So We Had An Election?

What happened Monday? The Cons won the right to a minority government? I think so. The Liberals proved that they're still there? Maybe. The staying power of candidates in the beltway in spite of the appearance of corruption is impressive. I have to wonder if the Liberals could do anything to make Toronto voters not vote for them. It reminds me of Zimbabwe, where Mugabe can unleash the army against vendors and homeless people - -and still be accepted by the African Union as the Liberator of Zimbabwe.

I am glad for a new government. The NDP is too far left for my taste; but if they come to power one day, then it will be their turn and good luck to them. I doubt that the Conservatives are dangerous as we've been told. Anyway, it's their turn now.

The youth mock votes across the country suggest intersting changes in the future. The Liberals came third, behind the Conservatives and NDP. Even the Greens got six seats. In our own Steinbach mock youth vote, the Greens pulled 16%, pushing the Liberals into fourth (Cons 61; NDP 21; Green 16; Libs 6)! This is Conservative country, so I was pleased to see a relatively strong Green showing.

Young people change. At least I did; and all the others I've known have. So the Liberals won't simply disappear; but they do have their work cut out for them. They may be back in power in two years. Who knows? But meanwhile they can reflect on the price of arrogance when in power.

So many questions are left. What will happen to people of faith in the new Canada? I don't know if the Conservative victory signals openess to faith or not; I doubt it. The only permitted faith is in secularism and the Charter. What will happen with the Rural-Urban divide? No idea. We have to come to terms with it; but I sure don't see how. Maybe if we could force everyone in Toronto and Vancouver to live for three years in the country, we could knock some sense into them. But cultural revolutions of that sort don't work. Ask Mao.

But there's no question that we have a new government, and a new set of people to make fun of and distrust. I wonder -- could one of the changes we try include restoring some sense of trust in government officials. It used to be that Canadians believed good government is impossible; we said that peace, order, and good government were not only possible, but desired. We're not so sure anymore. I don't like America-bashing; it seems like a waste of time. But idealism in government is one Canadian trait I don't want us to lose completely, following our America friends.

We had an election. Now let's see if we have a government.