Misguided or unguided. Just like the Balastic Missile Defense sheild.

Praise for Harper’s and MacKay‘s tough guy approach to Iran is echoing down the empty halls of Conservative understanding.

It seems that MacKay may have been on the ball and is acting in good fashion – just like his suits and ties. But what gets me is that the praise is not just good-old affirmation. It is a call to “Press them, as hard as you can, until they die or surrender.”

Damn skippy, you may say. But I ask, is that how we should treat others? As a pacifist I am always asked “what if someone was treatening to kill someone you loved?” There is a problem.

Do we teach our children to retailiate with violance when someone wrongs them? Do we encourage fighting on the school-yard? No, or at least we shouldn’t. But by wishing violance on an entire nation of people we are suggesting that death and violance are the only answer. There has got to be something more.

And more perspectives on this the Tories bring. The issue here was suggested in an American newspaper to be a situation where Bush can learn from Canada. Some (err, one) Tory blogger suggests that being pro-Canadian is to be anti-American. To suggest that Bush is fallible and the Harper/MacKay have done right is to suggest that the US sucks. I don’t think that this is necessarily the case. But Tories, in general, don’t seem to care what other people think. They assume their perspective is right and that the “lefties” are confused. Not only do they not understand (which is fine) but they refuse to try to understand (which is not fine).

Trying to understand another person’s perspective is a key to actually begin to get a grasp on the bigger picture. This is especially true in Canada.

What is also true in Canada is that we have different priorities than Americans. And we damn well should. Our priorities begin with Canadians. American priorities should begin with Americans. However, we need to work together to achieve these goals. They are are not mutually exclusive. Except when one insists their goals are more important.

What is more important – human health and well-being or property and prosperity? I vote for health.

North Dakota, again, wants to have Devil’s Lake drained into the Sheyene and Red River water systems. This is a potential health hazard for a number of reasons.

They cannot pump this water right now because the limits on certain toxins are exceeded. The solution – raise the allowable limit. Really, that is what is being proposed. Rather than providing a proper filtration system or waiting for one to be implemented, let’s do away with the restriction altogether.

How is that for trying to understand another person or country?

Back to the Tories. How is it that we can all agree that the military is a good thing? A military is needed to protect. Protection is needed when we are threatened. Threats occur when someone wants something from us that we are not willing to give up. What is it that Canada has that terrorists want? Their land back? The west to leave them alone?

Do they want our freedom? Do they want to take our flag? I don’t understand the need for a military, especially a military the way the Tories want a military.

The Tories want a military like any good capitalist wants to make a quick buck. And the easiest way to make a quick buck is to sell some piece of shit for more than it is worth but convince the buyer that they are getting a deal.

Everything that is bought and sold, and provides income for the seller is being sold at an inflated price. The person who produced it is getting paid less then the value of what time and energy was put into production. The person buying pays more than the sum of all costs. If the person buying the product is the same as the producer then the person is being raped on both ends.

Minimum wages do not destroy the economy. Capitalists destroy the economy. The desire to make money destroys the economy. Money in the bank destroys the economy. Mortgages destroy the economy. A capiital-centrist economy destroys the economy. And as long as money is the root of the economy (the key indicator) then any restrictions on companies regarding economics will be considered a hindrance.

Philantropy actually helps the economy. Except some Tories seem to think that helping the homeless is a waste of time because taxpayers don’t benefit. And because the homeless do not pay taxes then, well, fuck you.

Helping your fellow Canadian is not a concept covered Tory School. But there are entire semesters dedicated to destroying foreigners.

Conservatives can kiss my ass. I try to understand but whenever I engage any in conversation they are either defensive or offensive but never in a mood to understand.

Or at least try.