Rick,
Always nice to hear from , what Ed Sullivan (well before your time) referred to as "all you youngsters out there".
I'm afraid that I'm still watching the old fogies sport of curling.
Actually got up at 5:00 yesterday to watch.
Of course us country folk are early risers anyway.
Canada won silver today, in the unlikely event that you run into some Canadian seniors in Florida, you can now have a conversation piece.
Hope you enjoy a youth full, manly day on the golf course.
Perhaps there is also a paint ball, or off road dirt bike spot nearby, as I understand you young people like those as well.
Up here in the great frozen tundra, we are having an election.
I doubt if you spend enough time here to know how that works so I will try to explain in American terms.
First of all we have a Parliament.
I won't bore you as to how it works, as President, er..., Prime Minister (PM) Harper says, it doesn't work anyway.
Think of it like the House of Representatives, except that President Harper is there.
It would be as if your president sat in the House, but, and here is the big difference, had no accountability to it.
 |
| April 3rd Toronto Sun |
We also have a Senate, but we don't elect them, they are appointed for life, sort of like union guys with lots of seniority.
Anyway, although we, like you, have fixed terms, we think its more fun to have an election every two years or so, usually in summer, as we have few summer sports.
We have 5 political parties, yes three more than you, unless you count Sarah Palin's "Don't retreat, RELOAD!" Alaskans as another party, or species.
The Conservatives are like southern democrats.
 |
| Photo: courtesy Anna of Nepean-Carleton |
The Liberals are like California democrats.
The NDP and Greens have no USA equivalent and would be illegal in 27 states.
The Bloc Quebecois is a best explained this way.
Suppose that in 1865 after General Lee surrendered, Lincoln decide to leave the Confederacy intact, and that a hundred and forty six years later, southern secessionists were still being elected to congress.
(I don't see why people think Canadians are boring).
Well there you are. In early May, we will hitch up the dog sleds and head to the polls, except in the odd place where the ice bridges have melted.
Well that's all for now. Cheers from us up north in Perth!
No, I did not write the above item. Hubby, ever the spewing font of information, decided to help our of Canadian snowbird friend, Rick, explain the principles of Canadian politics to their winter friends.
Ignatieff accepts Rick Mercer debate offer
Media consortium won't allow the only female party leader, Elizabeth May, debate in the televised debate, despite a fine showing last time, and nearly a million votes. They claim it is because she doesn't have a seat in parliament. Sets back the women's movement 40 years.
We can't vote for the BLOC leader, either. But he still gets national air time. Lots of fodder for people like Rick Mercer!
1 comment:
There was a link to this at the bottom of your catfish story, and I just had to tell you how much I enjoyed it, although I'm sure it would confuse Americans completely (possibly on purpose?)
K
Post a Comment