be this global zing tool, right?
> > > > > > >Let’s put it to use.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >I have 27 Canadians in my personal e-mail address book.
> > > > > > >I am sending this e-mail to each of them.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >I’m asking you to do two things:
> > > > > > > (1) Forward this e-mail to every Canadian in your own
>address
> > > book.
> > > > > > > (2) Vote against Paul Martin and the Liberal Party on
>June
> >28.
> > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >Vote for the Conservative candidate in your riding.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >I have probably written this e-mail too late.
> > > > > > >As I said I am not politically adroit.
> > > > > > >I feel like Peter Finch, in the 1976 movie “Network”,
> > > > > > >when he shouted: “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take
>this
> > > anymore!”
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >Please, forward the e-mail RIGHT NOW!!
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >As I type these last few words the voting begins in less than
>18
> > > days.
> > > > > > >432 hours till voting begins.
> > > > > > >I hope the Internet is as fast as some people claim it is.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >This may not work.
> > > > > > >This e-mail may “fizzle out” and go nowhere.
> > > > > > >But you and I will have tried, won’t we have?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >My best wishes to you.
> > > > > > >My best wishes to Canadians everywhere.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >My thanks to David Stokes from Toronto
> > > > > > >He actually wrote this just (5) days before the last federal
> > > > > > >election in 2000.
> > > > > > > Fool me once - shame on you.
> > > > > > > Fool me twice - shame on me!”
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Alan Robberstad
> > > > > > > Edmonton, Alberta
> > > > > > > June 10, 2004@ 3:00 p.m.

[Reply]

Mary Jenson
June 20th, 2004
10:19 pm

Can’t find Alan Robberstad’s E mail address for a reply to his anonymous campaigning. I’m not impressed and I’ll vote for any candidate except Harper for as many good reasons.

[Reply]

Tony Stachiw
June 21st, 2004
6:49 am

John Turner left the Liberal government when Canada had a surplus because he objected to the defecit financing that Pierre Trudeau was opting for as Prime Minister. During his tenure, Canada began to acquire a serious debt load, which was further increased under Brian Mulroney. Jean Chretien/Paul Martin did pay down a tiny percentage of that debt while balancing the budget. However, they created a surplus by overtaxing and underproviding services. As a result, health care suffered as more of the load was transferred to the provinces. As well, Jean Chretien tasked the Armed Forces with anything and everything without first determining if they had the manpower or equipment. When he was elected, by default, he cancelled the purchase of the EH101 helicopter for both search and rescue and ASW operations. He paid a massive penalty for this move, and, then bought the same helicopter for search and rescue, but without anywhere near the Canadian content of the original purchase. And, now Paul Martin is dumped on for Chretien’s mistakes, some of which would result in criminal charges if this were a civil matter. Trudeau left John Turner a legacy he could not survive under, as did Brian Mulroney with Kim Campbell, and as Jean Chretien has with Paul Martin. Those things are all in the past. What we need to focus on is who will govern Canada best. Who will give equal opportunity to ALL CANADIANS, without the prefix (French, English, you name it) It’s about time people in this country thought of themselves as CANADIANS and not suffer under the ghetto mentality of those politicians who encourage people to think of themselves as —-C- Canadians. Divide and conquer has been the norm for so long that calling Canada a country has become almost a joke. The fact we have such a great country is because we have such massive natural wealth -0 otherwise this country would be bankrupt. We manufacture almost nothing of what we consume, and people revel in their Hyundai, Toyota, Nissan, BMW, etc, automobiles, and everything else, most of which is made elsewhere.

[Reply]

Steven
June 21st, 2004
3:16 pm

Since 1993:
(1) My taxes have increased.

True, but only marginally unless your income has increased also.

(2) My family’s share of the national debt has increased.

False: Paul Martin has reduced the debt!

(3) My personal expenses have increased.

True: It’s called the cost of living. Wages/prices go up typically!

(4) My waiting time to see a doctor has increased.

True: Ya don’t think your beloved Ralph has something to do with that too?

(5) My concerns for my family’s safety have increased.

Why: The crime rate has dropped. Stop being so paranoid!

(6) My costs to educate my children have increased.

True: Ya don’t think your beloved Ralph has something to do with that too?

(7) Government interference in my life has increased.

False: most people disagree according to opinion polls

(8) My personal debt has increased.

You should be more careful with your money

(9) My income has stayed more or less the same.

You need to grow your talents and objectives.

(10) My savings have decreased.

You should be more careful with your money

(11) The buying power of my dollar, in Canada, has decreased.

False: It is now greater than it was in 1993.

(12) The value of my dollar, in the U.S., has decreased.

False: It is now greater than it was in 1993

(13) My trust of elected officials has decreased.
(14) My trust in the justice system has decreased.
(15 )My trust in the immigration system has decreased.
(16) My hope that a Liberal won’t waste my tax dollars has decreased.
(17)My dreams for a better future for my kids, in Canada, have disappeared. …….Now you’re just whining, grow up!

[Reply]

Dan Smith
June 21st, 2004
4:33 pm

I received this e-mail this afternoon, and was absolutely astonished to learn that someone actually thinks voting Conservative will make Canada a better place. We are a nation that prides itself on diversity, equality and rights for all, and much of this is due to the Liberal government. We consistently rank incredibly high on the UN’s list of top countries in the world, and we are welcomed with open arms internationally because we are Canadians. As a world traveller, I can confidently write that Canadians are the only people truly proud enough to sew a flag to their backpack.

Steven Harper claims he will get rid of waseful spending, but isn’t supporting the military and sending soldiers to Iraq, or anywhere else the USA decides to invade for that matter, considered wasteful spending? Steven Harper claims that he will clean up the environment, but doesn’t he want to scrap the Kyoto accord, which has to do with cleaner air? He claims he will lower taxes, (right, like ANY politician is going to do that!), but in doing so, does that mean we might have to start paying for, say, health care? And how will we pay off our national debt, which came mostly from Brian Mulroney, another Conservative. Also, would voting for a right-wing republican bent on getting rid of abortion and same-sex marriage be a solution? There is actually an article written in August 2003 in a Pittsburgh newspaper praising Canada’s accomplishments (low crime rates, legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes, same-sex marriage, etc), due primarily to the Liberal government.

With that said, I’d like to comment on Mr. Robberstad’s personal tribulations. Don’t blame the Liberals for your own bad spending habits, that’s just passing the buck. Maybe you really don’t need satellite TV, a cell phone, or anything else that might be wasting your money. Also, if you watched the news even a bit, you’ll notice that the Canadian dollar has actually risen. The claim about the cost of education is quite humourous: first of all, wouldn’t Ralph Klein have a lot to do with that in the first place, more so than the federal government? As a university student in Manitoba, I noticed a substantial DECREASE of the cost of tuition when the shift from CONSERVATIVE government to NDP was made. I believe my tuition dropped to around $3,200 from $3,800. One thing we as Canadians have to realize is that the cost of living in our country has risen, and will continue to do so. It’s just a change of times. Be glad we don’t live in Australia, where rent costs $400 a WEEK(!), low gas prices are ninety cents a liter, and their government still lives in the dark ages when it comes to dealing with Aboriginal issues and immigration.

I pride myself on being Canadian, but if Steven Harper comes into power, I might take that back. If I wanted a leader with his beliefs, I might as well move south of the border, because it seems like what Harper is proposing could wind up becoming a 51st state. I’m not a hardcore Liberal, hell I just recently started informing myself about the parties, but I know that Canadians for some reason aren’t happy with the way Paul Martin is running the show. But why vote Harper? There are other parties, the NDP for instance, why does no one endorse them? They may be the under dog, but who knows? I just want to part with one final comment, and that is to vote. Michael Moore says it’s our right living in a democratic country to vote, so take advantage of that right!

[Reply]

PP
June 21st, 2004
10:14 pm

I agree with Dan Smith. I feel badly for Alan because of the can of worms he may have opened for himself. It’s tempting to ask him all the questions I have about his comments and see what he has to say. Perhaps he’s a decent fellow.

I don’t buy that “don’t elect a PM from Quebec” argument. For example:

Paul Martin — born in Windsor, ON
Jean Chretien — born in Shawinigan, PQ
Kim Campbell — born in Port Alberni, BC
Brian Mulroney — born in Baie-Comeau, PQ
John Turner — born in England
PE Trudeau — born in Montreal, PQ
Joe Clark — High River, AB
Lester B. Pearson — Newtonbrook, BC
John Diefenbaker — Prince Albert, SK

Since Diefenbaker, there have only been 3 PMs from Quebec.

[Reply]

Sonia
June 22nd, 2004
10:06 am

can see the originator of this email, Alan Robberstad, forgot about the third
political party in Canada, you see the Conservatives are already forgetting who
they work with and that we have 3 main political parties in Canada, not two like the
U.S.

Please go to this site; you can see that Alan Robberstad is a Friend of the U.S.
and wants Canadians in the Iraq war. This is not the Canada I want. If he likes the
U.S. so much he can move.
Leave us out of Bushes revenge. http://www.enterstageright.com/cgi-bin/gm/
scroll down to Hear me roar, but take a look at their views first, pretty scary.

I believe Alan Robberstad is correct in some of his statements, it is difficult to trust
the Liberals at the moment because of the sponsorship scandal, but remember
these things happen all the time, by all political parties it’s just that this one was
made public. It was made public by Paul Martin him self, so that in it self has to say
something about his character.

In 35 of the past 37 years, Canada has been ruled by:
(1) Pierre Trudeau - a multi-millionaire lawyer from Quebec. A Liberal
2) Brian Mulroney - a multi-millionaire lawyer from Quebec. A Conservative
(3) Jean Chretien - a multi-millionaire lawyer from Quebec. A Liberal
(4) Paul Martin - A Liberal

Do you see a pattern here?? Try not to vote for a Liberal or Conservative
Vote against Steven Harper and the Conservative Party on June 28.
Vote against Paul Martin and the Liberal Party on June 28.

Vote for the NDP candidate in your riding.

The leader of the Conservative party, Stephen Harper, is a Member of the
Conservative/Reform Party.

I would like to remind everyone that it was the Conservatives who when in power,
1. Raised Taxes (taxes will always be here they are not going away and every
political party will find a way to get your money, we are still paying pst for World
War 2 for geepers sake)
2. Created and implemented the GST and
3. Gave us Free Trade (NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement,
which is not working for Canadians as the U.S. government has “new laws”
invented after free trade was implimented such as United States Anti-Dumping
Duty Law , United States Countervailing Duty Law , U.S. Trade Remedy
Law, United States Anti-Dumping Duty Investigations regarding Imports from
Canada and the United States Safeguard Law on Canadian Hard Wood,
Rock Salt, Heavy Walled Rectangular Welded, Carbon Steel Pipes, Iron
Construction Castings, Oil Country Tubular Goods, Brass Sheet and Strip,
Fresh Cut Flowers, Colour Picture Tubes, Potassium Chloride, Certain Welded
Carbon Steel Line Pipe, Fabricated Structural Steel, New steel Rails,
Thermostatically Controlled Appliance, Plugs and Internal Probe Thermostats,
Generic Cephalexin Capsules from Canada, Limousines, Magnesium, Ball
Bearings, Mounted or Unmounted, Nepheline Syenite, Steel Wire Rope,
Potassium Hydroxide, Liquid and Dry, Medium Voltage Underground
Distribution Cable, Certain Flat-Rolled Carbon Steel Products, Certain Steel
Wire Rod, Certain Steel Wire Rod, Certain Stainless Steel Plate 133, Certain
Stainless Steel Round Wire Rod, Cattle, Softwood 1, Softwood 2,
Softwood 3, Live Swine and Fresh, Chilled and Frozen Pork Products,
Magnesium, Certain Laminated Hardwood Trailer Flooring, Certain Steelwire
Rod, 2. Carbon and Certain Alloy Steel Products, Wood Shingles and Shakes,
Steel Fork Arms, Certain Cameras, Corn Brooms, Tomatoes and Bell Pepper,
Wheat Gluten, Lamb Meat, Certain Steel Wire Rod, Circular Welded Carbon
Quality Line Pipe, Live Cattle and lets look at the beef industry, that has taken a
big hit from the U.S. Free Trade for who? The U.S. ?
So don’t, want ever you do, go to the Conservative Side. (luke I am your
father, opps in digress) You will have government telling women what to do with
their bodies, your children will be in Iraq fighting the U.S. war and we will be put
back 50 years to the time of the 1950’s way of thinking. I heard that Steven
Harper (the Bible thumper) said he will look after the environment, now he’s trying
to sound like the NDP. The Conservatives have never worried over the
environment so don’t let them fool you with that statement they look after Big or
Bigger Business and of course them selves.
I will be voting NDP with Jack Layton, (he’s not from Quebec). In
1947the NDP, was the first political party to introduced public, universal hospital
insurance, what we now call Canada Health Act, or OHIP. Ten years later it was
introduced to all of the provinces in Canada, see
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/medicare/home.htm. The NDP care about the
environment, (the Ministry of the Environment had a great working system back in
the early 1980’s and then the Conservatives came into power and cut back
hundreds of jobs) they care about your children’s education. they care about
creating jobs (they have one draw back and that is they also like building public
housing for those who choose not to work and chose to drink beer all day)
It was Bob Ray who did a lot of spending in the 1980’s yes he may have created a
small deficit but at this point and time and the position that this country is in we
need someone who will spend money on Health Care, Education, and the
Environment.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope it helps you chose the right
party for the job.

Of course you should also look at the platforms of the other parties so check out

http://www.ndp.ca
http://www.liberal.ca
http://www.conservative.ca
http://www.greenparty.ca
http://www.blocquebecois.org
http://www.communist-party.ca

and for the latest news on all the parties,
http://www.cbc.ca
http://www.ctv.ca
http://www.canada.com/national/features/voxpoll/index.html

Sonia Tanney, Ontario, Canada

PS I have taken the liberty of quoting a few of you without quotation marks. Please forgive me.

[Reply]

Ian
June 22nd, 2004
11:52 am

OK. Let’s look at this together:

>My name is Alan Robberstad
OK.

>I am a Canadian.
Cool. Me too.

>One voter out of millions of Canadian voters.
Cool. Me too.

>Paul Martin is no friend of mine.
Me neither.

>Liberal governments have not made my life any better.
Me neither. Well, except for the fact that interest rates are so low, and my mortgage payments are so much smaller. Oh yeah, my wife’s on maternity leave right now, and mat leave used to be only six months, and now it’s twelve. If it was still six months my wife would have to return to work next week, and we’d have to pay to put our son into day care.

>Liberal governments have made the future worse for my children.
How’s that? Could you please be specific.

>Jean Chretien and the Liberal Party became Prime Minister many years ago.
>Guess who was the Liberal Finance Minister…..Paul Martin…LEST WE FORGET
I don’t think anyone’s forgot that. Hey Alan, didn’t those damn Liberals produce a bunch of balanced budgets? Also, isn’t Canada the only country in the G7 not to be running a deficit budget? Sure Martin was caught hiding from personal tax, but I’ve always been confused about that. Most of the conservative business guys I meet boast about how they hide their money in tax shelters. Personally, I think those tax loopholes oughta be fixed — but that’s going to make a whole bunch of Albertans really mad.

> Since 1993:
> (1) My taxes have increased.
OK, but this brings up an interesting point. Stephen Harper keeps saying he wants U.S. tax rates for Canadians. I looked up tax rates on the Internet, and it turns out that anyone in the U.S. who makes more than $28,400 a year actually pays MORE federal income tax than Canadians! In fact, higher income earners pay substantially more federal tax in the U.S. (up to 35%), so I’m not sure what Harper’s talking about. He might be referring to some States, such as Texas, where there’s no State income tax. If that’s the case, you should try moving to an oil-rich province similar to Texas, because then I’m sure there would be no provincial income taxes.

> (2) My family’s share of the national debt has increased.
Weird, mine’s decreased. In fact in 1994 the national debt was $551 Billion, but in 2003 it was only $507 Billion. With our growing population, the debt to GDP ratio decreased from 71.8 in 1994 to only 44.5 in 2003.

> (3) My personal expenses have increased.
Try budgeting.

> (4) My waiting time to see a doctor has increased.
I finally got a family doctor. Health care issues really need to be addressed.

> (5) My concerns for my family’s safety have increased.
How come? Crime rates, especially violent crime rates, have been dropping for years.

> (6) My costs to educate my children have increased.
Agreed. Maybe Canada should look at a European-style university system. In some European countries tuition is FREE! But, hey, that probably means increasing taxes.

> (7) Government interference in my life has increased.
Me too!!!! Just the other day I caught Ralph Goodale going through my cook books. Just kidding, of course, but I wonder what exactly you’re referring to? How has the government been interfering with your life?

> (8) My personal debt has increased.
With interest rates as low as they are, you’ve got some problems. Try phoning the bank and consolidating all your debt under one loan with a lower interest rate. I used ING Direct a few years back, their rates are really low. Oh, Alan, stop using your credit cards.

> (9) My income has stayed more or less the same.
Ok.

> (10) My savings have decreased.
Ok.

> (11) The buying power of my dollar, in Canada, has decreased.
I assume you’re referring to housing, here. I bet the value of your house has really gone up in the last few years, though. Import cars are really expensive.

> (12) The value of my dollar, in the U.S., has decreased.
Weird. I thought it really had leveled off. If you look at it historically, we’re in about the same position as when Mulroney left office.

> (13) My trust of elected officials has decreased.
Did someone steal one of your cook books too?

> (14) My trust in the justice system has decreased.
Ok.

> (15 )My trust in the immigration system has decreased.
Maybe you should stop watching all that American news.

> (16) My hope that a Liberal won’t waste my tax dollars has decreased.
Me too.

> (17 )My dreams for a better future for my kids, in Canada, have disappeared.
That’s too bad, Alan. I’m pretty optimistic about the future. As long as the government (under whatever party) gets the environment under control, I think the future’s looking bright. If we could get all those gas-guzzling SUVs off the road, I’d be even more optimistic.

>That is my story since the Liberals came to power.

>I am not voting for Paul Martin’s Liberals.
Hey, it’s a free country. Personally, I’m probably going to vote for the Green Party.

>I am voting against Paul Martin and his Liberal Party on June 28, 2004.
You already said that. But thanks for reminding us about the date of the election.

>I am voting for Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party.
I’m glad you’re voting. You know, voter apathy is a real concern this year. Hopefully your two kids are going to vote, too.

>Do I like the Conservatives?
>Not particularly……I don’t really like Politics.
Me neither.

>I am not political by nature.
>I am not passionate about politics.
>I am a middle age guy (48).
>I live in a small house on a fairly quiet street in Edmonton. I have a wife, Kathy, and >two children (ages 19 and 17). I have no pets.
I have a dog and a cat. Maybe you should consider a pet. They really help reduce stress levels, and you seem kind of stressed.

>I am a middle class man.
>I don’t usually say too much.

>Until now.

>Now I am going to say something!

>In 35 of the past 37 years, Canada has been ruled by:
> (1) Pierre Trudeau - lawyer from Quebec.
> (2) Brian Mulroney - lawyer from Quebec.
> (3) Jean Chretien - lawyer from Quebec.
> (4) And now Paul Martin - a lawyer from Quebec
Uhm, Paul Martin’s actually a lawyer from Windsor, Ontario.

>The leader of the Conservative party, Stephen Harper, is:
> (1) Not a lawyer.
> (2) Not from Quebec.

>Stephen Harper says that the Conservative party will:
> (1) Reduce my taxes.
Hey, wait. All the candidates, with the exception of the NDP, say that.

> (2) Pay off the national debt as fast as they can.
All the parties say that, too!

> (3) Shrink the size and influence of the federal government.
Sure, sure. Heard that one before. Mulroney did a good job with that one.

>That’s good enough for me.
Man, you’re easy.

>I’m going to give the Conservative party a chance with my vote.
Fair enough.

>But wait!
>Paul Martinis now saying the same thing.
>My mother told me forty years ago:
>”Fool me once - shame on you.
>Fool me twice - shame on me!”

>The Liberals have had 34 years to be financially responsible. Remember,
Haven’t the Liberals only had control for 26 of the last 36 years?

>Jean Chretien was Trudeau’s Finance Minister. Remember also, Paul
Martin was Jean Chretien’s Finance Minister These people have been
raising my taxes for thirty four years. They have been mis-spending my
tax dollars for 34 years.
Wait a second. Don’t forget Mulroney. He ran up a huge deficit in his years on power.

>34 years!
Dude, if you blow a stat, it kind of makes you look dumb when keep repeating it. It’s like how George W. Bush keeps saying “Iraq” and “weapons of mass destruction” in the same sentence.

>And now Paul Martin says he’ll stop taxing and spending.
>No way.
Actually, you know what really gets my goat? How Martin axed health care spending as finance minister and is now “correcting” a problem he created. What makes it even more annoying is how he just stole that whole “create a crisis” routine right out of Ralph Klein’s book. Now he’s making Ralph look like a political Bogey Man, when it reality he seems to have fashioned his strategy on Klein’s.

>Thank you for reading my story so far!
No problem. I think more people should be involved in political debate.

>Why am I telling my story to you?
Well, we’re not sure. You have pretty awesome grammar for a 48 year-old working class guy. If I didn’t know better, I might suspect you were some sort of lobbyist for the Conservatives.

>Although I feel alone, I know that I am not alone.
Again — buy a dog.

>Your story may be similar to mine.
>And you may also feel alone.
Nope. I have a dog — and a cat! Maybe I’m gettin to personal here, but is everything OK in your marriage?

>One small voter in the midst of millions of voters.
There’s no such thing as a small voter.

>What can you and I do together to change things?
Well, I like to phone my MP, MLA or Alderman when things piss me off. You know, democracy is more than just voting. We could use the Kyoto Protocol as an example. As you’re aware, 82% of Canadians support the Kyoto Protocol (that’s 26,000,000 people) but those darned politicians keep going on about how bad an idea it is. If everyone just picked up the phone and called their MP, I think they might finally get our point.

>Here is my idea:
>Lets you and I join up together.
>Just you and I.
>Together.
>As a small team of two.
Is this a Haiku?

>How can you and I fight a huge political machine?
You could write a letter now and again, form your own party, participate in candidates forums, contribute to organizations that share your views…. Heck, now that I think about it for a few seconds, there are lots of ways to fight the machine.

>You and I have two things that we can use:
> (1) Our individual personal connections.
> (2) The Internet.
Don’t forget letter writing, phoning MPs…..

>The Internet is supposed to be this global zing tool, right? Let’s put it to use.
I don’t know what a “zing tool” is. As for putting it to use, I do that regularly. I go to the Government of Canada site all the time. It’s got a direct link to my MP’s office which lets me write letters to them any day of the year — even Sundays!

>I have 27 Canadians in my personal e-mail address book.
>I am sending this e-mail to each of them.

>I’m asking you to do two things:
> (1) Forward this e-mail to every Canadian in your own address book.
OK. I’ll do the same.

> (2) Vote against Paul Martin and the Liberal Party on June 28.
Sure! As I said, I’ll probably vote Green this time around. I voted Conservative in the last election.

>Vote for the Conservative candidate in your riding.
Not this time around, sorry.

>I have probably written this e-mail too late.
>As I said I am not politically adroit.
Hey, what kind of working class stiff uses the word “adroit”? Now I gotta get my dictionary out…

>I feel like Peter Finch, in the 1976 movie “Network”, when he shouted:
> “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!”
You remembered Peter Finch’s name? Nobody does that. Everyone always says, “that guy from that movie ‘Network.’” I’m impressed.

>Please, forward the e-mail RIGHT NOW!!
OK. I hope everyone finds your comments as amusing as I do.

>As I type these last few words the voting begins in less than 7 days.

>I hope the Internet is as fast as some people claim it is.
I got high-speed cable last month. It’s really fast now!

Enjoy the election, Alan.

[Reply]

Rachel
June 22nd, 2004
2:13 pm

Hello Mr. Barefoot,
I received your email promoting the Conservative party. I agree with most of what you said. However, as a proud French Canadian and Quebecer (living in Toronto thought), I would like to clarify some of things you said. Paul Martin is not a Quebecer at all; he is from Windsor Ontario and speaks French with a strong accent (almost as strong as Harper’s). I felt a little offended when you said don’t vote liberals because he is Quebecer. However, I sympathize with my fellow Canadians in the West who have been under represented in our government and quite frankly I am very sick of those lawyers (scum bags) as our PM. I hope this situation will change and each part of our country will be treated equally. Maybe if more people from the West would speak French, there would be more leaders from the West as it is almost impossible to become PM without speaking the two official languages of this country. Unfortunately, for Harper, he had a lot going for him in Quebec (good ideas somewhat good French and Quebecers are so so sick of the liberals) but he blew it by talking against bilingualism. He even lost votes here in Ontario as a result of his bashing of the French language. I would have voted for Harper for the reasons you mentioned in your email but I can’t vote against a man who is against my culture and language. I am not happy with the Liberals but I will vote for them and I think Harper has no chances to win as nobody has ever won an election with zero representation in Quebec. I still wish him luck; he is a very descent person. Fell free to comment as I enjoy getting different point of view on political issues and I respect everyone’s opinion.
Regards,
Rachel

[Reply]

Darren
June 22nd, 2004
2:44 pm

Did you even read the original posting?

If you had, you’d see that it begins:

Today I was forwarded either:

* An email from one man raging against the machine
* A cleverly-constructed email meme from the Conservative Party campaign.

It looks like those mostly-loathsome Internet jokes that people forward around, with multiple carets before each line and a couple of lengthy arrays of email addresses. Judging by the carets and addresses, hundreds of people have seen this message in my thread alone.

If you read on, (if it wasn’t already) it becomes crystal clear that I received that email and wrote about it. I even go so far as to discuss who the original sender might be. I didn’t forward it to anyone. All of the comments above yours reflect this.

[Reply]

Christine
June 23rd, 2004
10:25 pm

Wow, Rachel’s message really floors me! The original email clearly names Mr. Robberstad, yet she named you instead. Man, I wish there was a way to licence the Internet…I’m ready to report my own aunt to her ISP for spamming. I’m sick of Mr. Robberstad’s email and the silly people that don’t know it’s not polite to forward chain letters.

[Reply]

Damon
June 24th, 2004
6:31 am

It’s just interesting when information like this goes around. Really we’re talking about two parties who have each had their chance multiple times to rule our country. People vote for them, not me, they stay in power until voters get sick of their song and dance and rush over to the other to vote them in… and round and round it goes. Myself, I vote NDP and something people fail to recognize is the federal government rules better with high NDP representation. It drives the social conscience to the left so we think more about the disadvantaged and less about the over advantaged. Hopefully, someday we can move towards a system of proportional representation where every vote counts.

[Reply]

Carly
June 24th, 2004
10:11 am

I think it is important for people to think about anything you receive via email, objectively. We are not a bunch of Lemmings so how does it hurt to read different points of view.We all have the mental capabilities to read something without being brainwashed I would hope…..

Alan Robberstad had a few points that I agreed strongly with…some I wasn’t sure about and some I didn’t agree with at all, but my friends and family are all educated,and rational people so I forwarded this email on to the few that I knew to have similar views.They can take from it what they will.

Unfortunatley it was passed along down the line to some obsessed weirdo that made it his personal mission to slam Mr.Robberstad and my beliefs to other people…including me, whose email address he had gotten off the forwarding list. All the while complaining about SPAM…….. There are several good choices for our votes, and it is great to debate all the merits of them, but please keep it in perspective..learn the facts and don’t get personal.We are all of legal voting age so we should be able to behave like adults and respect others choices.
Thank you, Carly Middleditch

[Reply]

Bill Prouten
June 24th, 2004
12:11 pm

Excellent site/forum! I was up til 1:30am last night writing a detailed rebuttal to Mr. Robberstad’s email, after having received it twice from different people. Glad to see that others share my views. If there’s room, and you’re interested, my argument follows:

Subject: comment on the latest chain mail
>
> OK, people. With the election looming large, this is twice that someone has
> forwarded me the same piece of right-wing claptrap, without any logical or
> incisive debate of the finer points. If you have been forwarded the chain
> letter, purportedly authored by an Alan Robberstad of Edmonton, please read
> my rebuttal. His original mail appears below it, followed by an article by
> Michael Campbell of the Vancouver Sun. I’m sick of earnest-sounding,
> emotional pleas hiding right-wing agendas. Normally, I just delete chain
> mail, but I’m afraid that my country is too big an issue for me to ignore.
> If you’re going to send me one side of the story, please do me the courtesy
> of reading another point of view, and exercise your critical thinking skills
> accordingly!
>
> Consider the following:
>
> a) The author of the Vancouver Sun article is Michael Campbell, Premier
> Gordon Campbell’s brother, and a mouthpiece for the neo-conservative right.
> Not a respected journalist.
>
> b) Privatised medicine and all the private/public partnerships in the UK
> have been a documented failure!
>
> c) The current health care crisis was caused by right-wing-style, draconian
> cuts to our public services in the quest to slay the deficit, which is the
> other favourite whipping boy of the right. Prior to the 1990’s there was
> nothing wrong with wait lists or procedures. Obviously, waiting lists are
> longer when there aren’t enough doctors and nurses to perform the
> operations, and when they close beds because they don’t have the money to
> staff wards. The fact that Paul Martin instigated these cuts does not make
> the even-further-right Stephen Harper the logical alternative.
>
> d) The deficit is not an issue. There is no way to fund infrastructure
> without having a deficit. It is the ration of debt to equity/income that is
> important. Getting rid of the deficit altogether is not only unlikely, it
> would be stupid as it would indicate that we are no longer interested in
> funded the public commonwealth.
>
> e) It is retarded to compare problems in our system, which is open to
> everyone, to a system like the US, which spends MORE MONEY per capita on
> health care and only delivers it so 75% of the population!
>
> f) Private ANYTHING is about making a profit, by definition. Public
> corporations are responsible to the people, the ultimate shareholders, which
> means that gouging us for profit, paying the employees shitty wages, and
> busting unions will not serve our communities, IN ANY WAY. Public
> corporations have a mandate to:
> i) deliver their services cheaper, by being able to buy bulk, and by not
> gauging the client for profit.
> ii) paying their employees fairly, and establishing healthier work
> practices, which include less overtime, and better options for time off;
> things that we would ALL benefit from, but will never be able to get our
> private, for-profit employers to offer the general public. The guy cleaning
> the toilets in a hospital at union rates is not stuffing money in an
> offshore account, like the wealthy fucks investing in HMO’s in the states,
> or the shareholders in insurance companies. He’s feeding his family, paying
> the bills, living in your neighbourhood, and very likely frequenting YOUR
> place of business. Which is also unlike the person investing in most of our
> neighbourhoods.
>
> It doesn’t matter if the publicly owned company is dealing in health care,
> or selling liquor or car insurance - a private company will not deliver the
> product any cheaper. They will simply cut costs by cutting corners, cutting
> employees, paying their staff less, and then keeping the price of the
> service the same or raising it. There are no savings to the consumer, when
> you take into account all the losses from employees with less money and
> benefits, problems that find their way into other parts of the system.
>
> g) tax cuts don’t work! Tax cuts mean no money for services. Services do
> not magicly appear via the “invisible hand of the market”, if they are
> social services, for which there is really no way to make profit. Social
> services are not about profit. Neither are sewage and water treatment
> plants, water reservoirs, police, fire, and ambulance services, or schools.
> These are infrastructure projects that are responsible for the opportunties
> we have as a society to live a longer and less tedious life than the
> generations that preceded us. We need taxes. BUT we need PROGRESSIVE
> income taxes, not regressive, flat taxes. How can you possibly fund
> anything when 10% of the population controls 90% of the capital and you keep
> giving them tax cuts! NEWS FLASH: WEALTHY INVESTORS SEND AGOOD PORTION OF
> THEIR BOOTY OVERSEAS, WHERE IT CAN’T BE TAXED. Which is why they need to be
> taxed more before they can do that! We can’t, as a country, continue to
> offload all the costs of the country on the demographic in this country that
> makes less than $100 k a year. The tax squeeze felt by joe average “Alan
> Roberstad”, who is our first writer below, is as much a fault of the
> policies of the right that have governed this country ever since BRIAN
> MULRONEY sold us down the river to the US, and fucked us with free trade, as
> it is the fault of the governing liberals. By the way Brian Mulroney was/is
> a Conservative, and Stephen HArper is even more so.
>
> To address Mr.Roberstad more directly on each point:
> 1+2) Your taxes have increased mostly as a result of tax cuts to businesses
> and wealthy individuals, leaving the other 90% of Canadians footing the
> bills. The conservatives want to do more of the same.
>
> 3) Your personal expenses are not a point of argument in relation to a new
> government in Ottawa. You could be spending too much on lattes at
> Starbucks, for all we know, or too much on a big-ass SUV, rather than
> something economical. Both of which are supplied by PRIVATE companies, not
> the government. If you are talking about health care levies, they are due
> to the provincial government, and initiated by Conservative givernments,
> like Ralph Klein. If you are talking about school taxes, you are talking
> municipal levies, again that is not Ottawa.
>
> 4) Your waiting time at hospitals HAS increased, due to government cuts to
> health care. But if you read my diatribe above, you would understand that
> the logic that demanded the cuts was right-wing propoganda, and will not be
> solved by Stephen Harper.
>
> 5) Violent crime rates in Canada have dropped. If you are more paranoid for
> your children’s safety, it is because of the sensationalization of crime in
> the media. Let us not forget that Steven Truscott, and David Milgaard were
> innocent, and that psychopaths like Larry Miller, and Robert Pickton, and
> Jack the Ripper, have been terrifying people for centuries. Executing
> Steven Truscott or David Milgaard would have been executing the wrong
> people, and would have solved nothing. Larry Miller was eventually caught
> and is still in prison, and he will never be released. So what is your
> problem? Whenever a psycho killer arrives on the scene, people are
> terrified; that’s human nature. It’s not the fault of the federal
> government that deranged people exist. Maybe if we took all the cops
> currently devoted to busting marijuana grow ops and possession, and put them
> on the streets ,you might feel a little safer, eh? I’m betting Stephen
> Harper won’t support that idea….
>
> 6) Costs to educate your children HAVE gone up, because both federal and
> provincial government grants have been cut in order to finance tax cuts to
> wealthy corporations and individuals, and to slay the demon of the deficit.
> See my rant above.
>
> 7) What government interference? When did your federal MP last call you on
> the phone to talk your ear off, and waste your valuable time? Are you
> talking about filling out your yearly income tax? Your building permit?
> What? This is an unsubstantiated claim, not an argument.
>
> 8) Your personal debt has increased for any number of reasons, such as
> improper use of credit, such as buying things you can’t afford, or not
> getting paid what you think you deserve for the education you paid for at
> our highly subsidized instituions. There are a million reasons for personal
> debt, and many of them have NOTHING to do with the Feds!
>
> 9) Your income has stayed more or less the same, as is the case with most
> people in Canada. When the right wing demanded that we bring down the
> deficit and the government responded with cuts to services, and private
> companies laid off gazillions in the “downsizing” years, they created more
> desperate people needing jobs. Which brings down wages. Basic economics.
> If you think the Conservatives will be hiring more people, or adding
> services, you are deluded.
>
> 10) Your savings have decreased. See rants above. Again, not an argument
> directly attributed to federal politics, nor an obvious point for the
> Conservative party.
>
> 11+12) The value of our dollar has more to do with free market currency
> speculators than with the current Federal government. Think about it: The
> USA has a debt per capita ratio MANY times greater than Canada’s, and our
> country is the only G8 nation to have been paying down its foreign debt, and
> yet, our dollar is still worth less than the US on international markets.
> International perceptions are what change the value of our dollar. And why
> do you want to spend your money in the US anyway?
>
> 13) Your trust in elected officials has dropped. Fair enough; so has mine.
> But my distrust started with Brian Mulroney, not Paul Martin, although I
> don’t much trust him, either.
>
> 14+15) The justice and immigration systems are largely trumped up fears.
> They are red-herrings, perpetuated by the right wing and broadcast by the
> media (largely Private and Right-wing owned BTW), calling for stricter this
> and tougher that, none of which will actually solve the problems they
> purport to address. The USA has more people in jail per capita, and they
> use the death penalty in a number of states, and yet, their rate of violent
> crime is far higher than our own. So tougher is solving what? Stricter
> immigration for boat people is going to stop gun smuggling at the Canada-US
> border? How about more funding for more employees of Canada Customs and
> immigration? How about legalizing marijuana, and putting the police onto
> real crimes? Oh wait, Stephen Harper won’t do that either…
>
> 16) Agreed. Very often, in the administering of large governments, money
> gets wasted in appalling ways. But it also happens in large PRIVATE
> corporations (Enron, One World, Nortel). The problem is not the government;
> the problem is human nature. The solution is more checks and balances,
> ie.REGULATIONS, not less.
>
> 17) My dreams for a better Canada died with Mulroney and Free Trade, and
> will not be resurrected until someone with the balls to advocate
> proportional representation (to extend democracy to more voices than just
> those who can afford propoganda) and progressive taxation (to fund the VERY
> NECESSARY programs and infrstructure that we enjoy (or used to) in this
> country takes the helm!
>
> I don’t trust Paul Martin that much, nor did vote for him (you see, I
> already voted in advance). However, let’s not make it seem that voting for
> Stephen Harper is the only alternative. There are far more socially
> responsible groups out there. Vote for the marijuana party if you must; at
> least they’ve articulated an issue worth supporting, as opposed to the
> bullshit Harper spouts.
>
> Hey, I went on for a while, didn’t I? (Don’t get me started!!!) I submit
> that these issues are FAR too large to be addressed in a 17 -line,
> point-form statement. Governing a country is a complex issue. Period.
> Getting rid of the government isn’t going to change that.
>
> I hope I have not alienated any of my friends with this diatribe; I seek
> only to engage your capacities for rational debate (unlike what we saw on TV
> last week!) These are very important issues, and they need to be addressed
> thoughtfully. And for God’s sake, please exercise your right to vote, as it
> is currently one of the few opportunities you have to voice your opinion. I
> hope that changes in future.
>
> Most Sincerely,
> Bill Prouten
> Vancouver
> June 24, 2004
>
>> From: Wind Tunnel Multimedia
>> To: wmag@shaw.ca
>> Subject: Fwd: Canadian election June 28 - very educational
>> Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 23:01:20 -0700
>>
>>
>>>
>>> Subject: Canadian election June 28 - very educational
>>>
>>>>> Hello.
>>>>>
>>>>> My name is Alan Robberstad
>>>>> I am a Canadian.
>>>>> One voter out of millions of Canadian voters.
>>>>>
>>>>> Paul Martin is no friend of mine.
>>>>> Liberal governments have not made my life any better.
>>>>> Liberal governments have made the future worse for my
>>>>> children.
>>>>>
>>>>> Jean Chretien and the Liberal Party became Prime
>>>>> Minister many years ago.
>>>>> Guess who was the Liberal Finance Minister…..Paul
>>>>> Martin…LEST WE FORGET
>>>>>
>>>>> Since 1993:
>>>>> (1) My taxes have increased.
>>>>> (2) My family’s share of the national debt has
>>> increased.
>>>>> (3) My personal expenses have increased.
>>>>> (4) My waiting time to see a doctor has increased.
>>>>> (5) My concerns for my family’s safety have increased.
>>>>> (6) My costs to educate my children have increased.
>>>>> (7) Government interference in my life has increased.
>>>>> (8) My personal debt has increased.
>>>>> (9) My income has stayed more or less the same.
>>>>> (10) My savings have decreased.
>>>>> (11) The buying power of my dollar, in Canada, has
>>> decreased.
>>>>> (12) The value of my dollar, in the U.S., has decreased.
>>>>> (13) My trust of elected officials has decreased.
>>>>> (14) My trust in the justice system has decreased.
>>>>> (15 )My trust in the immigration system has decreased.
>>>>> (16) My hope that a Liberal won’t waste my tax dollars
>>> has
>>>>> decreased.
>>>>> (17 )My dreams for a better future for my kids, in
>>> Canada,
>>>>> have disappeared.
>>>>>
>>>>> That is my story since the Liberals came to power.
>>>>>
>>>>> I am not voting for Paul Martin’s Liberals.
>>>>> I am voting against Paul Martin and his Liberal Party on June
>>> 28,
>>>>> 2004.
>>>>>
>>>>> I am voting for Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party.
>>>>>
>>>>> Do I like the Conservatives?
>>>>> Not particularly……I don’t really like Politics.
>>>>> I am not political by nature.
>>>>> I am not passionate about politics.
>>>>> I am a middle age guy (48).
>>>>> I live in a small house on a fairly quiet street in Edmonton.
>>>>> I have a wife, Kathy, and two children (ages 19 and 17).
>>>>> I have no pets.
>>>>> I am a middle class man.
>>>>> I don’t usually say too much.
>>>>>
>>>>> Until now.
>>>>>
>>>>> Now I am going to say something!
>>>>>
>>>>> In 35 of the past 37 years, Canada has been ruled by:
>>>>> (1) Pierre Trudeau - a multi-millionaire lawyer from
>>> Quebec.
>>>>> (2) Brian Mulroney - a multi-millionaire lawyer from
>>> Quebec.
>>>>> (3) Jean Chretien - a multi-millionaire lawyer from
>>> Quebec.
>>>>> (4) And now we are going to vote for Paul Martin???? - a
>>>>> multi-millionaire lawyer from Quebec???
>>>>>
>>>>> The leader of the Conservative party, Stephen Harper, is:
>>>>> (1) Not a lawyer.
>>>>> (2) Not a multi-millionaire.
>>>>> (3) Not from Quebec.
>>>>>
>>>>> Stephen Harper says that the Conservative party will:
>>>>> (1) Reduce my taxes.
>>>>> (2) Pay off the national debt as fast as they can.
>>>>> (3) Shrink the size and influence of the federal
>>> government.
>>>>>
>>>>> That’s good enough for me.
>>>>> I’m going to give the Conservative party a chance with my
>>> vote.
>>>>>
>>>>> But wait!
>>>>> Paul Martinis now saying the same thing.
>>>>> My mother told me forty years ago:
>>>>> “Fool me once - shame on you.
>>>>> Fool me twice - shame on me!”
>>>>>
>>>>> The Liberals have had 34 years to be financially responsible.
>>>>> Remember, Jean Chretien was Trudeau’s Finance Minister.
>>>>> Remember also, Paul Martin was Jean Chretien’s Finance
>>> Minister
>>>>> These people have been raising my taxes for thirty four
>>> years.
>>>>> They have been mis-spending my tax dollars for 34 years.
>>>>>
>>>>> 34 years!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> And now Paul Martin says he’ll stop taxing and spending.
>>>>> No way.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you for reading my story so far!
>>>>>
>>>>> Why am I telling my story to you?
>>>>>
>>>>> Although I feel alone, I know that I am not alone.
>>>>> Your story may be similar to mine.
>>>>> And you may also feel alone.
>>>>> One small voter in the midst of millions of voters.
>>>>>
>>>>> What can you and I do together to change things?
>>>>>
>>>>> Here is my idea:
>>>>> Lets you and I join up together.
>>>>> Just you and I.
>>>>> Together.
>>>>> As a small team of two.
>>>>>
>>>>> How can you and I fight a huge political machine?
>>>>>
>>>>> You and I have two things that we can use:
>>>>> (1) Our individual personal connections.
>>>>> (2) The Internet.
>>>>>
>>>>> The Internet is supposed to be this global zing tool, right?
>>>>> Let’s put it to use.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have 27 Canadians in my personal e-mail address book.
>>>>> I am sending this e-mail to each of them.
>>>>>
>>>>> I’m asking you to do two things:
>>>>> (1) Forward this e-mail to every Canadian in your own
>>> address
>>>>> book.
>>>>> (2) Vote against Paul Martin and the Liberal Party on
>>> June
>>>>> 28.
>>>>>
>>>>> Vote for the Conservative candidate in your riding.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have probably written this e-mail too late.
>>>>> As I said I am not politically adroit.
>>>>> I feel like Peter Finch, in the 1976 movie “Network”,
>>>>> when he shouted:
>>>>> “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this
>>> anymore!”
>>>>>
>>>>> Please, forward the e-mail RIGHT NOW!!
>>>>>
>>>>> As I type these last few words the voting begins in less than
>>> 18
>>>>> days.
>>>>> 432 hours till voting begins.
>>>>> I hope the Internet is as fast as some people claim it is.
>>>>>
>>>>> This may not work.
>>>>> This e-mail may “fizzle out” and go nowhere.
>>>>> But you and I will have tried, won’t we have?
>>>>>
>>>>> My best wishes to you.
>>>>> My best wishes to Canadians everywhere.
>>>>>
>>>>> My thanks to David Stokes from Toronto
>>>>> He actually wrote this just (5) days before the last federal
>>>>> election in 2000.
>>>>> Fool me once - shame on you.
>>>>> Fool me twice - shame on me!”
>>>>>
>>>>> Alan Robberstad
>>>>> Edmonton, Alberta
>>>>> June 10, 2004@ 3:00 p.m.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>> Also, why hasn’t the media questioned Martin about where the $2 billion
>>> went for the gun registry that failed. I don’t want our healthcare to be
>>> in the same mess as the large population of baby boomers start using
>>> healthcare more and more.
>>>
>>> I’m voting for Harper as I’m fed up with the Liberal’s lack of integrity
>>> and mismanagement
>>> Healthcare consumes 41% of our provincial budget and 10% of our Canadian
>>> GDP so its a big expensive deal. Here’s some facts:
>>>
>>>
>>> d910ea4.jpg
>>> More waste promised in health care
>>> Vancouver Sun
>>> Tuesday, June 8, 2004
>>> Page: D3
>>> Column: Michael Campbell
>>> Source: Vancouver Sun
>>>
>>> Britain’s recent decision under Tony Blair’s Labour government to have
>>> 25,000 publicly funded surgeries performed in private hospitals helps to
>>> underline the superficiality of the healthcare debate in the current
>>> federal election. Blair’s goal over the next five years is to see 125,000
>>> surgeries performed in private facilities thereby significantly reducing
>>> waiting lists.
>>>
>>> Of course any such discussion is taboo in Canada because as Prime Minister
>>> Paul Martin has made clear, the Canada Health Act signed in 1984 is “a
>>> symbol of our national values,” which begs the question what were our
>>> values before that time and certainly squelches any questions about the
>>> status quo delivery today.
>>>
>>> The platforms of all major parties reflect the Canadian view that there is
>>> no healthcare problem that can’t be solved by throwing more money at it.
>>> Unfortunately our experience tells a different story as underlined by a
>>> recent Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development study that
>>> concludes that Canada is the only country in the 26-nation study where
>>> adding more money to the system coincides with increased waiting times for
>>> surgery.
>>>
>>> In every other OECD country waiting lists decline by a week for every $100
>>> per capita added to the system, which is in stark contrast to Canada where
>>> our waiting lists increase by a week for every $100 thrown at the system.
>>> With the billions now promised by the major parties without any
>>> significant reforms, we can count on even longer waiting times.
>>>
>>> If money were the only answer, you’d think that we would have seen
>>> positive results from the increasing healthcare spending from $78.5
>>> billion in 1997 to $121.4 billion in 2003. Instead, Canadians believe that
>>> the system has declined in recent years. Yet all we’re offered is more of
>>> the same plus more cash.
>>>
>>> At some point the healthcare farce has to become apparent. On an
>>> age-adjusted basis, we spend more money per capita than any other country
>>> in the OECD, yet the World Health Organization has ranked us 30th in terms
>>> of overall care.
>>>
>>> Doesn’t any politician see a problem with a system that spends the most in
>>> the world yet ranks 14th in disability-free life expectancy, 16th in
>>> infant mortality and 16th in doctors per 1,000 of population? We spend
>>> more money than any other country yet we rank below the top 20 when it
>>> comes to access to new technology.
>>>
>>> And let’s not forget the study published last month by the Canadian
>>> Institute for Health Research that revealed 24,000 patients a year die in
>>> our hospitals due to adverse affects, which is double the rate in the
>>> United States.
>>>
>>> I not sure what we don’t understand about these and so many other studies
>>> that make it clear that the Canadian conceit of having the “world’s best
>>> healthcare system” is without foundation. The facts points out that in
>>> terms of waiting lists, access to new technology and innovation, we’re
>>> getting our clock cleaned by Austria, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg,
>>> France, Greece, Switzerland — all of which have universal, government pay
>>> systems without waiting lists.
>>>
>>> Despite the promises to the contrary, without a commitment to meaningful
>>> reform the platforms of all the major parties promise more waste, longer
>>> waiting times for surgery and continued deterioration of the system and
>>> somehow we applaud them.
>>>
>>> Michael Campbell’s Money Talk radio show can be heard on CKNW 980 weekdays
>>> from 6 to 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 8:30 to 10 a.m
>>>

[Reply]

Ron
June 25th, 2004
6:24 am

Re the “Robberstad” email:

It is easy to become cynical or disillusioned about the political system at
any level in any democracy (or other system, for that matter). It is my hope
that, no matter who one may choose to vote for in this federal election,
(s)he give the issues a bit more careful analysis than this writer seems to
have done.

Responses to most of his points follow.

(Some text from the original email has been
deleted to avoid repetition, and to allow this email to focus on factual
responses to the original writer’s key points.)

Ron

> > Since 1993:
> > (1) My taxes have increased.

Let’s take a closer look at this allegation. What is the source of this
supposed tax increase? Taxes are a function of one’s
own personal circumstances, not just government tax rates which in most
cases have decreased at the federal level, not increased, since 1993.
(Source: Rev Canada tax
forms, and budget info on the federal Department of Finance website.)

For the 1993 tax year, the federal tax rates were 17% for the first tax
bracket, 26% for the
second tax bracket, and 29% for the third tax bracket. These tax rates
remained unchanged until they were REDUCED beginning with the 2000 tax year
(except for the top rate of 29%, which remained unchanged, although the
income level at which it kicks in was raised to $100,000 beginning in 2001,
thereby reducing
the scope of it’s application only to high income earners). The federal
surtaxes remained constant at 3% and 5% from 1993 through to 1997, after
which they were reduced, and entirely eliminated by 2001. Furthermore, full
indexing of tax brackets to inflation was restored in the 2000 federal
budget, retroactive to January 1st of that year, thereby elminating “bracket
creep” (which would not have been a factor for this taxpayer if his income
really hadn’t increased over that time period anyway) and other adverse
impacts of inflation.

So if federal income taxes for this taxpayer have increased since 1993, it
is probably because
his income (or his spouse’s income) has increased, or other aspects of his
personal circumstances have changed.

If this taxpayer is looking only at his pay stub, rather than the tax
system, he would have seen increases in his Canada Pension Plan
contributions
over that period of time. However, the CPP is separate from the tax system,
and those increases reflect POSITIVE action to put the CPP plan on a solid
financial footing, to
insure that Canada Pension will actually be available to this worker, and
all others, when their time comes to receive funds from it!

> > (2) My family’s share of the national debt has increased.

When the Liberals came to power in 1993, they inherited a fiscal deficit of
approximately $40 billion, attributable to actions of previous governments
(both
Liberal and Conservative) and economic circumstances. Until the deficit
could be
eliminated, debt mathematically had to continue to accumulate. However, the
federal government
has now had seven consecutive balanced budgets, and the federal debt to GDP
ratio
(the commonly-accepted measure of national indebtedness) has declined from a
high of about 68% in 1995 to about 44% in 2003, and the ratio continues to
fall. This is a significant accomplishment. Paul
Martin has been criticized for underestimating surpluses, but this (small-c)
conservative
approach has represented sound financial management, and allowed the country
to pay down debt at a faster rate than would otherwise have been possible
(thereby reducing debt service and freeing up fiscal “room” for other
program spending),
while at the same time allowing for REDUCTIONS in tax rates. Martin’s
critics have advocated reducing or eliminating fiscal surpluses, either via
faster tax reductions or higher spending, or both, which in turn would
result in SLOWER reduction of debt and debt service, or could even create
debt increases.

> > (3) My personal expenses have increased.

In what areas? How is this the fault of the federal government?

> > (4) My waiting time to see a doctor has increased.

Does this refer to seeing a GP, a specialist, diagnostic tests or an
emergency room? Urgent
care or something less threatening? No one doubts that there are issues to
be addressed with respect to health care accessibility and waiting times,
but one must be careful about blanket condemnations. More
funding for health care is unquestionably required. It is the solid fiscal
footing produced by Mr. Martin which now allows all parties to consider
reinvesting in health care. And one must be careful about anyone who
promises a “free lunch” (significant tax reductions, spending increases, and
debt reduction, all at the same time!)

Let’s keep in mind that other parties, not just the Liberals, also strongly
advocated the elimination of the deficit.
This taxpayer may or may not have been among them, but it is
particularly hard to understand how those who demanded the
elimination of the deficit can now be so critical of the person who is most
responsible for actually eliminating the deficit! It took decades for Canada
to reach the point of having multi-billion dollar
deficits, accumulating mountains of borrowing in the process.
Debt service is totally non-discretionary, thus requiring the
necessary spending cuts to be made in other areas. Did anyone really think
the elimination of the deficit would be painless? The point is that the
deficit HAS been eliminated, the debt to GDP ratio is falling, and health
care spending is now increasing.

> > (5) My concerns for my family’s safety have increased.

In what areas? Are these fears justified? Statistics Canada reports (see The
Daily, June 24/04 for the latest; data is based on that released by the
Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics) that the national crime rate has
been on a downward trend for over a decade, and now stands 27% below its
peak in 1991. StatsCan further reports that violent crime has generally been
dropping since the early 1990’s, and the homicide rate has been on a
downward trend since the mid-1970’s. It seems many people continue to
believe
crime is on the increase (possibly because it takes only a few headlines of
violent crimes to influence people’s perceptions). And there is no doubt
that any crime, when it happens to you or someone you love, is a traumatic,
perhaps even tragic event. But to what extent are the concerns of this
person justified, and to what extent can they really be laid at the feet of
the federal government?

> > (6) My costs to educate my children have increased.

Education is primarily a provincial responsibility. Nevertheless, it’s clear
that all governments, federal and provincial, were facing the same problems
of reducing or eliminating deficits, trying to reach balanced budgets, and
yes, provincial pressures were increased by reductions in federal transfers.
Some provinces (e.g the Conservative government in Ontario), chose to
exacerbate their own problems by cutting taxes beyond the level required to
provide what many would consider to be sufficient program funding, including
that available for education. Again, see comments above under
health care. The
country has gone through a difficult transition from a poor fiscal framework
in 1993 to a solid fiscal framework now, such that a national
debate on spending priorities can be held and reinvestments can be made.

> > (7) Government interference in my life has increased.

Again, in what areas? This is a pretty general statement which requires
substantiation. I’m guessing many people would have a lot of difficulty
identifying increased federal governement interference in their personal
lives.

> > (8) My personal debt has increased.

How is this the fault of the federal government?

> > (9) My income has stayed more or less the same.

Inflation has been reduced to significantly low levels over the past decade
or so. Of course, circumstances of individuals will vary, with some facing
higher increases in expenditures than in their incomes. And some sectors
have been more adversely affected than others. But how is
this point relevant to choosing the next federal government?

> > (10) My savings have decreased.

Again, this statement requires significant elaboration if its relevance to a
voting decision is to be understood. In what forms were the savings held?
Real estate? Stocks? Other? What exactly has caused the savings to
decline?Was the reduction caused by market fluctuations? Discretionary
spending? To what extent was
any reduction truly the result of a federal government policy?

> > (11) The buying power of my dollar, in Canada, has decreased.

As noted above, inflation has been reduced to the lowest levels in decades
over the past
10 years or so, another significant accomplishment of the Canadian economy.
(Core 12-month inflation measured at 1.5% for May 2004, per the Bank of
Canada website.) Is the writer saying that inflation is still too high? Any
level of inflation will result in some erosion of purchasing power, but it
was not too long ago that a greater fear was the risk of DEflation. (See the
Japanese experience over the past 15 years or so for the downside of THAT
scenario!) And the primary responsibility for controlling inflation in
Canada falls to the Bank of Canada, not the federal government. It’s hard to
understand just what point the writer is trying to make here.

> > (12) The value of my dollar, in the U.S., has decreased.

On Dec 31, 1993 the value of the Canadian dollar in US terms was
approximately $0.76 US. In 2004, the Canadian dollar has traded in a range
of about $0.72-$0.79 US, just about where it was in 1993. (Source: Band of
Canada website.) Currency values
fluctuate, based on international financial flows and other factors. Yes,
the C$ declined in US$ terms for a period of time (some would argue in part,
as a reflection of an overvaluation of the US$), but it has recovered to
earlier levels, in part, some would say, due to the significant improvement
in Canadian government finances over the past 10 years, and an increased
level of confidence in Canada’s financial and economic management. And many
Canadian exporters have actually complained that the C$ recovered too
quickly!

> > (13) My trust of elected officials has decreased.

Really? It seems to me that this is a complaint made of pretty much all
elected officials, in all time eras. There is no doubt that there is always
room for improvement, but it is doubtful that any party would have a
monopoly on trust.

> > (14) My trust in the justice system has decreased.

Why? What changes do you want to see?

> > (15 )My trust in the immigration system has decreased.

Why? What changes to you want to see?

> > (16) My hope that a Liberal won’t waste my tax dollars has
> > decreased.

I wouldn’t dispute the problems with the gun registry budget and the
sponsorship program. But, despite the deserved criticism of these programs,
one should keep them in perspective. Total federal budgetary expenditures
are on the order of
$180 billion. The problem programs represent only a very small percentage of
total
government spending. The Liberals deserve the criticism they have taken for
these programs, but there is a much bigger picture here (see the significant
fiscal accomplishments above). And Mr. Harper would have had us in Iraq.
Does anyone think that would have been cheap, or a good use of funds?

> > (17) My dreams for a better future for my kids, in Canada, have
> > disappeared.

Per the discussion above, it’s not clear that the writer’s perceptions
are well-founded, or that even if he has faced specific adverse personal
circumstances over the past decade or so, that those circumstances can be attributed to the federal governement.

> > (18) Canadian Politics have become styled after American Mud
> > Slinging contests

Again, it seems to me that this is a complaint levelled in pretty much every
election campaign. And one must distinguish between criticism of an
opponent’s platform or record, and attacks which are more personal. While
criticizing American-style mud-slinging, he proceeds to criticize certain
past prime ministers as being from Quebec (see below). This is supposed to
be a clean and rational approach to debating election issues? (And it should
be noted that Paul Martin
is actually from Windsor, Ontario, although he has resided in Quebec (when
not in Ottawa) for many years.)

> > In 35 of the past 37 years, Canada has been ruled by:

> > (1) Pierre Trudeau - a multi-millionaire lawyer from Quebec.
> > (2) Brian Mulroney - a multi-millionaire lawyer from Quebec.
> > (3) Jean Chretien - a multi-millionaire lawyer from Quebec.
> > (4) And now we are going to vote for Paul Martin???? - a
> > multi-millionaire lawyer from Quebec???

[Reply]

Teena Cormack
June 25th, 2004
10:30 am

Mr. Robberstad, I just found out that your very angry email is spam. I’m just learning about computers, email manners and the like. I’m sorry you are intending to vote conservative but I am thrilled you are voting! I think you should contact me if any of this stuff gets back to you. There are more parties out there than the other helpful respondants mentioned. There is also the Christian Heritage and Canadian Action Party and the Marijuana Party. There may be more but I just wanted to add those to your list of voting choices. I would suggest respectfully that you consider all the messages posted, as the people were respectful and had interesting opinions, as did you. I only know the web address of one of those parties I mentioned so I can’t save you too much time on-line. It is http://www.candianactionparty.ca . That site will address some of the concerns you mentioned and the links they have are quite awesome! Good Luck on voting day and I hope not too much trouble comes as a result of the SPAM thing. Take Care, Teena Cormack CAP candidate, Red Deer Riding.

[Reply]

Dan Smith, again
June 25th, 2004
3:09 pm

I’d like to point out that much of Alan Robberstad’s complaints can actually be directed to provincial and municipal levels of governement. Doesn’t his beloved Ralph Klein, ANOTHER Conservative, want to privatize health care in that province? Also, if education costs so much for his children, he should send them to Manitoba. Not only are we an NDP province, we also have a low cost of living, and our 3 universities (Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Brandon) have some of the lowest tuitions in all the country. And if he has so much debt, cut up those credit cards, get rid of the overdraft and start living within your means! I hear consolidation works. This coming from a man from Alberta, the only province in Canada that DOESN’T pay PST!

His gripes about security boggle my mind; first of all, if he has problems with Edmonton police, take it up with your mayor, not Paul Martin. And if he is concerned about national security, here’s a newsflash: WE LIVE IN CANADA, who is going to attack us? No one, but if we shift to a Conservative government, and deicde to become the US’ tagalong again, there could be plenty to be scared about. Remember what happened to Spain just prior to their National election? A terrorist attack in protest of that country’s involvement in the war in Iraq. And just recently, 2 Americans and a South Korean, none of whom are involved with their country’s militaries, were beheaded by terrorist groups BECAUSE OF THEIR COUNTRIES PARTICIPATION IN IRAQ! And can we please look at who exactly joined the Coaliton of the Willing? Barely anyone because they knew it was would have dire effects both at home and internationally. Canada has fought other people’s wars for sometime now, and I’m glad that we, a Liberal lead country, have finally started standing up to these American war buggers.

Alan Robberstad should have done his reaserach before he decided to send his junk mail. Nice try though, hey?

P.S. Even Ralph Nader, an early presidential candidate in 2000, said that voting for Steven Harper would be a bad idea. And we thought Americans knew nothing! Apparently some do.

[Reply]

pam
June 25th, 2004
11:23 pm

a message sent to al
my vote will not be congruist to your opinion. Your friend Harper (granted like many politicians) has colors that depend on his cronies like former Mulroney and reform advisors. At this moment he is a caterpillar that will erupt into a wonderful monarch butterfly or perhaps a raping moth that deflates the cloth of moral after the vote. I am more likely to vote for the bloc than I will for Harper. And I’m from Alberta.

Pam Gomola.

ps
Thanx but no thanx for the mass email…maybe you should advise the advisors….and this time, I will vote.

[Reply]

Anonymous
June 25th, 2004
11:30 pm

I’m from Alberta and I am frustrated with the choices available…so…How do I register a vote for the Bloc?

[Reply]

Geneva Hagen
June 27th, 2004
12:49 am

I received a couple of dozen of these letters in my box this morning. This is the most annoying spam attack I’ve ever experienced. If I were an undecided voter, it would definitely make me inclined to vote NDP. But the spam was wasted on me because, as an American citizen, I’m not eligible to vote in this election.

I think Alan Robberstad owes the people of Canada a public apology for this stunt. The time and resources consumed by this one piece of junk mail probably exceed his whole annual income. Isn’t there some law against this sort of thing? Does every fool with a keyboard have the right to spam their personal musings to every email box in Canada?

[Reply]

Al
June 27th, 2004
9:46 am

I wasn’t planning to vote for the Conservative Alliance Reformers under any circumstances but this e-mail pretty much convinced me to vote elsewhere. And if the Conservative Party has anything to do with this Harper should be charged.

[Reply]

july
June 27th, 2004
10:50 am

I received 17 emails in 1 hour from you guys telling me to vote Conservative this is Spam attack and I’m sick of it. I will not vote for Stephen Harper, Harper is against the gay community against abortion, he will destroy the women rights, Conservatives support the foreign and military policies of George W. Bush so tell me why should I vote for him.

[Reply]

Hasan
June 27th, 2004
3:22 pm

My vote aside, I’ve received that same email from over 30 sources in the last 36 hours. Each address is different, however all of them are from XXX on behalf of YYY.

Even if I wasn’t already voting liberal, I probably would now just to spot this ass monkey in Edmonton.

[Reply]

Hasan
June 27th, 2004
3:26 pm

and by spot, I mean spite

[Reply]

margaret li
June 28th, 2004
12:37 am

hey darren,

i got that spam too! only i dont know the person who sent it to me and i got it about 8 times in 1 day. and upon googling the first line of the spam, your site came up. maybe the internet isnt as big as we once thought after all. heh.

[Reply]

Jerome
June 28th, 2004
8:04 am

I’m a French Canadian, from Quebec.

Wow! Yeah! That e-mail really reached me!
Now I really wanna vote for that party where the candidates have to be muzzeled and locked in a cage with a drape over it for fear of scaring the voters… “They come in peace”

Hey there Alberta!
Maybe we’re not very important to you, fankly I’m sick of hearing about you too.
Fuckin militarist/racist/reglious/right-wing/cowboy wannabe whiners…

I’m all pro seperation… ours or yours… either way… You wanna be Americans… GET THE FUCK OUT

[Reply]

Linda
June 28th, 2004
8:32 am

I received this irritating Alan Robbestad spam 27 separate times today… all from faux e-mail addresses belonging to people I don’t know, and seriously doubt exist. I almost wish I *had* planned to vote Conservative, so that I could now have the satisfaction of changing my vote in response to this ridiculous spamming. I’m all for citizen engagement, and getting out there to vote, and all the rest. But spam (especially spam that’s fraught with factual errors and half-supported, half-formed opinions) is an entirely different proposition.

[Reply]

Russell McOrmond
June 28th, 2004
8:47 am

We have had an interesting thread about this on the Digital Copyright Canada forum.

I looked at the headers where the SMTP connection was coming from, and it indicated many different computers. This looks like a commercially distributed SPAM. Given the highly anonymous nature of the headers it didn’t occur to me to search for the name mentioned until this morning. I only today found this message.

This is a third party advertisement, and unless the person distributing them will be reporting this to elections Canada there are legal implications.

The Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) asked candidates and parties in this election a number of Internet related questions, including one on SPAM. http://www.cippic.ca/election2004 While the Liberals, Bloc, NDP and Greens responded, the Conservative party did not. This lack of a response along with this SPAM from a Conservative supporter will likely harm them as far as the aware online community is concerned.

[Reply]

Marc
June 28th, 2004
9:06 am

I wish the Bloc would change its format around… go national and be like “The Provincial” party… with members across the board…

U want something? I want something different? Why not just do our own thing in our own provinces and stop enforcing national rules.

If Alberta wants to vire to the right, let em…
If Quebec wants more autonomy or push to the left, let em…

We need to keep a support system for the small provinces but besides that… we should decentralise taxation… no other party then the Bloc is talking about that.

I like their idea of transfering the GST to Provinces… from their they can do what they want with it… abolish, reduce, increase(please don’t), keep as is…

[Reply]

Megan
June 29th, 2004
8:38 pm

God you are all such a whining bunch of sucks! Are bombs dropping on your heads? Do you have safe clean water to drink? Maybe you should work do some traveling and learn to appreciate your country.

Quit your winging and work to improve your home, your city and your country.

wa, wa wa

[Reply]

cable shaw tv
August 19th, 2007
2:58 pm

cable shaw tv…

Therefore, our advice is for you to buy an up-to-date cable descrambler from your cable TV company….

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