discussion Jack Layton dies at 61

[SKYMTL]

I may say a lot. Or maybe it shows that some people can look through the smoke screen and see that this whole thing has politicised beyond recognition. Everything from his letter, to the state funeral to the media's false sense of mourning while they lick their chops at increasing their lagging viewership.

The Jack Layton we new around here was a quiet, respected and humble man who preferred to work from behind the scenes until he saw an opportunity. He would be the first to speak out against spending unnecessary money on his funeral.

That isn't the Jack that's around right now. It looks like the NDP party and others have taken his visions and humility and distorted them into something self-serving. My anger about "the letter" may have come out against Layton but it was actually directed at whatever puppet master is behind all of this because this IS NOT what this man ever stood for.

 

[AkG]

Real classy ... attack a man who is dead, it really speaks volumes about your character.

OK. As someone who has "attacked his character" while he was alive (and dont care what you think about MY character)....I will answer you Draax.

I am sad to see he died the way he did. BUT lets not go back and make the man a saint. He wasnt. He believed in the causes he pushed. That makes him special for a politick...but it doesnt warrant my tax payer money being spent on his funeral. And yes he knew he was dieing and had to get one last PR stunt in.

The man was what he was...a MAN. Not a hereo. Not worthy of a state funeral. Should he be respected that he argued passionately for what he stood for. Yes. Should we worship him and his ideas...Christ no. He was still just a man.

 

[FlyingFish]

The state funeral was Harper's idea, and it's a purely a political move. Harper gets to capitalize on the affection and support of the NDP, and it allows him to say "hey, I'm a great guy, I arranged a state funeral for a guy that you all liked"

 

[NI3]

Layton gave his life for the Canadian people, the least we can do is properly honour him. If you are looking to save some money try investigating Tony Clements slush fund.

No I am not kidding you, Jack Layton dedicated his life to serving Canadians. You can't quite see that through your partisan shades, though can you? Fire fighters, police officers, and soldiers are not any more "real" than Jack was, in fact Layton indisputably touched more Canadians than all three of those professions combined.

Two separate things.

I WILL dispute the fact that he touched more lives than police officers, firefighters and soldiers combined.

Police officers, without them there would be mass looting rape, murder etc. With them crime is minimized, sure may crimes happen, but they are also there to correct the problem.

Firefighters run into burning buildings, forests, etc, to save random strangers lives, putting their own safety on the backburner, for others.

Soldiers help prevent wars, diffuse potential harmful situations, help survivors of wars, and defend our country. They can face bullets every day.

All of those are more of a hero than Layton, and they all serve Canada just as much as Layton. Yes, THEY DO, help Canadians. EVER SINGLE PROFESSION, ALL OF THEM. He was a politician, who died of cancer. Yes it was bad, but don't make it out like he saved someones life, by sacrificing himself. He died, it happens, don't go spending taxpayers money when it can be spent elsewhere. Give $1000 to 1000 out of works families. Someone truly "For the people" would much prefer that..... Or spend that money on cancer research...

 

[PerryC]

While I didn't much like Jack Leyton or the NDP, cancer is not something I would wish on anyone. As has been said by others, I can respect that he stood up for what he believed. There are far too many people in all walks of life that can't or won't do that.

I also think that alot of the momentum that the NDP gathered in the last election may have just disappeared. I say "may have" because we can't tell what will happen in the next election, just as nobody saw that huge NDP explosion coming. I don't think the NDP has anybody with the personal power that Leyton had to take over the reins of the party. The leadership convention is going to interesting to watch.

I guess I am ambivalent about the state funeral. As a member of the Canadian military I don't believe he should get a state funeral. However, that is not a decision I get paid to make. The fact that he will be getting a state funeral doesn't really matter that much to me.

Pierre Trudeau's state funeral cost somewhere around $650k if I remember correctly, and I have no idea what Leyton's will cost. While that is an outrageous amount of money to spend on a funeral to you or me, remember that amount of money is peanuts to the government.

Besides, the government will just take it out of the money they are saving by not going to Expo2012 in South Korea next year.

 

[johndave]

I'm surprised at how fast this thread turned into a debate.. If this truly wasn't about politics then why even bother mentioning that you don't agree with his policies..etc.

As for the money being "wasted" on a state funeral, I say.. take me to the fake lake, Harper!

 

[Nodscene]

Two separate things.

I WILL dispute the fact that he touched more lives than police officers, firefighters and soldiers combined.

Police officers, without them there would be mass looting rape, murder etc. With them crime is minimized, sure may crimes happen, but they are also there to correct the problem.

Haha, sorry but that's just not the case. Talk to any woman who's been raped and you will get a very different opinion about how "helpful" the cops are.

It's also kind of funny to see people complaining about us having to pay for a state funeral but never say a damn thing when their party spends money on far worse things. At least we are honoring someone who I believe deserves it instead of giving billions of dollars in corporate welfare.

 

[AkG]

I'm surprised at how fast this thread turned into a debate.. If this truly wasn't about politics then why even bother mentioning that you don't agree with his policies..etc.

As for the money being "wasted" on a state funeral, I say.. take me to the fake lake, Harper!

Its called being polite. You might consider someone to be a real sack of ...but you still say nice things about him and that no one deserves to die from cancer. As that is the truth, its not a nice way to go. I wouldnt wish it on anyone.

In other words:
RIP Taliban Jack. I might have disagreed with everything you stood for..but at least you stood for something. Its not enough to deserve a state funeral and he prolly is rolling in his casket over the needless waste.

Haha, sorry but that's just not the case. Talk to any woman who's been raped and you will get a very different opinion about how "helpful" the cops are.

It's also kind of funny to see people complaining about us having to pay for a state funeral but never say a damn thing when their party spends money on far worse things. At least we are honoring someone who I believe deserves it instead of giving billions of dollars in corporate welfare.

Say that when a neonazi leader, or PQ leader or leader of the greens nazi dies and their party DEMAND the same treatment. This is a slippery slope we are on.


EDIT:
I am not comparing Jack to a nazi. What I am saying is its one thing to say he "deserves it" when you agree with his policies...its another to say the same when you dont. IF Preston Manning dropped dead tomorrow would you be crying for a state funeral for the old reform party leader? Both were MPs. Both held strong beliefs....neither are heroes.

 

[Borg]

I've criticized all the parties and their politicians.

So, I think I can say without any contradiction, that the statements of 'Harper spent on a fake lake' doesn't justify spending on this.

The fake lake was BS and so are so many other spending sprees. So, you want the attitude that you might as well spend on anything?!?

There were already a few posters besides myself who is saying the entire thing is political. Harper and his party will eventually say something like 'we're nice guys.... we paid for the Opposition Leader's funeral so we're all Canadians... blah, blah, blah...'

 

[NI3]

Haha, sorry but that's just not the case. Talk to any woman who's been raped and you will get a very different opinion about how "helpful" the cops are.

It's also kind of funny to see people complaining about us having to pay for a state funeral but never say a damn thing when their party spends money on far worse things. At least we are honoring someone who I believe deserves it instead of giving billions of dollars in corporate welfare.

Rape is sort of a hard thing.... Unless she has a good description, or other hard facts/proof it is hard to find the rapist.

But that is not what I was trying to say. They were politicians, not heroes. People who put themselves in harms way for others are heroes. Such as police officers, and soldiers, who both deal with the possibility of being shot daily, or firefighters who run into open flames for others.

Those are heroes, he was a politician, not a hero.

I am not saying that cancer isn't something bad, there is a reason I fold....

And the thing as that although YOU support it, the WHOLE COUNTRY does not....

Edit: Ignoring the whole hero or not argument, the fact is that a whole country is paying for something that we all do not support