Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative government have spent vast sums of money to attack opposition members who are voting to keep the gun registry. They have invested significant political capital, money and effort on this issue.
Regardless of where you stand on this issue, you should be asking yourself whether this should be the burning issue of the day. Unemployment remains high, the economic recovery is weak, the government is spending at least 7 billion (up to 16 billion) on an untendered contract for new fighter jets, and we are suffering from trade deficits for the first time in years. Despite these issues, Stephen Harper is focusing on the long gun registry.
Whether you are for or against the registry, any of these other issues has much more effect on you. Harper is raising the issue only because it is a wedge issue. Harper isn't just putting his arguments forward, he is demonizing anyone who disagrees with him. He sees the success of the Tea Party in the US and is trying to emulate their tactics here.
Anyone who disagrees with you is evil. If you are a civil servant or appointee who doesn't whole heartedly support him, you are gone. He can whip his party and force any Conservative who is in favour of the long gun registry to vote against it but he attacks anyone in a different party who does the same.
I have no problem with someone disagreeing with my politics or my positions. I do have problems when our Prime Minister attacks anyone who disagrees with him and encourages the over the top attacks that mar American politics. We should be able to disagree without hating each other.
No comments:
Post a Comment