Like most Canadians I’m watching the political drama unfolding in Ottawa these days with a mixture of bewilderment and embarrassment. While the rest of the world is worrying about economic issues our politicians are doing… well, no one knows quite what they’re doing.
As for the actual ‘issues’ being discussed, I think this guy pretty much gets it right. There’s more than enough blame to go around and I don’t think anyone comes out looking good (except maybe Duceppe because he can sit on the sidelines and laugh at all his opponents). I’m not sure what’s more distasteful, Harper’s arrogance in thinking he can bully his opponents or Dion and Layton’s sanctimonious ‘we’re just doing this for the economy’ rhetoric.
From where I sit this looks like a bunch of kindergarten kids fighting in a playground while the rest of the country tries to deal with the business of real life. Maybe we’ll discover over the next six weeks that things carry on pretty much normally without a bunch of spoiled children playing petty power games in Ottawa. Maybe we should have a consititutional amendment that would allow for a ‘none of the above’ option at the ballot box.
I keep hearing people talk about Harper being arrogant, and I don’t see it. What I saw in his attempt to remove the per-vote payment was a really bold attempt to hamstring two of the opponents he most needs to hurt to get a majority: the Bloc and the Liberals.
Maybe his gamble didn’t pay off, but that doesn’t make him arrogant. Frankly, it makes him a frigging genius.
Thanks, Gil.
I think a few good things might come of this mess. Firstly, an increase in the political awareness and decrease in political apathy for the average Canadian (case in point – me) I’m hearing alot of ‘hey, I didn’t vote for these guys to be in power – this isn’t democracy’ talk going around (did you even vote, I ask)…Secondly, and I think you said it best, one really realizes now that life goes on, and placing our livelihood in worldy empires sucks…While these two points kind of come back on each other and discredit everything i’m writing, it’s at times like this where we realize the futility of placing our hopes in man…we all just end up as kids at the playground, wrestling over our own security when self-serving power is administered.
I don’t know Chris, I don’t think anyone comes off looking like a genius here. You might think Harper knew what he was doing but I don’t think that’s the kind of stunt you pull in a minority government situation.
Jon, good to hear from you! I think this thing could push people in either direction: either away from apathy or toward it. It seems like a lot of people are getting more involved and active because of this. I suspect many are getting more cynical as well. Thanks for the reminder about properly placed hopes.
so first i thought dion was a genius for going from a failed leader of a failed party to the prime minister’s office…nearly. then he came out with that terrible video that made even harper’s (which seemed quite arrogant, and not genius) look good. so he was out.
then i though duceppe was a genius for getting himself veto power in the coalition. “the bloc is only propping up the coalition, they’ve agreed not to vote against the coalition for 18 months”. yes. but if they abstain then they have kept their word and gained veto power. but then that didn’t work out so he was out.
then today i realized that ignatieff was the genius. he became the leader of a federal part without any debate, election promises, or votes being cast. wait that doesn’t sound very democratic.
uh oh. i just read your comment about people becoming more cynical. that’s when things go round and round right? like a wheel?