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Systems Crash: Harper's "Conservatives" Flower too Late
by C. L. Cook
Opening ceremonies no less launched tonight's (N13) federal Conservative Convention in Winnipeg. The 'Underground Circus' opened, emulating the famous Cirque they twirled above a sea of beam-faced middle-right Canadians, followed by a bevy of vestal virgins, singing Christian pop. 'The Progeny' then led an amped version of O! Canada, their cherubic pubescent purity back-lit by a half-dozen massive video screens and enough red, white, and blue bunting to make it seem very nearly real.

Stephen Fletcher's call from a wheelchair for the populace to don shirts of the same colour tomorrow (N14) in a show of solidarity for "our troops" seemed too reminiscent of similar colour-coded political entities for comfort. Whether Stephen Fletcher meant the royal We when he claimed what is "Ours," or he actually believes each of us bears a share in the fate of Canada's forces fighting overseas is difficult to say. In the latter case: I'd like my share of Our troops to come home, straight away.

But, the Man of the Hour isn't coming on stage tonight to make any such offer of reasoned retreat for the fodder at the front lines in Afghanistan.

 

The same idiots who have managed through their utterly craven disregard for decency and a practiced lack of humanity, to ruin the economy for the vast majority, will now not waiver from their convictions. Harper addressed the hooting section, reminding his tax cuts for the rich were "for the best interest of Canadians," skimming effortless over Ottawa's diminished treasury under his tenure. He hailed too his Tories as "only the fifth Conservative government [in the nation's history] to be reelected!" Wow.

Stephen we're told also possesses a "passionate belief in the unity of this country." This passion was evident as Harper strained to stress the size of his second minority government's "strengthened mandate." "In typical Bush-style, up is down and in is out, Stephen has done a great job, and with broad public support. Emptied the treasury and spent the surplus, just as an economic disaster blows around the nation. Good work.

Just today, the not so conservative party in power doled out a further 50 billion Canadian dollars to the nation's banks. This on the same day the U.S. secretary of the treasury announced his like-wise approach with the infamous 750 billion American dollars promised to profligate bankers down south is a bust and he's trying another approach. But Stephen has done a good job.

Hypnotically, Stephen Harper is preaching the joys he feels in the face of Canadian resilience in the face of the storm. The good men and women have moved him. He warned there are "more difficult days ahead." Regarding the upcoming emergency economic summit he will attend this weekend in Washington, Harper promised to fight for Canada's interests saying, "Canada is not an island, my friends." (Friends? Is John McCain missing a speech-writer?). From sea to sea to sea, Stephen promises to fight hard for "hard working Canadians." But, friends don't let friends go broke.

In the name of "re-balancing" the judiciary, Harper declared he would be tough on pedophiles - and not on duck hunters and farmers. Woo...woo! The Canadian Forces too he extols, saying it has a new mission. We learn it is remade, by him.

Identifying the convention as representing all of Canada, (ipso facto vice versa) Mr. H. reassured the rally they possessed the moral majority voice on Canada's political scene now, and will into the future. Ignoring the lowest voter turnout in history, and the minuscule percentage of the overall electorate his party actually won, Harper is claiming the majority of Canadians voted his party in, and from that thin gruel is taking his "mandate." A mandate for what is less clear, but it looks a lot like the Republic.

Three successive minority governments in Canada does not a mandate make. It does not take a great deal of analysis to recognize: The last thing the country wants is a true-believer that would use the global economic shock to push through a nation-changing agenda. We've seen what Harper's approach led to in George Bush's America, and yet he is standing on the bridge of the ship of state, obstinately staring down ice bergs rather than changing the country's course.

How, good and hardy people, ready are We for a radical future that will make of Canada a police state? How sanguine are We as the Canadian Forces arrest, imprison, kill, maim and humiliate a population half-a-world away? How ready are We to accept the conditions militarism necessitate at home?

Stephen Harper, able representative of the Calgary School of Economics and supporter of the same voodoo policies currently bringing down the world's banking system is also confidant of Canada's moral certitude at arms, believing he and We can rightly bring to foreign lands a respect for Our way of life, (even as it totters) at bayonet point if necessary.

It's a little surreal this convention. Harper will now disappear, destined this weekend for the G20 and the international stage, while the faithful rubes in Winnipeg cheer each other's prospects for personal enrichment in the coming term.

As billions of tax dollars are shoveled out of the nation's treasury like so much driveway snow into the infernal furnace of a global economic meltdown, Harper is offering second rate circus performers and off-key religiosity to address the deep concerns Canadians of all stripes share - that is: Canadians in all political parties, and the majority that don't give a damn for one lying politician over another, are worried Stephen.

The dreams of a Harper cult of personality and its concurrent new conservative dynasty in Canada is flowered too late. The party is over, and this country needs inspired and inclusive leadership in this moment; spin, glitz, and sleight of hand, a bit of razzle-dazzle and a t-shirt colour guard isn't going to cut it.