tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12426618.post5768038839686148954..comments2023-08-03T07:33:41.442-07:00Comments on Idealistic Pragmatist: Stick 'em in a room together and make them fight it outIdealistic Pragmatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18296481430598981678noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12426618.post-80942044185624291302007-03-31T00:26:00.000-07:002007-03-31T00:26:00.000-07:00I haven't been there, but I've sure seen it."Major...I haven't been there, but I've sure seen it.<BR/><BR/>"Major" debates with maybe 50 in the House? Appalling (I'm scared to type that after JC screwed it up so well, but I think I got it right).Candacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05903011672174393312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12426618.post-83076237066712508042007-03-29T19:50:00.000-07:002007-03-29T19:50:00.000-07:00Candace,Realistically, I think we, the people of t...Candace,<BR/><BR/><I>Realistically, I think we, the people of the country, would lose.</I><BR/><BR/>Yeah, there's the rub. Dammit. It's something to threaten them with, though, anyway. Shape up or LOSE THE CAMERAS!!!<BR/><BR/>The sad thing about House proceedings outside of QP is that there's essentially nobody in the room to listen to all these speeches our parliamentarians are making. Have you ever been to Ottawa to watch? It's all rowdy during QP, and then after it's like a ghost town. Eerie.Idealistic Pragmatisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18296481430598981678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12426618.post-91719482265991367232007-03-29T19:41:00.000-07:002007-03-29T19:41:00.000-07:00IP, removing the cameras from the House would depr...IP, removing the cameras from the House would deprive us serfs the ability to see & hear for ourselves what's going on. However, it would also deprive the MPs of their time in the sun, so ... Realistically, I think we, the people of the country, would lose.<BR/><BR/>I've watched CPAC a few times outside of QP, and things are much more civilized (because they don't think anyone's watching, I guess, that, and they ARE supposed to be getting things done!).<BR/><BR/>Since we gave up our place as a Dominion, we don't have anyone who can "take our parliament away" so we are stuck with them. But it is an interesting, if rather undemocratic, idea (the mother in me really likes it! Time out for everyone!).Candacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05903011672174393312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12426618.post-49927703811433262762007-03-29T13:29:00.000-07:002007-03-29T13:29:00.000-07:00Jason,By 'we' I mean we as a country. We're just ...Jason,<BR/><BR/>By 'we' I mean we as a country. We're just so used to our politics being antagonistic that we expect no better. It's time for that to change!<BR/><BR/>Perhaps it's time to remove the cameras from the House of Commons? It's a thought.Idealistic Pragmatisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18296481430598981678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12426618.post-82114287698597741732007-03-29T13:19:00.000-07:002007-03-29T13:19:00.000-07:00That's where I differ from you, then - I *do* expe...That's where I differ from you, then - I *do* expect them to get along. ;)<BR/><BR/><BR/>The really ****ed up thing is that they mostly <I>do</I> seem to get along fine - when they're not in the House. Weird.Jacques Beau Verthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16450947780950412676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12426618.post-20529618961862005552007-03-29T08:07:00.000-07:002007-03-29T08:07:00.000-07:00Jason,To be fair to them, it's not that they *can'...Jason,<BR/><BR/>To be fair to them, it's not that they *can't* get along, it's that we don't expect them to. We're so used to our parties being at war that we don't even know what it looks like when they try to find common ground, and we're skeptical of any semblance of it. Which means that Question Period is more about partisan posturing and performance art than anything substantive.<BR/><BR/>I do like your "buy 'em a drink" idea, though. :-)Idealistic Pragmatisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18296481430598981678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12426618.post-87503955133871723412007-03-29T06:20:00.000-07:002007-03-29T06:20:00.000-07:00Actually, I agree - I've said before that in an id...Actually, I agree - I've said before that in an ideal world, we'd dump the whole Speaker thing, and the centre of the House would be a little pit done up like a cozy drawing room, with the benches looking in like bleachers, and anytime you want to ask a question of a Minister or MP, the two of you have to sit down together, buy each other a drink - brought in by the pages, natch - and tell jokes until you each make the other laugh, and then you get to the question.<BR/><BR/>I mean, I've got friends who are staunch NDP and diehard Tory - we all get along. Why can't the people we pay get along??Jacques Beau Verthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16450947780950412676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12426618.post-32138976574011622007-03-29T06:00:00.000-07:002007-03-29T06:00:00.000-07:00Dicer,Well, since there's no level of government a...Dicer,<BR/><BR/>Well, since there's no level of government above us to actually take it away, that would be a yes. Although watching the completely partisan Question Period these days, there are certainly times I wish for a Great Hand to come down from the skies and smite them all...Idealistic Pragmatisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18296481430598981678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12426618.post-82969646659032780982007-03-29T01:04:00.000-07:002007-03-29T01:04:00.000-07:00Interesting post. I am sure the remarks about "ta...Interesting post. I am sure the remarks about "taking our parliament away from us" were entirely ironic in nature.<BR/>KudosKat Hayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03497273496322755668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12426618.post-2058956819741145382007-03-28T16:55:00.000-07:002007-03-28T16:55:00.000-07:00Glad to see you're posting a lot again, IP. :)Glad to see you're posting a lot again, IP. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com