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Trudeau announces intention to freeze bank accounts of protestors

bbc.com

51–60 of 164 posts

Re: Trudeau announces intention to freeze bank accounts of protestors

#52
post #3

I’d like to expand on some thoughts I had in another thread that provoked some interesting discussion: If the protests are peaceful, the government should not shut them down. But at what point do the economic impacts of a protest cross a line such that they aren’t peaceful? I personally feel that the slippery slope runs in both directions: * The government expanding its power to block more protests is a slippery slop…

There is a very simple solution, the government lifts the restrictions and resigns. New elections are held and then the people decide if they want a new government that will punish protesters or not.

That’s a seductively simple idea. Using the Emergencies Act to bring to an end of the protests was unprecedented. Without having thought too deeply about it the suggestion to then call for elections seems like a brilliant one. I almost think it should be written into the act. At the surface it makes sense that if the redress of grievances is so disruptive that the Act must be invoked then the cost of invoking it is to call for elections and let the people decide.

Re: Trudeau announces intention to freeze bank accounts of protestors

#53
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can we allow a small minority to shut down an economy indefinitely? That seems like a big problem. It is also hard to gauge just how small of a minority of Canadians this is though. It feels pretty small but it is hard to tell. If 80% of Canadians are vaxxed that means this is just 5-10% of people at most.

There are vaccinated people there too. Don't fall for the "team sport" false dichotomy - there are many who are rational enough to get vaccinated but still largely side with the "less / less broad restrictions" side of the debate. (For instance, I am vaxxed, extremely pro-vax, and quite anti-restriction. Give everyone a chance to get vaxxed, even make it free - but then let them manage their risk from there. Even the…

Are you using your truck to block the economy of Canada right now? Have you participated in the protests with your actual body in any way? Do you even live in Canada or do you represent the interests of another country entirely?

Re: Trudeau announces intention to freeze bank accounts of protestors

#54
post #23

This was never a protest, it was a blockade. If they were actually protesting public opinion wouldn’t have turned on them.

Just because the corporate-owned media reports their cause in a negative light, doesn't mean public opinion has turned on them. In fact people were lining the streets as they made their way to Ottawa.

That recent hack gave light to only 29% of total donations coming from Canadians, they are not widely supported no matter what the HN Libertarian slant wants you to believe.

Re: Trudeau announces intention to freeze bank accounts of protestors

#55
post #3

I’d like to expand on some thoughts I had in another thread that provoked some interesting discussion: If the protests are peaceful, the government should not shut them down. But at what point do the economic impacts of a protest cross a line such that they aren’t peaceful? I personally feel that the slippery slope runs in both directions: * The government expanding its power to block more protests is a slippery slop…

But why is it ok for governments around the world destroy our economies for the past 2 years? Or rather, to destroy the SMEs, but allow corporations to carry on and even take up the slack?

I don’t think it is okay. I think protests and elections are great ways to register discontent with a state of affairs.

But should the powers of protests go so far that small groups can shut down large parts of an economy? It is my understanding that the convoy is hundreds of trucks. This is already disproportionate power for few people but what if dozens could shut down an economy peacefully?

It seems to me that a line has to be drawn somewhere for a society to function.

Re: Trudeau announces intention to freeze bank accounts of protestors

#56

Is there some point at which people will start rejecting this arbitrary and excessive exercise of power? This sets a dangerous precedent for a country that until now we considered a liberal democracy with freedom and respect for individual rights. I wonder if we're all headed to a point where state control and erosion of freedom are widely accepted by the public in our western democracies.

Name a single “liberal democracy” where any group would be permitted to occupy a capital city for three weeks uncontested. People really aren’t grasping how weak it makes Canada look that it allowed its own capital to be held in a chokehold so easily.

There are people on the streets (and in this thread) demanding that elected officials resign while a strong majority of Canadians disagree with the “protest”.

Re: Trudeau announces intention to freeze bank accounts of protestors

#57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a very simple solution, the government lifts the restrictions and resigns. New elections are held and then the people decide if they want a new government that will punish protesters or not.

I feel that's either an external or minority opinion. Not everybody outside of Canada may realize we just HAD an election. I personally don't think it was necessary or useful; in fact I think it was a colossal waste of money; but we did. And Canada tends to have relatively stable governments, our period between elections tends to be reasonably lengthy. Some people may not LIKE the result of elections, but there's not…

They're protesting the quarentine when re-entering the country. That's why so many Americans are involved as well. My girlfriend lives there but I can't visit her because of this.

Re: Trudeau announces intention to freeze bank accounts of protestors

#58
post #3

I’d like to expand on some thoughts I had in another thread that provoked some interesting discussion: If the protests are peaceful, the government should not shut them down. But at what point do the economic impacts of a protest cross a line such that they aren’t peaceful? I personally feel that the slippery slope runs in both directions: * The government expanding its power to block more protests is a slippery slop…

There is a very simple solution, the government lifts the restrictions and resigns. New elections are held and then the people decide if they want a new government that will punish protesters or not.

This would encourages minorities to try and block governments all the time, to force new elections.

Why not have the second chamber of parliament made of randomly picked citizen [0] with the responsibility to approve the work of the first chamber (of elected representatives), with the power to cast motions of no confidence?

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athenian_democracy#Selection_b... [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_of_no_confidence

Re: Trudeau announces intention to freeze bank accounts of protestors

#59
post #3

I’d like to expand on some thoughts I had in another thread that provoked some interesting discussion: If the protests are peaceful, the government should not shut them down. But at what point do the economic impacts of a protest cross a line such that they aren’t peaceful? I personally feel that the slippery slope runs in both directions: * The government expanding its power to block more protests is a slippery slop…

But why is it ok for governments around the world destroy our economies for the past 2 years? Or rather, to destroy the SMEs, but allow corporations to carry on and even take up the slack?

Superior marketing.

Re: Trudeau announces intention to freeze bank accounts of protestors

#60
post #7

“With no need for court orders, banks can freeze personal accounts of anyone linked with the protests.” The politics of this particular situation aside, this feels like a terrifying development for future protests, and public discourse in general.

Apparently it also includes people who donated to their cause. A peaceful, non-violent cause. Wow. North Korea, look out!

The majority of the money was foreign. edit: and is not being funneled to the actual protestors. The people recently arrested tried to get some to use for legal fees. No bueno. yeah, yeah, no citation. Pretty hard to cite facebook posts that were removed because of subject matter.
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