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“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

FELDSTED: When your ideals come back to bite you


Many progressives consider themselves to be ‘liberal’ in their ideals and thoughts, so they align with the party that carries the name. They are not analytical or deep thinkers. Their leanings are heavily socialist; they tend to adopt causes for underdogs particularly people in far flung places.

Many of you will recall protests and publicity campaigns aimed at corporations for using ‘slave labour’, and ignoring human rights in overseas operations. Apple, Cisco, H&M, IBM, Nestle, Nike, Nygard, Starbucks and Walmart and many others have been targeted.

You will also recall ‘blood diamonds’ and the condemnation of diamond mining in places like Angola where human rights are absent, and profits are used to finance banditry and civil wars.

Outraged progressives fought for laws to prevent or restrict corporations from doing business with regimes that failed to implement human rights ... and that demanded bribes from foreign businesses. 

That is why SNC-Lavalin is before the criminal courts today.

We have laws restricting Canadian corporations, and their subsidiaries, from paying bribes to do business.


The government that condemns other nations for failure to implement human rights, and engaging in bribery, is not so ultraistic when the offender is Canadian --and one of its darlings.

Ideology and reality are often incompatible. A lesson lost on governments is that it is wise to mind our own business, and ensure that Canada respects human rights for all her residents -- and does not allow internal bribery.

We pay a price for misplaced idealism.


John Feldsted
Political Consultant & Strategist
Winnipeg, Manitoba



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