When the next federal election comes, there are those who will vote with a certitude we all should be wary of. Because they are sick of Justin Trudeau, many will eagerly cast their vote for Pierre Poilievre, the putative prime minister-in-waiting. On the other hand, those of us possessed of at least a modicum of thinking skills will vote, not with eagerness, but with deliberation, braced by the knowledge that our choice could very well have a long-lasting impact on Canada's trajectory.
Two letter-writers in today's Star offer a reality check for those who vote, not out of careful consideration, but rather spite and weariness:
How long it will take to become really sick of Pierre Poilievre?
Those in the riding of St. Paul’s who are “sick, really sick of Justin Trudeau,” ask yourselves how long it will take you to become really sick of Pierre Poilievre. The federal Conservatives will weaken, not advance the urgent battle to limit climate change, they will pull back on Truth and Reconciliation initiatives, which will eventually lead to renewed blockades and hostility, and they will weaken gun control, even though the scourge of antisemitism has recently included shots fired at a synagogue and Jewish community centre. Poilievre will, of course, not talk about any of this. Nor may voters recall just how well the Trudeau government shepherded Canada through the pandemic, giving us one of the most minimized death tolls in the developed world. Many may be in the mood to break up with their feminist boyfriend, but waiting in the wings is a wolf in sheep’s clothing who squints when he looks you in the eyes. And did no one tell the dental hygienist who can’t bear to look at Trudeau about the new dental care program?
Ron Charach, Toronto
No real alternative to Trudeau
Most people agree Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is past his best-buy date. But what are the alternatives? Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has never had a real job outside politics. He proffers no policies just personal attacks and vacuous statements such as “common sense revolutions” a la Mike Harris, who destroyed education and other social supports. We look south and despair of common sense. The hard-working class listens to populist statements from politicians because they despair … but these politicians do them no favours.
John Bullick, Mississauga
We have always been taught that voting is a civic responsibility. Let us hope that our fellow Canadians cast measured ballots in the next election rather than following the lemming-like directives of those for whom thinking is but an optional, occasional and, apparently, a painful activity.
Perfection will never be found in any policy or politician, Lorne. Those who choose not to vote make the worst outcome possible.
ReplyDeleteWhat we get is often to our collective shame, Owen.
DeleteOff topic: If anybody misses Progressive Bloggers they can find similar aggregation at The Galloping Beaver. https://thegallopingbeaver.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteThanks, Toby. It looks like Pro. gressive Bloggers may be down for the count.
DeleteThanks, Toby. It looks like Pro. gressive Bloggers may be down for the count..........
DeleteSad; too much truth to that statement!
Pro..Bloggers was becoming too much ; don't talk about peoples naughty bits and how they should be discussed and used!
In the age of AI, it's becoming difficult to discuss anything that challenges the status quo!
TB
It seems in many ways that blogging has become lost in the overwhelming sea of of information, both good and bad, that we have at our fingertips, TB. Perhaps it is just the natural evolution or devolution of things.
DeleteI'm done with "lesser evil" voting. Look where that has gotten us. What party is rising to the looming challenges of our time? None.
ReplyDeleteAs the eastern heat dome reminds us, we're going down fast. This did not just land in our laps. No, our parties chose to a path in service to the few at the expense of the many.
There is no meaningful commitment to the climate crisis. Our parties, Conservative and Liberal, are the fossil energy giants' lap dogs.
We fight inflation on the backs of the working classes with no attempt, not even gestural, to rein in the windfall profiteers at our grocery stores and gas pumps.
There is no vision and, without it, politics is reduced to technocracy, grey suits stuffed with wet cardboard. Trudeau's best days were in the weeks before his Liberal government was sworn into office.
We need to let the Liberals know this is not good enough. Let them earn our votes or go without. Those who truly care about Canada and our people have one option - a campaign to spoil their ballots. We need to take back the Liberal Party.
As for ProgBlog I can't fault Scott. Progressivism in Canadian politics is moribund. Trudeau promised a progressive restoration and we responded by giving him a majority only to see him renege on his solemn promises.
Enough.
I can't disagree with your trenchant analysis here, Mound. It has become clear that, as you used to say, we are blighted by captured governments that respond only to the pipes played by select individuals. The devolution of, and faith in, democracy seems the inevitable outcome, and I doubt the powers that be care one whit.
ReplyDelete