By the time you read this, the U.S. election will be over. It seems that over the past um-teen months we have been bombarded with media hype advising us who is more stupid than the other guy. Polls over the last couple of weeks put the Obama/Biden camp ahead of the McCain/Palin camp almost 2 to 1. It appears as though the USA no longer has the stomach for the war in Iraq, the war in Afghanistan, or the human rights violations of the Bush administration and right wing politics in general. If everything went as the pundits predicted the world now has Obama as the President of the U.S of A. But then again, stranger things have happened.
Sarah Palin is just too folksy for her own good.
What probably hurt the McCain campaign was a telephone call from Canada. By now we have all heard about the prank telephone call made from Montreal radio station CKOI comedians, The Masked Avengers. These two notorious fellows impersonated President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy. The conversation, which lasted nearly 7 minutes long, exposed Palin as being ignorant of international politics, made her sound like a blushing schoolgirl talking to a rock star, and exposed her as not being a good listener.
Typical of our impression of the average American, Palin missed the prankster referring to the Prime Minister of Canada as being Stef Carse, a Quebec pop star. She missed Johnny Halladay, another French pop-icon being referred to as the U.S. adviser to France. Other points of embarrassment was Palin missing the prankster referring to ‘his’ wife as being good in bed, and appreciating the ‘documentary film’ “Nail ‘in Palin” made by Hustler magazine. Palin on all these points sounded like she was ignoring some of the risqué moments, only being flattered by his call, and showing interest in the caller.
In essence, Palin sounded like she had just received a telephone call from her idol, and was quite star struck. But one must at least admit that the Quebec caller spoke very fast with a thick French accent, switched from broken English to French during the call, and interrupted Palin at every turn in order to keep her off guard.
This call from Canada exposed Palin in a way that no political candidate would want to be. It showed that she is not internationally aware of her neighbours to the north, nor has she developed the guarded political stance that one would expect from a person of experience holding the Vice-Presidency office. It also showed that her campaign office is as folksy as she is. They in no way vetted the caller. But the fact that this call came from Canada in no way should make us proud.
Most politicians seeking office are not ‘fully aware’.
Take for example eight years ago when George W. Bush was running for office. CBC comedian Rick Mercer in his “Talking to Americans” segments stops Bush and advises him that Prime Minister Jean Poutine would endorse him. Bush replies, “He understands I want to make sure our relationship with our most important neighbour to the north of us is strong and we’ll work closely together.” Did Bush missing the faux-paux of our leaders name make his statement invalid, or even make him invalid? Just like Palin’s gushing over meeting the President of France on the telephone and missing the names spoken in a foreign accent make her inappropriate for office. Her casual approach to the prankster simply points out that she appreciated meeting President Nicolas Sarkozy via telephone.
When these people run for high office, the campaign road is intense. They talk to what could be thousands of individuals approaching them for a comment, quote or just to get a piece of them. For most people who run for office, all they would hear is, “Prime Minister…… Canada ….says..” Their response would be one of many that they used throughout the campaign. The point being is that they hear the title and not necessarily the name. Its their response that completes the joke. In the Palin call, the distorted accent didn’t help her.
But is Canada targeting active American Campaign candidates appropriate behaviour?
Shock radio is not a new thing. People enjoy listening to talk show hosts banter about politics, and poke fun at people they tend to disagree with. Palin was the perfect target, but a target that should have been left to an American Radio Station hands. The “Masked Avengers” from Quebec have not only tampered with a foreign election, they brought shame on themselves and maybe Canada.
Yes, talking to Americans and exposing their ignorance of Canada can be fun. But our style of humour has lasting consequences in places we have no business being.
Showing posts with label Election. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Election. Show all posts
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Disturbing Trend, But who is to Blame?
We are soon off to the polls and according to a recent Elections Canada study conducted on the last federal election turnout, 78% of those between 18 and 25 years old will not be voting. This drop in voter turnout is disturbing but even more concerning is that when asked why the non-voter does not attend the polls, the study revealed 25% were just not interested. With an additional 15% stating that they suffer from ignorance or just had better things to do. But overall, 67% polled provided a negative public attitude towards the system, candidates, or government when expressing a reason for not voting.
So, by our own admission, those who do not vote suffer from apathy, ignorance, anger and indifference when it comes to civic duty. Who is to blame?
I made a point of engaging a few people in their early twenties to test this study out by asking a few questions. What I found was very similar answers to simple questions. When I asked one young lady, “Who is the current Prime Minister of Canada?” I got, “John something.” When I pressed for a full answer I got “John Chrétien, I think.” Taking this further, I asked this gal, “Well, who was the first Prime Minister of Canada?” and this is where things got weird, “It was the John guy.” she said. Once again I pressed for the last name and in a half attempt at deflecting my incredulous look she stated, “The McDonalds guy”, with a chuckle. I said, “OK, I’ll take that answer, it was Sir John Alexander MacDonald.” Now feeling that I had engaged the thinking hemisphere I asked, “Was he Liberal or Conservative?” She was quick to answer “Liberal.” Wanting to gently pat her head saying, “good girl” I corrected her by stating “No, he was Conservative.” I guess the Liberal catch phrase, ‘Natural Governing Party’ must be working.
If this gal was a 12 year old kid staring at a video game during this conversation I would not have been so dumbfounded. But this adult, 8 years into voting age, is a successful businesswoman in Edmonton with real responsibilities. I advised her that I was using her as an example and she implored me to withhold her name. So don’t worry Suzanne, I won’t say a word.
When I was 17 years old, I could not wait until I was old enough to cast my vote. For some reason, I saw it as a rite of passage. It was as important to a hormone rushing teen as getting a drivers license, or hollering “Barkeep, give me another!” It was a moment in a young mans life when the maxim, “Eat the crust, it will grow hair on your chest,” reveals to be truth one morning. Or that moment when you actually need to put a blade into the razor. On election day, I would sit in front of the boob tube and watch intently as the results poured in. At the same time I would be calling my buddy and we would spew anger when we saw Pierre Trudeau standing with his hands clasped together, raised in the air, in victory. Election day was the only time TV was an interactive media experience. So why have things changed?
The Elections Canada study regarding voter apathy only gives reasons for not voting and not the cause. It appears as though there is no simple answer. But if we just look around we can draw a few cursory conclusions.
The first, I believe is that parents don’t engage their children on many topics. Politics only being one of them. The TV has turned into the child mentor and the school system their ethical guidance. The apathy of the parents interaction with the youth translates to the apathy at the polls. As a youth my father talked politics to me and instilled the importance of my one vote carries.
Second, young people have too many distractions coming at them. So much so, that if you stand a young person in a quiet room for 10 minutes their face begins to melt in boredom. They have become a generation of people needing constant input. This is seen in their fascination with cell phones, texting, facebook, ipods, movies, pop idols and video games. They have become a generation of turning inward and tuning out. It is no wonder that ignorance plays into the non-voter.
Third, our political campaigns have turned into a circus. In the old days it was unusual to see federal leaders throw insults at each other. It was business. Ed Broadbent of the Federal NDP and Joe Clark of the Progressive Conservatives were seen as pretty serious politicians. Even without chiselled good looks you got the sense that they were real contenders. They dealt with real topics, real concerns, not allegations of hidden agendas, who’s lighting up with whom, accusations designed to instil fear and anger, instead of engaging civic concern. Its no wonder the non-voter uses anger as a reason for avoiding the polls.
And last, I believe that the diminishing membership of the Service Clubs is a strong indication of civic duty declination. Many good service clubs and fellowships such as the Lions Club, the Loyal Order of the Moose and attendance in a church to name only a few indicate that the younger crowd is not interested in serving their community. It is a strong indication that without civic interaction with other community members the youth are getting disconnected and without conversation with your neighbours they are just not forming any real political opinions or even concern. It is no wonder the non-voter sights indifference to their civic duty of voting.
Yes it is a disturbing trend……but really, are we not all to blame?
So, by our own admission, those who do not vote suffer from apathy, ignorance, anger and indifference when it comes to civic duty. Who is to blame?
I made a point of engaging a few people in their early twenties to test this study out by asking a few questions. What I found was very similar answers to simple questions. When I asked one young lady, “Who is the current Prime Minister of Canada?” I got, “John something.” When I pressed for a full answer I got “John Chrétien, I think.” Taking this further, I asked this gal, “Well, who was the first Prime Minister of Canada?” and this is where things got weird, “It was the John guy.” she said. Once again I pressed for the last name and in a half attempt at deflecting my incredulous look she stated, “The McDonalds guy”, with a chuckle. I said, “OK, I’ll take that answer, it was Sir John Alexander MacDonald.” Now feeling that I had engaged the thinking hemisphere I asked, “Was he Liberal or Conservative?” She was quick to answer “Liberal.” Wanting to gently pat her head saying, “good girl” I corrected her by stating “No, he was Conservative.” I guess the Liberal catch phrase, ‘Natural Governing Party’ must be working.
If this gal was a 12 year old kid staring at a video game during this conversation I would not have been so dumbfounded. But this adult, 8 years into voting age, is a successful businesswoman in Edmonton with real responsibilities. I advised her that I was using her as an example and she implored me to withhold her name. So don’t worry Suzanne, I won’t say a word.
When I was 17 years old, I could not wait until I was old enough to cast my vote. For some reason, I saw it as a rite of passage. It was as important to a hormone rushing teen as getting a drivers license, or hollering “Barkeep, give me another!” It was a moment in a young mans life when the maxim, “Eat the crust, it will grow hair on your chest,” reveals to be truth one morning. Or that moment when you actually need to put a blade into the razor. On election day, I would sit in front of the boob tube and watch intently as the results poured in. At the same time I would be calling my buddy and we would spew anger when we saw Pierre Trudeau standing with his hands clasped together, raised in the air, in victory. Election day was the only time TV was an interactive media experience. So why have things changed?
The Elections Canada study regarding voter apathy only gives reasons for not voting and not the cause. It appears as though there is no simple answer. But if we just look around we can draw a few cursory conclusions.
The first, I believe is that parents don’t engage their children on many topics. Politics only being one of them. The TV has turned into the child mentor and the school system their ethical guidance. The apathy of the parents interaction with the youth translates to the apathy at the polls. As a youth my father talked politics to me and instilled the importance of my one vote carries.
Second, young people have too many distractions coming at them. So much so, that if you stand a young person in a quiet room for 10 minutes their face begins to melt in boredom. They have become a generation of people needing constant input. This is seen in their fascination with cell phones, texting, facebook, ipods, movies, pop idols and video games. They have become a generation of turning inward and tuning out. It is no wonder that ignorance plays into the non-voter.
Third, our political campaigns have turned into a circus. In the old days it was unusual to see federal leaders throw insults at each other. It was business. Ed Broadbent of the Federal NDP and Joe Clark of the Progressive Conservatives were seen as pretty serious politicians. Even without chiselled good looks you got the sense that they were real contenders. They dealt with real topics, real concerns, not allegations of hidden agendas, who’s lighting up with whom, accusations designed to instil fear and anger, instead of engaging civic concern. Its no wonder the non-voter uses anger as a reason for avoiding the polls.
And last, I believe that the diminishing membership of the Service Clubs is a strong indication of civic duty declination. Many good service clubs and fellowships such as the Lions Club, the Loyal Order of the Moose and attendance in a church to name only a few indicate that the younger crowd is not interested in serving their community. It is a strong indication that without civic interaction with other community members the youth are getting disconnected and without conversation with your neighbours they are just not forming any real political opinions or even concern. It is no wonder the non-voter sights indifference to their civic duty of voting.
Yes it is a disturbing trend……but really, are we not all to blame?
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Hey Steve... Wazzup?
Two weary travelers en route to a dinner engagement walk along a path, seeing a turd before them stop to examine it. After a careful investigation which included verification of its appearance, texture and aroma they satisfy themselves that it is indeed a turd and replace it exactly were it lay, and continue their journey. Thus is a parody of our expectations in the Canadian political landscape.
So I ask, Mr. Harper… Wazzup?
Don’t get me wrong when it comes to my feelings regarding the Federal Conservatives and Mr. Harper I really believe the man has stepped up to the plate. He has made good on promises and has carried himself well before the liberal bias press and the people. He has stood the ground when harangued by the opposition and the nay sayers. In essence until last week I have been proud of Mr. Harper.
With every person that we put on a pedestal the bubble must burst. Bill C-16 which was introduced by Harper, received Royal Assent in May of 2007 putting into place a fixed election date which was intended to prevent a ruling party from manipulating the election process. Did Harper violate this new law?
Bill C-16 as passed, legislates that Canada will have elections every four years and that the people will go to the polls on the second Monday in October of the fourth year. This in essence set the next scheduled election for October of 2009.
It will prevent elections from being called later, like the situations of the past where the ruling party could hold power to five years at a time or even longer. It ensures that we the people can toss out our government every four years. However, it does not prevent the government from calling an early election which is what took place this week. Canada is going to the polls, with under three years of running this country under Mr. Harpers belt. How did he do it?
Well, Bill C-16 provides for the non-elected Governor General the ability to dissolve the government for such things as non-confidence and of course at the request of the Prime Minister which is what actually happened. On Sunday Mr. Harper convinced the Governor General to dissolve the government. Ok, so Bill C-16 is a ‘Fixed Flexible Set Election Date’ law.
We pick it up, check it’s texture, give it a sniff and put it right back into its place. It is what it is.....
Did Mr Harper break the law? No.
Did he do something illegal? No.
Was it the right thing to do? That depends on which side of the fence you are on. But my feeling is no, it wasn’t the right thing to do. Just because an act is legal does not necessarily make it right. The very law that was to be part of the accountability package still did not prevent the ruling party from calling an election to the benefit of that very party. The opposition from the NDP, Liberals and Greens rightfully hollered .. Nay.. Nay!
I, a right wing quasi-redneck born-in conservative voter has to call it as I see it. As much as it hurts me….. “Harper, your off-side!” By all appearance and by all polls, Stephan was getting the confidence of the people. He was making strides in the east, and for the first time since the MulroneyCampbell debacle we have a ‘right winger’ in the office that the people can trust.
Trust is the only thing a leader has when it comes to preventing the grumblings of the people. It is the very thing that makes or breaks political divisions. Trust is the characteristic in human beings that either keeps the peace or the lack of, fires the first volley! Stephan, you have our trust, stop @#$%^&* with it!!
What the federal conservatives did was not so grievous that they cannot get the votes to win the next election. Take a look at what we have to choose from. Each party has its good points and by opinion it’s bad points. So if you are able to vote for the party alone, what the leader of the party does rarely causes a voter to change their colours. But in the case of the swing votes, they are usually based on the popularity factor.
To choose from we have the Liberals lead by Step-on (here comes the green shaft) Dion, the NDP is lead by Jack (just talk to the terrorists) Layton, and the Green Party, Elizabeth (include me in the debate) May. As odd a bed fellows as those four are, and I include Harper in the count, they appear to be a good mix for conducting our business. But what Harper did by calling this early election, thus painting himself with the same brush he painted the Liberals with, is give a foothold to his opposition whether official or otherwise.
So on October 14th when I go to the polls as disappointed as I am, my political colour will not change. But as the many who feel the same way I do, I believe the chink in Harper’s armour, will change the political landscape on October 15th.
And to all the candidates hoping to represent us here locally, I wish them good luck and God speed!
So I ask, Mr. Harper… Wazzup?
Don’t get me wrong when it comes to my feelings regarding the Federal Conservatives and Mr. Harper I really believe the man has stepped up to the plate. He has made good on promises and has carried himself well before the liberal bias press and the people. He has stood the ground when harangued by the opposition and the nay sayers. In essence until last week I have been proud of Mr. Harper.
With every person that we put on a pedestal the bubble must burst. Bill C-16 which was introduced by Harper, received Royal Assent in May of 2007 putting into place a fixed election date which was intended to prevent a ruling party from manipulating the election process. Did Harper violate this new law?
Bill C-16 as passed, legislates that Canada will have elections every four years and that the people will go to the polls on the second Monday in October of the fourth year. This in essence set the next scheduled election for October of 2009.
It will prevent elections from being called later, like the situations of the past where the ruling party could hold power to five years at a time or even longer. It ensures that we the people can toss out our government every four years. However, it does not prevent the government from calling an early election which is what took place this week. Canada is going to the polls, with under three years of running this country under Mr. Harpers belt. How did he do it?
Well, Bill C-16 provides for the non-elected Governor General the ability to dissolve the government for such things as non-confidence and of course at the request of the Prime Minister which is what actually happened. On Sunday Mr. Harper convinced the Governor General to dissolve the government. Ok, so Bill C-16 is a ‘Fixed Flexible Set Election Date’ law.
We pick it up, check it’s texture, give it a sniff and put it right back into its place. It is what it is.....
Did Mr Harper break the law? No.
Did he do something illegal? No.
Was it the right thing to do? That depends on which side of the fence you are on. But my feeling is no, it wasn’t the right thing to do. Just because an act is legal does not necessarily make it right. The very law that was to be part of the accountability package still did not prevent the ruling party from calling an election to the benefit of that very party. The opposition from the NDP, Liberals and Greens rightfully hollered .. Nay.. Nay!
I, a right wing quasi-redneck born-in conservative voter has to call it as I see it. As much as it hurts me….. “Harper, your off-side!” By all appearance and by all polls, Stephan was getting the confidence of the people. He was making strides in the east, and for the first time since the MulroneyCampbell debacle we have a ‘right winger’ in the office that the people can trust.
Trust is the only thing a leader has when it comes to preventing the grumblings of the people. It is the very thing that makes or breaks political divisions. Trust is the characteristic in human beings that either keeps the peace or the lack of, fires the first volley! Stephan, you have our trust, stop @#$%^&* with it!!
What the federal conservatives did was not so grievous that they cannot get the votes to win the next election. Take a look at what we have to choose from. Each party has its good points and by opinion it’s bad points. So if you are able to vote for the party alone, what the leader of the party does rarely causes a voter to change their colours. But in the case of the swing votes, they are usually based on the popularity factor.
To choose from we have the Liberals lead by Step-on (here comes the green shaft) Dion, the NDP is lead by Jack (just talk to the terrorists) Layton, and the Green Party, Elizabeth (include me in the debate) May. As odd a bed fellows as those four are, and I include Harper in the count, they appear to be a good mix for conducting our business. But what Harper did by calling this early election, thus painting himself with the same brush he painted the Liberals with, is give a foothold to his opposition whether official or otherwise.
So on October 14th when I go to the polls as disappointed as I am, my political colour will not change. But as the many who feel the same way I do, I believe the chink in Harper’s armour, will change the political landscape on October 15th.
And to all the candidates hoping to represent us here locally, I wish them good luck and God speed!
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