Although I read and write a fair amount, I clearly am not an expert in the affairs of the world. I can merely observe, report and comment on the things that interest, hearten or outrage me. An armchair (or is it keyboard?) pundit am I.
Nonetheless, there are certain realities that seem to me irrefutable, global heating being the most pressing, in my view. And that's why I find Pierre Poilievre's political pontifications about making Canada the freest nation on earth both absurd and disturbing.
At the heart of Poilievre's corrupted vision is that personal freedom (the truck convoy being an egregious example) trumps all else, that the mythical and ogre-like 'gatekeepers' are the only impediments to becoming truly actualized individuals.
Therein lies the sweet lie.
Anyone who believes such an idealized state is possible is clearly deluded; anyone who advocates for it is being disingenuous, manipulative and mendacious.
The reason is fairly straightforward and, I think, obvious. Freedom without responsibility is a recipe for chaos, made worse by the fact that if we to have any chance (admittedly slim) of avoiding the worst effects of climate change, co-operation, not the rhetoric of absolute freedom, will carry the day.
Co-operation, the working with others toward common goals, is of course the complete opposite of the reckless rhetoric espoused by Mr. Poilievre, and clearly anathema to his political posturing. His divide-and-conquer strategy is a clear abdication of political leadership, one doubtlessly appealing to those given more to reaction than reflection.
Pierre reminds me of a student I taught many years ago named Jason. A most disruptive and mean-spirited lad, he was a definite taint on the atmosphere of the Grade 10 general level class I was teaching. It was the same year that asbestos was discovered in the west wing of the school where I taught, a discovery that required moving all staff and students to classrooms in the east wing. Imagine my surprise while watching the evening news to see Jason, who professed concern for his fellow students, leading a march on school grounds protesting the 'unsafe conditions' under which they were being instructed. Jason, a most indifferent student, to put it politely, felt that the conditions and asbestos threat were not conducive to learning, and something had to be done about it.
In many ways, Pierre reminds me of Jason. He exploits discontent for his own aggrandizement, the angry and disenchanted amongst us mere props to facilitate his political goals. Sincerity and genuine concern for the country are absent.
Will Poilievre succeed? I guess it depends upon how you define success. He will undoubtedly succeed in nurturing and expanding his constituency of the aggrieved, guaranteeing victory in his leadership quest. I very much doubt he will become Canada's next prime minister.
Of course, that will ultimately be determined by those who rouse themselves to vote in the next election, won't it?
UPDATE: Moudakis's latest is just too rich and spot-on not to add to this post:
I very much doubt he will become Canada's next prime minister.
ReplyDeleteThat is very much my thought too but a friend who has spent much of her life in the political trenches thinks it is possible especially as you put it: " ultimately be determined by those who rouse themselves to vote in the next election". She really worries about a low turnout.
And I think back to 2005 or so and the two political pundits, one UK, one US, chuckling over the idea of "Prime Minister Johnson & President Trump".
Your point is well-taken. We can only hope, jrk, that the better angels of our voting natures prevail at the next ballot. We see abundantly in Ontario the price exacted by a lazy electorate.
DeleteKeep in mind that Poilievre was ‘in up to his ears’ re the Partisan ‘Omerta’ commanded by the Harper High Table in the Great Election Fraud of 2011. He was probably still ‘dating’ Jenni Byrne who appears the likely suspect when the Administrative Log-ins of the Conservative Elecoral Database were tampered with before RCMP finally broke through the Legal Obstruction Mine Field of Harper ‘chief leagal zealot’ Arthur Hamilton
ReplyDeleteThis was the era of Fantino’s by-election win & subsequent General Election win where $$ went in/out from that Vaughn Riding to share with less ‘endowed’ ‘Conservative Ridings’ via two sets of books & bank accounts. Stephen Lecce (employee of the PMO) was illegally sharing office space there with the red goateed Alberta Data Guru of Robo & Live Calling. Lecce was going back & forth as was Jenni Byrne.. This was illegal - Flitting back & forth from the PMO to a Riding during a Feveral Election. They portrayed the Malfeasance as ‘Lecce was on Leave Of Absence as a volunteer’ nice loophole via Arthur Hamilton & genius ‘Loophole Finder’ Peter van Loan - presumably he was paid via brown bags of cash - a sterling backstory to Ontario’s Minister Of Education !
Poilievre believes his backtrail is well sanitized ..
I call ‘Bullshit’ .. let’s see what turns up re Jonathon Denis, Gerald Chipeur, Plymouth Brethren et al re Stephen Harper, Ray Novak, Jason Kenney, Nigel Wright.. That alone likely ‘buries’ Poilievre & will likely be fully revealed just as he gets comfy after ‘changing the bedsheets’ upon oh so pure Candice Bergen evacuating Stornoway .. or relocating to a Guest Room
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Thank you for reminding us of the sordid facts surrounding what it means to be a Conservative these days, Sal. it would seem that Poilievre fits right in with this history of sleaze, something we should all keep in mind before the next election.
DeleteI went back in your blog to early 2015 by scrolling through your labels on the right till I got to Sal Omerta. Then read forwards. Went off to read some of the presented links along the way. It brought back the horror of harper, whose name I refuse to capitalize in writing. Ever. One also got to read about O'Toole's subservience to harper and his terrible treatment of Afghan vets. Poilievre is from that team of sewer rats.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that struck me on reading those old posts was how much more virile the commentary was just seven years ago, on just about any subject one cares to name. Now we get bored to death by videos where dopes take forever to get to a simple point, which could have been made in a mere paragraph of serious writing. Podcasts suffer the same sort of "look (listen) at me, ain't I brilliant?" self-promotion, in my view. Virtually useless to serious discussion.
I love to read the Salamander's utterances. There, like poetry, are often some quite deep thoughts that challenge one to assimilate a whole situation from a different POV. He is untaintainted by academe and the way things are presented in structured ways to make us all good little doggies who reflect the thoughts of those who govern us -- the official story we are fed and which becomes established history. At the present time, I'm fed up to the gills with non-stop BS on the Ukraine, all of it so all-consuming and omnipresent, it's seemingly designed to make us take our eyes of something else really big.
I'd love to hear Sal's take on that topic.
Bill Malcolm
Thanks for your comments, Bill. I went back to the post you mentioned in 2015, and Sal Amenta certainly reflects some earnest hope at the time for a better way of doing politics, something that continues to elude us.
DeleteI often view what I read in the paper these days as just so much political theatre, mere posturing to convince people that important things are being accomplished while we remain in a kind of political stasis. The only time we have come close to putting the needs of the people above petty party politics in recent times is the deal Singh struck with Trudeau. I read yesterday that he has every intention of holding the Liberals to the 2022 implementation of dental care for those 12 and under. I hope Singh doesn't lose his resolve.
I also enjoy the Salamander's commentary. He has a long memory and brooks no fools. A formidable critic, to be sure.
Yesterday, My conversation with our local member of Parliament, Mr Motz, was so disappointing. He is supporting Mr. PP. Mr Motz was not interested in climate change saying, “Canada’s most important issue is inflation”. So, yes Lorne, conservatives are only interested in turning Canada backwards. Anyong
ReplyDeleteA very telling conversation, Anyong, one that shows there is little potential for growth in the Conservative vision.
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