- Harper's 'Tough on Crime' position is an Insult to the Intelligence and Integrity of all Canadians.

Posted: 7:52am, PST, 27 Jan.'11
Coalition of churches condemns Ottawa’s justice plan
GLORIA GALLOWAY
OTTAWA— From Thursday's Globe and Mail
Published Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011 9:04PM EST
Last updated Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011 7:39AM EST
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/coalition-of-churches-condemns-ottawas-justice-plan/article1884171/

Harper:

“Canadians want to be able to feel safe in their homes and communities, and that means that the bad guys need to be taken out of circulation. Does that cost money? Yes. Is it worth it? Just ask a victim.”

"just ask a victim"

We, all Canadians, are victims of Harper ideology and the rhetoric, obfuscation, misinformation, misrepresentation, and propaganda spewing from Harper, Toews and all the Con's.

For example: "'Under the previous system, criminals – including convicted terrorists – were sometimes released the day after their sentencing. This is unacceptable to Canadians,' said Christopher McCluskey, who added that the government has extended financial support to victims.

I don't know who McCluskey is but perhaps he could tell us just example how many 'convicted terrorists' he is referring to and their circumstance so we all could decide whether the 10's of billions of dollars are really worth it.

This is obviously just a play on people fears and emotions and an insult to the intelligence and integrity of all Canadians.

Harper and the Con's "Tough on Crime" is no more than an emotional appeal to the Con's right wing voter base - the ones that keep him in office as long as the Moderate Majority do not consolidate.

Harper's approach is deliberately devoid of logic, rationality and fact based policy development. That is why the Harper approach is to lengthen the jail terms of offenders rather than do something that will actually reduce crime - a G.W. Bush agenda, manifestly demonstrated to be a complete disaster

The disaster Bush made of the US is a prime example of just how much damage can be done when the wrong person is leading the country, something every Canadian ought to think seriously about in the next election

Harper and the Con's have nothing to support their position to say that it is in the best interest of all Canadians. In fact, all the evidence points to the exact opposite. This is illustrated by the Report released by Graham Stewart, Prof Michael Jackson, et al, in late September, "A Flawed Compass"

The response by the Con’s: “The professor has a different philosophy than us,” Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan (to CBC)

Harper is totally disregarding the facts and basing his position on shear Ideology, extreme right wing at that

He is not basing it on what is best for Canadians, but on irrational fear mongering and self-righteous hypocrisy, dragging us back to the Dark Ages with hints of the Inquisition, and Canada be Dam[redacted]ed. Is burning at the stake "cruel and unusual" for witches???

"'We are trying to educate the public and the people in our churches about this,' said Lorraine Berzins, co-ordinator of analysis for the CCJC, who worked in Canada’s federal penitentiaries for 14 years. [CCJC = The Church Council on Justice and Corrections, a 39-year-old coalition for justice reform that represents 11 of the largest Christian denominations]

'It goes so much against all the evidence about what keeps communities safe, and it does so much harm, and they are going to spend so much money, that it’s really surprising that there isn’t more opposition.'

Hopefully with articles like this and efforts like that of the CCJC everyone in Canada will bring their attention to this matter and if they do I am certain there will be more opposition, much more opposition.

However, with Harper in power it just don't matter.

And, if Harper were to get a majority then, God Save Canada.

Lloyd MacILquham cicblog.com/comments.html (6 Nov.'09)