The end of crazy politics
So the parliament has been prorogued. I suppose I should thank Steven Harper for teaching me a new word.
While I must admit that I was never very much in favor of the coalition in the first place, I am even more sad about the outcome. We now have set a precedent that the prime minister can pause the government whenever things are going badly for him. In general that seems like a power that is ripe for abuse, at the expense of negotiation and governance. Also, what we now have to look forward to is two months of 'campaigning' by the conservatives to bad-mouth their opponents before the January budget vote. By then there will be no more coalition, and we will be right back to Harper's trademark governing with a minority as though it were a majority.
I think that's the thing that disappoints me the most about Canadian politics right now. There are governments where a minority is the norm, and to get things done the government needs to negotiate and compromise. I think Canada would benefit from an approach like that. It seems we to in these great swings where the left gets in and funds social programs till they're blue in the face and wading in debt, and then the right gets in and starts shutting down daycares and old folks homes so they can balance the budget. It seems like the country might benefit from some fiscal restraint over the next few years, but I'm sick of the Conservatives using that as an excuse to cut services to the voiceless minorities in Canada. You know the ones: children, old people, immigrants, the poor. Do you know anybody like that? Wouldn't it be nice if our government really supported those people?
Sigh. I guess it's back to politics as usual.
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