Canada's brain-dead Parliament- 338 powder monkeys

There should be a public tribunal why not one of our legislators speaks for peace!

The Peace Tower flag is at half-mast as Canada's Parliament goes into a swooning supine recline en masse.

Too many decades ago a distinguished Canadian journalist by the name of James M. Minifie wrote a little known book called Peace-Maker or Powder Monkey. He wrote it 20 years after the end of WW II. Even then it was obvious, Canada, even though we had come of age during war, making a considerable contribution to the war effort, was opting for colonization and retiring its nationhood. This was around the same time Canadian philosopher George Grant wrote his book Lament for a Nation. Both authors were canaries in the coal mine singing a tune nobody wanted to listen to as colonization has an insidious momentum, especially when driven by the expediencies of commerce and political pragmatism.

In the days of tall sailing ships powder monkey’s were young boys who carried the powder to the guns . They were the lowest rank on the ship and considered expendable-like the ammunition they supplied to the guns.

Minifie wrote his book as he clearly saw Canada had two choices; peace-maker or powder monkey. He was an optimist and a progressive as he saw Canada’s role as a middle power serving as a mediator and cautionary voice to the world’s great powers.

His book acknowledges the US was on the fast track to becoming a dominant superpower, and with the collapse of the USSR in 1991 it became the world’s singular superpower: A collapse that has changed the course of history and influenced heavily the crisis the world is in today.

For Canada’s part, Minifie raised the question does the US empire want a compliant vassal state on it northern border or a vibrant democracy to complement its own? We know now the die was already cast as even before WW ll ended the US was to be a spin-off empire . Even before the war ended it was preparing for war against both Russia and China. In the ecstasy of triumphalism plans were laid for a nuclear attack on Russia, fortunately never acted on.

Empires do not deal in reciprocal partnerships they only deal in dominance. It was emphatically made clear our role was to be powder monkey to empire. Our elites have been more than willing to comply.

Canada’s self-abolishing political parties

In 1950 French philosopher Simone Weil’s book calling for the abolishment of political parties was published posthumously. As she pointed out they are vulnerable to endless corruptions and skulduggery. For confirmation all we have to do is take a look at Canadian politics to see how prescient was her foresight—with the emphasis on petty skulduggery.

Politicians who pretend to be states persons and honorable members are no more that petite bourgeois frolicking about in an adult day care center for the over paid and under employed biding their time until they collect their gold-plated pensions.

Weil mentions how political parties had their origins as sports clubs, also known as, cliques of like-minded people indulging themselves. Where political parties may begin as like-minded noble individuals pursuing visionary ideals, they ultimately end up as political jock straps spending too much time in the locker room, all privilege and no progress on the playing field.

In too many ways our present day Parliament refers back to the Family Compact of 19th century Canada.

War is the big shake down.

War is the big shake down where it takes full measure of peoples, institutions and values. In the last year we have been bombarded with painful truths and a lot of unnecessary death, devastation and inhumanity. In our resolute denialism too many buy into the despotism that is decades old and has now reached its apex. We indulge in scapegoating infantile propaganda and dime store jingoism.

Canada’s Parliament has 338 sitting members none of which have spoken for peace and civility.

In his recent blog Yves Engler poses the question” Where are the voices for peace in Parliament?

In his blog he outlines the pathetic of state our parliament where no party or individual MP speaks for peace and many are cheerleaders for war.

Wars happens because too many are unwilling speak against them. Too many are willing to serve the corruptions and treachery that precedes them. Too many are willing to turn a blind eye to the ideologies making war inevitable.

This is a federal legislature mandated to deliver peace, order and good government. Instead it delivers abdication and insolence.

All these decades later Minifie would be saddened to see his Canada reduced to 338 powder monkeys on the take.

Doors to Canada’s Parliament…in dissolution until further notice.