Does Orange Juice Produce More Mucus

Postmodern reflections on the legitimacy of states

If we vote YES, the prospect of returning to a confederation or a political union with Canada will always remain on the table. No choice of company is absolutely definitive. All questions are worth asking, as often as necessary, as long as enough people ask for or want to respond. The idea of a country, a border, an eternal union, it is the greatest fiction of the 20th century has laid. Countries often exist by accident of history, often because people decided they existed, that the "we" deserved to be transformed into a "here". The countries are born, recycle, fragment, unite, disunite. What is the legitimacy of states? The success justifies legal institutions does the territory they control? As good as the stateless nations, people without homes, crops without representation? After how many generations does it go off, the grandparents no longer understanding their grandchildren?

During my short life I have seen the birth of new countries like East Timor, Croatia, Slovakia, but also the union of former enemies as the two brothers Yemen Germany, Senegambia (Senegal and Gambia, common short-term). I finally understand that the land shapes the man as much as it shapes the earth. There is a "we" in the valley of Saint-Laurent, a "we" that is no more definable than the "we" of Canada, France, Senegal and Yemen, a group with blurred and culture fluid. And this "we" would make this piece of land its "here", as has happened countless in human history. There is nothing contemptible in there, just some something normal, potentially noble and promising future.

Quebec and Canada, like other countries, existing, past or future questions, not answers. Try to answer them, while remaining humble enough to leave our children the freedom to ask again.

Highlights Half Or Full

Dion at the wheel, with Layton and Duceppe map with the hand on the ignition key

When I think that some columnists and editorial writers chanted loudly during the last election, the Bloc Québécois will never get power. And voila! Quebec may perhaps gain more power in Ottawa than it has ever had, with Duceppe in a position to pass some historical demands of Quebec and to Stéphane Dion box. If the Bloc remains reasonable in his demands, he can get significant gains. For us.

This coalition would be a good thing, at least on paper! It is time that our political culture is changing and getting rid of minority governments, which have little legitimacy. After all, democracy should be based on an overall majority of voters represented by a majority of members, themselves elected by a majority of voters in their counties. Without this triple majority (3 levels), the government moves away from large democratic principles. And it does not stick out the argument that the party that "wins" elections "leading" or "govern" the country with a white card and ignoring the rest of the population. People have the right to be heard and represented, not just the "party friends". The winner of each election should be the people.

The Bloc Québécois is in the current state of things, an excellent objective ally of the Liberals and NDP. By holding the "safety valve" of this government, it ensures to advance Quebec (always carefully) while avoiding Dion, canned, not venturing too far into the constitutional quagmire. Economy, culture and regions should be the order of the day. The truce would hold.

The Bloc is not obligated to always vote with the coalition. It is ONLY when it comes to a vote of confidence and Budget shall ensure that the Bloc's support. Hence the importance of inviting the Bloc in the preparatory meetings of the bills the most difficult. No

departments for the Bloc? What difference does it make ... The Harper government had already decided to punish (rather childishly) Quebec do not have enough voted the right way. There is no minister, but a discretionary right to veto the bills most important. The autonomy Jean Allaire would not have asked more!

And we're a little loose with ultra complicated stories of secret government and management of global crises where the Bloc is allegedly inappropriate. Already the small ordinary members of the ruling party (and the backbenchers) are not invited to such meetings ... there is no big deal. Decisions are made in departments that do not move a lot of secret documents. Only votes count in the room for this kind of exercise.