H/t Theo Moudakis
The source of that pervasive and rank smell bedeviling Ontario has been found. It is coming from an array of spineless politicians in the Ford government who, upon their election, checked any semblance of integrity they might have had at the doors of the legislature. Today's Star editorial captures their essence:
It’s been said that the shortest measurable span of time is from the instant the traffic light turns green until the driver behind honks the horn.His refusal to surrender independent thinking and “stand and applaud” Ford’s every utterance in Question Period appears to be one of the factors led to Randy Hillier expulsion from the Conservative caucus.
A close runner-up must surely be the time between a man or woman being elected to the Ontario legislature as a government backbencher and their having lost all self-respect and capacity for independent thought.
Standing ovations for Ford and his cabinet ministers have become mandatory for Progressive Conservatives in the legislature, turning the government side into a crowd of fawning applauders worthy of citizenship in North Korea.
Hillier’s assertion that the clapping is a command performance is not difficult to believe, given that no set of adults would behave so obsequiously of their own free will.Prostitution has been called the world's oldest profession. For reasons that I hope are obvious, I beg to differ.
To their feet they spring many times daily, furiously applauding dear leader, even as they furtively scan the chamber to ensure the premier’s ever-watchful staff has noted their fealty.
Simply put, this mindlessness is conduct unworthy of grown men and women, especially those who have been given the confidence of their constituents.
The orchestrated ovations are pathetic on the part of those who demand them, shameful on the part of those who meekly obey.
I wonder how people like Caroline Mulroney and Christine Elliott can wake up each morning, Lorne, and look at their reflections in the mirror.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of both of them and wondering the same thing as I read the editorial this morning, Owen. I guess I can understand Caroline Mulroney, given her parentage, but Elliott is a real puzzle and, perhaps, therein lies a cautionary tale.
Delete.. way back in the way before, I was brought in to truly troubled environments.. as kind of a 'lateral solution' or part of social solutions, worth giving it (me) a try. Bottom line, I went from being a laid back farm boy & varsity athlete.. to being in the company of venal, conniving, even really dangerous people. The people who utilized, aimed and supervised me.. also mentored me. Along with revealing & explaining their effective strategies, they always stressed to me, how venal, conniving, remorseless, even dangerous.. the people I worked with.. or their friends or family or associates.. could be.
ReplyDeleteI guess what I am trying to say.. is that more & more I realize the political animals of our current world.. yes, including Canada.. are just that. Venal, conniving, remorseless and dangerous to our health. Mulroney ? Elliott ? These are highly conflicted Canadians. The thin veneer of their morality or ethics is just that. What was that great saying by an American band ? 'Conservatives clutch their bibles in one hand and the Constitution in the other.. neither of which they comprehend.'
Back to standing ovations, posturing and preening.. its an insult to voters. If every voter had to also check a box asking if the voter accepted the candidate they voted for would on command stand and clap until a signal to sit down was given.. and the political party they represented (not the riding) would DEMAND .. they do so.. what would they think..? What could they think ? That's normal, its A-OK .. ? Aside from a few notables, today's politicians are an insult. They're exactly what I was warned about in those early years working with the emotionally disturbed, the drug addicted and triple maximum security juveniles.. the political animals are just better dressed, older, fatter.. for the most part, very very wealthy.. untrustworthy and masters of the fine art of being GLIB and reciting talking points and outright lies.
Your assessment is spot-on, in my view, Sal. The sad state of public office today seems to reinforce the status quo. Indeed, what person of integrity would seriously consider a run today? Only the very naive and those who think they can fool all of the people all of the time seem to be the most likely to give it a shot today.The former must become quickly disillusioned, while the latter must revel in their metier.
DeleteGets so many things about politics . Thanks for the meaningful topic . I am very much impressed in your writings . Also I follow Rubika Liyaquat on politics related topics.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendation, pradeep. I will check her out.
Delete