Author Topic: Canada 2020  (Read 98 times)

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Offline Michael Hardner

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Canada 2020
« on: October 14, 2017, 11:52:29 am »
http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/inside-the-progressive-think-tank-that-really-runs-canada/

I'm torn about these kinds of things:

- Think Tank is an outdated term, reflecting old thinking, old politics, and the worst kind of non-engaging (ie. non-political) elitism
- Political branding is cynical and aggravating, and is the triumph of advertising over the tough problems of problem solving
- Cronyism is one of the worst things about Canadian politics

On the other hand:

- Idea-based politics is badly needed in this time of constant change
- Leading the population is far better than following them, which is what has been happening in the US
- This group has been pushing Open Government which is still waiting to be discovered as a problem-solving tool

--  --  --  --  --  --  --  -- 

Overall, I would like this to continue but they should be forced to eat their own dogfood to survive.  It has a due date built right into the name, which is the best thing about it.

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Offline poochy

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Re: Canada 2020
« Reply #1 on: October 17, 2017, 10:37:29 pm »
It's a propaganda organisation that has one goal, elect liberals and reap the benefits. They are probably more responsible for government policy than the majority of the liberal mp's are.

http://nationalpost.com/news/politics/canada-2020-accused-of-being-extension-of-liberal-party-after-office-rental-agreement-revealed

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/liberal-canada-2020-lobbyists-cash-access-1.3865480

The head of Canada 2020 is married to the president of the LPC and they were two of the people who went with the PM on his Aga Khan vacation.  The problem being that these organisations don't have to follow the same rules as political parties, but are still basically an extension of the party. 
« Last Edit: October 17, 2017, 10:48:08 pm by poochy »

Offline Michael Hardner

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Re: Canada 2020
« Reply #2 on: October 18, 2017, 06:41:39 am »
Fair enough.  But what about the positives ?

Offline Queefer Sutherland

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Re: Canada 2020
« Reply #3 on: October 18, 2017, 09:29:31 pm »
Think tanks don't have standards like universities and don't need that pesky "peer review" that academic research has.  They have some ideological or politics motives.  They have to please their donors.  Propaganda machines.
"Nipples is one of the great minds of our time!" - Bubbermiley

Offline Michael Hardner

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Re: Canada 2020
« Reply #4 on: October 19, 2017, 05:15:51 am »
POSITIVES.

Also those criticisms are valid, but not exactly applicable to Can2020.  It has different problems.