JD Wood from Toronto, Canada writes: The last thing we need is an elected senate. There is a reason senators are chosen for their wisdom, education, and experience — not their electability. This so called U.S. idea of “elitism” is absurd… I would RATHER have an “elitist” in the senate than some dolt who might invite you to a pig roast and beer party. The senate exists to protect the electorate from itself when they make major mistakes (e.g. electing Harper). I do not trust the ignorant masses to tie their shoes nevermind elect senators. What is next… soon when I go to the doctor my diagnosis will be determined by the democratic ignorance of the people? How about instead, educated specialists with advanced knowledge continue to treat the cancer that is killing Canada — Harper, the Reform party, and its populism.
h/t to reader Johann.
When I read things like this, I immediately recall William F. Buckley’s comment that he would rather be governed by the first thousand names in the Boston telephone book than by the Harvard faculty.
Apparently JD Wood from Toronto Canada would favour appointmenting only Muslims and Jews to our Senate. There’d be no danger of them inviting anyone to a pig roast. As for me, I think Ann Coulter should be imported and given complete authority to appoint whomever she chooses for the rest of her life.
and the flaw in his “argument” is that the people doing the appointing fall in to the mental midget category.
Think Cruton. Think Martin.
The Reform Party is still around??!!
Hey Woody, time for your Soma pill.
The “…from Toronto, Canada” part is kind of redundant, isn’t it?
I think the flaw in his argument is that he assumes it’s HIS people that would be doing the governing.
HIS people require protection from OUR people to do anything.
In a non-democratic society, HIS people are usually the first to eat a bullet. Perhaps he’s on to something…
He is also the kind of obnoxious a-hole to assume that anyone not of HIS type must be ignorant and uneducated when the opposite is generally true. Socialists require a stupid, poorly educated and ignorant populace so they can fool the people as often as possible and marginalise those who can’t be fooled. Socialism requires the adoption of the state’s lies by all.
As for education, I’ll put mine up against his any day.
I had the misfortune of living in Toronto. It’s full of the worst sort of people. Sociology degrees don’t constitute and education but the attainment of a facsimile of an education. Too many stupid liberals assume that their empty-headed humanities degrees have taught them anything. It amazes me that some half-wit sociologist looks down the end of their nose at electricians and plumbers. Aside from the fact that minimum-wage call centres are filled with worthless humanities degrees and electricians and plumbers are some of the highest paid people in society, that these trades take learning (aka an education) and skill is beyond the comprehension of these effete, latte-swilling pansy-ass fools.
Kathy Shaidle @ 11:38 AM –
The Reform Party is still around??!!
No Kathy, but some of us old members in Ontario are waiting for the BC HRC’s “hate speech trial” outcome.
We may have to resurrect in Alberta and “SEPARATE” to a truly FREE country!!
So there, MR. J.D. Wood!!
“… I would RATHER have an “elitist” in the senate ”
Me too, unfortunately for him that precludes, not so much pork BBQ and Beer types, but anyone appointed by a career politician.
I’d love to have an elite senate. “elite” (Defined as a truly superior individual: Morally, intellectually, etc…)
Since we won’t agree on who is a demigod(dess) of wisdom, geographically elected numpties that will work towards protecting their province from the central governments grasping bureaucrats will have to do.
That’s what I like about the US Senate before they made them elected ( a massive catastrophe for governance) they were unelected Hacks, but they were unelected hacks that belonged to the state political machines. Senators looked after the states, reps looked after the people.
Kind of like the house of lords before it was debauched in the UK, a bunch of hereditary numpties, some ecclesiatical types, senior lawyers, and such. People likely to be concerned with not rocking the boat too much or too fast, and concerned with with their own provinces/shire’s interests.
A BRAKE on demagogic concentration and wild flights of political fancy.
People with slightly longer horizons of interest that the next election.
“Freedom of speech is an American concept, so I don’t give it any value. — Dean Steacy, Canadian Human Rights Commission.”
Wood from TO:”This [an elected senate] so called U.S. idea of “elitism” is absurd…”.
Aunty-American is ranting, raving, and resident in TO. Lock her up again Pa.
So Wood would rather NOT have democracy if it means some of HIS people would not be elected. Typical leftist bullsh**. He’s an elitist pig. He should consider moving permanently to Cuba.
Heh, this Mr. Wood is fun. His post is filled with so many unexamined assumptions that one has to conclude that he is, indeed, an ignoramus, all by his own unexamined ego.
He assumes that Senate appointments are made on the basis of ‘wisdom, education and experience’. He’s wrong; they are made on the basis of patronage and favours-owed. Mr. Wood can’t prove that the Senate is filled with people of ‘wisdom, education and experience’. But we can certainly prove the opposite.
He then assumes that an elected representative lacks ‘wisdom, education and experience’. Proof required. So, anyone who is elected is ignorant. Heh. That’s fun. Are they ignorant before or after the election?
Of course, his firm belief that the electorate is a morass of ignorance requires that he either, himself, be defined as a non-member of this electorate…or..is he saying that he alone would elect someone who has ‘wisdom, education and experience’ while the rest of us twits would reject such qualities? Gosh, he’s fun.
And if he assumes that someone who is elected is..etc..unwise, then, how can he justify this elected person, the PM, having the brains to appoint someone of ‘wisdom, education and experience’ to that esteemed Senate?
Since no-one, according to Mr. Wood, who is elected by the electorate, has any brains, then, how the heck would any appointments to anything be made? Who would appoint these Superior Beings?
Ahh..now it’s clear. Mr. Wood, a Platonist totalitarian, is opting for the elite hereditary class who are superior, by birth, not by being recognized as such by their equals.
If you look at most politicians who are elected (including Liberals, Conservatives, and the communist NDP) they will soon sacrifice their principles in order to remain popular which results in bad government.
The alternative of appointed officials is about the only thing worse because (at least) when an elected official goes way too far you have the ability to get rid of them before the damage gets too bad; and you have the slight possibility of electing a politician who will actually be able to repair the damage.
Democracy doesn’t work but it is still the best form of government …
The complete and utter arrogance displayed in the attitude by JD Wood”headed” could not be more breathtaking.
This is the proposition that government hacks actually think they know what they are doing.
It is pretty plain by the weight of history that governments tend to err on a pretty consistent basis.
At least by election the populace can take corrective action, rather than waiting for Divine Providence or a 40 year retirement.
I would be okay with 8 – 10 year terms for Senators.
Cheers
Hans-Christian Georg Rupprecht BGS, PDP, CFP
Commander in Chief
Frankenstein Battalion
2nd Squadron: Ulanen-(Lancers) Regiment Großherzog Friedrich von
Baden(Rheinisches) Nr.7(Saarbrucken)
Knecht Rupprecht Division
Hans Corps
1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group “True North”
JD Wood is a nut that posts all the time on the G&M comment sections.
I rarely read the G&M, and even more rarely read the comments, but on every occasion that I have done so, without fail there has been JD Wood posting his silly stuff. His comments regularly appear at or very near the top of the list, which suggests that he must literally sit in front of the G&M website all day waiting to comment.
In general if you want to see the childish nature of the G&M readership, take a peek at the comments.
“The Reform Party is still around??!!” Posted by: Kathy Shaidle
Yes, in their elitist mind, they are, as is a nazi infestation of Canada, among many, many other things the rest of us must not be made privy to.
His comment is proof positive that Liberal leftism is a mental disorder. It’s all about elitist (hero) worship… Gore, Obama, Suzuki etc.
Reality, logic and facts have no impact on such leftist sycophants as Mr. Wood.
Now that Saskatchewan is going to look into electing Senators, I hope that a draft Kate movement begins…
Ahh, J.D.Wood is so “correct”. Examine the fine specimens adorning the Senate now, appointed bagmen, political hacks, and liberal press and media types. They certainly are the elite!
“It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.”
Winston Churchill
So JD Wood is worried the Senate might get infested with the wrong kinda folks. Jeezus, he’s preaching from the right location in the country to assume he’s what he seems, a condescending prig at best and at worst a real arsehole. More proof Harper is on the right track in dealing with changes to the House of Patronage rewards.
JD Wood is the perfect spokesman for the liberals. I hope that Master Trudeau hires him as chief advisor, or maybe speech writer. His message needs to be spread all across the nation.
JD seems so upset, it’s almost as if he sees his chance of an appointment to the upper chamber going to shambles.
Maybe “J.D. Wood” is a senator already.
The woodman is describing the original conception behind the House of Lords….of course there you had property owners and existing Dukes etc…It is a surprisingly ‘conservative’ thought, quaint in its intent nowadays.
What parts of it are worth keeping, certainly longer electoral timeframes, per the US Senate, so that they arent subject to the same electoral buffering that the house of Rep is. But other than that there isnt much left. Of course this thought is more common amongst those who would be part of that elite….Gosh I wonder who their MP is and if he/she invites him over for pig roasts.
They may not be a Liberal but an old tory, as in the P part of the old PC party. It fits that profile a little better.
“Mr. Wood can’t prove that the Senate is filled with people of ‘wisdom, education and experience’.”
He doesn’t have to prove it. He can ‘feel’ it.
There’s nothing really to comment on. This mouth breather is so far gone he’s a hopeless waste of oxygen.
Put him and Maudlin in a boat and torpedo it.
Frank Mahovlich an intellect ?
Woody thinks the Reform Party is screwing up Canada!!!???
Yeah right….
Don’t you love those eastern bastards that should freeze in the dark? JD Wood should know that out west here we have more fear for the stupidity of idiots like him and the governments they elect than we do electing senators. If this dolt had his way he’d be see a Liberal Prime Minister appointing Members of Parliament rather than electing them. Actually that is exactly what the Leader of the Opposition, Borat Dijon, tried to do in a northern Saskatchewan by-election. Got his ass kicked good for it too. Harper’s boy won that one. How did that go over with you, Wood?
Could we have some dates and locations for the beer an roast pork please ?
So what’s wrong with pig roasts and beer parties??
Didn’t Hitler shun the thought of elections!!
The only person I’ve seen more angry at the PM then JD Wood is Jim Travers. In fact, now that I think about it, there is a similarity in their thought process. Senate seat jealousy can cause great personal distress, loss of rational thought processes and overt hostility to those in power. See the TO Star for examples.
Well cantuc…I was just about to invite everyone here (Northern Ontario) and all my Reform Party friends from way back(yes we had some in Ontario)
will be ready to ‘roast’ the Trawnna elite…just for a laugh.
JR Wood sounds like my family in Toronto…they hate Harper and Harris.They exist in a bubble…
Re: mecheng at May 22, 2008 12:14 PM
I agree totally. Senator McMillan would certainly be no party hack and would definitly do a bang up job of it. She would certainly wake up the “old folk’s home”.
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Meanwhile, while the adult supervision is out, the Torona Liberals eat each other. Churnuk disses Spinsella, Churnuk gets slapped silly. I won’t link it.
I’ll take Bert Brown over any one of the “educated specialists with advanced knowledge” currently sucking up oxygen in the Senate.
I’m so ignorant that I actually think it’s a good idea to let the governed have a say in who gets to govern.
Thank you Woodporter for remembering Churchill’s commentary on democracy after NoOne’s version got me trying to bring it out of the cobwebs of memory.
As to the verbal diarrea from ol Woodsy there…..Anyone have some Pepto to feed JD?
No way irwin daisy, Mk 48s are way too expensive to be wasting on the likes of JD and Johnny.
And adifferentbob? How many times do you folks need to be reminded that Ontario is not in the east, it is in the west.
Health tip for the day:
If invited to a pig roast and beer party, remember to take your popcorn. Fiber is your friend.
Frank Mahovolich as a “deep thinker”? I grew up with Frank in Leaside and all I can say that he sure must have fooled a lot of people if twaddle statements like that are being made.
I’m sure that at least half the Liberal senators are failed or dunce politicians, or significant faithful/contributors, which is why they got there, but to be categorized as “deep thinkers”? Get real.
bluetech: “JR Wood sounds like my family in Toronto…”
Tree decades ago my entire extended family voted Liberal. Today there are only a couple of holdouts and they think exactly as JR Wood. Only in Canada; you say?
I too think an elected Senate is silly. The U.S.A. started with a senate where the members were appointed by the states and then they amended their constitution to elect senators; the former was better as today’s U.S. senators have their own political agendas rather than representing the interests of their states; I believe there are commentators in the VRWC who would like the amendment reversed.
In Canada the Prime Minister gets a list from the provinces as advice and then recommends to the Governor General names therefrom or otherwise. If the Prime Minister simply took the provincial recommendations we’d be better served as the Senate would serve its purpose of representing provincial interests.
If a province wants to stage elections, fine (e.g., Mulroney with Waters, Harper with Brown). If they don’t, fine. Pick them however you want to and we’ll all be confederally happy.
I am well-acquainted with JD; his posts on the U.S. Presidential election (at the Globe and Mail) are borderline psychotic and legendary in their moonbattery. Feel free to counter-post at the G & M! LOL.
“If this dolt had his way he’d be see a Liberal Prime Minister appointing Members of Parliament rather than electing them”
The gears are already being oiled. What you describe is called “Proportional Representation”.
Mr. Wood clearly misunderstands Western political traditions. Democratic theory does NOT assume that people will necessarily vote for policies that are “wise” or that are “best for all concerned”. On the contrary, it assumes, realistically I think, that people will selfishly vote for measures they perceive as best for themselves. Out of the compromises that must inevitably be made, some approximation of the “greatest good” is anticipated. In this regard, democratic theory resembles our legal system, which does NOT demand that a lawyer pursue “justice” for his client. Rather, a lawyer is expected to obtain for his client the best outcome possible, whether that outcome is “just” or not. Out of the legal wrangling that ensues, some approximation of justice hopefully emerges.
Actually, in responding to Mr. Wood, I’ve ignored my initial reaction, which is that his remarks are so monumentally stupid as to constitute their own rebuttal.
When I eventually realize my aspirations and become Generalissimo-President-for-Life-Most-Exalted-Dictator-Grand-Pooh-Bah, I only hope that everyone in the country will be like JD Wood and his Toronto ilk. Sheep herding is actually work; sheep like him will herd themselves — right into my Gulags and firing squads.
JD Wood is a typical liberal elitist supercilious twit
who won’t be happy until the entire country is mired in a miasma of decrepitude just like Toronto
Proof, if it were needed, that there is no shortage of folks who consider themselves modern and – there’s that word – “progressive”, who would favour a government organized on lines closer to a monarchy than real democracy. And most of them read Vanity Fair magazine, and not just for the juicy D. Dunne stories on rich people killing each other.