Canada's Shame

Bono has it right: Paul Martin has let us down (again.) Canada has had a long history of contributing to international cooperation and multilateral development efforts, and the average Canadian wants it to stay that way. Unfortunately, our hundred-millionaire prime minister isn't the average Canadian, and believes that abusing or embezzling funds is a better use of taxpayer money than contributing to development aid. There is some good news though: we have an election coming up.

However, despite the apparent success of democracy in this instance (government misbehaves, fails to reflect voter wishes; no-confidence motion forces the government to resign for a new election), the eventual outcome, sadly, is unlikely to result in significant differences from the status quo of Canadian politics. We have already learned this lesson: the Chretien government was accused of widespread abuse and mismanagement of public funds, yet the liberals were still able to lead a government after the next election, with one of Chretien's (ex) cronies in power to boot. What gives?

Unfortunately, I still believe there is no viable alternative to the liberals in Canada. I mean, Canadians ARE liberal. So even though we may have some cowboys and hippies in the West who will vote right/left of the Liberal institution, most Canadians don't want bible bashers or pseudo-communists in power. Understandably; dangerously un-Canadian non-moderate (and potentially impolite) ideologies are not even the biggest barriers to these other parties forming a government; they only represent one part of the country, and are likely to remain only regional forces for a long time.

I predict that despite the slap-in-the-face corruption that plagues Paul Martin and his liberal friends, the upcoming Christmas season election campaign will culminate in another government headed by the liberals - and headed again by Paul Martin. Unbelievable.