A comment maker wrote that this morning over at Ben's and I think it works quite well for where we are at. It appears we are going to have a Federal election over exactly nothing. Thoughts? Here are mine.
- Forgetting that it might be illegal, the idea that an election is ultimately unnecessary is a problem. Our real problem is that we do not have enough. First, I like them. I deserve the entertainment. Second, we have this funny idea about the "fixed date" election thing. It's not so much to hold people accountable as to fit them all in. The US has elections every November but it also has a staggered schedule of who gets voted for when. We need more voting for more things simply as a democratic principle...and for my entertainment.
- The NDP will not maintain. Look, I vote NDP - I know. People park themselves there and then jump ship. Don't believe the polls that have Jack at 17 to 18%. Those votes move - up to 5% at least. Where do they go?
- The Globe says the election is about the economy but the economy is not bad, just shifting a little. A year ago we had a disastrous dollar and earlier this year we had a bubble in oil and gas. These things have settled. It really seems to be about two visions for what the economy is not - Harper and far less subsidization and Dion and the green stuff. Neither have proven themselves as useful ideas for the Canadian economy but neither are utterly insane either. Green is really a plank not the program and dropping the subsidies which have reached around 3.4 billion on the arts seems like maybe something to do until you learn that arts in Canada is worth over 80 billion a year - so why not stoke that fire? The real problem is that the economy is essentially fine, operating within the realm of reasonable and we have some soft ideologists wanting to tinker with it. Fear the tinkering soft ideologists.
- Newfoundland is where the real fun is. Will the "Anybody But Harper" program take off? Danny Williams may make much of the election and become the thorn in Harper's side that he has so oddly avoided attracting. His announcement of replacing lost Federal arts funding with provincial money is hilarious. Why? Because it fits Harper's fundamental vision, of course. Stephen Harper is a weak Federalist. He believes in strong provinces or at least provinces which have those great words of Obama's ringing in their ears - "You are on your own, good luck to ya!" I am not entirely convinced this is a tragic vision but it would be nice if he actually enunciated it so we could figure out its length and breadth. I fear a few of the principles upon which it is based are a wee bit nutty and that this may be why they are kept out of view.
- What to do with Mr. Dion? The saddest thing about the situation is that this moment might be Harper's best opportunity to maintain a minority in the face of such a weak leader of the opposition. He apparently is the nicest, most intelligent, most earnest of persons. I just can't see him as Prime Minister. I am tempted to vote for him if only to see what would happen. Maybe that's what we need to do in this unnecessary election. Give someone else the chance at a minority.
Finally, I am sad to see that our own Renee is unable to run for the NDP locally. I know she put a lot into the opportunity and would have made a great candidate and a great MP.
Comments
Hans - September 2, 2008 9:49 am
--More elections would be more democratic but a little variety would be nice. How about voting for GG or LG or Senate? We always seem to have elections for the same thing: the Federal H of C.
--With apologies to any members of the Genx40 community, the NDP, IMHO, is a rudderless ship.
--I agree completely. The economy is fine. Employees are making more money than before and there are more jobs than before. Does everyone forget how miserable things were in 1992? That was a recession. This? I note that it was the CPC that brought down the first deficit budget since the 90s, so if the economy isn't doing well, who is to blame and who has a better track record for fixing it? The Liberals.
--Harper is a shrewd tactician but I'd rather see some attempts to govern rather than just attempts to destroy the Liberal Party. He is mean but dull and ineffectual. A Dion government might be very entertaining.
All the best to Renee; I trust her decision is the best decision for her but it would have been fun to have a candidate as a co-commenter.
Ben (The Tiger) - September 2, 2008 12:54 pm
Who's your MP, Alan? The Speaker?
I'd vote to re-elect him. He's cool.
Alan - September 2, 2008 1:23 pm
Yes, he's ours and he is cool. Walks in the Santa Claus parade right after the Xmas light adorned military personnel carrier and you run into him at the grocery store. Very much a local presence.
sean - September 2, 2008 1:50 pm
Unnecessary from a national POV, as the economy and pretty much all else is hunky dorey, but from a wholly selfish POV, I want this election so we will have a reason to dump a certain very friendly and intelligent academic who is seat-warming for my man at present.
Jay Currie - September 3, 2008 3:30 am
I am stunned that you vote NDP. Shocked. Too many years beneath the pulpit where the NDP is at prayer is my only surmise.
I'd love an election. As you say, they're fun and we need cheap entertainment. Hell, I may even get paid to blog it.
But I also agree that the necessity of an election is not at all obvious.
With a little careful management Canada is poised to become Switzerland except with a lot of oil. Sound dollar, decent fiscal policy, shrinking debt - what's not to like?
Dion is going to be running his silly Green Shift and he will lose simply because it really is a tax on everything. Amazing that the man is dumb enough to hand Harper such a crushing issue even as the evidence for global warming sinks beneath the dearth of sunspots.
But, no matter, Dion will press on and lose. Now the only question is by how much.
Given my stunningly accurate record on electoral prediction I would only embarrass myself by trying to call a seat number; but I think Harper might make his bones and hit a majority. (There, jinxed it, you can send your congratulations and whatever crow is required to my address for service which the Lying Jackal used to know.)
Ben (The Tiger) - September 3, 2008 9:08 am
Damn and blast! Jay ("The CPC is going to hit 50 seats") Currie has predicted a majority.
What say, Dion minority? :p
Ben (The Tiger) - September 3, 2008 10:57 am
(I'd make the same prediction as Jay. I just don't like his company for these. ;-))
sean - September 3, 2008 11:16 am
I won't post the link because it made my last post bounce out, but let me just say that in Russia, Putin saved a TV crew from an attacking tiger with a tranquilizer gun while tromping about the bush in camoflaged combats and combat boots that actually fit him. When do WE get an exciting PM with a charisma and intelligence of greater than 9. When I ask you..
Ben (The Tiger) - September 3, 2008 12:39 pm
This is why the United States needs Sarah Palin.
See that picture of her with a dead caribou? She could take on Volodya.
Renee - September 3, 2008 7:29 pm
"Very much a local presence."
What?? Except when you ask him to do something vaguely related to being an MP, you mean.
Alan - September 3, 2008 8:27 pm
Errr...I meant "presence" more like Casper the Ghost than Richie Rich.