Harper shuts down Parliament

You know, Canada's Parliament could be one of the world's leading models of democracy. Obviously, the U.S. Senate isn't, because it lets a party that doesn't even have a majority shout down everyone else.

But whenever the Canadian Parliament tries to do anything, right-wing Prime Minister Stephen Harper just decides to shut Parliament down.

Now - not for the first time - Harper has shut down Parliament again. This time, it was to halt an inquiry into Afghan detainees and to allow Harper's Conservatives to seize control of the body.

A bloodless coup? Not exactly bloodless, as the Bush-inspired U.S. media did play some role in helping install Harper in power. And Bush's rise to power was itself highly bloodstained.

Maybe with slightly fewer closures of Parliament, we might stop thinking of Stephen Harper as a dictator.

(Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-to-shut-down-parliament/article1414830)