Bitterness rising?

Somehow, it feels like there must be some political connection to this newest poll (.pdf) by Angus Reid.

Apparently, a lot of Canadians believe people are more angry this year than they were last year - with women and young people reporting they're losing their tempers more often. Women and young people are also most likely to report feeling alienated from politics too.

Anecdotally, I know that fellow reporters on Parliament Hill have noted a nastier tone in correspondence and emails. And in the daily political fray, things are meaner all around. Jeffrey Simpson notes that today in The Globe and Mail (subscription req'd), with regard to the NDP.

Or maybe it's just the weather.

Comments

[Darwin O'Connor]

Like the article http://ago.mobile.globeandmail.com/generated/archive/RTGAM/html/20080408/wcosimp08.html says, "The NDP's policy prescriptions are usually ignored".

If the media would spend more time on ideas like Pharmacare http://www.ndp.ca/page/6205 and Poverty http://www.ndp.ca/page/6334 the NDP probably wouldn't bother with such things.

[maudie]

Very interesting post today; I believe some anger and bitterness are especially true for people who very much dislike the direction in which the Conservative gov't. is headed, which--to anyone who's been paying attention--is a betrayal of virtually everything this country has built up and stood for, for generations. For a while now, I've been thinking that what Stephane Dion and the Liberal Party need is a way of connecting with Canadians who feel betrayed (because they are!), so that hope can come alive for us all.
Whether this connection has to spring from the grassroots to be convincing enough for the Libs to call an election they know they can win, or whether it can be created from the top down by means of the internet, I can't say. I do know that the time for connection has come: it's been a long cold winter but spring is on its way....and how symbolic and encouraging is that?!

[Neil Shea]

Naw………… once the weather improves, it will be beer and steaks on the spit. Then we will settle down, don’t know about the politicians though and really don’t care.