Politrics From Mr.Harper

Stephen Harper prorogued parliament on December 30, 2009 meaning that this year will start with no sitting parliament, and no legislation being legislated. A great furor is winding itself up among the citizens of Canada. This is Mr. Harpers’s second use of suspending parliament to avoid politics. Last year, he suspended parliament to avoid being ousted by the “coalition of the Liberals, Bloc and NDP This year the rogue has prorogued to prevent further embarrassment from the inquiry into the torture of Afghans by Afghans, in Afghanistan.

Others decry the suspension of parliament as undemocratic and point to the fact that 37 bill will die on the table. I applaud this. Mr. Harper is using a power conferred on him as Prime Minister. Far from being an excess of power it is the restraint of power because it prevents the government (temporarily) from doing what it does best and too often—passing laws. In short by suspending parliament the Prime Minister has prevented parliament from doing any damage until its return after the Olympics.

Too Many Laws Spoils The Legislation

Governments have been passing laws for 5000 years. One would think that they have passed enough of them. After the 10 Commandments were chiseled, there has been very little legitimate need for further legislation. Almost all of the new additions to the law books restrict our freedom, cost us money or take away our rights. A large number of them cause all three ill effects. Too many laws infect us like viruses and bacteria. They cause the deceases of bureaucracy, ineffectiveness, stagnation, and tyranny. Too many laws make the economy, the country and it’s citizens sick.

I therefore have no complaint that laws are not being past. In fact I would gladly endorse the tenfold increase in salaries of parliamentarians, if they would only promise to do one tenth the work.

There is, of course, a need for some laws. There needs to be a standard weight and measure established by law. Done. There needs to be a common currency for the nation. Done. There is a good argument for a military to protect our interests abroad and to ensure that we are not invaded domestically. Well done. There need to be roads built and maintained and treaties with foreign powers negotiated and signed. These last matters are done poorly, because the various governments are preoccupied with lesser nagging regulations of our daily life. Yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg of New York City, urged the restriction and regulation of salt in our food. As long as the Prime Minister is proroguing parliament, it won’t be able to regulate the taste of my peroggies.

That is a good thing.