Canadian Conservative Politricks

Arrgh!! Harper has appointed Michael Wilson to be the new Canadian Ambassador to the U.S.!!

Who is Micheal Wilson you may ask?

Wilson was widely-acknowledged as the one of the "leaders" of the right-wing, corporate big-money, pro-U.S. Republican faction in the Conservative Party in the 80s. Under Joe Clark, he didn't have much influence, but he helped maneuvre Clark into holding a leadership convention in '83. Wilson then decided to run for the leadership himself. He didn't have much chance of actually winning it, but he raised a helluvalot of money in doing so from his corporate buddies. Then when, predictably, dropped off the ballot after the first round, he announced he was supporting Brian Mulroney and urged his followers to do so, too. They did, and helped Lyin' Brian win the PC leadership. He apparently didn't let Mulroney forget he "owed" him for that.

Suffice it to say that with the corporate shill Wilson on board behind Mulroney, the Conservatives raised a helluvalot of money to fight those elections, along with some mysterious advertising paid for by some vague "independent" groups to help promote the Tories' issues, which therefore didn't fall under Elections Canada funding/disclosure rules!! After winning, the "price" Mulroney had to pay for Wilson & co.'s support became apparent: he made Wilson his Minister of Finance, and stacked the Cabinet with his pro-corporate, pro-US cronies.

The attacks on our social programs through elimination/manipulation of the federal budget items began almost immediately and lasted for 9 years. The GST and the Free Trade Act flowed from the Michael Wilson-wing of the government. Mulroney will forever be a bastard because he sold his soul, and had no backbone to fight for any of the things which actually made Canada such a great country to live in, while lying about it through his teeth. But Wilson was a bastard because he was the Dick Cheneyesque, heartless, all-for-the-(U.S.A.Republican)corporations-and-screw-everyone-else power "behind the throne" as it were.

For example, the GST (Goods and Services tax) was his baby, because it switched the burden of the Manufacturers' Sales Tax (a little-known provision which was paid for by the - largely U.S. owned - corporations on their Canadian-made products) onto the average consumer instead!! Also the FTA, the one where everything hinges on what exactly is a "subsidy" - and thus, what trade is "free" and what trade isn't - was his baby. But then we (conveniently) left the definition of "subsidy" up to the Americans to decide for us after the treaty was signed!! He ruined our economy at the expense of helping the big corporations (who were mostly US-owned), who promptly took their marbles and went in search of even cheaper labour (with fewer rights) elsewhere. Thereby screwing thier own workers as well!! No wonder (as the article paints as a "good thing") the American "movers-and-shakers" love him, and he can "pick up a phone" and call Cheney, et.al., whenever he wants!!!

And years later, even though The U.S administration was allowed to define "subsidy"(??), and even though we agreed to be bound by decisions of their courts in any disputes that may arise (??), and even though their own courts have ruled they are in the wrong in the softwood lumber dispute, they still won't play by the rules (in a game weighted in their favour anyway!!) if it means they have a chance of making even more money off us. They want to "negotiate" further!!?? And who will be our noble Ambassador, to stand up for Canada during these "negotiations"?? Michael-fucking-Wilson, that's who!

And people with short memories will think it is a good thing he is so chummy with the powers-that-be in Washington, without realizing all that that implies behind the scenes. And when we settle a "deal" for the return of part of the tarifs they have collected (say, 4 of the 5 billion?), it will be portrayed as a victory made possible by the "friendly relations" between Harper-Bush and Wilson-Cheney. Even though every last cent of those tarifs belong to us by rights, and every cent we don't get back (a billion $) means profits for an American company at the expense of ours.

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I think my head may explode...
(This information comes to you from my hubby, actually)