FELDSTED: Political parties and their strategists fear independent thinkers. Such people are self-assured and not swayed by social divisions or by the mainstream and social media
We hear more and more about the dangers of
populism. When our Prime Minister utters the word,
he manages to spit it out as if he just took a bite of something exceedingly
vile.
Populism: noun; a
political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that
their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups.
Politicians like to divide us – by
age (seniors and youth) colour (any non-white group), economic strata
(homeless, middle class, working poor) by ethnicity or religion (Hindu, Jewish,
Muslim, Sikh – Christians need not apply) and then promise to be the protectors
and saviours of each group.
Political parties are established
elite groups. They hold themselves up as separate tribes and seek to have
electors and people of influence promise allegiance to their tribe. Unfortunately,
that does not translate into representing electors, heeding their pleas or
acting in their best interests.
Each tribe has its own political
intrigues, hierarchy and power struggles. Promotion within the tribal hierarchy
is required for plum positions such as Ministries for the winning tribe and
critics for the losers. Even the consolation prize – Official Opposition is
important in the overall power struggle.
Political parties and their
strategists fear independent thinkers. Such people are self-assured and not
swayed by social divisions or by the mainstream and social media. They are
generally not joiners or volunteers unless they see a benefit to their family
or community. They are ‘wild cards’ who can upset a
carefully planned (and expensive) election campaign.
The run-up to the next election will
commence in May. The volume will be turned up sharply. Political parties will
be battling for your hearts and minds. Take your time and look closely at what
they are offering. Ignore the junk about how bad the other parties are. We are
already aware of their failings and none pass muster. We don’t need someone to
tell us what our problems are. We need people to propose practical solutions.
Election campaigns don’t appeal to
your common sense, logic or reason. They aim for your emotions. They try to make
you angry over some issues as angry people don’t use reason. They appeal to
your empathy and sympathy to gain support.
Our Prime Minister is shocked because
some of us oppose his signing Canada on to the Global Compact for Migration. The
Global Compact consists of 9,894 academic institutions, non-government
organizations and corporations from 161 countries. There are about 78 Canadian
entities involved – 8 academic institutions, 10 Non-Government Organizations
and 60 corporations. None of them are elected or accountable to Canadians or
anyone else.
Why would Canada choose to legitimize the aims and
policies of academics and corporations? What did we elect them for if they are
going to allow unaccountable third parties to set policy for us? If the aim is not
to impose the terms of the Global Compact, why did we sign on? Our government
is making a large effort to assure us that the Global Compact policies will not
override our own, in which case a polite ‘no thank you’ is the proper response
to a request to sign on. No responsible person or nation signs an agreement he
or she does not intend to honour.
Our government is referring to those who question
Canada’s involvement in the Global Compact as racists or white supremacists.
Those attacks are a scurrilous, reprehensible evasion of government
accountability and an attack on our freedom of expression. That must never
happen.
With each month that passes we have more evidence
that the IPCC and Canadian effort to convince us of pending climate change doom
are far-fetched. Instead of dealing with our legitimate concerns, the
Environment Minister McKenna says she has no time for ‘climate change deniers’.
We need not accept her condescending and degrading assessment and evasion of
accountability. We do not need her or the Liberal horse she rode in on. We are
not her version of Hillary Clinton’s ‘deplorables’.
Dare to be different ... part 4
Political parties do not serve the public interest;
they have their own agendas, which is to win and hold power. Political parties
are irresponsible. They want power, but ignore the responsibilities that power
entails, much like teenagers who want freedom from parental control without
assuming personal responsibility for their actions and behaviour.
We don’t make threats. We change the narrative by
shining a very bright light on what the federal government is not doing for the
benefit of Canada. We make them as uncomfortable as possible by raising
awareness and demanding answers. We can and must set all provinces against
federal government manipulations.
Initially we focus attention on four areas where
the federal government is failing its obligation to the people of Canada. They
are:
- Equalization;
- Bilingualism;
- Federal unlawful intrusion into constitutional provincial autonomy and powers; and ...
- Federal failure to act in the best interests of Canada.
On Equalization, the federal government has failed
to act in good faith by refusing to meet with premiers to negotiate a renewal
of the equalization process. In June of 2018 the feds arbitrarily and cowardly
extended the existing formula until 2014 without discussion with or the consent
of the provinces. We need to raise hell and demand to know why our government
has taken to cowardly including an equalization extension in a budget bill (Bill
C-74).
On bilingualism, costs are estimated at $2.4
billion per year. We have no indication that Quebec is paying its 23% share or
that Ontario is paying its 36% share. I am sure that Ontarians will be giddy to
discover that Quebec is expected to pay $552 million for a program to support
her citizens while they pay $1,512 million (2.74x) for the bilingual program.
We need an official inquiry into the costs of bilingualism and how it is
funded. Time to stir the pot with vigour.
The federal government is screwing over Alberta by
infringing on her authority under Section 92A of the constitution to exclusively
make laws in relation to . . . development, conservation and management
of non-renewable natural resources and forestry resources in the province, including
laws in relation to the rate of primary production therefrom . . .
The federal government is avoiding its
responsibilities under Section 92 (10) of the constitution - Local Works and
Undertakings other than such as are of the following Classes:
a) Lines of Steam or other Ships, Railways, Canals,
Telegraphs, and other Works and Undertakings connecting the Province with
any other or others of the Provinces, or extending beyond the Limits of the
Province:
B) Lines of Steam Ships between the Province and any
British or Foreign Country:
C) Such Works as, although wholly situate within the
Province, are before or after their Execution declared by the Parliament of
Canada to be for the general Advantage of Canada or for the Advantage of Two or
more of the Provinces.
The federal government is given authority over
these works precisely to avoid allowing provinces to interfering with works
that benefit one or more provinces or Canada as a whole.
The federal government cannot avoid its power and
responsibility to push through pipeline construction that will benefit Canada
irrespective of what British Columbia and Quebec may say on the issue; and
The federal government cannot avoid its
responsibility to ensure works that will benefit Canada are carried out without
delay or hindrance by environmental or other concerns not specifically listed
in the constitution.
Quebec has to join the battle in good faith and
face contributing to equalization rather than benefiting from it. No one gives
a damn if Quebec threatens to succeed. We are done with supporting Quebec and
she can act like a sister province or face the consequences. The clock has
struck midnight for our French Cinderella.
John Feldsted
Political Consultant
& Strategist
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Comments
Post a Comment