Democracy or cacophony?
I watched Monday night’s federal leaders’ debate with considerable disgust.
First, how did the Bloc Québécois get invited, as it’s only interested in Quebec? Second, the cross-talk was outrageous. Contenders who interrupt when someone else has the floor should be given one warning and then have their microphones shut off if they disregard it.
Jim Moar, Halifax
Get rid of the clutter
So, did you watch the leaders’ debate on Monday night? Or to put it more accurately, did you watch the six debaters’ arrogant displays?
To me, it was a waste of two hours. Rosemary Barton showed her true colours and Lisa LaFlamme was, as usual, a well-organized, unbiased moderator. The entire sordid affair revolved around laying blame; there was no indication of how to deal with strong divisions emerging in this country.
Another observation: Why were there six candidates on that stage vying to be prime minister, when, in fact, only three have a chance of winning that prize? Also, why hasn't Elizabeth May’s U.S. citizenship become an issue, too, as she was born an American?
Canada needs to enshrine in its electoral laws requirements for a candidate vying to lead this country. He or she should have a slate of nominated candidates in 75 per cent of Canada’s ridings, be of single citizenship (Canadian), represent a party that holds a minimum of 10 seats in Parliament when the writ is dropped, and be personally vetted by an independent body, in order to qualify for a place at the podium in the national debate.
This would eliminate the clutter, personal attacks, and those representing a single province — i.e., the Bloc Québécois leader, who is there to block the progress of the debate. It’s time for these people to get off the bus and take the desires of the voters seriously.
Frank Poole, Falmouth
It’s your money
The federal election campaign would almost be humorous if it wasn’t so important to our future. After all, these are the people who are responsible for managing our money. Not theirs, ours.
It was sad to watch the English debate on TV on Monday night. Instead of an actual debate, it was more like spoiled children trying to make each other out to be the villain. They all succeeded.
What is truly sad is that, in all the promises that they all make, they never mention the current deficit, how it got there, or what it will look like in the future. Just promises to spend more, as if it were a gift from heaven. Let’s stop thinking that whatever comes our way from the government is a gift. Politicians hold the purse strings, but remember: it’s your money.
Tom Cogswell, Kingston
Trump-like approach
By starting out calling others names on Monday night, the Conservative leader showed his ignorance of how to conduct himself during a debate and undoubtedly his lack of formal education. He was not an insurance broker, as he advertised himself to be, and was a citizen of the U.S.A. most of his life. Perhaps he still is. His Trump-like approach of name-calling may have deep roots in his apparent family connection to the U.S. Republican party.
June DeLory, Halifax
Don’t trust Scheer
Re: Monday’s political debate and the performance of Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer. I hope people don’t mistake bombast for intelligence or substance.
Further, were he to become prime minister, he certainly could not fulfil all his often outrageous promises. How easy it would be to say: “We can’t do it all. We have been grievously misled about how bad the fiscal situation really is!” Whether this were so or not, he’d then be off the hook. And don’t think he doesn’t know it.
Diana Gilbert, Midville Branch
Regressive Conservative
After watching the English TV debate, I realized just how out of touch Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is with today's reality.
Mr. Scheer is a climate denier, is anti-gay rights and anti-abortion. If that is not enough, he supports big oil and pipelines, including reviving Energy East. The Energy East pipeline proposal is to transport raw bitumen from Alberta to tidewater in Saint John, N.B. It will not eliminate bringing in foreign oil to the East Coast. Other than Big Oil and Irving, no one benefits.
Then we find out that he is an American citizen and with Republican sympathies to boot. Mr. Scheer's U.S. siblings are Trump supporters.
Being in my 70s, I have a hard time understanding Scheer's Conservative policy points. How in the world would today’s youth grasp anything he or his party stands for? Only a person living in a Tennessee cave could relate — 2019 is not the time to revert back to the 1950s. Vote for someone who is tuned into today’s world.
Darrell Tingley, Chester
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