Final thoughtsThe weekend before the election was as interesting as the elections themselves. Saturday edition of Globe and Mail set in motion the whirlwind attack on Conservative Party. Starting with an only slightly biased stand at the beginning of the campaign, the self-proclaimed national newspaper had become more and more vehemently Liberal till it pulled all stops on Saturday. Among other things, prefaced by a syrupy Letter from the Editor, the Globe published a article on the leader of Conservative party. Even normally right-wing papers, undoubtedly coerced by their Liberal owner, muffled their voices. The propaganda continued through the Liberal-owned television and radio stations all weekend. This writer was reminded of elections in India in his youth when all media sang the praises of Nehru and his cohorts in the Congress party for a week before the elections with predictable results.The publicity barrage had the desired effect in Ontario and the East and the Tory tide was reversed. Mr. Martin "won" enough seats to let his corrupt and inept party form the government and subject poor Canadians to another term of self-righteous rule by an elite group who has mastered the art of manipulation of elections; not to serve the country but to exercise the power for their selfish ends. Election night promises should not fool any one. One can not expect Mr. Martin to develop leadership qualities or Liberal party to become lily white just because they have lost a few seats. The election results show that Kipling's oft quoted line - The East is east, the West is west, and the twains shall never meet - fully applies to Canada of twenty-first century. The talk of a Conservative breakthrough evaporated as the day of reckoning approached and vacillating Ontarians became victim of the combined onslaught of print and broadcast media presenting Harper as an ogre from the West. The results show once and for all that attack ads and scare campaigns work in Canada. An Albertan friend brushed aside the talk of Conservative breakthrough the other day and predicted the defeat of Conservatives. According to him this defeat will raise the issue of Alberta separation again. There has always been a feeling among old Albertans that rest of Canada takes them for granted and the federation is not designed to meet their needs. It is fortunate for advocates of Canadian unity like myself that a large portion of population in this province consists of relatively recent arrivals from the "East" and abroad who do not share the separatist sentiment and support the status quo. But it will be short-sighted for Ottawa to continue to disregard Conservative opposition as old Western grievances as it always has. The pot is boiling and urgent attention to heal the wounds is required. The results have convinced me that something is basically wrong in the way we chose the government. I am tempted to blame the concentrated ownership of the media. Heavens forbid that the technology for manipulating human behavior has advanced so far that representation of free will is impossible? |