Last week, I promised that I’d include this graphic with my description of what I mean by “The New Right.” I’m basically trying to define a group of Canadians who prefer less government and a more fiscally responsible government as does the right, but shares many moral opinions with the left in Canada. It’s tough, because both sides of the Canadian spectrum can be embarrassing. As such, a lot of us just plug our nose and put our heads under. It’s time to stop. With the technology available to today’s generation has given us the power to change the political landscape of Canada. We just have to get started. We no longer have to settle for the classic definitions of “conservative” and “liberal” which themselves have strayed from their literal definitions. Anyway… here’s an illustration of where “The New Right” falls on the Canadian political spectrum. (I’ve labeled it as “Smart People.”)
The problem is that on the Canadian spectrum, we don’t seem to know what right or left really means. This 10 minute YouTube is a pretty interesting look at how confused Americans are about the Republic they have which they mistakenly believe is a democracy. Within the video is probably the most concise way I’ve seen to properly explain the meaning of “right” and “left” as we kick them around. (Ffwd to 0:53 if you just want the goods.) It has nothing to do with Christianity, homophobia, abortion rights, or big business. In this regard, I am a right winger through and through.
One final thing before the podcast… this is the National Post front page I get off on at the start of this week’s episode. Enjoy, and thanks for listening. As always, you can comment here or email me directly at radiounderdog@gmail.com. Tell your friends!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
I’m sure that pun has been used more than once already. I could have gone with “house of the rising Sun TV” I guess. Nevermind…
Sun TV is coming soon. I have to tell you, I think it’s a little unfair that the scared lefties have already branded it Fox News North. You’d expect people to want to see it before drawing any conclusions, no? I’m looking forward to this network for good reason. I want to see more representation of the right in the media. More representation of the West as well. Anything that expands the dialogue is healthy, in my opinion.
Allow me, if you will, to drop a hint on you: if you can think of a personality you’d like to see on Sun TV, they’re accepting suggestions. Click on SunTVnews.ca/sun-personalities and suggest somebody. Maybe the author of the blog you’re reading at this very moment. It only takes a minute.
Sun TV is hoping to launch in January, 2011. Thanks for reading.
This is my first kick at a podcast concept I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. It’s just me and a microphone saying things I think a lot of Canadians are thinking.
It’s called the New Right because it speaks to a growing number of people who feel left out in the cold by the political parties in Canada. Many Canadians no longer identify with the terms “liberal” or “conservative” and many feel that no one party represents their beliefs, values, opinions…
I feel that way.
This is the first podcast of just me speaking about Canada today and the issues that we currently face.
I’d love your feedback on this effort and I’d like to become a part of this conversation. Send your email to me at radiounderdog@gmail.com
Thanks for listening. If you like it, tell your friends about it.
For all the yapping I’ve done about apathy, I’m about to test those very waters on the census issue.
As you may know, the Tories are talking about converting the mandatory long-form census they send out to 20% of people to a voluntary long-form census they’ll send out to 33% of people. The line in the sand is drawn between mandatory and voluntary. Pick a side and put up your dukes.
If the census had a box for “could give a rat’s ass,” I’d check it, but that would make for a pretty lame blog entry. I’ll go with Tony Clement and the government on this one. I’m not saying I’m applauding the decision, but I think it’s sensible and, frankly, rather Canadian to do away with the mandatory census. The threat of fines or jail time if you don’t complete the census is akin to the Nazis waterboarding the Dutch. Okay… it’s nothing like that. (How does Glenn Beck do that so well?) The threat of fines or jail time is ridiculous, if not downright sad. I favour the government not pretending they’ll incarcerate people who don’t want to admit how much they drink.
The one thing I’ve gathered most from this story is that it’s another opportunity for the certainly-not-right-of-centre Canadian media to propagate an idea of folly on the part of the gov’t. The Tories are playing to the Canadians who feel the mandatory long-form is intrusive and coercive; a valid opinion. They’re effectively broadening the sample size with the same survey. If the Liberals are right in that most Canadians don’t want this change, then the gov’t can expect better information from the larger sample of eager form filler-outers. The rest of us who see this census as a blantant invasion of our bedrooms or who just can’t be bothered now have a choice, and we like that.
So… unknot your knickers, my fellow Canadians, and count yourself in! Or don’t. It’s up to you. In the meantime, enjoy the media frenzy on this one. I guess there’s nothing better to report on.
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