The world's coldest banana republic ...
Full disclosure: I've voted Liberal, NDP, and Conservative in various elections for various levels of government. I even had Green Party signs on my lawn during the last two federal elections. So, I'm not a hard-core political idealogue.
But I do agree with National Post columnist, John Ivison, who suggests that the imminent defeat of the minority Conservative government gives Canada the prospect of becoming the world's coldest banana republic.
Other pithy comments from Ivision:
The most likely scenario will see Mr. Dion become Prime Minister at the head of an alliance so unholy it would have been burned at the stake for heresy in the Middle Ages.
The inherent contradictions of this coalition will be exposed sooner or later. The accord signed by Mr. Dion, Mr. Layton and Gilles Duceppe says that "within the limits of common sense, the partners agree to work on a 'no surprises' basis." But common sense is in short supply in Ottawa these days, and it will only be a matter of time before one or other of the leaders springs a surprise on his partners.
What was Harper thinking?
I have no idea why Stephen Harper decided to push an agenda last week that would have created serious problems even for a majority government. I am stunned by the incredible lack of judgement he demonstrated.
In typical Canadian fashion, we elected Stephen Harper to provide middle-of-the-road direction for this country. He did so successfully as a minority government leader prior to the last election, and we awarded this mediocri ... er, moderation ... by sending more Conservative MP's to the House of Commons on October 14.
Canadians did not give Harper free reign. He had no mandate to put a hardline Conservative agenda on the table last week. Admittedly, Dion, Layton, and Duceppe are three of the most ill-equipped leaders I have ever seen, but did Harper really think they would give him a pass?
Harper's indiscretion has let Canadians down. By refusing to function as the leader of a minority government, he has forced us to face the possibility of moving from mediocrity to outright ineptitude in the House of Commons. The prospects are dim.
Back to the polls
I don't relish the idea of spending another $30 million on yet another election, but it's time to go back to the polls. (And this time, Canadians need to show up and vote.) Harper did not respect the will of Canadians to govern as the leader of a minority. Now, a coalition of incompetents think they can hijack the House of Commons and impose their agenda on Canadians. Voters need to make their voices heard. Demand an election. Don't ever let politicians think they can bypass the will of the people. It's too cold in Canada to enjoy the fringe benefits of a banana republic.
Labels: banana republic, Canada, conservatives, government, Jack Layton, Liberal, mediocrity, NDP, Stephane Dion, Stephen Harper
posted by The Rock 'n' Roll Preacher at
12/02/2008 12:06:00 PM
2 Comments:
Whether one prefers a Harper or a Dion or a Layton as government leader doesn't make any difference whatsoever in Canada's present political situation. While I might disagree with your preference for Harper, I think the larger issue is the absolute disregard and subjugation of the interests of ordinary Canadians in favour of an ever-increasing partisanship. When partisanship (reflected, by the way, in a government leader's stated goal to "eliminate" an opposition party) is the rule, all we get is spin and rhetoric. It's the equivalent of Christians hating homosexuals or Muslims or other Christians.
No leader can command respect in that context, and a larger turnout at the polls couldn't effect the necessary change.
What is necessary is a new ethic of public service. "Service"... imagine if that word and concept found its way back into the offices of our political, religious, and private sector leaders. No wonder Jesus drew such a clear distinction between the way leadership functions in the world at large and the way He modeled and demonstrated it.
Political leaders might remember whom they were elected to serve if their political masters showed up at the polls. In the last election, we had the lowest voter turnout in Canadian history. That sends one message to politicos: "go ahead and do whatever you want -- we don't care anyway".
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