Mazinaw musings June 24/04
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Gung-ho GreenThe leanest and meanest, what a stupid way to pick a candidate! was one reaction to my last musing. Given the present choice I still think it great criteria but the criticism did encourage me to pay extra attention to the political debates the other night, both French and English, in my effort to improve our Canadian government
My theory and what I read, see on television, and hear on radio has to shape my opinion as none of the local hopefuls have come to shake my hand. Would that persuade me to commit my vote? One party did phone asking permission to post a sign on my front lawn, which I refused. My lawn is out of sight of the half dozen vehicles a day that travel along the road; another example of the ignorance city folk have about our rural area. I did ask the caller, How is your candidate going to counter the political cynicism sweeping across our nation? As yet I have not received an answer despite the promise of a call back.
The Great Debate has been debated ad nauseam and it is generally agreed there was no clear winner. One speaker won because he didnt lose was a profound comment by one political pundit. It seems the Grits and Tories are neck to neck racing for the spoils, with the possibility of a one-province separatist party holding the balance of power; only in Canada!
The major parties have tunnel vision focused on June 28, less defining peripheral vision squinting 5 years ahead but blindness beyond that; except for one poor group that was not represented in the debate but is gaining momentum.
I had to go to the computer website of the Green Party to get detailed information of their platform and it was enlightening.
They are concerned about promoting healthy living habits, which, incidentally, are free, and less concerned about reducing hospital waiting time to treat the results of an unhealthy lifestyle. I rather like this suggestion of nourishing food, adequate exercising, reducing stress and moderating addictions.
They want to create an economy that allows one parent to stay home caring for children and experiencing the personal joys of raising a family rather than depending upon universal and impersonal daycare. I agree with this old fashioned idea of accepting responsibility for begetting children.
They advocate more power to municipal governments whose leaders are neighbours and not someone miles away and beholden to a political party; sounds great, if and when we can get municipal politicians acting more effectively. Right now most of them are stumbling while taking out the garbage.
This fledgling grassroots movement is looking far beyond June 28 when they might earn a seat in Ottawa, and beyond the next mandate when more broken promises will be recycled. They are concerned about the timelines threatening sustainable/natural agriculture and depleting nonrenewable resources. They want actions to control air pollution, reduce piles of waste, diminish water poisoning and to cool our warming climate. Little or nothing has been proposed by the front runners on these matters which will increase dramatically unless we change our ways.
What a quandary I am in! Support Gung-ho Green with their foresight, or elect the lean and mean hoping that things will improve for all of us as they fight for a place at the public trough? The very fact that the political status quo deliberately prevented The Greens from presenting their views on The Great Debate indicates to me that they feel threatened; Green must be good. We Canadians usually support societys underdogs: lets take a good look at this one! By the way most of the Greens I have seen on television are at least lean; perhaps my dilemma is resolved.
