The oil industry takeover of Canada

[Bragi]

I can't help but notice that by all appearances, the federal government has been taken over by the oil industry.

It isn't just that the PM is an MP from Calgary, or that he wouldn't be in power without support from the oil-producing parts of the country, or that he refuses to disclose his financial backers back when he took over leadership of the con party.

What makes me think there has been a takeover of the federal government by the oil industry is that our national energy policy, our foreign policies, our environmental policies and just about every other policy of the Harper government, basically looks like it was written by Exxon in consultation with the Koch brothers and Houston tea party members.

Other than that, the final thing that points to an oil industry takeover is that not a single Canadian media outlet has ever even suggested such a thing, despite its obviousness. Hmmmm....

[CanSocDem]

1. To get the last few drops.....

...of oil, out of the ground, they're going to need the citizenry to look the other way. It won't be pretty or cost-efficient, but by golly, "It's ours...and we're gonna get it!!"

Having governments in their pocket has long been an industrial imperative; and while you and I were enjoying the fruits of democracy the governments of the world were putting them up for sale. It's taken a while for them to break through the 'social democratic soul' of Canada. The new age of Canadian 'democracy' started when Preston Manning gained credibility. Suddenly, the whole notion of 'social democracy' was a threat to the free-market...

From the left, we've been able to watch it unfold for some time but you're right, they've become quite brazen in declaring who their bosses are.

But, having worked at the vote counting process in our last provincial election, the only positive I came away from that experience with was a renewed confidence in our voting system. I then thought that since we still have that, all we need to do is convince the people.

At the risk of sounding like a goofy optimist, I think that's do able. Like I may have mentioned before, we are learning a lot from GASLAND. The gradual awakening of the American 99% should serve as a wake-up call to Canadians. I just haven't heard a voice from the left strong enough to penetrate this christian-morality-free-market-wonderland syndrome.

I personally wouldn't mind seeing a Mormon POTUS. It might spell out the truth of the free-market to a very large contingent of the public, that they won't want to hear.

I keep hoping these right wing governments we keep electing will self-destruct by their own arrogance and over-reaching personality change.

They know we're out here.....

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[CanSocDem]

2. More agreement...

...from some 'big guns'.

"Canada's per capita greenhouse gas emissions are among the world's highest and it will not meet the cut required under the Kyoto protocol: by 2007 its emissions were 34% above its reduction target. It is exploiting its vast tar sands reserves to produce oil, a process said to cause at least three times the emissions of conventional oil extraction.

The coalition claims Canada is contributing to droughts, floods and sea level rises in Commonwealth countries such as Bangladesh, the Maldives and Mozambique. Clare Short, the former international development secretary, said: "Countries that fail to help should be suspended from membership, as are those that breach human rights."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/nov/26/canada-criticised-over-climate-change/print

They want to kick us out of 'the commonwealth. :wow:


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[Bragi]

3. Good find

Any organization that wants Canada out due to its environmental cretinism has my support.