PM Harper’s constituency
Contributed by: robertjb
The unauthorized throne speech of the 39th ParliamentIt is very easy to become cynical concerning Canadian politics but anybody who says we are dull or boring isn’t paying attention.
Say, for instance: How many countries elect a government that claims to be conservative, is really neo-conservative and are a bunch of wannabe Republicans, and; is going to be beholding to a bunch of separatists (aka theBQ) to hold onto power? Furthermore, they only hold a little more than a third of the seats in Parliament. Still further, the new PM only a few short years ago was leading a dead-ended political rump headed for oblivion, but after some rather scurrilous shenanigans, he is a prince instead of a political-road-kill pumpkin.
SNIP
In 1965 Canadian philosopher George Grant published his benchmark book, “Lament for a Nation”. He makes convincing arguments why Canada cannot exist as a nation because of our proximity to the US. As a “local culture” we are bound to be overwhelmed by the exigencies of empire and modernity. To maintain our sovereignty requires the exercise of socialism and nationalism, but these are counter to the age of progress-an opened ended liberalism driven by a free market economy.
SNIP
At the time Grant wrote the US was undeniably “the spearhead” of progress. To blindly emulate the US and its values and success was then somewhat defensible, but now the US is a very different country. Its values and leadership in the age of post-progress are open to question. Then it was a rising star; now as it resorts to a reckless militarism a wanton disregard for the rule of law and international treaties there should be greater skepticism. Its economic practices are challengeable and its democratic values are in serious erosion. The spearhead has been blunted!
Canada has a new government that sees itself as acolyte to The Empire-one on the verge of implosion. It is sending out ominous signals. Its agenda is predictable and which of its three constituencies; Quebec, the US, and the Rest of Canada, are going to be showered with its beneficence, and which is going to be sacrificed, is too easily predictable.
http://www.vivelecanada.ca/article.php/20060226210338915