Blog Dis
It shouldn't be this easy to hate politicians
2024-07-16
As I walked in the downtown core in the city I adore, Ottawa, I was drawn to a poster taped to a pole at one intersection - a large, brightly coloured poster that stated Wanted for the Destruction of the Planet , specifically referencing our current Prime Minister, to include one Cabinet Minister, whom some might be inspired to call a henchman. This got me to thinking about women's rights, Canadian policy and how it impacts us and the effect on the world at large.
I've thrived in Canada all my life, occasionally living in different provinces from time to time. We in Canada are far from perfect, and neither are our government policies. Some of our more controversial projects like the Alberta tar sands, selling off Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic circle, or backing out on aspects of the Kyoto protocol (replaced by the Paris Agreement) to protect the environment, are just a few that come to mind. Most recently Canada came under fire for failing to meet our defence spending targets of 2% of our GDP. I could go on, as I'm sure you could as well with regard to your own country's policies.
I have a begrudging respect for politicians bcus of the seven+ years I worked on Parliament Hill, supporting two Tory Members of Parliament, and the first-hand exposure to how our federal government operates. Politicians work hard, probably a lot harder than most realize. They pull long hours during the week, in Ottawa when the House is sitting, and then every Friday they return to their constituencies to work locally in their riding offices, all throughout the weekend, attending events, and dealing with issues that come up. The marriages of many politicians end up in the toilet, given that their spouse didn't necessarily sign up for the long hours, or to be married to the life of a busy politician. Despite this, and for those without firsthand experience, it's easy for non-political people to hate politicians, those who haven't volunteered to help out on a campaign to elevate their local politician, or those who've never worked in a riding office or directly on a political association. One of the main reasons, I believe, why we hate politicians with such fervor has a lot to do with their pre-election boasting, swearing on a stack of Bibles to promise the moon with a fence around it, only to backpaddle on their promise once voted into office.
A good example would be one of Ontario's premiers, Dalton McGuinty, who demonstrated a fine example of a flip-flopping postulator who promised before getting into office that he wouldn't raises taxes. He had even signed a declaration to that effect which aired on TV commercials when he was wooing the public. And the very next day, and I mean literally the very next day, after being voted into office as Ontario's Premier, he retracted his promise and raised taxes, citing reasons that re-directed the blame toward the previous administration, which left him with no choice but to raise taxes. This act of betrayal, as far as I'm concerned, is reason enough to hate politicians. I take a more radical approach now, and feel that politicians when in campaigning mode, should be obligated to wear top hat and tails, and to hold a long black cane, for when they come to your door; to sing a dance as they unfurl their long list of promises. Then we, as the people, as the duped voters, could open our door and hurl ripe tomatoes at them. It seems a fair trade, tomatoes for lies.
I've voted in every Federal election since I was given the right to vote at the age of 18 in Canada. I'm a firm proponent of the right to vote. I'm also mindful of the fact that brave women came before me who suffered greatly to convince the British privy council to grant women the right to vote. Our wonderful suffragettes opened the door for women in other Commonwealth countries. Yet, and despite my appreciation of these efforts, would someone please tell me where's the integrity in the process of democracy?
Integrity... let me say it again, integrity! Integrity isn't about being perfect or having an impeccable record. Integrity is about keeping your word. Do as you say you will and don't offer up a bagful of "my dog ate my homework" excuses. I say this all the time to female friends, to state that the number one quality I look for in relationships is integrity; in co-workers, superiors and corporate Executives. In fact, integrity is the one benchmark I look for in choosing male partners before I take our involvement to any level, if there is reason to do so. A man with integrity will think before he speaks, will apply thoughtful action before acting, to those whose lives he touches. Whereas, a man of zero integrity doesn't possess in abundance moral wholeness or soundness in deed. Regrettably, these are the qualities too often present in politicians.
The longevity of political tenure is more often than not linked and dependent upon forming relationships with big business that allow them to grow the economy. As the voting public, we base our decisions on whether or not our economy has been kind to us. And there are a number of ways of measuring economic success, and one in particular is child care support, lowering the property taxes on retired seniors, and providing dental care and accessible healthcare to the impoverished.
I also know when it's high time for me to end my blog diatribes because on this subject I can feel my blood-pressure rising. Canada's next federal election is far away, and the Writ doesn't have to officially drop until Nov 2025. Whereas, the next U.S. President will be chosen November 5, 2024. And, considering what just happened this past Saturday with an assassination attempt, I'll be glued to see what comes in the next four months. But when Canada's voting time comes around, and if you're a woman, and I catch you saying aloud in my company, "I can't be bothered to vote... it doesn't make a difference..." đŸ˜¡Understand that the opposite of having the right to vote is having this right removed from you, a status you do not want to return to, given how hard others fought to give you this right. Take it seriously. Take your local politician to task before you cast your vote. Look at the reversal of Roe vs Wade in the U.S. to inspire you to vote. All it takes is one brick to be removed in the wall of rights, and how it applies to both sexes, and watch as more bricks come tumbling down. This is my greatest fear for women in the U.S. that their Republican nominee will set about to remove more rights from women.
Women's rights are human rights: the right for an equal voice. So I shall repeat myself: don't let me catch you dismissing this invaluable right, to be able to cast your vote. And rather than resort to violence, know that I'm very good at delivering tongue-lashings.
I've thrived in Canada all my life, occasionally living in different provinces from time to time. We in Canada are far from perfect, and neither are our government policies. Some of our more controversial projects like the Alberta tar sands, selling off Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic circle, or backing out on aspects of the Kyoto protocol (replaced by the Paris Agreement) to protect the environment, are just a few that come to mind. Most recently Canada came under fire for failing to meet our defence spending targets of 2% of our GDP. I could go on, as I'm sure you could as well with regard to your own country's policies.
I have a begrudging respect for politicians bcus of the seven+ years I worked on Parliament Hill, supporting two Tory Members of Parliament, and the first-hand exposure to how our federal government operates. Politicians work hard, probably a lot harder than most realize. They pull long hours during the week, in Ottawa when the House is sitting, and then every Friday they return to their constituencies to work locally in their riding offices, all throughout the weekend, attending events, and dealing with issues that come up. The marriages of many politicians end up in the toilet, given that their spouse didn't necessarily sign up for the long hours, or to be married to the life of a busy politician. Despite this, and for those without firsthand experience, it's easy for non-political people to hate politicians, those who haven't volunteered to help out on a campaign to elevate their local politician, or those who've never worked in a riding office or directly on a political association. One of the main reasons, I believe, why we hate politicians with such fervor has a lot to do with their pre-election boasting, swearing on a stack of Bibles to promise the moon with a fence around it, only to backpaddle on their promise once voted into office.
A good example would be one of Ontario's premiers, Dalton McGuinty, who demonstrated a fine example of a flip-flopping postulator who promised before getting into office that he wouldn't raises taxes. He had even signed a declaration to that effect which aired on TV commercials when he was wooing the public. And the very next day, and I mean literally the very next day, after being voted into office as Ontario's Premier, he retracted his promise and raised taxes, citing reasons that re-directed the blame toward the previous administration, which left him with no choice but to raise taxes. This act of betrayal, as far as I'm concerned, is reason enough to hate politicians. I take a more radical approach now, and feel that politicians when in campaigning mode, should be obligated to wear top hat and tails, and to hold a long black cane, for when they come to your door; to sing a dance as they unfurl their long list of promises. Then we, as the people, as the duped voters, could open our door and hurl ripe tomatoes at them. It seems a fair trade, tomatoes for lies.
I've voted in every Federal election since I was given the right to vote at the age of 18 in Canada. I'm a firm proponent of the right to vote. I'm also mindful of the fact that brave women came before me who suffered greatly to convince the British privy council to grant women the right to vote. Our wonderful suffragettes opened the door for women in other Commonwealth countries. Yet, and despite my appreciation of these efforts, would someone please tell me where's the integrity in the process of democracy?
Integrity... let me say it again, integrity! Integrity isn't about being perfect or having an impeccable record. Integrity is about keeping your word. Do as you say you will and don't offer up a bagful of "my dog ate my homework" excuses. I say this all the time to female friends, to state that the number one quality I look for in relationships is integrity; in co-workers, superiors and corporate Executives. In fact, integrity is the one benchmark I look for in choosing male partners before I take our involvement to any level, if there is reason to do so. A man with integrity will think before he speaks, will apply thoughtful action before acting, to those whose lives he touches. Whereas, a man of zero integrity doesn't possess in abundance moral wholeness or soundness in deed. Regrettably, these are the qualities too often present in politicians.
The longevity of political tenure is more often than not linked and dependent upon forming relationships with big business that allow them to grow the economy. As the voting public, we base our decisions on whether or not our economy has been kind to us. And there are a number of ways of measuring economic success, and one in particular is child care support, lowering the property taxes on retired seniors, and providing dental care and accessible healthcare to the impoverished.
I also know when it's high time for me to end my blog diatribes because on this subject I can feel my blood-pressure rising. Canada's next federal election is far away, and the Writ doesn't have to officially drop until Nov 2025. Whereas, the next U.S. President will be chosen November 5, 2024. And, considering what just happened this past Saturday with an assassination attempt, I'll be glued to see what comes in the next four months. But when Canada's voting time comes around, and if you're a woman, and I catch you saying aloud in my company, "I can't be bothered to vote... it doesn't make a difference..." đŸ˜¡Understand that the opposite of having the right to vote is having this right removed from you, a status you do not want to return to, given how hard others fought to give you this right. Take it seriously. Take your local politician to task before you cast your vote. Look at the reversal of Roe vs Wade in the U.S. to inspire you to vote. All it takes is one brick to be removed in the wall of rights, and how it applies to both sexes, and watch as more bricks come tumbling down. This is my greatest fear for women in the U.S. that their Republican nominee will set about to remove more rights from women.
Women's rights are human rights: the right for an equal voice. So I shall repeat myself: don't let me catch you dismissing this invaluable right, to be able to cast your vote. And rather than resort to violence, know that I'm very good at delivering tongue-lashings.
