COMMENTS POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY ROBERT FISK IN THE
INDEPENDENT
Yes, darkness and light are no exaggerations of our recent
political experience in Canada.
As one who has lived through it, I am more than ever
inclined to embrace Thomas Carlyle's idea of "history is biography."
Harper was close to being alien to his own country with his
deep admiration for the American Right Wing and in his own words, years ago,
saying he hated what Canada represented. He also said when prime minister that
before he was through, you wouldn't recognize Canada.
A most unpleasant man, too, in his personal qualities, quite
apart from embracing views not accepted by most Canadians. He was secretive,
dishonest, unresponsive, and frankly rather tyrannical in repressing the right
of government members and employees to say almost anything in public on their
own.
His election was a fluke, a kind of perfect storm of
political events, including serious infighting in the Liberal Party.
His re-election especially pointed out the great size of
Canada's "democratic deficit."
With the support of only 39% of voters at his high point, he
was able to implement severe policies and turn his back on many traditions
against the wishes of over 60% of voters. The world's opinion of Canada plummeted
during his time in office from well-liked and respected to disliked.
Britain suffers the same phenomenon. Only 35% of the British
people voted for Cameron and his extreme policies.
Parliamentary government, to deliver its democratic promise,
must change the way elections are conducted. Our first-past-the-post ballot system
is antiquated and genuinely anti-democratic.
We also need to control money in politics, Harper taking an
approach to raising funds that went completely against our history and practices,
twisting national policy to please favored special interest contributors.
Well, the wicked witch is indeed gone, and Canadians are
having a bit of a national love-in with our new prime minister and his lovely
wife. Blessings indeed.
______________________________________
Response to a reader
remarking on Trudeau’s own percentage win:
But a great part of the vote against was for an even more
progressive party, the NDP.
Had there been another voting system – such as ranked
preference - Trudeau's win would have been a landslide.
By the way, Trudeau promised in the campaign to change the
way we vote. Not committed to any one approach, he has people looking into it
and promised to announce changes within 18 months.
