current forum:National & International Affairs

[Vote for Pedro]

Speaking of ten percenters, here's a clip from a recent episode of CTV's 'Power Play', where Conservative MP Peter Braid defends an upcoming Conservative ten-percenter campaign on the Afghan detainee issue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_4D2qUbXuw&feature=player_embedded

That's a pretty amazing clip - I'd hate to have to try and defend this whole mess.

On the subject of all parties sending out the ten percenters, bgilchrist001 I'm eager to know how many of these you've received. I've never had a liberal one (though I admittedly live in a Liberal riding) but in the last year I've received over 20 of them from various Conservative MPs.

[bgilchrist001]

I get 1-2 per month from various liberal MPs. I get one a month from my conservative MP. I haven't received a conservative one from anyone but my MP.

My guess is the libs are targeting my riding considering a) it was a liberal riding for many years, and b) they've parachuted a 'name' candidate to run in the riding.

[StBPegger]

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has given this year's federal award to MP mailouts, dubbed "10-per-centers".

Craig said the cost of the flyers has increased from $5.9 million in 2005-2006 to $10 million in 2008-2009.

[coach]

I only get ten percenters from the Liberals, go in the garbage, and the NDP, line the birdcage with them.

[driver8]

I only get ten percenters from the Liberals, go in the garbage, and the NDP, line the birdcage with them.

lol... you won't line your birdcage with Liberal propaganda but NDP is okay?
Do your birds tell you who they prefer to crap on?



I have a feeling my cats would crap on all the politicians equally...

[StBPegger]

Good to see some action on trying to stop these waste of taxpayer's money!

Figures presented in the Commons show the mass mailings have been used disproportionately by Conservative MPs, who racked up 62 per cent of all printing costs on 10-per-centers last year despite holding only 45 per cent of the seats in Parliament.

[bgilchrist001]

Wow! Media is getting worse and worse every day.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/liberals-propose-cutting-mp-junk-mailings-to-save-millions-each-year-87671062.html

I totally agree with the idea of cutting the 10% mailers. But if you are going to say that the idea is getting ‘the short shrift’ can you please back that up? Or is this another media invented BS story?
Un f’n believable

[Vote for Pedro]

Unsubstantiated editorial content or not, I guess this puts to rest the question of who abuses the system the most, and surprise, it's the Conservatives.

...Conservative MPs, who racked up 62 per cent of all printing costs on 10-per-centers last year...

...of 58 MPs who spent more than $50,000 each on printing costs in 2009, 54 of them were Conservatives.

edit: The print edition this morning has a note in the story that Steven Fletcher dismissed the idea of getting rid of them because they are "essential to democracy." Both NDP and Conservatives claim they are against politicing in ten percenters, but both do it and work *against* changing the system.

[cancelbot]

^ Surprise, surprise.

I remember when ten percenters used to contain actual information about what Parliament was doing... sure they could be a little dry (e.g. details about some important legislation) but at least they served some kind of function.

Now it's just basically political ranting on the same intellectual level as pro wrestling or UFC. Parliamentarians have shown themselves incapable of handling this responsibility and it should be revoked accordingly.

Frankly it makes me a little worried that our MPs can't get something like this right.

[zander]

So the Liberal motion to ban ten-percenters seems to have passed (although it was extremely close).

MPs vote to trash ten percenters

I'd be curious to see who voted yes & no. It seems that the Cons voted against it, but some Opposition members might have too.

Good editiorial in today's Freep (don't think I've ever said that before) on this issue as well:Political mail went too far