Sunday, August 16, 2015

News: Conservatives want to warn us about change!


A few days ago my sister-in-law, Marion, sent me and a raft of others a link to an article in the New York Times called “The Closing of the Canadian Mind” by Toronto writer Stephen Marche. It's perhaps a little over-the-top but makes a good case, seasoned with a dose of acid, for why we desperately need a change in government; I recommend it.
You will undoubtedly already have read it.
Consequent to this, in my email inbox this morning, I received a copy of a letter from one of the others on the raft. It was addressed to Marion, and titled, “Be careful what you wish for...” It claimed to be based on a reading of her blog.
It clearly wasn't. It was a reaction to her recommending the New York Times article. But OK.
What struck me, however, and what I cannot get rid of, is the smugly condescending, even chauvinistic tone of the title: as if a successful semi-retired businessman from Penticton knows more about the needs of the country than a retired judge from Toronto, and feels free to point out the errors in her thinking!
As if.
I'm guessing he votes Conservative.

In reaction, I thought I'd compile a little list of my top 10 political wishes for implementation after the campaign ends, just in case anyone has forgotten why we need change.
I want...
1.  an electoral system that doesn't reward 39% of voters with all the marbles.
2.   a government that respects and obeys the law, particularly the Charter of Rights and Freedoms
3.   a government which isn't in perpetual election mode and doesn't game the system for partisan advantage.
4.  a Senate (if, as appears almost certain, there must be one) that actually applies “serious second thought” to government bills
5.  a Security apparatus that is supervised by either an independent or a multi-party political board
6.  parliamentary committees that actually consider the bills and issues before them, and are free to report to Parliament on the evidence, in a non-partisan way
7.  a Ministry of Defense that respects its service men and women, and proves it by looking after the injured
8.  non-partisan judicial appointments
9.  an end to partisan advertising on the public dime
10. a foreign policy that is about more than unconditional support for Israel

There is, of course, an entire litany of other issues: support for the CBC, resuming the long-form census, answering questions in Question Period, loosening the rules for charity political involvement...and I, just like you, could go on and on. In fact, the Tyee compiled a list of 70 outrages so we don't have to try to remember them all.
The case is depressingly clear; it's no wonder Conservatives want to warn us about the dangers of change.
Because it sure is tempting!

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