Errol Mendes writes that Stephen Harper recently went to see Stephen Spielberg's Lincoln. If Harper saw himself in the man, he's deluded:
If he saw any of himself in the film’s focus on the rather Machiavellian methods Lincoln used to obtain congressional approval for the 13th Amendment proscribing slavery for all time, then Canada had better watch out.
While Harper certainly could offer a list of the devious machinations he’s used to secure his political objectives — from eliminating the Progressive Conservative Party to treating Parliament, the Crown’s prorogative powers and taxpayer’s money as his playthings — there is nothing even remotely similar in how the two men have handled power.
Lincoln devoted his efforts to establishing a "more perfect union." And he advocated acting "with malice toward none, with charity for all." Mendes writes:
Lincoln, no doubt, was prepared to engage in unsavory politics in the right cause. The Harper Conservative government also engages in unsavory politics, but to what end? Killing the Liberal party? Imposing policies on most of the country in order to secure a base that can deliver elections? Focusing on wedge politics to divide Canadian society? Abandoning principled conservatism in order to push through massive budgets that hide environment-damaging measures that advance the interests of the most powerful lobbies?
Most of all, Lincoln believed in government of the people, by the people and for the people. Mr. Harper believes that his country would be better off if "the people" kept their noses out of government -- most particularly, his government.
2 comments:
Canada is rotten to the core with corruption. I'm afraid Harper is no, honest Abe Lincoln.
Lies, deceit, thefts, corruption, dirty tactics, dirty politics and cheating to win in this country, is acceptable to Harper and his Cons. Harper said. I AM the LAW. I MAKE the RULES.
Harper's laws and rules are. There will be no Democracy for Canada. There will be no, Civil Rights and Liberties permitted, for Canadian citizens. Freedom of Speech is under attack. Our Human Rights are being eroded. Any Canadians in any form, blocking Communist China's huge inroads into Canada? Harper is permitting China to sue them.
In Lincolns day. Harper selling his country out to Communist China, would have been considered Treason. Harper would have been named a Traitor. Lincoln himself would have had, Harper dealt with, very, very harshly. Harper would be sent to, the ninth ring of Dante's Inferno.
I'm sure, Anon, that Lincoln -- who was a good judge of character -- would have had a pretty good read on Mr. Harper.
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