Editor:
I too would like to thank the Liberals for staging their little powwow here earlier this month, but for a few different reasons than Mr. Lyster did in his letter “Thanks for the Memories”.
In order for democracy to appear to be working you need opposition. The Liberalies are the official opposition and put on a demonstration of it earlier this month.
As a bonus to the local economy Libby head honchos probably spent some serious money at one of the booze stores here, and slept in some nice Egyptian sheeted place with friendlier bed-bugs than the average budget skier passing through here about now. All good.
But, does anyone actually think that if all fifty-three Liberal cheerleaders from the Valley sent an MP to Ottawa (fat chance) we’d be better represented? An even fatter chance!
Many jokes circulate about the differences between Liberals and Conservatives, and a long departed friend of mine Tommy Casscaden, called it pretty close when he said “the only difference is – one’s in and one’s out”. Right on Tommy.
For evidence I note a semi-prominent provincial politician, Raj Sherman, is currently “seeking the leadership” but hasn’t made up his mind – “which party yet”. Red, Blue, Green or Purple!
One of the loudest horns on the weak side of Parliament presently is none other than that old socialist NDP turncoat/Premier from Ontario, Bobby Rae, now an avowed Liberal, pounding away on the oak about all things centre lefty. Thank God the Conservatives didn’t give him a home. There’s hundreds more.
For the 87 per cent of you who are easily fooled, except at election time when 43 per cent or so abandon the 92 inch electronic living room gadget and vote, you must know that politicians have no loyalty to much beyond number one, and you’re not number one.
If you think contrary you’re poorly informed and mistaken.There are few who wouldn’t, don’t, and haven’t gone where the opportunity to live higher than they presently do exists (bucks-perks-opportunities).
Sometimes it’s as simple as a 15-minute tea break with the opposition, and a nice new desk three bunny hops on the otherside of the taxpayers rug awaits. Most, at any level of politics, (municipal, provincial, federal) pay more attention to their future than that of their pennant waving subjects.
Don’t believe me? Challenge yourself and check three things. Canada’s political history, political perks (one being diplomatic immunity from stuff that puts normal people in jail) and political pension structures, in that order, then lets have a debate.
Alvin Shier,
Canmore
