Oct 08
21
Same ‘ol Same ‘ol.
So – it’s been a while. While I sit here at the office waiting for a final build of our catalogue PDF’s from the team, I thought I might offer a few thoughts about the world at large, drop a few links to interesting things, and generally ensure that my blog is not as stale as the coffee I’m still drinking from lunch.
Since my last blog post the Canadian federal election has come and gone, and unsurprisingly there has been virtually no change in Canada’s political landscape, with the exception of moving around a few deck chairs. The conservative minority government is still a minority, with an official opposition too weak to act decisively in a positive direction for Canada, and a leading party in too weak a position to drive real change.
The Harper government has held to many ‘conservativisms’ but has not crippled us or buried us in scandal yet however so I’ll bide my time before deciding on a real opinion. There were a lot of us who saw the election as nothing more than an opportunity to hold an election called by the lowest bidder. Harpers campaign of “You’re better off with Harper” rang dead-on. No frontrunner emerged from ANY party to truly steal the stage and bring voters out of their cocoons. In order for a real change I think a few things must change.
1. Voting should become MANDATORY for all ‘new’ Canadians. We must get these new members of our ‘Cultural Mosaic’ [ED. Note: @bgrier says I should use the phrase 'Cultural Mozaic' instead of my original 'melting pot' because the 'pot is in the "US and A" Ok... ] out, educated in the issues, and at the polls. No – I’m not done. Voting should also be mandatory for all CITIZENS period. It is NOT acceptable for less than 60% of eligible voters to share the responsibility for 100% of Canadians. This is ludicrous. Come on people – this is your COUNTRY. Act like that means something.
2. Through Election reform, we must enforce NATIONAL party criteria. If you can’t run in every riding across this nation, you cannot effectively represent Canadians. As a party, this only leads to divisive voting and a lack of cohesion. Yes Monsieur Duceppe – this means you. Quebec holds 75 of Canada’s 308 electoral ridings. Quebec has a history of ‘a quest for distinction’ and it’s high time this country functioned as a Nation. Either the Bloq runs nationally, or they turn their efforts into creating a Nation with a foundation of leadership and solidarity, by running under a national platform and leading the advancement of french culture through their elected representatives, rather than by stymieing the efforts of National parties to lead.
3. Election Reform to produce REAL candidates. Low voter turnout is often (yes – I’m making a leap here) the result of a lack of charismatic candidates. Candidates with passion and devotion to the country in which they live. Candidates with a desire to impart REAL change to a system with real issues. Candidates with the stones to stand up on the world stage and say THIS IS WHAT WE BELIEVE IN. Before Elizabeth May got to stand before this nation she was an unknown, but after the debate public opinion the Blue bloods and the Red bloods seemed to show some notice of her. Were she a member of a party without a history of granola eating vegans and Greenpeacers – she could have a real shot at influencing positive change for this country.
4. An END to Partisan Bullshit. When was the last time you saw a Liberal suggest that a Conservative policy would work? When was the last time Jack Layton said, you know “Mr. Duceppe – You’re right…”? Why is it that everyone MUST take a viewpoint contrary to the person to their left and right? (Or just your right if we’re talking Green of course.) It’s time our elected representatives went to work for the people, set a course based on sound economics and moral fundamentals, and got the job done.
I certainly hope for my country’s sake, and my child’s sake that our new(?) government can put down the campaign literature and set a course for the good over the next 4 years (18 months) and put a sound economic plan in place that takes environment, social responsibility and fiscal responsibility as foundations for the future.
