The West IS in…and this is what we got?
Remember the old battle cry of the Reform Party – The West Wants In. Well… in 2010, we can safely say that the West IS in with Stephen Harper’s Conservatives firmly planted in the Reform/Alliance side of the spectrum. The question is - Are we better or worse as a country? Based on the trajectory of things over the past few years, the answer is clearly, no.
I should say that this isn’t to disparage Western Canadians collectively, just their political class who have really but the “con” in neo-con over the past decade. Everything from importing American sensibilities – their political style, religious zealotry, ridiculous belief in the unfettered market system, xenophobia – to the fast-track devolution of the country to a resource-based economy – Canada has taken one giant step backwards with the West in power.
That isn’t to say that things can’t be turned around. Indeed some of the best elements we hold dear came from the West (Healthcare, pensions, etc.). Unfortunately, this was the socialist side of the Western-Canadian political spectrum which doesn’t seem to be on the rise. The West had their chance to move the country forward, at a time of our greatest potential and wealth, and they have pissed the opportunity away. Heck, some Westerners have even started a The West Wants Out movement – Way to show leadership guys.
Perhaps it time for the East to be in. And by East I mean the Maritimes. Prime Minister Danny Williams – I could see that.
