A few weeks ago, Prime Minister Stephen Harper dropped the writ and called an election here in Canada. No no no, don't apologize, it's ok. We barely noticed either.
See here in Canada, we have a bit of an over-ambundance of access to all things Made in U.S.A. including most television. While there is made in Canada television, (some very good) but it tends to be much lower budget and in some cases just plain bad. In contrast, American programs tend to be flashy well-produced numbers (and many times just as equally bad.) So it is with our elections.
In the U.S., we feel the breeze of change, in spite of dogs, war stories and lipstick, we have hope that this time you will make the right decision and truly inspire the world. It's like you're being offered another season of Aaron Sorkin on West Wing but you're not sure, you might really want another season of Cops. Tough call. (I personally like to keep my pitbulls chained in the back yard where they can't hurt anyone and I certainly wouldn't let my grandfather walk one.)
The Canadian election is by comparison a bit tamer. Conservative Stevie baby (a policy wonk with blue eyes and a bad temper), and Liberal Stephane Dion (an environmentalist policy wonk with a dog named Kyoto and a bad temper) will fight for Prime Minister. In fact, it looks like it's pretty Stevie's to lose. (Also running the "god we love you, but won't elect you because of what Bob Rae did to Ontario" NDP and their wonk, Jack Layton (who has a mustash and who I don't much about) and the Green Party are trying to get a seat too. Think all C-span, all the time. Oh dear god make it stop.
The big issue this week: The Conservative (Stevie) ran a thing on their website making fun of Stephane (Liberal) -- in this animation Stephane gets shat upon by a puffin. Then one of Stevie's hunchbacks sent an email to a major news network, saying an outspoken father of a dead soldier was a Liberal supporter. Sounds like the Conservative might need a little of the Supernanny's help.
Not to say that the others are sitting quietly and taking it. They just don't have the budget to mess up. (The Man is incensed by the scary imagery in the NDP French's ads. I am not offended because I happen to agree that the Conservatives ARE that evil.) It's like a the entire bunch are in need of the Supernanny. Now Jack -- you know that makes Stevie cry... I suppose if I were Jack, I'd be imitating Superbowl ads too.
Ain't no high cost production going to save this wreck.
But here's the rub, there is no choice here. I get the feeling that come Oct. 15, I'll get up go to work and wonder why they fuck we didn't pour the millions it's going to cost to fixing health care, for policy on helping the environment, on helping people folks who need it. Something. Anything, Other than placating Stevie's ego. I'll admit it I'm a die-hard come election time. I live for this shit. But this time, I'm just pissed we're doing this again -- there is no good reason for this. The outcome seems predetermined. Another Conservative Minority.
Hardly seems worth the bother of voting. Except that now I'm worried that if we all feel this way the outcome might not be so predetermined after all. And that could signal a change we definitely don't want. -- a Conservative Majority... because we've seen this one down South, we know it ends badly. And god only knows what kind of mess the Canadian production would turn it into.
