Andrew Coyne's opinions tend to fall on the right side of the political spectrum. That fact, however, does not make him a fan of the Harper government. In this morning's National Post he writes:
We’ve had some thuggish or dishonest governments in the past, even some corrupt ones, but never one quite so determined to arouse the public’s hostility, to so little apparent purpose. Their policy legacy may prove short-lived, but it will be hard to erase the stamp of the Nasty Party.
The Harperites have deliberately chosen to present themselves as the Nasty Party. Coyne, in fact, agrees with some of Harper's initiatives -- like raising the age of eligibility for Old Age Security. The problem with the government is its style: "as overbearing as it is under-handed and that on a good day:"
When they are not refusing to disclose what they are doing, they are giving out false information; when they allow dissenting opinions to be voiced, they smear them as unpatriotic or worse; when they open their own mouths to speak, it is to read the same moronic talking points over and over, however these may conflict with the facts, common courtesy, or their own most solemn promises.
There are certain laws -- like the law of gravity -- which govern existence on this planet. This government's essential flaw is that it ignores the principle of what goes around comes around. It has nothing but contempt for its opponents, the press and -- most surprisingly -- the public. The result, Coyne concludes, is that:
"The odium in which they are now held is well-earned, and entirely self-inflicted."
6 comments:
While it is refreshing to see the right begin to turn on the Harper cabal, Owen, I would have to say that I diverge with Coyne on his assertion that it is just a problem of style with this government. It is also, of course, a matter of the substance of its destructive policies, which Thomas Walkom writes about in today's Star.
Walkom -- who knows a lot more about economics than Harper does -- neatly sums up the Conservative agenda, Lorne:
No employment insurance. No welfare. No pensions. No unions.
Harper hired Wolfgang Droege, as security for Preston Manning. What part of that, don't people get?
Canadians are living in the most evil times, in the recorded history of this Nation. We are ruled by a tyrant, of a Fascist monster.
Dreoge was a very unsavoury character, Anon. If Harper was a Droege supporter, we are in trouble.
Andrew Coyne, while at least being somewhat critical, is too easy on Harper & Co. He's gone far beyond "a few difficult" policy decisions – he wants to dismantle any 'Liberal' policies and values developed since Pearson that he perceives to exist in this country, and he does it with a robust hatred of any Canadians who may support those values. He is tearing out the fabric of this country, whether it's women groups, young people, social justice inside and outside the country, environment & intellect of course, secularism & humanism and much more He is pandering to his base, which believes the world is near its end & the righteous will be saved in the second coming of Christ. He is as dangerous as any other fanatic.
It is their fanaticism which makes the Harperites so nasty, Anon.
They see themselves as God's instruments -- and that is why they are dangerous.
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