Deep divisions

A debate now under way in the House of Commons, as we speak,  is absolutely fascinating for what it reveals of the depth of animosity between Liberals and Conservatives on issues of tolerance/morality and the fight for the votes of the so-called cultural communities.

It all revolves around the recent wave of Conservative flyers, alleging connections between Liberals and anti-Semitism.  But the argument goes farther back, to what both sides see as over-the-top attacks on each other, dating back almost a decade, even longer. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney produced a long list of old grievances against Liberal rhetoric; the Liberals had their own history to recount.

 I'll post the link tomorrow, when it's part of the official House of Commons record, but for anyone wanting to understand the depth and history of Liberal-Conservative antagonism on this front, today's debate is required reading/viewing.

Comments

[Sicamous]

Who cares what the hoistory is regarding the Liberal Conser. antagonism? There are more important fish to fry!!

[Mike-D]

"Who cares what the hoistory (sic) is regarding the Liberal Conser. antagonism?" If this is a poll, I do.

The problem with the endless hammerheading between the two lead national parties is that, so long as it goes on, anything resembling a legislative agenda in this country goes nowhere. "Politics", instead of being what it should be -- consensus and consultation-driven governance, becomes instead a ruthless game of "Gotcha!" and when the actual getting isn't happening, relentless searches for the next "Gotcha!"

We're riding through the worst recession in generations; the world is crying for us to do something substantial to help the global climate north of the 49th; several national and international groups decry the existence of so many poor and homeless in a nation so unbelievably rich; the world condemns the treatment of our First Nations and what are our leaders devoting their entire energies to at the moment? -- arguing that the absence of the word "torture" from official reports must mean that no actual torture took place -- brutally inhumane treatment, and the systematic breaking down of the human will to resist, yes. But torture? Nous?

Never mind addressing the problem. The collection of f-wits on the Hill want only to make sure that blame is affixed. Just as they've done for the entire past decade.

So yes, damned right I care about the history of their appalling antagonism. Because until it is fixed, this country is being run on nothing more than thuggery, not government.

And it will only ever get fixed when we understand how it came to be, and can start shunning the mindless fools who seek as candidates to perpetuate it, and vote instead for leaders who will lead from the front because we elected them to do so, not from the backrooms wallpapered with the latest polling results and carpeted with the thousand draft copies of today's talking points aimed solely at embarrassing one's opponents.

Until then, a pox on all their houses and damn them all to the swiftest road to Hell.

[MyThought]

Every time I think Harper couldn't get any lower - he does it again.