What Canadians seem to get are politicians who put their parties above their priorities via conditioned antics. Voters should not be interested in the mindless chest-beating politics of their ideology, because how can a politician who puts doctrine and “values” first be entrusted to make rational decisions?
With headlines of Toronto mayor Rob Ford’s alleged crack-cocaine addiction, the expenses of Senator Mike Duffy, and the institutional costs of the Senate and issues over 2011 election spending, stories of poor governance are compounded.
These aren’t even “scandals,” really; they have become ordinary problems for Ottawa and other political jurisdictions. At worst, they represent pressing issues that will go unresolved. In other cases, it’s the cover-up and subsequent lies told to society.
As such, genuine problems facing society get glossed over. When was the last time a prominent politician spoke with a reasoned attack against the issue of rising student debt or youth unemployment? The Financial Post has flagged $27,000 of debt for the average student entering the workforce. Financial burdens coupled with a lackluster economy show no promise for young Canadians, and this is being ignored.
Yet, it will be them who foot the bill in upcoming decades to pay for the social securities the generation of politicians and their supporters expect in their later years — the promises of a “just society.”
Looking at political history, “value politics” have been used both by icons of the political left and right. In Britain, Margaret Thatcher’s neoconservatism was responsible for creating unnecessary suffering. Her practice of conviction politics held the responsibility of more than doubling child poverty.
Politicians who believe ideologies can full-stop serve as a solution to the ills of society do not harm themselves. But when these ideas are thrust upon society, everyone loses, and necessary needs become neglected. Politicians should be expected to act within reason. Politicians should look at every issue in relation to its causes and effects.
There is no substitute for good governance. At the end of the day, it’s society that pays the price for the vicious role of ideology; it threatens the public’s trust of political institutions. Just look at the state of the Senate in our country!
To be fair, there are politicians in Canada doing commendable work, and they deserve to be supported. Liberal Senator Romeo Dallaire is a politician all Canadians should be proud of, because he worked to promote advocacy against the exploitation of child soldiers, and to promote genocide prevention. Dallaire exemplifies the silent heroes on Parliament Hill who work in the shadows of those politicians too busy grandstanding.
The expressive foundation of a politician to the ideological fundamentals of their party’s values, economic doctrine, or religious conviction will not help society progress. When dogmatic politicians who have already alienated a segment of the electorate go on to commit transgressions — as we have seen in the last year with the Senate and with the mayor of Toronto — everyone loses.
Poor governance weakens the social contract, withering away the just society. The relationship between the voter and politician should be sacrosanct, above political parties and above any strategic calculations.
Demonizing the entire political system won’t work, so support politicians who work for progress. Poor politics won’t erode a just society — it will decay because of society’s weak support of good governance when it is there.
