In turning loose former colonies, the United Kingdom often use the direction for Peace, Order and Good Government somewhere in their initial constitutions. And here we are 158 years later—still with a constitution tied in knots.
But, to be fair, the admonition to work on peace, order and good government is much better than the American’s attempt to seek out “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Or is it any more ambitious than the Republic of France expounding on Liberty, Equality and Fraternity?
We are certainly not seeing a great deal of brotherhood out of strife-ridden France these days. And if America, in the era of Donald Trump, is finding much happiness with its condition these days, we would be surprised.
None of this gives Canadians the right to be smug.
I weep at the condition of politics in this country. We shame ourselves in the building discord. Justin Trudeau has destroyed the liberal party. He ripped it of organizational strength. He left the grass roots to rot. He uses supporters as his personal ATM. He is disinterested in their thoughts, ideas and ambitions. He wastes them as an effective army of supporters in elections. He is but an actor on the Ottawa stage.
After a long series of failed leadership changes, the conservatives have fallen into the hands of a demagogue. He lacks the organizational skills of Stephen Harper. He lacks the energy of a Jason Kenney. He is but a frail shadow of leadership.
And to top his problem, Poilievre has to fight two parties for the approval of the voters. The NDP, who are always late to the dinner table, are led by an observant Sikh. Their leader marches to the drumbeat of the Tenth Guru—not to the needs of a modern Canada.
And the situation across the provinces is not much better. The bitter are the Albertans—after years of struggles on the political right. Albertans have been used and abused for many years now by the libertarians among them. And that does not explain Ontario.
More to come in 2023.
-30-
Copyright 2023 © Peter Lowry
Complaints, comments, criticisms and compliments can be sent to: