Login / RegisterMemo to the Province editors: Joseph Stalin killed lots of people
This morning, I was jarred by the headline above Mike Smyth's column in the Province newspaper.
In reference to new NDP Leader Adrian Dix, it said: " 'Dour Stalinist' the leader Libs were hoping for".
Dour Stalinist? That's a bit harsh. After all, Joseph Stalin was one of the most ruthless, murderous, and paranoid dictators of the 20th century. He executed thousands, if not millions of people, and sent millions of others to slave-labour camps in Siberia.
Dix, on the other hand, is the twice-elected NDP MLA for Vancouver-Kingsway who has stood up for kids in government care, kids with diabetes, and kids on the East Side whose elementary school was threatened with closure.
Expect to see more of this type of framing of Dix from the corporate media in the coming months.
At a news conference this morning, Dix laughed off the Province's below-the-belt attack with this comment: "I have to say, I saw that headline and I think that’s a little bit redundant. It could be that Mike Smyth thinks that Beria was a happy warrior."
For those unfamiliar with the name, Lavrenti Beria was Stalin's head of the secret police.
It seems that in this era of concentrated media ownership, only the new leaders of right-wing parties get a honeymoon from the headline writers.
Straight breeds its own as well.
Of course, if you believe there's anything about Stalinism that's not Dour, then please educate me.
How about Jaunty Stalinist or Looney Leninist?
By the way, Moe Sihota's suit looked wonderful on stage last night. That Union payroll sure looks good on the Party President.
Na zdorovje!
They hold their noses and gamble that Harper does not kill the golden goose, with his Americanization agenda.
If you want your say about Harper you have to go to the internet, they simply do not print negative facts about Harper, every time Harper does something wrong no matter how serious, his polling numbers go up simply because the media trivializes his actions and peddles the notion that the opposition would do even worse or they did the same thing sometime back in ancient history.
Personally I will blame the media if Harper gets a majority.
That's hogwash. Social policies produce positive economic results. In fact the top stimulus action in 2010 by the feds was investment in low income earners and the unemployed ($1.5 of activity for each $1 invested). In comparison, tax cuts to corporations produced a measly 20 cents on the dollar (see report on the Economic Action Plan 2010 by Finance Canada). The idea that investment would flee or the economy would suffer under a socially progressive government is a complete fabrication.
On the other hand, cut and slash policies under the Libs while producing little to no discernible impact on the economy have clearly made many suffer. In addition, the libs have had to sell off half the province (BC Rail, BC Hydro, RotR projects) to make up for their failed policies, not to mention covering it up with a decade of deceit and obfuscation.
No, I have to say it's high time we kicked the bums out.
"... and their attempts to silence those opposed to abortion..."
Right to choice advocates dont go around shooting preachers, right to life advocates and individuals with opposing viewpoints.
That would be your ideological brethren.
It's not a theory.
Here's a video of the actual stapler in action:
http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110119/bc_ndp_money_1...
Liberals have earned time in the penalty box.
British Columbians are ready to change government.