Chairman Mao, Forrest Gump and the Liberal Party of Canada
“We need the policy of keep people stupid.” – Chairman Mao
I am reading a fascinating new biography of Mao Tse-Tung by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday. Armed with previously undisclosed files from the Kremlin, the authors of this riveting book reveal how through a combination of guile, luck, and utter ruthlessness, Mao was able to achieve the power he did. Along the way the gullibility and unwillingness of so many who ought to have known better, to question some of the propaganda so skillfully woven by Mao, prevented both those within the Chinese leadership and other nations from deposing the tyrant.
Keeping the people stupid was a core tenet of Mao’s. 22 years of recent Liberal rule in Canada, combining for a total of 75 of the last 105 years suggests to me that the same mantra will apply to Liberal apparatchiks if they once again avoid defeat in the upcoming election.
How else could any student of history a century from now explain the willingness of the population of an educated and freely democratic society to repeatedly ignore the myriad of reasons why the ruling party should be deposed?
The latest government peccadillo to illustrate my point involves an RCMP investigation into possible leaks from the Department of Finance just prior to Minister Ralph Goodale’s announcement that he would not alter the tax treatment of income trusts, and would instead make the tax treatment of dividends more favourable. There is no disputing that there was an inordinate amount of trading in the shares of companies and trusts on the morning of the announcement. Some will argue it was simply astute speculators anticipating an announcement. Those folks doubtlessly also believe in Santa Claus and the tooth fairy.
Certainly there were speculators who guessed correctly. I don’t mind admitting that not only did I hold onto my income trust units after they had fallen by 25% following Goodale’s announcement of a review of the rules, but I took advantage of the depressed prices to buy some more. My reasoning was simply that I did not believe the Liberals would be so stupid as to antagonize such a large segment of their supporters going into an election campaign. I know I am not so smart as to be the only one who made that investment decision, but it would be rather remarkable for so many of us to have made the decision to buy just hours in advance of the announcement.
Do I think Ralph Goodale benefited personally from the leak? No. Do I believe he encouraged or consented to the release of information by someone from his staff? No. Do I think someone from his staff made a statement, perhaps inadvertently that signaled the decision was coming down later that day? Yes. Do I think the people who received the information were political friends of the Liberals? Yes. Do I think Ralph Goodale should resign as Finance Minister pending completion of the RCMP investigation? Yes. Do I think he will? No.
The Liberal Party of Canada has completely forgotten the meaning of ministerial responsibility, and of the age-old conventions of the British parliamentary system. Those conventions are based on a sense of honour and an understanding of how crucial it is to protect the institutions of government from falling into disrepute. That they have forgotten this may be too kind. A better argument might be that they are contemptuous of the need to be responsible, so arrogant and accustomed to power have they become. The recent incidents of tasteless ad hominem attacks against Mr. Layton and his wife provide the latest evidence of such arrogance.
Mr. Goodale should have made a straightforward statement to the effect that while he has the utmost confidence in his staff, and he neither knows of any facts to support the allegations underlying the investigation, nor is suspicious of their existence; he has the greatest respect for the institutions of government and the responsibilities of ministers of the Crown. Accordingly, he is handing in to the Prime Minister his resignation as Minister of Finance until the completion of the investigation, at which time he fully expects his department to be cleared of any intimation of wrongdoing, and he would hope the Prime Minister would see fit to reappoint him.
This would provide Mr. Martin with the opportunity to demonstrate there is some substance to his assertion that he intends to bring new accountability to government.
None of this will happen of course. Mr. Goodale has stood his ground, denying any wrongdoing, and Mr. Martin has assured us that he knows Mr. Goodale very well, that he is an honourable man of the greatest integrity and he will not resign. All of which of course misses the point. Resignation would be the irrefutable proof of his integrity.
These are but the latest reasons why even those who support the policies of the Liberals should withdraw their support in this coming election. Only through defeat does the Liberal party have any chance of experiencing true renewal.
But the people, what will they think of this? Not very much at all if recent history is any guide. Stupid is as stupid does as Forrest Gump said.
I am reading a fascinating new biography of Mao Tse-Tung by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday. Armed with previously undisclosed files from the Kremlin, the authors of this riveting book reveal how through a combination of guile, luck, and utter ruthlessness, Mao was able to achieve the power he did. Along the way the gullibility and unwillingness of so many who ought to have known better, to question some of the propaganda so skillfully woven by Mao, prevented both those within the Chinese leadership and other nations from deposing the tyrant.
Keeping the people stupid was a core tenet of Mao’s. 22 years of recent Liberal rule in Canada, combining for a total of 75 of the last 105 years suggests to me that the same mantra will apply to Liberal apparatchiks if they once again avoid defeat in the upcoming election.
How else could any student of history a century from now explain the willingness of the population of an educated and freely democratic society to repeatedly ignore the myriad of reasons why the ruling party should be deposed?
The latest government peccadillo to illustrate my point involves an RCMP investigation into possible leaks from the Department of Finance just prior to Minister Ralph Goodale’s announcement that he would not alter the tax treatment of income trusts, and would instead make the tax treatment of dividends more favourable. There is no disputing that there was an inordinate amount of trading in the shares of companies and trusts on the morning of the announcement. Some will argue it was simply astute speculators anticipating an announcement. Those folks doubtlessly also believe in Santa Claus and the tooth fairy.
Certainly there were speculators who guessed correctly. I don’t mind admitting that not only did I hold onto my income trust units after they had fallen by 25% following Goodale’s announcement of a review of the rules, but I took advantage of the depressed prices to buy some more. My reasoning was simply that I did not believe the Liberals would be so stupid as to antagonize such a large segment of their supporters going into an election campaign. I know I am not so smart as to be the only one who made that investment decision, but it would be rather remarkable for so many of us to have made the decision to buy just hours in advance of the announcement.
Do I think Ralph Goodale benefited personally from the leak? No. Do I believe he encouraged or consented to the release of information by someone from his staff? No. Do I think someone from his staff made a statement, perhaps inadvertently that signaled the decision was coming down later that day? Yes. Do I think the people who received the information were political friends of the Liberals? Yes. Do I think Ralph Goodale should resign as Finance Minister pending completion of the RCMP investigation? Yes. Do I think he will? No.
The Liberal Party of Canada has completely forgotten the meaning of ministerial responsibility, and of the age-old conventions of the British parliamentary system. Those conventions are based on a sense of honour and an understanding of how crucial it is to protect the institutions of government from falling into disrepute. That they have forgotten this may be too kind. A better argument might be that they are contemptuous of the need to be responsible, so arrogant and accustomed to power have they become. The recent incidents of tasteless ad hominem attacks against Mr. Layton and his wife provide the latest evidence of such arrogance.
Mr. Goodale should have made a straightforward statement to the effect that while he has the utmost confidence in his staff, and he neither knows of any facts to support the allegations underlying the investigation, nor is suspicious of their existence; he has the greatest respect for the institutions of government and the responsibilities of ministers of the Crown. Accordingly, he is handing in to the Prime Minister his resignation as Minister of Finance until the completion of the investigation, at which time he fully expects his department to be cleared of any intimation of wrongdoing, and he would hope the Prime Minister would see fit to reappoint him.
This would provide Mr. Martin with the opportunity to demonstrate there is some substance to his assertion that he intends to bring new accountability to government.
None of this will happen of course. Mr. Goodale has stood his ground, denying any wrongdoing, and Mr. Martin has assured us that he knows Mr. Goodale very well, that he is an honourable man of the greatest integrity and he will not resign. All of which of course misses the point. Resignation would be the irrefutable proof of his integrity.
These are but the latest reasons why even those who support the policies of the Liberals should withdraw their support in this coming election. Only through defeat does the Liberal party have any chance of experiencing true renewal.
But the people, what will they think of this? Not very much at all if recent history is any guide. Stupid is as stupid does as Forrest Gump said.
posted by Ben Buan | 11:56 p.m.
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