“I think when ordinary working people come home, turn on the TV and see . . . a bunch of people at a rich gala . . . all subsidized by the taxpayers - claiming their subsidies aren’t high enough when they know those subsidies have gone up - I’m not sure that’s something that resonates with ordinary people“
Stephen Harper, September 23rd, 2008
Wow. Let us count the ways we have a big problem with the Prime Minister’s statement yesterday. There are many things that are incorrect in this single sentence:
1 - According to The Globe and Mail and CBC’s The National, funding for “the arts” has gone down. So on a factual level, Mr. Harper is not speaking the truth.
2 - What? Artists aren’t ordinary working people? When we come home from a long day of work and learn about the Conservatives giving Millions in subsidies to pollution driven oil companies we feel like we are.
3- How many rich artists do you know? As George Strombolopolous pointed out on last night’s The Hour, “I’ve got three sleeping on my couch right now.”
At the Department of Culture, we want to emphasize one reason that the Prime Minister is wrong in particular. He presupposes that the massive mobilization of artists across the country this election is simply about losing $45 Million in program funding.
Mr. Harper’s comments neglect the fact that artists are also citizens of Canada.
When we leave our rehearsal halls, studios, and studies, we walk these streets too. We all breathe the same air as we spend our money to feed and house our families. We have the same issues as the rest of Canadians. The Prime Minister’s comments illustrate a primitive view of human motivation. He can’t seem to understand that someone could be worried about more than one thing at one time.
We are concerned about the damage a Conservative government will do to a broad spectrum of our friends, colleagues and fellow citizens. In particular, we are worried that Conservatives, motivated by the impulse to deregulate everything from food inspection and investment to healthcare will allow an economic meltdown like their Republican brethren in the United StatesTheir lack of regulations has also been directly linked to the Lysteriosis outbreak. Anyone remember Walkerton? A lot of these guys from the Mike Harris Government are now running Harper’s show.
We used to be smart. We used to be the Good Guys. What happened to our country?
The Department of Culture has already launched our national campaign. You will be hearing a lot more about why The Conservatives are wrong and how they are antithetically opposed to Canadian values on core issues in a city near you.
5 Comments
Good stuff guys, keep it up. I appreciate all of you artists who make the world more beautiful and who tell our stories. Harper really does scare me. Let’s keep him out of office!
Cheers
The really scary thing about Harper and this campaign is realizing that EVERYTHING Harper says is carefully scripted and targeted to appeal to a specific demographic that has been identified to be open to suggestion from the Tories. They (the Tories) do not believe in, or stand for, any of what they are saying. It is ALL spin. There is no point in even discussing it.
See the Globe article, “What the Tories know about you” http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080912.welxnpolling13/BNStory/politics/home
Dougal
I’m starting to think that Stephen Harper is the master of misdirection. He’s managed to set people against each other in arguments and debates about arts and culture and who makes how much money and do they deserve it, etc.
It’s the same kind of reaction that people have to his young offenders platform promises.
We can’t be distracted by the smoke. People who think that arts and culture is just about how much money artists make and don’t understand that it’s part of the fabric that makes us Canadian aren’t going to change their minds in the next three weeks.
The important thing is to make sure that we don’t have another Harper government. Canada won’t survive. The man seems intent on taking away the things that define us as Canadians.
We must vote. We should vote swap if necessary. We have to do everything we can to keep Harper out of power.
I am not against no one but I like to interview each party and who is the best man that who will get in.
My first question for Harper is about employment for disabled people. We are people with needs. I have my own home and car and just meeting my needs. Somewhat. I need help in getting proper employment. What did you do to help us? I don’t see it myself or I might be missing something. Can you tell me why Harper? Or any parties who are running?
I saw this post via a montreal artist that i’ve shared the stage with. This is not timely as far as what the former posts have been.Stephen Harper is naming names in a way that looks like the end for him. A side note i went to Walkerton High. After that shit Walkerton had the nicest roads public works had any resource. Too little too late. Even in a crisis there is a way to feel the pulse. Look at Germany they have embraced an incredible return energy system. People are making money connected to the grid. Will Canada with its many options of wind, animal waste recycling on location, and as well as our water systems make a choice. If we invest more in nuclear power we have progression with no control. Try and hook up to the grid here, hard work and all these bastard won’t let you. I’m just getting started. fuck
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