Categories: Andrew Coyne, Capital Read

But seriously

by Andrew Coyne on Sunday, January 10, 2010 9:04pm - 33 Comments

They’ve posted my latest column, which makes the case for shutting down Parliament altogether. From the comments it appears that about half the readers get the satire. Which is better than the usual average.

Actually, it wasn’t so much meant as satire as a demonstration of the seductiveness of undemocratic reasoning. So in a way it’s disappointing that so many readers could tell I was joking. I should have been more subtle.

Tags: democracy, irony, Parliament, prorogation

More by Andrew Coyne

deathstar

coyne does not equal subtle, just fyi on your writing.
Jim

A lot of your columns are Gold, several are Silver, and a few are Bronze. This one was not podium material.
http://intensedebate.com/people/s_c_f s_c_f

You don't need to demonstrate the seductiveness of undemocratic reasoning with the existence of communist and autocratic governments in the world like China and Cuba.
http://theplaceofbiff.blogspot.com biff

That's an excellent point s c f.

And all the more apt, considering the increasing number of commenters on this blog willing to compare Harper to Stalin, or otherwise call him a dictator.

We live in the most civil democracy (albiet an imperfect one) in the World, with a government that can be thrown from power on the say so of the majority in opposition.

Perspective does not appear to be a common trait among desperate hyperpartisans willing to attack their political adversaries at whatever the cost.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Scott_Tribe Scott_Tribe

"Perspective does not appear to be a common trait among desperate hyperpartisans willing to attack their political adversaries at whatever the cost."

That's rich, coming from you, Biff.. If that's what you really believe, you should be all over Harper and his Conservative Party for having that exact trait the past 4 years.

wilson

Ah, the old 'they do it too' come back……

http://intensedebate.com/people/Scott_Tribe Scott_Tribe

Something you've been very adept at using yourself wilson, when bleating about past Liberal transgressions every time someone calls out the Harperites.

"Physician, heal thyself".

http://intensedebate.com/people/Andrew_not_PorC Andrew_not_PorC

To be fair, very few are comparing Harper to Stalin, as it is ridiculous.

Orson Bean

Very few — but the Liberal Party of Canada is explicitly comparing him to Stalin.

http://intensedebate.com/people/DerekPearce DerekPearce

Where and when exactly Orson? Please provide a link.

http://intensedebate.com/people/s_c_f s_c_f

I've provided links above. The Liberal web site, in fact, is where the comparison is made.
Orson Bean

Yes, and apparently certain visitors to this comment board don't like the fact that I pointed this fact out. Apparently the truth hurts.

Anon Liberal

"We live in the most civil democracy (albiet an imperfect one) in the World, with a government that can be thrown from power on the say so of the majority in opposition."

—————————-

Provided the Prime Minister deigns to let Parliament sit.

wilson

followed be confidence votes where the Opps can bring down the government.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Scott_Tribe Scott_Tribe

Not every thing the government does that the opposition disagrees with needs to be put to a non-confidence vote , wilson. That's something you and the supporters of this government want everyone to believe, but thats simply not the case.

Brian

"And all the more apt, considering the increasing number of commenters on this blog willing to compare Harper to Stalin, or otherwise call him a dictator."

Come, now. There's lots of dictator spectrum to choose from.

I've been calling Stephen Harper a Cromwellian dictator since 2008 – is that so unfair?
http://intensedebate.com/people/WDM WDM

Uh oh..

I already sent my print edition to the RCMP.

Oops
common man

Most of those who spend their days writing and thinking about Canadian politics believe that Parliament is what makes us a Democracy. I think most Canadians are onto the fact that the House and the Senate and Committees are just a place for paid partisans to play their games.

The one thing that reaffirms the fact that we live in a democracy is elections. Each of us actually go to a meeting place on a specific date and express our choice that means something. No Facebook or comment boards needed. And any politician that screws around with an Election result (coalition ) or threatens to force an unnecessary election ( Iggy ) will feel the wrath of the public. So the nostalgia some of you feel for the bickering that is Ottawa politics has less to do with how the people feel is democracy then maybe your own self-worth.

Anon Liberal

Your comment is so ignorant that it doesn't really merit a response but in the interests of educating you in the basics of representative democracy here goes:

elections only take place every few years or so and they are a blunt instrument. Democracy is a full-time business which is the people need elected representatives on the clock full time and those elected representatives need to hold the government accountable.

common man

Unfortunately, lately, this full time business you speak off seems to be about an attempt by the Libs to regain power by any means rather then holding gov`t accountable. And the elitiest attitude you demonstrate is typical of those that regard the contribution of the electorate as merely a blunt instrument used to solidify the partisans in Ottawa.

Remember, the people are always right, and if your snobbish attitude is typical of the Liberal Party, then even Anon Liberals will soon be extinct.

kcm

I suspect your attachment to democracy is only skin deep.

wilson

''…the people need elected representatives on the clock full time and those elected representatives need to hold the government accountable…''

That tells me that you are 100% behind an ELECTED Senate.

http://www.google.com/gwt/x?q=Black.++But+perhaps+I%27ve+said+too+much.&hl=en_US&ct=res&oi=blended&sa=X&ei=A9ZHS9DKFpOHgAeloL9T&cd=8&resnum=8&source=m&rd=1&u=ht I WANT MY NAME BACK

This dog is called ‘Spot’.
Dot

Tea parties across the country were now just as hastily postponed, that is, until one of the organizers realizes that it is this column that contains the real satire.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Andrew_not_PorC Andrew_not_PorC

I haven't seen that. If you have any evidence, please supply it.

http://intensedebate.com/people/s_c_f s_c_f

Funny enough, it's true.

http://canadiansense.blogspot.com/2009/12/does-li…
http://www.liberal.ca/en/blog/17112_choose-our-ph…

The Liberal party's web site ran a photo contest, and one of the photos compares Harper to Stalin, Mao, Lenin, Castro, and another communist figure.

Interestingly, we know that it was Pierre Trudeau and his son Sacha who actually befriended and praised Castro.
wilson

Wasn't there a recent photo contest on the official LPC website that approved numerous photos as Harper/Stalin? Yah know the one, where one of the finalists was the assassination of Harper……
http://intensedebate.com/people/s_c_f s_c_f

Not only that, the Liberal site has the message '

"Though we continue to screen submissions before posting, we have removed certain images that may have been offensive to some viewers.

We apologize for any offence these images may have caused, and continue to strive to present a progressive and dynamic web experience for our site visitors."

They removed a photo involving Harper being assassinated but they see no problem leaving a photo comparing Harper to Stalin. The Stalin photo is still there.

http://theplaceofbiff.blogspot.com biff

That's an excellent point s c f.

And all the more apt, considering the increasing number of commenters on this blog willing to compare Harper to Stalin, or otherwise call him a dictator.

We live in the most civil democracy (albiet an imperfect one) in the World, with a government that can be thrown from power on the say so of the majority in opposition.

Perspective does not appear to be a common trait among desperate hyperpartisans willing to attack their political adversaries at whatever the cost.
Loraine Lamontagne

If on average less than half your readers get it, it's because you write poor satire.
http://intensedebate.com/people/jolyon jolyon

I knew you were joking, Coyne, but I wished you weren't. The apparatchik run the country, MPs are there as a fig leaf to give the apparat cover. MPs give themselves months off and no one can tell difference – as far as I am concerned, these long breaks that MPs take only show how entirely unnecessary they are.

We only need a sitting Parliament for 2-3 months of the year – the PM, and a few other cabinet members, should be full time but most MPs are superflous 10 months of the year.
Matthew G P Coe

"Satire" fell short of the mark? Maybe you ought to admit that a little closer to the article. There are enough people who would agree with your column at face value that all you're doing is instigating. Maclean's has a marked right lean, and your column encourages the behaviour of the big cheese of the right wing in this country.

Remember: you should never have to explain that you were trying to be funny. If you do, you fail at funny.

Also, when I want satire, I read The Onion, not Maclean's.
Cameron

Of course, you're being quoted by con-bots at face value on other media outlets' comment pages. I know you're both outraged and exasperated, but if I may, careful Mr. Coyne, careful. As you know, it's our democracy we're talking about.