Stop the presses! The cancellation of two power plants in Ontario and the Ornge fiasco – Mob ties to the Quebec Liberals in the construction industry -– all at a cost to us, the taxpayers, of hundreds of millions of dollars.
With major government scandals now upon us, it is that time again. Time to ruminate, to analyze, to discuss, and then beat the old drums about the sad state of politics in this country.
Despite our laments, we love to do it; over coffee, over lunch, over cocktails…whenever and wherever two or more of us come together.
So who are these people that we keep trying to second-guess and with whom we have such a love/hate relationship?
Politicians are by the very nature of their calling, fence sitters. They have to be. Imagine what is must be like smiling all the time – trying never to offend – in love with their perceived power – always at the mercy of the media who can make or break them.
Politicians and the press are like two sparring partners reaching the end of the match. Each jabs and punches as they cling to each other for dear life – because one without the other cannot exist.
When in Opposition, politicians pontificate self-righteously about the evils of “patronage” and “quid pro quo”. Once elected however, they quickly discover a visionary rationale for what, amongst the rest of us, would be called influence peddling, or, more delicately put, the use of taxpayers’ money to enhance the political position of the government – federal, provincial or municipal.
These once-upon-a-time idealists spent many years claiming the high ground in terms of altruistic goals versus the base, money-seeking aspirations of the rest of us. But once elected, they discovered that it is nicer to be loved for what one doesn’t do than for what was once promised.
What better example than the rhetoric before the last provincial and municipal elections – something about eliminating the waste in government spending.
Extremely self-righteous and definitive in their platforms when seeking election, politicians become extremely “flexible” once in power. That is because too many of them, no matter what their politics, begin believing their own press releases.
Past governments didn’t seem to care what we thought. Perhaps they believed that double standards and fiscal irresponsibility would become acceptable if practiced often enough…or long enough. Perhaps they assumed that we had all become so skeptical, so immune to broken promises, and so lazy, that they could get away with it over and over again.
So what can we, the silent majority, do to put some fear and a little humility into the political backrooms? Is there any alternative to their double standards?
There is. But first you have to get out of your chairs. Keep up the pressure. Demand answers to the questions that you need to keep asking. Change governments more often – it isn’t hard to do. Remember David Peterson, David Miller, Bob Rae, and Paul Martin?
So when a former big city Mayor, beloved by the Unions, quietly manipulated a like-minded Premier to add an extra year on to his term of office without taking it to the people first, then we know that we are being disrespected. And when he took to the hills, afraid to face the people in another election to answer for his inept leadership, it encouraged wannabees to try for more of the same for themselves.
If we don’t do anything about this but commiserate to each other, then we cannot expect more than what we have – which isn’t much – and we will deserve getting it again.
So when the next election is called, municipal, provincial or federal, get out and vote! In snow, in ice, in floods – make sure that your message gets delivered.
But you don’t have to wait until then. Do it now! Write, telephone, fax, email. No excuses! And then watch and see what happens. You really can make a difference.
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