Guest Post #3
Deb O'Connor
MAKING POLITICAL STEW
Inspired by William Hayes' recent guest column about the moral rot in our institutions, I've been thinking about the particular rot in our political system, and its effects on ordinary Canadians. Having voted in every federal and provincial election since 1971 I figure my opinions are as good as anybody else's, so here goes.
The problem with the liberals is that they don't really stand for anything in particular besides holding power. They are all for sunshine when it's sunny and they welcome the rain when it comes. Whatever Joe and Jane Public want that week, the liberals will promise to deliver. They believe in polls, pragmatism and expediency; the cornerstones of keeping power. There doesn't seem to be any ideological or philosophical basis behind their platforms, they just go whichever direction the wind takes them. Over the last 20 years, that direction has been a wobbly right turn.
The tories definitely believe in something, namely the Upholding and Advancement of the Status Quo. They fervently want to return us to an earlier time when men were men and women did what they were told. Don't get me wrong, they are ok with women working outside the home, as long as dinner is ready on time. They are passionate about their belief system and frequently attack and ridicule those who are progressive. To their credit, we always know exactly what they stand for, and what we are voting for with the tories.
Now, the NDP, a party and a cause that has struggled in Canada since its formation in the 1930's. Most of our vital social programs, like old age security, unemployment insurance, and health care, historically have emerged from their hard work. Never mind that the liberals stole most of them and then implemented less than perfect programs, we still owe "the socialists" a huge debt of gratitude for their contributions. But do they have a future? In recent years they appear to have abandoned the basic principles the party was built on, and they are scrambling in a fairly desperate bid to continue at all. But, even today's watered down policies offer a clear alternative to the others.
Trouble is, the credibility of all politicans has taken a nose dive over the last few years, and many people can't bring themselves to trust or believe what any of them say. These are the voters who just stay home, and there are more of them with every election. Somehow people have to be convinced anew that politics do matter, that they need to pay attention all the time, not just before an election. If they do that, they will know what the parties stand for, and which one they want to entrust with their precious vote.
At least that's how I see it.
MAKING POLITICAL STEW
Inspired by William Hayes' recent guest column about the moral rot in our institutions, I've been thinking about the particular rot in our political system, and its effects on ordinary Canadians. Having voted in every federal and provincial election since 1971 I figure my opinions are as good as anybody else's, so here goes.
The problem with the liberals is that they don't really stand for anything in particular besides holding power. They are all for sunshine when it's sunny and they welcome the rain when it comes. Whatever Joe and Jane Public want that week, the liberals will promise to deliver. They believe in polls, pragmatism and expediency; the cornerstones of keeping power. There doesn't seem to be any ideological or philosophical basis behind their platforms, they just go whichever direction the wind takes them. Over the last 20 years, that direction has been a wobbly right turn.
The tories definitely believe in something, namely the Upholding and Advancement of the Status Quo. They fervently want to return us to an earlier time when men were men and women did what they were told. Don't get me wrong, they are ok with women working outside the home, as long as dinner is ready on time. They are passionate about their belief system and frequently attack and ridicule those who are progressive. To their credit, we always know exactly what they stand for, and what we are voting for with the tories.
Now, the NDP, a party and a cause that has struggled in Canada since its formation in the 1930's. Most of our vital social programs, like old age security, unemployment insurance, and health care, historically have emerged from their hard work. Never mind that the liberals stole most of them and then implemented less than perfect programs, we still owe "the socialists" a huge debt of gratitude for their contributions. But do they have a future? In recent years they appear to have abandoned the basic principles the party was built on, and they are scrambling in a fairly desperate bid to continue at all. But, even today's watered down policies offer a clear alternative to the others.
Trouble is, the credibility of all politicans has taken a nose dive over the last few years, and many people can't bring themselves to trust or believe what any of them say. These are the voters who just stay home, and there are more of them with every election. Somehow people have to be convinced anew that politics do matter, that they need to pay attention all the time, not just before an election. If they do that, they will know what the parties stand for, and which one they want to entrust with their precious vote.
At least that's how I see it.
