The Attack In Ottawa will be used to justify losing more rights

Yep, that’s the playbook. But one fatality of a a soldier on ceremonial duty for a jihadist, that’s not exactly a national emergency, not even for a micro-state like Andorra. We have mentally challenged teenagers that manage more death and destruction that. Of course even the hint of an imaginary threat to the financial or political class ranks a lot higher than thousands of murdered school children. Hence the disproportionate reaction to the Occupy movement.

Today and in the coming weeks will be a focal point for Canadian democracy. The Canadian state has enormous powers, as with the Canadian executive (PMO), far beyond that of even the U.S. of U.K. post-9/11. I watched with bemusement as Americans debated new security and legal authority grasped extra-constitutionally by the U.S. Executive branch following 9/11, knowing that the Canadian PMO already held those powers and (as Ian points out) with a majority government can exercise them without oversight. The Supreme Court will take years to overturn legislation and the Conservatives are comfortable believing the sole arbiter is the electorate – or at least the ~35% of the electorate that supports them.

I would dream on the fifth estate asserting itself and acting as a break on power, but I won’t hold my breath. They should question why the event occurred and unfolded in the manner it did. If those executive and security state powers were inadequate to stop this act, then a true democracy might begin to ask where the failure occurred rather than dreaming up greater authorities by which to undermine personal liberty.

Personally, I think this is a mental health issue expressed through the security theatre our public commons has been crafted to be following 9/11. The tragedy will serve as a vehicle to expand state power – as Ian correctly laments.

Welcome to our (U.S.) nightmare. 🙁

These officials walk a rough and disingenuous line with what is being projected through the media. I cynically say “projected” because one does not trust even the quoted anymore. “He’s a jihadist” / “He’s a lone mentally-ill wannabe.” I suppose they want to catapult “jihadist” to the general public, and at the same time diminish him in order to perhaps try to demoralize ISIS? But the general public, along with the “genuine” jihadist movement* hear both sides of this mixed message.

Bad articulation and PR all around. This is madness.

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*I get that there is a space in which there is a genuine fear of the West, and there are thoughtful “freedom-fighters” – “terrorists” from the West’s official position (yet I remember Gilliam’s “Brazil” all too well) – but it seems the point of their spear is populated with psychopathic opportunists satisfying their bloodlust. They are inspiring banal maniacs.

Again, madness.

This simply makes it official. Canada was lost at least a decade ago. Almost everyone I know, including my own family, is preoccupied/obsessed with consumer culture. Most people define themselves by their collection of corporate consumer choices. That is what passes for their identity. Lot’s of talk about Canadian family values, but nothing matters anymore except material goods and food experiences (Food trucks, celebrity chefs and theme restaurants). No talk of climate change or any other serious issue. It’s all so phony now.

Ouch! we deserve better, not much better, mind you.