Rob Ford is announcing another Canadian right-wing AstroTurf "Taxpayer" advocacy group. Ho hum.He's calling it the first of it's kind and suggesting that it will represent centre-right issues. The Tea Party and all of these similar groups have three things in common:
1. They promote privatization so are always funded by corporations.
2. They represent far-right causes and the only thing 'centre' about them is the centre of the last donut Ford ate, and the centre of the Republican Party who usually writes their policies.
3. They are not new but part of a major network of right-wing AstroTurf groups posing as populism.
Harper didn't get his Fox News North so he's hoping this will ease some of his pain.
A few other right-wing, Astro-Turf groups behind Stephen Harper and the right-wing movement (partial list) include:
National Citizens Coalitions
Ontarians for Responsible Government
Canadian Taxpayers Federation
ProudToBeCanadian (mostly old Reformers and Ann Coulter) You'll have a hard time finding anything Canadian about this group. They even sport an American flag and the Tea Party
The Civitas Society (grew out of the old Northern Foundation)
Progressive Group for Independent Business
The Canadian Constitution Foundation
The Canadian Christian Coalition
Hamilton-based Work Research Foundation
TaxTyranny.ca
Americans for Prosperty (Tea Party group)
Christian Legal Fellowship
REAL Women of Canada
And this is before we get into the think tanks.
In Kingston, Ontario, the Conservative candidate, Alicia Gordon, is presenting herself as a moderate conservative, even suggesting that she will be running on a campaign of strengthening social services. (stop laughing dammit. Every time I say that, the earth shakes from so many belly laughs.)
But Ford reminds Canadians that Harper's party is more tea party, than any kind of conservatism we've ever had in Canada before. It is rumoured that Don Cherry will be promoting Gordon. Don Cherry of "left-wing pinko" fame.
Ford is also suggesting that left wingers include environmental groups. Since when has protecting the environment been a left wing issue?
Ford's Tea party will campaign against everything that is important to Canadians. At a time of record debt and deficit, tax reduction should not be made a priority. Proper use of tax money is a much better initiative.
I hope his tea party is loud and proud. It will be like taking candy from a baby.
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