Feb
5
by Victoria Adams
Well, it seems that we’ve barely begun the New Year (incidentally it’s the Year of the Rabbit according to Chinese astrology), when the minority federal government, led by a colorful political personality some have called the “Mad Hatter”, has decided that it would be helpful to Canadians to launch a salvo at the opposition Leporidaen leaders (“The White Rabbit”, “Thumper”, and “Bugs Bunny”).
As an aside, no one dares to heave anything at the secular symbol of fun, fitness, and fiber food choices – the Easter Bunny - for fear of alarming the kids, (future voters in the Canadian parliamentary system devoted to “peace, order, and good government”).
Alas “attack ads”, whether they are created by the Liberal, Conservative, New Democratic Party, or the Bloc Quebecois, appear to be increasing both in size and scope. Perhaps this should not be surprising given the declared international “war” on drugs, terrorism, and now politically-incorrect language used by the revered 19th century American author, Mark Twain in his classic tale, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”.
Rather than respond with inflamed passion to these political party “attack ads” or to try and grab the fin of a rather slippery “red herring” (like “merit pay for teachers”) thrown out by a candidate wishing to ‘chum the waters’ in a bid to secure the leadership of a BC provincial political party, perhaps voters should keep a level head and a firm grip on their pocket books -- particularly when floppy-eared folks come knocking on their doors promising to secure their homes from “The Rabbit of Caerbannog” (a killer rabbit from Monty Python and the Hold Grail). No fuss, no muss, just three easy payments of $14.95 plus 12% HST to eradicate the pest, or, alternatively, the “no cost” option of an electoral approval in the form of a “yes” vote in the ballot box.
More to the point, perhaps voters might consider not becoming attached to a particular political party or to a political personality and their particular way of seeing the world. Instead, voters might consider the merit of relying on their own experience of life and lessons learned as a useful way to identify the key issues they want addressed by any political party or by any political personality wishing to represent them.
In my humble opinion, as long as voters get caught up in the deals and dramas orchestrated by various political parties and personalities they become drawn into a self-serving game of “Kick the Can” replete with all manner of “dirty rascals” vying for top spot as “King of the Castle” and the right to carve up the public treasury pie as they wish. For those who don’t like playing this game, they can always become a spectator (provided they have purchased an expensive ticket and are willing to applaud the “winning” team or the actors performing in an amusing play about bread and circuses).
Canadian voters will not be able to address difficult problems and find appropriate solutions to issues they face, nor will they be able to exercise their fundamental right to “peace, order, and good government” if they become sidetracked by slugfests, soap-operas, and slippery scales being foisted upon them by political parties and their personalities, all which are designed to undermine the act of engaging in serious dialogue, discussion, and decision-making about things that truly matter to the majority of people living in a representative democracy.