Rails from the Rails #9 - Politics

Rails from the Rails – Nine (originally posted on October 30, 2007 at www.argonauts.ca)

All Aboard: “Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book.” – Ronald Reagan

Tickets Please: The recent election in Ontario to determine our provincial government has me thinking about politics. To be honest, most of my thoughts are negative. I wish that wasn’t the case, but it is. I would not say that I am an avid follower of the political landscape of Canada. However, I do think that I keep tabs on what is going on more than the average person. I follow politics on the news, both TV and radio. I follow it on the internet at such news aggregates as www.nationalnewswatch.com. I find it somewhat interesting and I believe it has a huge cultural impact on Canada. That being said, I will reiterate that many if not most of my thoughts about the subject at hand are not positive. Allow me to share a few of them with you.
First, I am bothered by the fact that I do not believe the individual politician has the impact that he or she should have. With the strong party-politics that is the current trend in Canadian politics, I fear that the individual politician does not and almost cannot make a significant contribution individually. Politicians are compelled to vote along party lines or they are expelled from the party. The fact that a “free vote” must be announced by a party’s leader is ridiculous to me. Hence we are left with voting for the party instead of voting for an individual. And I don’t like this. If there was an excellent candidate in my riding who agreed with me on the issues which I deem are important but he or she was a member of a party with whom I largely disagree with on policy matters, I do not feel the freedom to choose the candidate who best represents me. That is an unfortunate state of affairs.
Another issue related to politics that I find bothersome is “partisan politics”. Partisan is defined as a person who takes the part of or strongly supports one side, party, or person. Obviously, I believe politicians should strongly support the side they feel is best for their constituents. However, it seems that politics these days is nothing more than playing the devil’s advocate ad infinitum. One party says black and the opposition says white. This seems to occur regardless of the true colour of the thing itself. I am waiting for the day when a leader of the opposition stands before the media and announces that, although they may disagree with their opposition on many issues, their opponents are right on this particular issue and will have their support. It seems to me that far too often Canadian politics is about choosing the opposite viewpoint and arguing about it irrespective of the merits of the original idea. I am not saying this is always the case. I just think it is usually the case and things need not necessarily be that way.
One final issue about politics that rubs me the wrong way is that I believe, more and more, politics is becoming more about image and less about ideas. As J. P. Moreland wrote in a book I am currently reading: “The make-up man has become more important than the speech writer.” Moreland was bemoaning the fact that public opinion of candidates following debates was more influenced by feelings, image, and likeability than ideas and substance. This is truly a shame. It bothers me that negative ads work on voters…voters like me. What does it say about a member, leader, or party when the main thrust of an election campaign is not the ideas and policies that they are promoting but rather what is wrong with the other guy? Should we blame the politicians for this or should we look in the mirror and ask why these types of advertisements are effective?

Last Stop: Amidst all this negativity, let’s not forget that we can vote. We can vote! Freely, without undue manipulation, without fear of reprisals, in fair elections, we can vote. And vote we should. If you missed the most recent provincial election it looks as though it will not be long before you can participate in a federal one. Don’t miss it.