I’m an Average Joe - and I support Harper
Filed Under: Canadian Affairs
How many times have you heard the phrase [the Conservatives] only care about the rich? Next time you hear that silly phrase remind yourself of this piece by the Christian Conservative.
On the one hand, you have Prime Minister Stephen Harper, where all those in attendance were regular people who have day jobs, are trying to make ends meet, and who simply want their government to give them a fair shake.
Then, you have the contrast of former Prime Minister Paul Martin, and a get-together I managed to crash during the last election. Who were in attendance at his little shin-dig? All the local lawyers, the well-to-doers, the kids of the well-heeled, the folks with the nice snazzy cars, big homes with two people, etc… the local money, the connected folks, the “culture of entitlement”.
By the way, I’m an average Canadian. I’m a lowly tradesman - a roofer, hardly rich.
19 Comments so far. Click here to join the discussion!
Werner Patels
I am not rich either — far from it (what do you expect from a translator and writer?). But I’ll be damned if I let the Liberals grab power again in this country (or in my province — even though, the Alberta Liberals are extreme right-wingers when compared with their federal cousins).
Oct 8th, 2007
Len Kutchma
Hi Werner,
I really don’t know where this idea that the Tories are the party of the rich comes from?
Oct 8th, 2007
Werner Patels
If anything, if there is a party of the rich and the entitled, it’s the Liberals.
Oct 9th, 2007
canadian_2
Conservative is not a party of the rich in Canada. It is a party of people who want to be rich, but apparently don’t have the smarts or the work ethic to get there. Thus, they go into politics or become “pundits”, avoiding the hard work of building businesses and creating wealth, but paying lip service to the notion of a “strong and vigorous private sector” that they, unfortunately, know nothing about. It leads to people like Pierre Poilievre, he of little if any accomplishment in life, assuming a leadership position for his ability to enage in partisan taunts.
So instead they play politics and turn our public discourse into a lowest common denominator hyper-partisan shouting match, and carry this same approach outside our borders, where domestic politics usually stops. Like the hapless and horrific Rat Pack before them, except now we have an entire government of it…
It leads to good and accomplished people like John Tory being defeated by mediocrity, much like the smart able and accomplished Paul Martin was defeated by a partisan hack.
It makes one sad.
Oct 9th, 2007
Dave Hodson
I don’t know who started that line either.
If the Conservatives supposedly only care about the rich, why is it that their voter support traditionally comes from more rural ares of the country with lower than average incomes?
Incomes are fairly high in urban Toronto and Vancouver, and exactly how many seats did the conservatives win there?
Werner is right. The Liberals are the party of the rich. Not the conservatives.
Oct 9th, 2007
Len Kutchma
Hi canadian_2,
I’m not sure about Paul Martin being smart able and accomplished. His predecessor yes. But he himself? I don’t think so.
I do agree with your assessment of politicians in general with respect to their knowledge … or lack of … business.
Edit: I should add that I do agree Paul Martin was a smart and accomplished business man. I just don’t think he was that great of a politician.
Oct 9th, 2007
Len Kutchma
Hi Dave,
“…their voter support traditionally comes from more rural ares of the country with lower than average incomes?” Great point. I lived in a rural area most of my life and Conservative support there was overwhelming.
Oct 9th, 2007
canadian_2
Paul Martin was a lousy politician, although he did manage to accomplish an amazing amount as finance minister. All of that apparent political skill seemed to disappear when he hit the PMO, though perhaps his accomplishments were more tied to sound policy - grounded in real world experience - as finance minister.
In terms of his predecessor being, smart and able, well, let’s just say he was a good politician. Period.
In saying Paul Martin was a lousy politician, it is mostly a compliment, just as saying Chretien was a good politician (as is, to some extent Harper) is NOT a compliment.
I truly wish we could expect more accomplished people in public life - including people like John Tory - but with the barrel-scraping hackery that masquerades as political discourse, exemplified by the Sheila Copps and John Bairds of this world (and yes in my view Harper), being rewarded with victory, I won’t hold my breath.
Oct 9th, 2007
Len Kutchma
Hi canadian_2,
“I truly wish we could expect more accomplished people in public life …”
On that point I think we both agree.
Oct 9th, 2007
canadian_2
See - reasonable people can agree on some things.
I just wish there were more like you on either side. Governing our country is serious business and for the most part we leave it to the ones who are most effective at taunting their opponents.
It’s not “let the elites rule us” but rather let’s have a marketplace of ideas, a real debate on the substance of the issues at hand and then choose people who appear to have the necessary skills and competence to ensure it gets done.
With a media that for the most part highlights and rewards the dumb partisan stuff, and the harsh partisans on all sides never giving an inch on their party or leader’s infallibility, it is unfortunately not too likely.
Kudos to you for responding and not flaming me with taunts of “lieberal”, “fiberal” or “adscam”.
Oct 9th, 2007
Len Kutchma
Hi canadian_2,
You raised some valid points and did so in an intelligent and mature way. People of all political philosophies are welcome to voice their opinions here so long as they do it the way you did.
By the way, being a partisan blogger I too have in the past engaged in “dumb partisan stuff”.
Oct 9th, 2007
Werner Patels
And let’s not forget that Paul Martin managed to avoid paying taxes in Canada (!). So much for a patriotic prime minister ….
Oct 9th, 2007
Werner Patels
I see this blog has been abandoned again. Len, Len, Len, … what are we going to do with you?
Oct 23rd, 2007
Len Kutchma
Hi Werner,
I haven’t abandoned the blog. My hard drive died. When it rains it pours…
Oct 28th, 2007
Werner Patels
What? First the database and now the hard drive? Man, we’ll have to find you a new lucky star and soon!
Nov 22nd, 2007
Len Kutchma
“Man, we’ll have to find you a new lucky star and soon!”
You have no idea my friend. I’ve spent $2,000 in repairs on my truck in the last 2 months. Now both the master cylinder and manifold intake gasket are leaking brake fluid and antifreeze respectively - at least another 500 hundred bucks!
On top of that there were 2 incidents which occurred at work recently within days of each other with resulted in both the rear window and passenger door window being smashed out. All right before Christmas. It never ends.
Nov 26th, 2007
Len Kutchma
Hi Werner,
With respect to comment #17 I’d have to say you are spot on! Although I am both a Conservative and a conservative I’ll be the first to admit when I feel my guys are screwing up. I’m tired of working 12-14 hours a day 6 days a week and paying through the nose and for what?
Nov 26th, 2007
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