[giallo]

Canada watches its democracy erode

Ramesh Thakur


ON Friday, the minority Stephen Harper government fell on a confidence motion by a 156-145 vote. Speaking to the motion, Opposition Leader Michael Ignatieff attacked the government for disrespecting Canadian democracy and treating parliament with contempt.


Edmund Burke noted that all that was necessary for evil to triumph was for good men to do nothing. Canadians are certainly good and worthy folks, but they suffer an excess of civil obedience, politeness and lack of civic rage that could be harnessed to combat political atrophy. At a time when Arabs risk life and limb for political freedoms, Canadians seem largely apathetic about the erosion of their democracy.


A minister told parliament she did not know who had altered a document that cut funding to a foreign aid group. Later, she admitted to ordering the changes, but did not know who had carried out the order. Lying to parliament, a cardinal sin of Westminster-style democracy, has become a political tactic.

Following rulings by Speaker Peter Milliken, for the first time in Canadian history, the government and a minister have been found to be in contempt of parliament for withholding information and misleading the house.


Full Article here:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/canada-watches-its-democracy-erode/story-e6frg6ux-1226030310248

[bulliver]

Interesting article. I've wondered why there is so little uproar about the Bev Oda incident. Truly no one seems to care.

[freeweed]

Interesting article. I've wondered why there is so little uproar about the Bev Oda incident. Truly no one seems to care.

Because politicians lie all the time. Dress it up all you want, introduce words like "contempt", but I think it's very difficult to justify how this is any worse than four million other things done by parliamentarians.

Such is the sad state of politics over the past half century.

[djlx2]

Interesting article. I've wondered why there is so little uproar about the Bev Oda incident. Truly no one seems to care.

interesting article but...what is the Bev Oda incident? I must have missed something...

[flar]

Nobody watches the news anymore, except the latest antics of some celebrity or endless repetition of some disaster story.

But even for people who still follow "news", it just isn't what it used to be.

Not saying it was ever that great.

The problem with the news is that all news services have slashed their staff. There just aren't many reporters anymore. Now we have a few generic news stories (same story on TV, Internet and paper--"synergies" for the mega media corps) and a handful of well known hacks that write shallow oped columns. They all agree with each other and talk about the same stupid issue of the day.

Nobody knows what's going on anymore, except that Ignatieff didn't come back for yee-ew.

Most of the blame goes to Harper himself, for so tightly controlling information. That's what people generally aren't aware of.

[bulliver]

interesting article but...what is the Bev Oda incident? I must have missed something...

This bit from the article is referring to Bev Oda:

A minister told parliament she did not know who had altered a document that cut funding to a foreign aid group. Later, she admitted to ordering the changes, but did not know who had carried out the order. Lying to parliament, a cardinal sin of Westminster-style democracy, has become a political tactic.

Because politicians lie all the time. Dress it up all you want, introduce words like "contempt", but I think it's very difficult to justify how this is any worse than four million other things done by parliamentarians.

But isn't there a distinction between lying or stretching the truth to the media/public and lying to parliament itself? I think what is most loathsome about this to me is Stephen Harper's handling of it. Did he not expel 1-2 MPs from his caucus for simply questioning the party line? And yet lying to parliament is fine....

I can only hope the good citizens of Durham have the sense to expel her themselves this May...

[freeweed]

But isn't there a distinction between lying or stretching the truth to the media/public and lying to parliament itself?

Yes, and I personally think lying to the public is the worse crime.

"Stretching the truth" - come on, politicians are caught in baldfaced lies all the time. As much as I don't think *anything* should ever have come out of it, the classic example is Clinton. He flat-out lied. To the people he swore to serve. Period. Is it any wonder that the general public looks at a minor revision on an insignificant form about something no one cares about as being unimportant?

Only political science majors really get all uppity about this particular lie being anything special. And only politicians get upset here, because "HOW DARE YOU LIE TO ME, I'M A POLITICIAN". Basically this sounds to the average person a lot like little conflicts in Hollywood - yes, the celebs down there care about who snubbed who, and the tabloids are full of stories about it - but the average person doesn't give a shit because the celebs act that way towards us on a daily basis.

[bulliver]

^ In a sense I agree, lying to the public is fairly egregious. I guess I liken it to a criminal lying to the police to cover his ass versus lying under examination under oath in court, a setting where truth is supposed to be paramount.

As for the 'all politicians lie' bit...I guess that speaks to the apathy of the Canadian people as pointed out in the OP. If we accept that they all lie and continue supporting it by re-electing them then we might as well admit that democracy has failed and set up a dictatorship. At least then we would expect the lies.

Have we really allowed it to get that bad? Am I just naive? Has this really been going on since the inception of Canadian Parliament? Is the notion of a politician with integrity just a relic of bygone times? Should it be?

[manny_santos]

This is one of the reasons I've taken an anyone-but-Harper stand in this election. The Liberals are closer to my ideologies than the NDP, so I'm voting Liberal.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

I am rather angry at the lack of anger shown by Canadians towards the inexcusable actions of our government as of late. I fear we will welcome a dictatorship with open arms.

[BretttheRiderFan]

I am rather angry at the lack of anger shown by Canadians towards the inexcusable actions of our government as of late. I fear we will welcome a dictatorship with open arms.

Anger towards lack of anger? :haha:

[1ajs]

This is one of the reasons I've taken an anyone-but-Harper stand in this election. The Liberals are closer to my ideologies than the NDP, so I'm voting Liberal.

good


but one peac we all forget about is the vote split keep an eye on polls make sure ur votes going to count on keeping harper out

[Metro-One]

:previous:that is why i am voting liberal, they have a better chance than the NDP in defeating the Conservatives in my riding. But i am not holding my breath :(

[Boris2k7]

I envy you people in ridings where such a thing as a vote split might even matter.

It doesn't matter who I vote for. All the opposition combined in Calgary-Southwest are only about 30% of the votes. Stephen Harper will win the riding with over 70% of the vote -- this is already the definite outcome. I'll still vote, even knowing that depressing fact.

[whiteford]

I am happy knowing that fact. I will be voting for Harper, again. This time we will have a majority, thank God.:cheers:

[vid]

I envy you people in ridings where such a thing as a vote split might even matter.

It doesn't matter who I vote for. All the opposition combined in Calgary-Southwest are only about 30% of the votes. Stephen Harper will win the riding with over 70% of the vote -- this is already the definite outcome. I'll still vote, even knowing that depressing fact.

Conservatives here are lucky if they get 30%. It's always a Liberal-NDP campaign here. Has been since the CCF was formed. For the past 20 years or so, the Conservatives have been kept in the mid-20s. When the Reform and PC were splitting the vote, neither broke 20% even. Provincially the PCs do even worse.

Doesn't matter who I vote for, either a Liberal or NDP will win here. The question is, which one?

[rousseau]

I am happy knowing that fact. I will be voting for Harper, again. This time we will have a majority, thank God.
A majority for Harper would give him carte blanche to ram his social conservative agenda even further down our throats. You honestly want that?

[Pimpmasterdac]

Interesting article. I've wondered why there is so little uproar about the Bev Oda incident. Truly no one seems to care.

Only a Conservative would get such a hostile reaction for NOT spending public money.

I understand the concept that she lied, but that differs little from the previous Liberal governments of Chretien or Martin, with gun registry, HRDC or sponsorship that actually cost Canadians into the 100s of millions of dollars!

Its a manufactured "scandal" that no one except political elite care about.

I am rather angry at the lack of anger shown by Canadians towards the inexcusable actions of our government as of late. I fear we will welcome a dictatorship with open arms.

Are you being serious?! We're on the road to welcoming a dictatorship, someone from the Liberal Party should hire you for their PR. :jester:

When Chretien was in power, there was talk of him being a friendly dictator since it seemed unlikely the PCs or Reform would be able to beat the Liberals in an election. Yet he left the PMs office, and Martin lost the 2006 election with no major unrest (although the Liberals seem to refer to 2006 to Canada as what 1933 was to Germany).

While governments more a less govern like a dictatorship as per the Westminster system in between elections, none has gotten rid of our right to vote. If anything governments are more accountable NOW with these string of minority parliaments, than under the Chretien/Mulroney/Trudeau majorities. Voter apathy is on the rise but that's no single party or persons fault, rather societies as a whole!

Back to the Grand dictator Harper, who has has lost elections and the fate of Canadian democracy has not ended! A lot of this seems to be people not liking Harper's political positions and using these abstract arguments about a lack of democracy as the reason to get rid of him. While everyone is entitled to their political opinons, this "erosion of democracy" has existed for decades and our democracy hasn't collapsed, its just people not liking the CPCs political agenda and attempting to devalue them as a legal government.

[freeweed]

If anything governments are more accountable NOW with these string of minority parliaments, than under the Chretien/Mulroney/Trudeau majorities.

True this. I've been rather happy with the minority governments of late - basic policy direction I can generally agree with, but the more radical ideas have no chance in hell of going through. It pretty much ensures the ruling party is following what the majority of Canadians want.

I don't know why people think this is so dysfunctional. Personally, I love it when some asshat powertripper's personal legislation can't be rammed down our throats. The Canadian copyright law revisions can stay dead and buried with each passing election if you ask me, and that's just for starters.

Less government is good government. Let's keep them only working on matters that need attending, which they're doing a more or less good job of doing with a minority.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

I am happy knowing that fact. I will be voting for Harper, again. This time we will have a majority, thank God.:cheers:

Unless your views are entirely in line with the Tea party/Ultra Republicans in the USA, how on Earth is a majority a good thing? :koko:

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Are you being serious?! We're on the road to welcoming a dictatorship, someone from the Liberal Party should hire you for their PR. :jester:



Yes, I am. Our democracy has been eroding away under Chretien and now Harper. Harper has definitely been more "open" about it however.

[Pimpmasterdac]

What would be the solution then? Seriously its easy to criticize our system but finding a solution is the tough part.

Stockwell Day wanted to have more transparency/democracy with recall proposals and citizen initiated referendums. This would have allowed citizens to stop government from governing like a dictatorship in-between elections and give the electorate a voice in actual government politices other than elections.

Yet he was laughed at, and ridiculed for those proposals because some elitists worried that the Canadian electorate would be extreme and put contentious issues like capital punishment and abortion to referendum. It seems that these elitists want their vision of Canada protected and preach about democracy, yet when it comes to direct democracy the Canadian electorate is patronized as being too simple or uninformed to make serious decisions.

BC has these and their democracy has grown stronger, allowing Premiers to be recalled and putting issues like the HST to referendum. If we have something at the federal level that would be great!

[vid]

A majority for Harper would give him carte blanche to ram his social conservative agenda even further down our throats. You honestly want that?

And down the throats of our children, who are our future. :eek:

[shreddog]

A majority for Harper would give him carte blanche to ram his social conservative agenda even further down our throats. You honestly want that?Personally I haven't seen a social agenda from Harpo, so I'm not concerned about that, but still you may be right. That said, even if there is an agenda, I'm not concerned about them trying to implement it - we have too many checks and balances in the system to prevent extremes swings like this.

Let's tale SSM for example.

Assume the Cons get a majority on May 3. Well, Parliament won't likely sit before Fall since it will be so close to normal summer closing, but let's assume that they do sit in July. Since it takes a month or so after a gov't change (which is what a minority to majority shift would be) to set up commissions and such, they couldn't even put forward a Bill for reading until September at the earliest. Even in extreme cases, this wouldn't make it through the house quickly as a good chunk of the Cons are not in support of this. So in the fastest case, it shows up to the Senate just before Christmas and gets passed in February - basically setting a new speed record for a contentious bill.

Assume that this Bill once passed into Law states that the only recognized marriage is between Adam and Eve and not Adam and Steve (<< I always loved that one!). Does that mean that all previous SSM marriages are null and void? If so, how is seperation of SS couples handled because don't forget while the Feds set the rules on marriage it is the provinces that set the rules on divorce - and why we have 10 different sets of rules. So immediately all 10 provinces go ape shit on the Feds for screwing up their lives. Also, since the final reading of the Bill, you'll have every civil liberties group and pro SSM group launching lawsuite after lawsuit clogging up every court in the land -which will all end up in the SCC. We're likely to see the Adam and Eve crowd also launch lawsuits since the law will likely not have gone far enough and they figure they have to strike while the iron is hot.

Plus what will the police do? Arrest any one performing a same sex marriage? Of course not. Will city officials stop issuing marriage certificates to legally married same sex couples? Hell no since they will be threatened with lawsuits up the ying yang (and rightly so).

Okay, so no we have the provinces all bitch slapping the Feds for screwing up their lives, every judge in the country handling SSM cases (and ignoring all other crimes), the news day in day out carrying every tirade from the Libbies, Dippers, Bloq and whomever else complaining about this and anyone with an opinion trying to influence the SSC on what to say.

Based on current timelines, the SCC would be able to hear the case in about 4 1/2 years - about when the next election will be. By then the Libbies and Dippers will have so demonised the Cons that everyone will think that they are just slightly to the left of Hitler and vote them into the dust bin of history.

And I believe that the battle around abortion would be 10 times worse.

So, yeah, not only don't I believe in the hidden agenda, but even if it exists, no one is stupid enough to try. And if they did, in 5 years when the Libbies got back in and changed it back again, the Cons would never be a competitive force again.

[freeweed]

BC held a referendum on HST? You mean the HST which is something like 80% opposed by every poll ever taken, and yet is currently in place in BC?

That HST?

Incidentally, is this also the HST that is opposed by every Johnny lunchpail, yet is revenue neutral, saves hundreds of millions in bureaucratic overhead each year, and generally has been proven (in the Maritimes) to be a net benefit to provincial economies? ie: the one where the average person is, to put it bluntly, WRONG?

That HST?

[vid]

BC held a referendum on HST? You mean the HST which is something like 80% opposed by every poll ever taken, and yet is currently in place in BC?

That HST?

Incidentally, is this also the HST that is opposed by every Johnny lunchpail, yet is revenue neutral, saves hundreds of millions in bureaucratic overhead each year, and generally has been proven (in the Maritimes) to be a net benefit to provincial economies? ie: the one where the average person is, to put it bluntly, WRONG?

That HST?

Yes, that one. :rolleyes:

I suppose people liked it better when businesses spent a lot of money on filling out lots of forms for a tax that was charged to things multiple times, and the higher income taxes. Ontario's lowest income tax bracket is now the lowest in the country, 5.5% compared to 10% in Alberta. Somehow, this is bad?

With the implementation of the HST and income tax cuts, my grandparents are actually getting money back when they file their taxes for the first time in years, and yet they still oppose it. :shrug:

The bulk of the opposition in Ontario is that the HST caused sales tax on hydro and gas bills to go up from 5% to 13%. That is really the only valid argument against it that exists here.

[Boris2k7]

BC held a referendum on HST? You mean the HST which is something like 80% opposed by every poll ever taken, and yet is currently in place in BC?

That HST?

Incidentally, is this also the HST that is opposed by every Johnny lunchpail, yet is revenue neutral, saves hundreds of millions in bureaucratic overhead each year, and generally has been proven (in the Maritimes) to be a net benefit to provincial economies? ie: the one where the average person is, to put it bluntly, WRONG?

That HST?

As a general rule, I think average joes have absolutely no business voting directly on anything to do with money or rights. On the other hand, I do think they should have the right to vote directly on things like the electoral system or separation.

[shreddog]

As a general rule, I think average joes have absolutely no business voting directly on anything to do with money or rights. On the other hand, I do think they should have the right to vote directly on things like the electoral system or separation.I do hope you're kidding.

If the "average joe" isn't informed on what or how to vote, maybe the fault is with the so-called learned expert on not explaining it properly. Perhaps rather than feeling smug, the experts can figure out a way to either make everyone understand or at least trust them enough to empower them to make the right changes.

Mulroney didn't go into the exact nuances and details on why the FTA was the way to go, he just convinced the people that it was good and that he should be trusted to enact it.

[Boris2k7]

Informing people better about how the budget works is great. You'd still be an incredible fool to trust them with a referendum on it.

[vid]

The house of representatives (Parliament) is supposed to allow us to carry out such decisions without the burden of making everyone fully understand the budget. Until average Joe has enough time to examine a 300 page financial document I have to agree with Boris, he shouldn't really be voting on it.

Specific policies, on the other hand, might be a good idea. For example, if the budget offers a community some money to build their new arena, let the citizens vote on whether or not they want to spend the money on that. Though that would be a municipal level planning referendum, not a national one. I suppose something like a national daycare system could be voted on but that would be policy, not money. And I think daycare should be handled by the province, not the federal government. Aside from making sure every province provides a certain minimum standard of service for whatever they're providing, the federal level should stay out of most things.

[Mister F]

People are whining enough about the cost and inconvenience of this election, could you imagine all the complaining if we had a referendum or two every year? We'd be in a perpetual election campaign. Just think what it would be like if Harper's attack ads were insulting our intelligence all year, every year.

Oh wait....

[freeweed]

People are whining enough about the cost and inconvenience of this election

I think this fact alone makes me wonder if we would in fact welcome a dictatorship with open arms.

Seriously, think about this for a second - people actually COMPLAIN THAT WE VOTE TOO OFTEN. In some parts of the world, people right now are sacrificing thousands of lives for the opportunity to vote ONCE.

[manrush]

What would be the solution then? Seriously its easy to criticize our system but finding a solution is the tough part.

Stockwell Day wanted to have more transparency/democracy with recall proposals and citizen initiated referendums. This would have allowed citizens to stop government from governing like a dictatorship in-between elections and give the electorate a voice in actual government politices other than elections.
The economic situation of California is an excellent argument against binding referendums and recall proposals.

Having a nationwide referendum/recall is a recipe for chaos and even less things being done.

[SteelTown]

Interesting article. I've wondered why there is so little uproar about the Bev Oda incident. Truly no one seems to care.

Got this in my mailbox today, thought it was funny....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/Appster/IMG00249-20110405-1839.jpg

[haljackey]

Canada indeed watches its democracy erode

nbZjGGWk528

[whiteford]

A majority for Harper would give him carte blanche to ram his social conservative agenda even further down our throats. You honestly want that?

i want jobs. the rest is just a made up joke.

[North of 49]

i want jobs. the rest is just a made up joke.

I'm just in disbelief of how many people are so ill informed. And it hurts :hell: to see how people in this country are being taken for a ride by our mainstream media with shabby journalism. Media companies have their own agendas and only serve themselves.

"Yes we need jobs, good paying jobs. Jobs that allow us to prosper in our communities where the average citizen can be Safe, Secure and living in a Sustainable environment, where we aren't taxing our grand kids kids.

[whiteford]

Your talking as though this election and its outcome, (if the right person is elected), will usher in the return of the Christ. There is no perfect government that will make things perfect. And for dammed sure there is not one to be found in this election. As far as I am concerned, Mr Harper has done a stand up job so far. I applaud him even farther when I consider what he has had to face as our prime minister. It’s no piece of cake to get things done when you are a minority prime minister. IMO the media are not a very good place to go when considering the job our prime minister has done so far. The best place to go for that type of evaluation would be right where you are standing, sitting or working. Are things working you ask? Look around you and make your assessment. I have and for me it points toward a passing grade for Mr Harper. He deserves more time as our leader. He has earned it. This time he can do even more if he has more of our support.

[giallo]

Harper lost all, and I mean ALL, my respect with how he handle the G20. That was easily the saddest, most pathetic, evil couple of days in Canada's history (at least in my lifetime). Watching it unfold online out here in Shanghai was maddening. In all my time in 'communist' China I've never seen anything quite like the open police brutality that was captured in Toronto.

[SpongeG]

BC held a referendum on HST? You mean the HST which is something like 80% opposed by every poll ever taken, and yet is currently in place in BC?

That HST?

Incidentally, is this also the HST that is opposed by every Johnny lunchpail, yet is revenue neutral, saves hundreds of millions in bureaucratic overhead each year, and generally has been proven (in the Maritimes) to be a net benefit to provincial economies? ie: the one where the average person is, to put it bluntly, WRONG?

That HST?

there has been no referendum for the HST in BC

there is talk that they will hold one this summer - and hopefully it stays as is - so we have to pay a few extra dimes for a latte - the benefits and structure are better than the way it was before

unfortunately people are too small minded and self centered to see it - all they see is their double double costs them more :rolleyes: and dang it they are :hell: about it without understanding it

[yaletown_fella]

Comparing Stephen Harper to the Republican/Tea Party is laughable! Him and Obama's views are very close on the political spectrum.

[whiteford]

Harper lost all, and I mean ALL, my respect with how he handle the G20. That was easily the saddest, most pathetic, evil couple of days in Canada's history (at least in my lifetime). Watching it unfold online out here in Shanghai was maddening. In all my time in 'communist' China I've never seen anything quite like the open police brutality that was captured in Toronto.

It was our police force that was brutal, not Mr. Harper. With all certainty, he in no way would support or attempt to justify the way those officers handled that particular situation. The police in Canada have been acting this way for decades. They didn’t become pricks right after Harper was elected you know. They have been brutal assholes for a long time now. Regarding that situation, it is the police leadership that needs a big change, not our prime minister’s office. It’s a far stretch to try and convince me that Harper is somehow a heartless tyrant. In fact, I believe he is a person who cares a great deal about Canadians rights and about Canada in general. Also, I have seen Canadians do much more evil than that. All you need to do is watch what happened in Montreal a few years back. Common citizens acted like Hitler himself was leading the pack. They were far more evil than the police where in that situation. The police set up that evil situation as well. old women and children being stoned by people as the police drove in front of their convoy, ensuring they could not speed up to get away. :hell:

[Spocket]

Lots of hyperbole but then it is nearing election time and this is when it tends to surface .

Harper is no different than his predecessors . The only thing that appears different is that people actually make an issue of some of the things he does whereas in times past people made issues of other things about other PMs .

Let's see now ... Martin was a ditherer . Chretien was a pork-barrel aficionado .
Campbell was just forgettable . Mulroney was a baby-kisser . Trudeau was impulsive . It goes on .

Pretending that you're outraged about Harper while ignoring pretty much everything about everybody else who ever lived at 24 Sussex is classic ideological numbskullery . Expecting the next guy to be any different is to prove Einstein's definition of insanity to be pretty accurate .

[shreddog]

Pretending that you're outraged about Harper while ignoring pretty much everything about everybody else who ever lived at 24 Sussex is classic ideological numbskullery . Expecting the next guy to be any different is to prove Einstein's definition of insanity to be pretty accurate .
Thank you!

[Gerrard]

I prefer my PMs to be non religious or atheist. So a *no thanks* to Harper who happens to skew on the evangelical side of Xtianity (I'm happily a bigot on this point).

I also prefer my political parties respect the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and not attempt to be the first sitting government ever to actually attempt to take away a right enshrined within. Another pass.

I also hate blatant disingenuousness and cynical politics/politicians that really have very little respect for the office they are elected to aside from pushing an agenda and enriching their "friends".

I also never want to hear another Canadian make a sarcastic/superior comment about Bush II being elected twice if Harper gets a majority.

[Spocket]

^^^

How many PMs have we had that had no religious affiliation at all ?
Yeah , Harper is undoubtedly more of a practicing Christian than those that came before him (in a while anyway) but he's certainly not the only one . Come to think of it , have we ever had a non-Christian hold the office ? Nominally at least I'm pretty sure they've all called themselves Christians .

As for "taking away our rights" ... what are you referring to precisely ? What bill has the Harper government tabled that specifically seeks to excise some right contained within the Charter ? Your protected rights are violated all the time and it's been happening since long before Harper came along . It'll keep on happening long after he's gone too .

I also hate blatant disingenuousness and cynical politics/politicians that really have very little respect for the office they are elected to aside from pushing an agenda and enriching their "friends".

Oh please . Have you forgotten Adscam already ? How many plebiscites have you seen called in recent memory ? The answer is none because no government we've had in my lifetime at least has bothered to listen to a thing the people they work for have to say . I still remember when the Mulroney government gave the CF-18 contract to Quebec city instead of Winnipeg despite Winnipeg's company having submitted a lower bid while assuring a better quality product . That's politics and not much else .
If you want a government that respects the people that vote for it your best bet is to aim for the big seat yourself and plan to get voted out the minute every one of your bills somehow manages to get passed . Actually , you'll have to be a dictator for a little while at least since you can rest assured that nobody else holding office at the same time is going to let you put the brakes on the gravy train .

As I said in my last post , what you're talking about is based purely on ideology and it biases your perception far more than you care to admit . Admitting to holding bigoted views (proudly for that matter) argues far more against the legitimacy of any choice you make when voting than it does in favour of your ability to think critically . Or , in other words , your proudly-espoused bigotry hardly puts you in any position to judge Harper .

Hey , you're welcome to vote for anybody you want to , I'm not trying to dissuade you . I'm just saying that if you buy groceries the same way you vote I would expect to see a lot of beautiful pictures of food rather than any actual food in your fridge . It appears that style means more to you than substance . That's not a very smart way to vote .