World Stupidity Awards redux

[therealjae]

The results of this year's World Stupidity Awards have been announced, and the stupidest statement of the year is deemed to be George W. Bush's: "They never stop thinking of ways of harming America, and neither do we." Unfortunately, the quote was a little bit off; the original blunder was actually: "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and

Comments

[laurashapiro]

What is Canada's award based on, though? How is your government especially stupid? Is it the scandal in the Liberal party that they're referring to? Cuz you have to get up pretty early in the morning to be stupider than the U.S. government.

[therealjae]

Well, using the American rather than the Canadian definition of 'government' (i.e., 'the sum total of elected officials in Ottawa' rather than 'the prime minister and his cabinet'), I suspect the cumulative events of April and May in Canadian federal politics were more than enough to put things over the top.

Honestly, if I'd voted, I think I might have voted for Canada myself this year. Corruption scandals, secret taping scandals, lovers splitting up when one of them switches parties, colossal amounts of namecalling, the ruling party doing everything short of backflips to stay in power, the list goes on and on. I don't know, it all seemed pretty stupid to me. Not horrific policy-wise, but definitely stupid.

-J

[laurashapiro]

Sounds like I have a lot of research to do. (:

[therealjae]

Hey, it was all in my journal. ;-)

-J

[em_h]

Me, I wouldn't have said "stupid" so much as "hilarious", but I guess it depends on your definition of "stupid." I mean, ultimately some good laws and policies happened amidst all the wacky hijinks. It's been odd that way.

[therealjae]

You're right about the hilarious, but I'd argue that 'stupid' also fits. I certainly think all the stuff that's made people so cynical--which isn't just limited to the various scandals, but extends to the general childish antics in the House of Commons--has been pretty stupid on a daily basis.

The good laws and policies convince me that even if we get another Liberal minority government--which seems likely--life will go on and in fact be pretty okay, though.

-J