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A little while ago, Sam did an interview with independent candidate Jack Cook for the riding of Fleetwood - Port Kells, BC. Seems he now has his DVD online for all to view.
It starts a little slow, but Mr. Cook loosens up a smidge as it goes along.
It's a very creative way to share a political platform, to say the least.
Noting that election day is on Monday here in Canada, I've listed the candidates I interviewed for the election in various Vancouver areas.
Enjoy determining who is a kook or candidate, and see you at the polls.
Voting takes place January 23, 2006.
The following articles have trackbacked this article:
The Maple Revolution????? [by JasonColeman.com]
Saul Andersen is an Independent candidate from the Victoria riding in BC.
As the reader, you now have the chance to read the questions and responses, discuss, debate, and decide: kook or candidate?
1. Can you give me an elevator pitch as to why people should vote for you? Please briefly explain your platform to those unaware.
[Saul Andersen] people should vote for me because i will make the best advocate for the people. i have been a cab driver in my small town for over ten years; i am only motivated to speak for the constituency that i know is out there: unsatisfied with the status quo but feeling powerless (ie. disenfranchised) because up until now the best choice has been "none of the above". i mean, did you listen to the Lack of Leadership debate the other day? i want to add some depth to the inch-deep national discussion on issues like sustainability, social justice and PROPRTIONAL REPRESENTATION. so, how long was this elevator ride?
2. Where do you plan on getting the money to fund your government programmes/changes?
[Saul Andersen] i believe that the money is extant in within the system already; increasing efficiency and new initiatives can help us further. for example, how much money would we save if we moved towards PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE and away from pharmeceuticals? what if we had specialized, satellite operating rooms for high demand services? let's ask the health care providers where or how we can make things more efficient. let's encourage people to eat better food and quit smoking. why not have tobacco-funded coupons for Nicorette gum instead of disgusting graphics on cigarette packs? give people the chance to make informed choices and see what happens.
3. What do you believe is/are the root cause(s) of crime?
[Saul Andersen] the root cause of crime is POVERTY
4. Do you believe immigration is linked to crime in any way?
[Saul Andersen] immigration is not linked to crime in any way; the caveat is that, obviously, we need to screen the criminal background of any potential new canadian.
Introducing the leader of the Christian Heritage Party of Canada, Ron Gray. The Christian Heritage Party is founded on (yup, you guessed it) the guiding principles of Christianity and The Bible.
This interview is designed to inform readers about the Party's campaign objectives and to elicit debate, discussion, and to determine: kook or candidate?
1. Can you give me an elevator pitch as to why people should vote for you? Please briefly explain your platform to those unaware.
[Ron Gray] Well, to begin with: not everyone should vote for the CHP. neither should everyone vote for the Liberals, Conservatives or NDP. The point of a democracy is that people vote for the party that most nearly resembles their own point of view. The winning party will then, if the process is fair, represent the largest number of voters -- but, of course, the winner must try to serve all the electorate. But s/he cannot do that effectively unless all points of view have been presented in the campaign.
We are here to represent the view -- stated in the Preamble to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in the Constitution -- that Canada (and, indeed, Western Civilization) was founded on principles that recognize the supremacy of God -- capital 'G': the God of the Bible -- and the rule of law. Those are historical facts. It is also demonstrable that Biblical principles of honesty, integrity, justice, compassion, diligence and thrift have been shown to provide the best government... indeed, they provide the ONLY workable standards for good government.
About 40 years ago, Canada took a sharp turn away from those principles, and began a slide into catastrophic debt, and into social and moral decay; we offer a vision and a program to return Canada to the principles that made her prosperous, peaceful and great -- and to adapt those principles to a 21st-century environment.
C.S. Lewis -- one of the greatest minds of the 20th century -- once wrote that when everyone is rushing down the wrong path, the first person to turn around and find the place where they went off the track is actually in the lead, no matter how it looks to the crowd.
People who want Canada to return to the path that will yield peace, prosperity and freedom should vote for the CHP.
2. Where do you plan on getting the money to fund your government programmes/changes?
[Ron Gray] The Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance has no difficulty 'finding' $4.6 billion to bribe Jack Layton and the NDP to support them; they have made promises totaling $60-65 billion during the election campaign (and Mr. Layton's promises total $71.5 billion in new spending). The CHP, on the other hand, proposes to make the federal government smaller, and to stop its continual expansion into areas of provincial jurisdiction.
I have worked at a senior level in the federal bureaucracy; I've received the phone calls in February, telling me to spend the money left in he budget before the end of March -- and when I refuse, the senior bureaucrats sent teams from Ottawa to spend the money for me.
On the other hand, the CHP proposes an extensive plan for infrastructure renewal... a plan that was implemented successfully by the federal government at the end of the Second World War. At that time, Ottawa was concerned that the return of two million soldiers might result in massive unemployment, plunging the nation into another Depression. So C.D. Howe instructed the Bank of Canada to make loans, virtually interest-free, to the provinces, municipalities and local authorities, for infrastructure projects: roads, highways, bridges, ports, rail lines, etc. The construction projects absorbed all the 'surplus' labour, the improved access to resources and markets also stimulated the economy, and the plan touched off the longest-lasting economic boom in Canada's history. Unemployment then was half what it is now. The stimulated economy yielded revenues for the local governments that enabled them to repay the loans, which were then retired, so that the injection of capital was not inflationary.
Canada's infrastructure is decaying; we need that project again. It could also be used to fund water and sewage treatment facilities, and capital expansion for education.
At that time, half of the money in circulation was created directly by the Bank of Canada; today, the BoC creates only 2% of the money in circulation. The other 98% we rent from the chartered banks.
I have been privileged to host an exclusive blog interview with MP candidate Jack Cook from the Fleetwood-Port Kells area of Surrey, one of the newest ridings in Canada.
Jack Cook is an Independent candidate who is taking an initiative in his campaign by promoting himself and his platform via DVD recording and sketch artistry.
Mr. Cook's campaign is also fairly unique in that he is running against the controversial wife of the first husband and wife team in the House of Commons, Nina Grewal (here is a chronology of the Grewal scandal).
In the exclusive interview below, you as the reader will have the opportunity to learn more about Mr. Jack Cook, discuss his platform, and determine: Kook or Candidate?
1. Can you give me an elevator pitch as to why people should vote for you? Please briefly explain your platform to those unaware.
[Jack Cook] I’m simply the most qualified in our riding to represent the citizens of Fleetwood–Port Kells. As an Independent, you really can’t promise Billion Dollar Programs. I can give my opinions on certain issues in the event something similar comes to a vote in the House of Commons. The only things that I can promise are the following:
a) If an individual has an issue with the federal government, I will arrange a meeting ASAP, listen to their concerns, create an action plan, and follow through. Something that is sadly lacking in our riding.
b) All proposed legislation in the House of Commons will be sent (electronically, I hope, to keep the costs down) to each individual in Fleetwood – Port Kells, with my opinions so that everyone will have a chance to peruse and debate before I vote.
2. Where do you plan on getting the money to fund your government programmes/changes?
[Jack Cook] As an Independent, I do not have access to government funds. However, with some successful discussions with the minister(s), funding is still possible.
3. Putting out a DVD interview is an inventive way to get your message out. My strong guess is this is a first for a candidate and a first to be distributed throughout the candidacy area, although I haven’t personally checked through my stack of old VHS tapes to be certain. How did this idea come to be?
[Jack Cook] Before deciding to run in the Federal Election, I had to create a game plan on how to get my message out. The traditional ways of purchasing ads in the local papers, flyers, and door knocking are not all that effective today. Papers tend to bunch the political ads together, flyers usually head to the trash bin without perusal, and door knocking is logistically impossible due to the number of households. The only other way was the use of SIGNS and getting ink in articles of the local papers, and as the media do not take Independents seriously, something else had be done.
I was shopping in a Costco in the USA in November when I noted a DVD player for $29.95. That got me to wonder how many people owned DVD players. There were stats of course. It was 71% overall in Canada. About 12% more in the cities and with Christmas approaching I figured this amount would increase. I contacted a few friends in the movie industry, replication industry and the numbers seemed reasonable. Certainly not much more that purchasing and installing a 1,000 signs not unlike what NINA has done.
3a. Are you going to allow the DVD to be uploaded to file-sharing software on the Internet?
[Jack Cook] A decision has not been made, but it appears that we will do this shortly, perhaps a week before E-Day.
From the Green Party of Canada in the Burnaby-New Westminster area of BC, I introduce Mr. Scott Janzen. The Green Party, to many Canadians, is a party based on environmentalism: conserving and preserving things that may or may not need to be conserved or preserved, as well as promoting healthy lifestyle choices. Hence, a recent junk food taxation proposal by Green Party leader, Jim Harris.
As the reader, you have the opportunity to learn a little about Canadian politics and politicians, discuss the issues, and decide: kook or candidate?
1. Can you give me an elevator pitch as to why people should vote for you? Please briefly explain your platform to those unaware.
[Scott Janzen] I am running to promote the Green party's values of:
1. Ecological Wisdom
2. Social Justice
3. Participatory Democracy
4. Non-Violence
5. Sustainability
6. Respect for Diversity
If elected, every decision I make will be based on these values and I will be a voice in parliament for accountable and responsible government.
We are at a crossroads in history right now. With our current levels of consumption and pollution, the status quo of government and business is unsustainable. The Green Party is the only party with the courage to acknowledge this issue and develop a road map for us to change this situation.
If you are concerned about how we are affecting future generations by our actions today, a vote for me will represent your concern.
2. Where do you plan on getting the money to fund your government programmes/changes?
[Scott Janzen] I do not believe in in-debting future generations just to find a short term gain. I do believe in proper investment that, over the long term, will provide the most effective method of providing government services to citizens. Most of the programs that I intend to champion will be funded by shifting our tax base to natural resources (including private land) an relieving the tax burden from employment income. I would also support the cessation of the nearly 1.4 billion in yearly subsidies directed to the thriving oil and gas industry.
3. Aren't there more effective ways to solve problems without government?
[Scott Janzen] For every problem there are a myriad of solutions. Some problems can best be solved through government intervention and some are best tackled through other organizations. What is important is that a Canadian governmentsupports the most sustainable solutions in all situations. Stop-gap measures do help anybody in the long run.
4. When one hears the name the Green Party of Canada, the first thing that comes to mind is a bunch of tree huggers and tree-spiking hippies. Is that a fair and accurate description? If not, why?
[Scott Janzen] I don't see anything wrong with hugging a tree, but spiking a tree and endangering someone's life is irresponsible. The Green Party can more accurately be called the Common Sense Party, as we agree with good ideas and solutions to problems no matter if they come from the political right or left. If anyone takes the time to read our platform, their confusion as to the identity of the Green Party will quickly disapear and I think most people will find that they agree with most of our platform; it's full of common sense.
5. How do you feel about the actions of eco-terrorists? Do you believe they help or hinder your cause?
[Scott Janzen] Terrorism is an unsustainable method to bring about societal change. As a descendant of Mennonite immigrants, I strongly believe that the only way to bring about change is through non-violent methods. To protect the environment, personal sacrifice and education are the tools we must use, not violence.
The Marijuana Party of Canada (yes, we have one) candidate for the Victoria, BC riding, Fred Mallach, graciously answered my interview questions - some serious, some light-hearted. And now you, the reader, have the opportunity to read, discuss, and determine: Kook or Candidate?
Even if you aren't from Canada you may get a kick out of some questions and answers provided. Further, you may learn something about us that you didn't already know... and may not have wanted to in the first place.
1. Can you give me an elevator pitch as to why people should vote for you? Please briefly explain your platform to those unaware.
[Fred Mallach] My name is Fred Mallach and I am the Marijuana Party candidate for the Victoria riding in the upcoming federal election.
The first thing that I want to say is that the Marijuana Party is not about pot!
It is about pot politics.
The marijuana industry is worth more than 7 billion dollars a year in BC. The only platform the Marijuana Party has is to legalize marijuana.
I want to legalize it, regulate it, and tax it, and use the money to support housing, education, detox facilities, safe consumption sites and other harm reduction programs.
In addition I have identified 4 key issues for Victoria, which were developed after attending harm reduction open houses, provincial and municipal election debates, development presentations and town hall meetings.
The issues are housing, education, healthcare and the environment.
On January 23 if you haven’t voted in a while or if you’ve never voted before please vote for me, Fred Mallach, and I will take THC to Ottawa. Truth, Honour and Compassion.
2. Where do you plan on getting the money to fund your government programmes/changes?
[Fred Mallach] Income tax, excise tax, gst and pst on the production, distribution and sale of marijuana.
3. Aren't there more effective ways to solve problems without government?
[Fred Mallach] Some problems are too complex and systemic to solve themselves. Since prohibition was initiated by the government and it is the law of the land, it will take the will of the people and the government to repeal the law.
4. When one hears the name the Marijuana Party of Canada, the first thing that comes to mind is a bunch of stoner hippies with no realistic goals other than to legalise pot. Is that a fair and accurate description?
[Fred Mallach] No.
Continue reading "Kook Or Candidate? You Decide, #2" »
The following articles have trackbacked this article:
Just Say No [by Fitch Is Always Right]
Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing some local politicians for the upcoming federal election in Canada, January 23, 2006.
Here, you as the reader will have the opportunity to read up on various issues in Canada and decide if the politicians' responses make them legitimate kooks or legitimate candidates.
The first potential MP (Member of Parliament) I have interviewed is Mr. Paul Warnett, an Independent running in the New Westminster-Coquitlam-Port Moody riding of British Columbia, Canada. Mr. Warnett's goals are as follows:
1. Restoring the faith of Canadians in our criminal justice system.
2. Criminals receiving a punishment that fits their crime.
3. A reduction in crime by investing more resources for rehabilitation for young offenders and first time adult offenders and keeping repeat offenders in prison.
1. According to your platform, you state that conditional sentences should be eliminated for all motor vehicle accidents that result in death. My questions to you: aren't conditional sentences a tool for the courts to use when they feel remorse? Also, should a person pay for life for one stupid mistake (albeit a terrible one)?
[Paul Warnett] Conditional sentences are used by the courts in a situation where someone is sentenced to less than 2 years and it is felt that serving time in the community rather than in jail is appropriate. Jail is rightly seen as harsher punishment. When death is caused by a motor vehicle the outrage felt by the victims and the wider community is too much to allow the offenders to serve their sentence in the community. If your significant other or parents or siblings were killed as a result of a criminal offence would you be upset if the offender did not see the inside of a jail? I would say the answer to that question would be yes from every single Canadian.
An offender should not pay for life for mistakes-they should pay for life for criminal conduct which are much different things.
2. How would you quantify how much is a minimum mandatory sentence for impaired driving causing death?
[Paul Warnett] 3 years is appropriate. It would be upheld by the Courts as constitutional and raise the sentences for the worst conduct by providing a floor for the "best" conduct.
3. Is throwing a first time offender in prison with career criminals really a good idea? Won't that encourage or cause the first time offenders to become criminally minded through association?
[Paul Warnett] It depends what the first time offender did. I believe we should have more rehab programs for young offenders and first time offenders to avoid them becoming hardended criminals.
4. What are your feelings on drug harm reduction (eg. safe injection sites, providing free drugs to addicts)?
[Paul Warnett] I don't have all the answers on hard drug policy but it seems to me that we should try to avoid users becoming infected with HIV and Hepatitis by providing safe injection sites so that when they are ready to stop using drugs they have a future.
5. They say that drug addicts can only be treated if they want to be treated. How do you propose we deal with addicts who do not want to be treated?
[Paul Warnett] We should try to convince them they should get treatment but otherwise hope they survive until they want to get treated.
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