Hello
Gentle Reader
Politics
is a topic rarely discussed openly. It’s a poor subject. Though usually brought
up during family celebrations, where one can watch the battle lines being drawn,
the garrison assembled, and the first shot waiting to be fired. Armistice
rarely happens, while alcohol fuels the fevered frenzy. It does lighten up an
otherwise dreadful enduring family get-together. Who doesn’t enjoy the
thrilling prospect of witnessing fisticuffs on the dinner table—even if it
doesn’t happen? Despite its divisive degradation of otherwise civil affairs;
politics is an otherwise ubiquitous atmosphere hanging over everyone’s heads.
It’s just too disruptive to actually discuss with decorum. The moment the
subject is even lightly broached there’s puffed out chests, eyes rolling, and
admonishing arrogance to be found. Suddenly we’re back in the sandbox.
People
often describe politics as a dirty business. Perhaps comparing or equating it
to the same level as pornography. A lot like pornography, politics suffers from
poor actors. Even worst, the actors in political theatre are not as endowed or
beautiful as those found in pornographic materials. Rather politicians are
often bloated, egotistical, and lackluster individuals. Men are always found in
the same uniform: suit and tie—so don’t expect leather harnesses, or any other
exotic sensual role playing—and for the record no one wants it. Women equally
uniform with their blouses, skirts, or dress pants; a bit of flair perhaps with
a pin or a simple pearl necklace. They smile for the cameras and answer—sorry
deflect—questions posed to them with regards to policy initiatives, goals, and
objectives. The stock of politician is equally as unappetizing as their dress,
or any pre-ordained family get-together. They are uninspired, drab, and
monotonous. At best they are bland. At worst they are nauseating. Career
politicians in particular are a special breed of stock. The higher they slither
up their ladder of ideological impurity, the more they resemble a pig fit for
the county fair. A real blue ribbon, blue blood, mudslinger; whose days have
been spent at the public trough gorging away, while telling the electorate that
austerity measures are necessary, and they need to tighten their belts.
Meanwhile they loosen theirs for yet another helping. At question period during
debate in either a Legislature or the House of Commons, these county fair
winning pigs, only squeal at one another, and they call that singing for their
supper. I suppose in that regard, I’d take a leather harnessed hunk or a whip
wielding dominatrix, over the democratically elected blue blooded mudslinger,
who has the impunity and impropriety to squeal at me, about how I need to buck
up, and weather the storm. Meanwhile I’m left to wonder why that piggy hasn’t
been sent squealing to market. Bacon, pork chops, pork loin, may not solve
anything, but it’s certainly better then what’s currently on offer.
Reviewing
the current Canadian political landscape leaves a lot to be desired. Federally
if you didn’t know, it’s a minority government, led by a young globally popular
politician, perhaps due to his appearance. Not quite my cup of tea, but else
where they fawn over him for a picture or selfie or two. The sunshine
sensibilities of his previous campaign now left overcast and dour. His
government greets a country of grumbling resentment. At least partially, but
the ‘west,’ has always been known for its flatulent chinooks. Its’ bellowing
trumpets of the hardworking blue collar who bring home the bread with no thanks
or appreciation in exchange. Of course since oil and gas bottomed out, they’ve
been hurt the worst. Their provincial economies tanked. Their rainy day fund
spent. With their pockets turned out, this same province now seeks
understanding and sympathy from the other provinces. Yet for years they had
grumbled and complained how they were the backbone of the entire country, and
lectured every other province on their own economic mismanagement, lack of
fiscal responsibility, and of course their lack of gratitude. Now with the
tables turned, the other provinces who were forced to endure their otherwise
peacock posturing, have all but run out of sympathy for their downtrodden brethren.
Now they sit back and snicker at the emperor’s new clothes. No one had the
heart to tell them the truth: if the emperor looks naked, he is naked. Now this
same province has once again voted in the political party which saw to its
demise earlier.
The
memory of the public is fickle, and often very short. Four years prior, this
province of oil baptisms, and endless honey and money; found its money burned
and its honey dry, and no one wanting its oil. The people on the winds of
change ousted its decaying political dynasty, and voted in something fresh, new,
and invigorating. But public memory is capricious. With change in government
came the immediate cries it was their fault the economy tanked. It was their
fault oil prices were at the bottom of the barrel. It was their fault the
province entered into debt. It was their fault people were unemployed. Despite
the fact these problems were inherited. The problem with public opinion is it
cares little for facts. It swept up in rhetoric, slogans, populism, which is
all dispersed for their convenient consumption. Four years later out with new
and in with the old. This time they elected a very prominent career politician.
The kind which blathers on about how the buck stops there; how diversifying the
economy is a luxury; how the provinces problems come from the federal
government. The usual squealing and deflecting campaign only the most seasoned
of pigs at the trough would know. Fitting to his career, he is in possession of
a character resembling that of a stale outdated ham sandwich; intolerant,
noxious, and outdated. Still they voted him in, and now they see the
repercussions of their decisions. Their healthcare is being dismantled.
Education is under assault. Tax breaks for corporations who still abandoned the
province. The economy no longer just in
ruin, but on fire, with a rising unemployment rate. Of course this blowhard
windbag can’t take the credit or the responsibility. Rather he reassesses and
attempts to deflect his already early stage mismanagement to others. When and
where that fails, he shifts the conversation to separating from Canada as a
whole, citing alienation and irreconcilable differences, as if it’s a simple
divorce; where in reality it is nothing more than pouty child threatening to
take its ball and go home. Those who support this otherwise derogatory dribble
are first class hypocrites. Prior, these same individuals called such
separatist sentiments harbored by another province as treasonous; but now will
stomp around with banners in hand, shouting how they should be emancipated. Is
that not treason all the same? As the public is occupied with their dreams of
separation, our snub-nosed blue ribbon pig is free to gorge some more at the
trough, at the cost of the future, with his cuts to education, his disregard
for healthcare, and his slow erosion of elections agencies. After all he came
from a federal party, whose leader at the time was three quarters totalitarian
and another quarter dead fish personality. When he faces criticism from
academics, economists, and journalists he’ll side step and swipe back. Part of
public office is taking criticism, enduring disapproval, and weathering
dissatisfaction. Taking aim at an academic’s integrity, because their
professional expertise is in contrast to your political parade, is a prime
example of a this career politician who has no respect for education, and who
obviously lacks any formal education beyond their early political
indoctrination, as if this is an excuse for their impropriety. Yet there is
hope. The other day protests were held to rally against the cuts, the
dismantlement, the erosion, and the calls that everyone needs to tighten their
belts and get used to these austerity measures; while his belt only gets
looser. There’s hope that these young students, enraged nurses, and exhausted
civil servants, along with the everyday person, will set the pig to the flames
and get some real change into their province, which sits precariously doomed to
being left behind if it doesn’t adapt to a changing world. To that I would say:
diversifying ones economy is not a luxury, but a requirement to secure your
survival at least.
A
survey of the rest of the country would say it’s in no better shape. Down east
there’s a premier who not only looks like a blowfish but shares its flare for
puffing out like one as well. I’d warrant caution in classifying this one as a
career politician, but certainly an outrageous actor all the same. Though
politics has been a central part of this one’s life as well. He’s been a
municipal councilor, picked fights with Margaret Atwood, and his brother is the
notorious crack smoking mayor. Much like politics, illicit drugs have been a
part of this politicians adult life as well, going so far as to operating an
alleged hashish dealing operation in his early adulthood, his other brother
reportedly involved in drug trafficking, and had been investigated in relation
to drug-related abduction; while his sister was a victim of drug related gun
violence. This ones pedigree is certainly undeniably high class; and he is
perhaps more lively then the other career politician down west, who has no
formal education to his name, but still speaks with a nasally heavy handed,
second-rate erudition. Still they are much the same. Blow hard blathering
windbags, who in tormenting torrential gusts, repeat with the same gusto, how
austerity measures need to be in place, in order to facilitate fiscal
responsibility. In other words: cuts. Cuts to social programming. Cuts to
education. Cuts to healthcare. Cuts to public service. Cuts to infrastructure.
Cuts to transportation. As these snorting and rooting boars of ignorance keep
carving up the cow, insisting all the same that the buck stops with them, one
must wonder where are the savings? Jobs are lost, roads are in tatters,
hospitals have no beds, and the elderly are suffering inadequate care. Yet
inflation rises, the cost of living skyrockets alongside it, and the economy
barely moves a centimeter forward. Yet
the expectation is you are to tighten your belt; despite the fact at this point
it’s already cutting circulation. This doesn’t even begin to cover the
inter-provincial clashes of interest. The lack of common ground any of them can
find with each other. The federal government meanwhile in its minority state is
left to play referee on an as needed basis. The further east one goes there is
an increase of separatist talk, complete with its usual nationalistic
fanaticism. In the Far East of Canada one could hear crickets chirp, with how
removed they are from the discussion, completely ignored and forgotten, an
afterthought as always.
If
one loves reality television, then certainly Canadian politics would be right
up their alley. The pantomime political theatre of Canadian politics is akin to
a dysfunctional family at the most intolerable Christmas dinner imaginable.
There is not an iota of a semblance of common ground. No compromise. Not an
ounce of unity to be held. Of course the political parties themselves have
quite the house cleaning initiative to undertake. One party needs to find a
more durable, stalwart, stoic and strong leader then its current offering of a
dimpled potato, whose inability to behave with honesty and integrity shows the
shortcomings of their character. Not to mention this same party needs to move
past its insistent outdated perspective on otherwise settled social issues
regarding abortion, euthanasia, and same sex marriage. Recently this same party
had a member compare Gay Pride Parade Celebrations to that of a St. Patrick’s
Day Parade. Having never been to a Pride Parade myself, I presume there is a
lot more colour in a Pride Parade then just green. This same leader of this
party openly alienates the community (LGBTQ) by never clarifying their stances
on the subject, which has only given both the media and the opponent’s ample
ammunition to attack, discredit, and disregard as a dinosaur. Perhaps once this
party rebrands itself, reforms itself away from its previous totalitarian dead
fish personality predecessor, it can position itself in a more favorable light.
It should take a note from another almost antiquated party which saw a
resurgence during the previous federal election. Its new leader appears to be
dynamic, stoically aggressive; who doesn’t mince their words, and too boot
wears a bow tie, which is just darling! If one were to offer advice to the
current minority government it would be to stop stepping into scandal with
fevered glee. If it appears to be a bad idea, it most likely is a bad idea.
While the other three remaining parties teeter precariously on the tip of
irrelevance, due to a lack of media attention, a lack of financial aid, and a
lack of reaching the general populace with their message, their brand. Do
better next time.
Throughout
the second rate dilapidated theatre of Canadian political pantomiming, complete
with long winded speeches filled with empty words falling on deaf and
disinterested ears, by political players who are neither memorable nor
interesting, with personalities of limp noodles; there is the hardworking
unsung hero of governance: the dutiful civil servant, who is inappropriately caricatured, misrepresented, and first flogged and flayed by the clowns that
are called their political masters. They are the first to feel the ire of their
otherwise demented creatures that come into office, who view them as entitled
blood sucking leeches of bureaucracy. It comes to no surprise then that our
blue ribbon winning blue blooded pedigree pig of a politician comes roaring
into office with a box of salt in hand, which it intends to exorcise the civil
service with. If the salt should fail, then they’ll cast open the blinds and
burn the lampreys with the sun’s rays. If they don’t burn at the sun then
they’ll soak them with holy water. In the end though, all they are left with is
soaked, tanned, and salt covered civil servants, and a disastrous photo op that
reads: “Cutting Red Tape in Favour of Efficiencies.”
What
our fat stock doesn’t understand is that the civil service is the brick, the
mortar, and the pillar of good governance. While our political pigs squeal in
the public light, oink for votes, and parade on promises, while flinging mud
wherever it’ll stick. The civil servants continue the real business of
governance, by ensuring the trains run on time; health care is operational,
police are on patrol, the rights of the citizens protected, and that courts
provide their trials. Of course there’s is paper work involved, sometimes even
mountains, but all the paper work creates a record, a chain of evidence, a
detailed account of how the entire workings of governance. It’s ultimately
meaningless, however, to those who run on such empty rhetoric as our
politicians, who have neither interest nor care to the stewardship of proper
governance, or the fine filigree of its penmanship, its convention, and its
bread and butter for a proper civil society. Instead, they seek to dismantle
the establishment in their own image, and often at the expense of the
electorate. The difference between public administration and business
admiration or commerce, is that commerce is to make a profit at whatever
expense, while government and public administration seeks to provide services
to its populace, with no interest in profit margins, cost analysis, or ulterior
motive. The beauty of governance and government perhaps is its ability to
endure, and weather all brands and pedigrees of fat stock which parade through
its doors. Sadly it seems there are less and less protections to ensure they
are able to withstand the continued assault issued by these same ignorant
boars. Perhaps more power should be removed from our less then esteemed
pantomiming gluttonous politicians, and attributed to the competent civil
servants, who work behind the lines to uphold the basic pillars of civility we
call our society. Sadly such legislation would never be introduced, let alone
passed. The last thing our blue ribbon pork chop wants is to have their free
flowing trough, interrupted by proper governance.
The
Canadian political scene is in a sad state of affairs, much like everywhere
else. It leaves a lot to being desired. Yet what is perhaps most frightening
about the entire political scene, is the fanaticism in which supporters have
undertaken. They’ve picked their horse—even if it’s dead— and continue to ride
it, support it, and boaster it up. It’s a common saying that everyone is
entitled to their opinion, and sadly in today’s social media saturated world
that’s proven to be quite case. What is frightening is how many opinions lack
any notion of fact. All statements carry no factual integrity. Instead in their
bowels, in the scant amount of syllables utilized, lies the reeking tar of
propaganda, and disturbing unadulterated fanatical loyalty. Canadian politics
has always prided itself on refuting the demagogue devotion found in its
neighbor. The infection has since spread north. Canadians of a certain blue
brand are now driven with almost cult like radical indignation, as they take
issue and aim with anyone who has any inclination of integrity or fact. They
won’t listen to reason, rationale, or logic; and when they are presented it,
they squeal into their battle cries, to which their brethren mobilize and join
them in their united honky-tonk movement(s). I’d never thought I’d see the
pungent scene of xenophobia and racism ever is so openly tolerated and promoted
in Canada. I had never thought a politician of any Canadian party or pedigree
would ever be so lacking in character or dignity to promote the conflagration
of such disgusting rhetoric. Canada is supposed to be the moderate, the
enlightened, and the humanistic. Now in its ashes lies nothing but a tattered
fragmented country of resentment, fueled by ridiculous and incredulous
politicians who have loosened their belts, had their fill and want more; all
the while Canadians are left scraping what little livelihood they can afford,
and eat what little food they have; and are being told that they need to
tighten their belts for further austerity, while the future is burned and
denied to many by cuts to education and health care. This isn’t the Canada I
grew up in, nor love, nor live in now. Thankfully there is hope on the horizon.
Protests by an engaged youth, who refuse to have their futures diminished or
overpriced. To civil servants who like starved and abused dogs, are tired of
being treated like pariah, and demand that they need to compensated not cut out
of the workings of government, in order to meet the austere measures proposed
and imposed on them; and of course the daily citizens and electorate who do not
feed into the rampant campaign rhetoric, slogans, and polluting propaganda
issued en masse. There is hope that
Canada will return to its humanistic and enlightened self; and if there isn’t
an ounce of hope, there will be a demand for it. These austerity measures have
proven time and time again, to only be worthless, but severely impairing in the
long term. It’s time the pig looks into the mirror as it’s sent squealing to
market, rather than the unfortunate people who suffer long after their voted
out of office.
Thank-you
For Reading Gentle Reader
Take
Care
And
As Always
Stay
Well Read
M. Mary
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