The fascinating neutralization of Canadian politics

  Paul Martin 
  Originally uploaded by The Rappaz Horror Picture Show.

At present in Canada we have a truly fascinating political (hyper)reality.  Our Liberal minority parliamentary government is impotent, dead in the water, just waiting for an opposition party to put forward a motion to bring it down.  But no opposition party wants to be the one to actually do it, in fear of electoral repercussions in sending people to the polls when they should, apparently, be only thinking of Christmas shopping.  So, we have an elaborate danceathon, a tedious political poker game.  Everyone's bluffing, but no one is holding on to any cards.  Maybe everyone holds a joker, and nothing else.

Partly it's what might happen if there was an election now.  Polls show either a Liberal minority or a Conservative minority would form the government.  A Liberal minority would only result in what we have right now, so there's no point to that.  The Liberals could form a decent alliance with our Leftist (though effectively Third Way) NDP, but they consistently refuse given that there are more votes for them in appearing to refuse the Left's demands.  But a Conservative minority would be even more inept at accomplishing anything, since no one would ever vote on their side (not the Liberals, not the NDP, and not the seperatist Bloc Quebecois).

So nothing can or will happen with the government we have now.  But nothing will happen with any foreseable change.  All they can do is dance this most perfect and total neutralization of the space of the Political.

Comments

[Adam Kotsko]

I'm jealous. Do any other Americans feel the same way?

[Matt]

Beat me to it.

[Alain]

Ditto.

[ricia]

I view it a stalemate that will be played over and over again among the many fractions that compose the "two party" chess game that commenced only a short while ago. While they're busy manifesting inevitable outcomes, they are more willing to pander to minority social interests (which we benefit from, for the most part) and smaller / newer parties gain time and garner further support... If the social/economic sphere remains akin to that which exists now, the scuffle should also benefit us (on the 'left') by producing viable political contenders and new choices for the voting population.

Well..... This is the specifically optimistic version of my viewpoint on the state of Canuck politics...

[RIPope]

The problem, of course, is that barring proportional representation there probably isn't much of a worry that the left will gain more - effective - ground in another election. What's especially disturbing is how little the Liberals want to work with the NDP. If we had proportional representation they would surely be keener.

[ricia]

Agreed!

[old]

RIPope, where in Canada are you? I've just recently moved to Toronto from the states.

[RIPope]

I'm from Toronto - welcome to the neighbourhood (notice Canuck/Brit spelling)! Are you here for university purposes?