Am I alone in thinking an election isn't necessary right now?
There seem to be three issues that are driving election talk: the crime legislation in the Senate, Afghanistan and the Budget.
The crime legislation is, in the main, good and that's why the Commons approved it quickly. The Senate will, no doubt, make a suggestion here and there but there seems no reason to believe it won't pass there in due course. Calling an election though risks having the reform lost entirely. Unless the Senate actually refuses the legislation or fails to move it ahead in the customary fashion there is no cause for an election here.
Afghanistan gives even less of a reason to go to the polls. The basic role of Canada is clear -- to support the Afghan people in building a stable and responsible government. That will involve both humanitarian aid and (sadly) military force. NATO allies must help, and Canada ought not shoulder the burden of military force without support, but the goals are clear and supported by Canadians generally. The only dispute is over the mechanism to achieve the goals but that will come. An election over mechanics makes no sense.
The Budget may be a cause for an election although the noises out of Ottawa do not suggest anything radical. In any event, while it makes political sense to prepare for an election on the basis the Budget may be unacceptable, it is appropriate to wait and see what the Budget says before rejecting it.
An election may be attractive to the Government now on the view that politically things will only get worse. Perhaps. But unless Parliament really ceases working it seems unfortunate to have an election merely for political advantage.
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
2 comments:
You aren't alone in this line of thinking. Canadians had two elections too close together, not to mention several recent provinical and municipal elections, so I think voter fatigue is rampant.
Although I'm no fan of Harper's, even I have to admit that things are functioning okay at the moment. An election right now would result in a third straight minority goverment and who needs that?
I tend to agree with Coco -- there are too many elections and, candidly, too much time is wasted on the concept of "democracy". As King Charles, of blessed memory noted before his murder at the hands of the regicides, " For the people. And truly I desire their liberty and freedom as much as anybody whomsoever. But I must tell you that their liberty and freedom consists in having of government; those laws by which their life and their goods may be most their own. It is not for having share in government, Sir, that is nothing pertaining to them. A subject and a soveraign are clean different things, and therefore until they do that, I mean , that you do put the people in that liberty as I say, certainly they will never enjoy themselves."
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