John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY ROBYN URBACK IN CBC NEWS
“What's the difference between the Conservative and Liberal platforms? The colour
“This election essentially comes down to whose face you won't mind staring at for the next 4 years”
I very much like Robyn Urback's pieces in general
They tend to display a kind of realism and tough cynicism about political nonsense.
But this piece takes quite a different path, and I regard it as a bit naive.
"Let's talk about things that matter."
Please, when in political history were "things that matter" discussed in an election?
The very nature of our politics does not allow this.
And, since over time, in parliamentary governments, parliaments have been almost shoved off the stage by party leaders, we have something resembling any other form of human mock combat between a few individuals.
We have a contest between a few leaders, each trying, in a very condensed amount of time, to please the electorate with smiles and promises and lines crafted by someone else and each trying to overshadow the others.
Where on earth is there room in that structure for honest discussion of "things that matter"?
There is none. The expectation is extremely naive. If we want that kind of discussion to occur, we need to change our political system, hugely.
Our elections have become little more than efforts by voters to guess which of several leaders has the most suitable personality and intelligence and willingness to communicate.
That's not at all something terrible, but it isn't what Ms. Urback is talking about, nor do I think the situation has potential for much change.
