Nothing in life attacks the senses, the morals, the logic and the normal reasoning of the average person as much as an election.
Watching television coverage of the election race, we become aware it is no longer about running a country, as much as it is about getting re-elected at all costs, including finding old dirt on the opposition.
It is a time when we are inundated with more promises than we can absorb, keep track of, or even pay for.
Many of these promises amount to little more than a shifting of the country’s budget from one pile to the other, with little gain for the average Canadian, except of course, more taxes.
A quote I read a while ago said: “The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.”
Or, as Thomas Jefferson wrote: “A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have.”
Revelations of wrongdoings many years old are an effective, but morally corrupt tactic that is obvious to all. Rather than making a country aware, the disclosures make Canadians sick of the deceitfulness of those participating in these practices.
Thankfully, in Alberta, there are not enough seats to influence the standings, so we don’t often get many of the “big boys” here with their meaningless rhetoric.
It just shows even some clouds have a silver lining.
What concerns me the most is the integrity of a politician.
Not too often does a compromise become an integrity issue, but it does happen. So when it does, a person’s true integrity is usually revealed.
Regardless of your party choice, this has to be one of the greatest determining factors in how you chose your leaders. If not, you will actually receive what you voted for.
Can you trust their integrity?
I find it is easier to trust someone who takes a stand on an issue, but is able to set it aside for the governing of a multi-faceted country.
According to the media, a candidate is not allowed to take a stand on anything that does not align with their way of thinking. They often tear a good man to shreds if he fails the media’s test. Morals are no longer a determining factor in choosing a leader, it seems.
Being a member of the working class all my life helped me determine the following: Them that can, do. Them that can’t, teach. Them that can’t teach, run for politics.
The present leadership is a classic example.
I know I am being critical, but as Will Rogers, a prominent humourist and columnist stated, “I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.”
Without revealing who my choice is, here is how I see the different choices:
Liberals: “A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money.”
– G. Gordon Liddy
NDP: “Giving money and power to this type of government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.”
– P.J. O’Rourke
“If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see how much it costs when it’s free.”
– Also P.J. O’Rourke
Green: “Beyond description.”
– Me
Conservatives: “A solid right-wing party, but without true leadership characteristics.”
– Me
Like everyone else, I guess I will just have to grin and bear this type of assault by these leadership hopefuls.
Chris Salomons is a retired Red Deer resident with a concern for the downtrodden.