Banana Republic stuff. . . . .

Harper's denial of knowledge concerning the past of one of his closest advisors and yesterday's revelations concerning the expulsion of people from Harper appearances, have terrible shades of Third World petty dictators. This idea that one has to "apply" to attend an event at which the Prime Minister is appearing is deeply disturbing to me and it should trouble all Canadians who have a genuine interest in democracy. If one knows anything about the past dictatorships in countries like Uruguay or Guatemala these tactics and events are very unnerving. Conservatives should ask themselves if they really want to live in a country in which the Prime Minister so obviously lies to the nation concerning his knowledge of criminal advisors, or insulates himself so obsessively from the people and the media of the country. This is no longer about policy, this is about maintaining a open and transparent democracy. 

If you don't stand up for your democratic institutions they will slip away from you.