I really have to say, I don’t understand why we are getting ourselves all wound up about changes being made to the census. Sure, we get to hammer the government over it. Always fun. But as Liberals wouldn’t we actually support the changes that are being made?
I know I do. And here’s why:
Liberalism is about the ideal of individual liberty. If some Canadians don’t want to fill out the longer version with more questions, shouldn’t they be allowed to make that choice? And shouldn’t we, as Liberals, support their right to make that choice? From what I gather, more people will actually be receiving the longer version than the last time we had a census and the basic short form version is still mandatory for everybody.
I know if I receive the longer version I’m going to fill it out. But if my neighbour doesn’t want to, why should I care?
Maybe my neighbour is too busy. Maybe she hates forms. Maybe, just maybe, she isn’t comfortable giving out certain information. Either way, I think it should be up to her to decide without some pencil-pusher threatening her with punishment if she doesn’t. It’s her decision.
A lot has been made lately about how we as a party have to regain the trust of Canadians before we can think about beating Harper in an election. How about we start with trusting Canadians to decide if they want to fill out a form or not?
UPDATE:
Warren Kinsella agrees!
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oh here we go again – a Con pretending to be a Liberal. You are just too obvious.
I filled out a long form – easy as pie.
Where do we go next? Do you think anyone has a right to snoop into what you make for a living, what you donate to charities? Intrustive – INCOME TAX
I want to know how many of the long forms get filled out. If no effective data is recovered now, then it’s not like it will be missed.
Sandra, why don’t you go back to the Dipper site where you belong.
I am not an NDP and would never, ever be an NDP’r. Making things up are you?
Funny, I left the CPC because it had been taken over by liberals. I identify more with the Liberal Party now because it’s more conservative at the moment. By conservative I mean the Liberal Party puts common good above individual liberty, more than the CPC, especially in cases, such as this one, where the threat to individual liberty is non-existant. It’s been a long time since classical liberals have called the LPC home, so I’m surprised at your confusion.
Why pick out this specific issue as a fight for personal choice? Why would you draw the line at say, paying taxes, obeying the law, registering your car, getting a license, or any other of the hundreds of things where, as citizens of this country, we have responsibilities?
Why would you completely ignore the stated opinions of expert statisticians to favour the feelings of a few?
If there is something I fear is to be called for jury duty. My employer would have to give me time off, an unpaid leave, for the period of the trial. My employer would be under no legal obligation to pay me for lost wages while on jury duty. At the end of it, I would have a job back, either my old job or a ‘comparable’ position.
I consider jury duty to be a much, much greater impediment to my freedom than having to sit down for half an hour to fill out a form.
So, will you become a propronent of a new system of trial where only people who want to be members of a jury are called in for duty? In the name of liberalism?
It’s best to know who lives in our own country, don’t you think. Moreover, we need to make sure that Canadians are not taken advantage of or exploited.
And just in case you think that I am just full of hot air, I PROVIDE THE PROOF HERE.
I would love to hear from you.