Anointing The Saviour
Canada is a parliamentary democracy, so it's somewhat peculiar that a new leader of the Liberal Party of Canada has been anointed/appointed, not elected. They did the other thing, and it didn't turn out too well. Evidently the party faithful simply no longer has faith in the democratic process; far better to submit to the inevitable, unchallenged. Thus, a prepared and anticipated 'victory' speech by a delighted Michael Ignatieff. Victory over adversity.
There are so many deficiencies in this scenario; demerit points for spouting patriotism while preferring to live half his life abroad - during his most formative and productive years no less. Before, obviously, he had formulated the idea of returning to Canada to challenge its political elite, he self-identified with the countries in which he made his semi-permanent homes: Britain and America. He responded to invitations from admirers to 'come home' and ascend to the prime ministership of the country.
He has spent his time since then entreating Canadians to recognize his Canadianness, exhorting the current prime minister to be more genuinely Canadian, and touting the proud tradition of patriotism evinced and practised by his distinguished forbears, on either side of the maternal/paternal divide. His father George now, might be seen as quite Canadian. From his Canadian education to his diplomatic posts with External Affairs to his University of Toronto Trinity College provost position; later chancellor of the U. of T.
But son Michael? An intellectual, we are informed, an academic of high standing with experience in foreign affairs and international relations. Experience of Canada? Well he has been travelling across the land, lauding the land, extolling its virtues and those of its industrious people, and in the process promising the voters that his vision of Canada is unparalleled by any other. Details are not required; substance is vision.
It worked for Barack Obama, after all. Now Michael Ignatieff is holding out promise for 'the change we need', although he doesn't quite articulate the change. Fact is, he appears to be complacent with all of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's positions on the economy, trade, energy, international commitments, and although he hasn't said too much yet about it, the environment. Platitudes aplenty. Policy? They're working at it; come June we'll know.
Meanwhile, he lets us know that the conservative platform is without vision. And Mr. Ignatieff promises plenty of the vision thing; he's a visionary. He carps about 'unemployment insurance' not being up to snuff at this parlous time, but he's not up to snuff on 'employment insurance'. The previous Liberal government took away the UIC and gave us EI, and a lot of little twists and down-grades; now he belabours the Conservative government to right the wrong the Liberals wrought.
During his speech at the Liberal leader-anointing convention, Mr. Ignatieff chastised Mr. Harper: "Mr. Harper, you don't understand Canada". Should he then take lessons from Mr. Ignatieff? Mr. Harper, many believe - and they are in the clear majority - does indeed understand Canada, and Canadians feel he has more than proven his capacity and his ability to steer the country in the right direction.
Vision lacking an agenda is a pathetic offering; like faith in religion, no proof required of the existence of a program, trusted position, detailed policies.
There are so many deficiencies in this scenario; demerit points for spouting patriotism while preferring to live half his life abroad - during his most formative and productive years no less. Before, obviously, he had formulated the idea of returning to Canada to challenge its political elite, he self-identified with the countries in which he made his semi-permanent homes: Britain and America. He responded to invitations from admirers to 'come home' and ascend to the prime ministership of the country.
He has spent his time since then entreating Canadians to recognize his Canadianness, exhorting the current prime minister to be more genuinely Canadian, and touting the proud tradition of patriotism evinced and practised by his distinguished forbears, on either side of the maternal/paternal divide. His father George now, might be seen as quite Canadian. From his Canadian education to his diplomatic posts with External Affairs to his University of Toronto Trinity College provost position; later chancellor of the U. of T.
But son Michael? An intellectual, we are informed, an academic of high standing with experience in foreign affairs and international relations. Experience of Canada? Well he has been travelling across the land, lauding the land, extolling its virtues and those of its industrious people, and in the process promising the voters that his vision of Canada is unparalleled by any other. Details are not required; substance is vision.
It worked for Barack Obama, after all. Now Michael Ignatieff is holding out promise for 'the change we need', although he doesn't quite articulate the change. Fact is, he appears to be complacent with all of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's positions on the economy, trade, energy, international commitments, and although he hasn't said too much yet about it, the environment. Platitudes aplenty. Policy? They're working at it; come June we'll know.
Meanwhile, he lets us know that the conservative platform is without vision. And Mr. Ignatieff promises plenty of the vision thing; he's a visionary. He carps about 'unemployment insurance' not being up to snuff at this parlous time, but he's not up to snuff on 'employment insurance'. The previous Liberal government took away the UIC and gave us EI, and a lot of little twists and down-grades; now he belabours the Conservative government to right the wrong the Liberals wrought.
During his speech at the Liberal leader-anointing convention, Mr. Ignatieff chastised Mr. Harper: "Mr. Harper, you don't understand Canada". Should he then take lessons from Mr. Ignatieff? Mr. Harper, many believe - and they are in the clear majority - does indeed understand Canada, and Canadians feel he has more than proven his capacity and his ability to steer the country in the right direction.
Vision lacking an agenda is a pathetic offering; like faith in religion, no proof required of the existence of a program, trusted position, detailed policies.
posted by Pieface | 7:16 PM
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