Harper’s Message vs Change and Hope

I know.  It’s been nearly 2 months since the Canadian election and 40% of those who voted showed their contempt for Canada by electing a pack of crooks.

I tried very hard to bury these painful thoughts about why so many people would fall for the garbage that Harper spun and I think I’ve finally figured out part of it.

Harper’s message was the complete opposite of Obama’s ‘Change’ and ‘Hope’ themes that got him elected in 2008.

And why would this get him elected?  OK … so I haven’t quite figure that out yet, but let’s remind ourselves that the central messages were ‘Stability’ and ‘Security’.

What the F*@& do those mean?

Are they threats?

Are they promises?

What I do know is that, despite my massive misgivings for Barack Obama, they are the complete opposite of ‘Hope’ and ‘Change’.

What kind of vision does ‘Stability’ offer the people of Canada?

What kind of opportunity does ‘Security’ generate for Canadians?

I wish we had inspected these promises a little more thoroughly in the run-up to the election.

I wish we had all taken a moment to demand something more visceral from our leaders last May.

I wish we hadn’t all thought of ourselves with the smallness of selfishness that comes with the fear and paranoia that are central to these themes.

If we all had, maybe we wouldn’t be where we are today with Herr Harper in control.