And The Band Played On

By Mel Garden

    The media reports that Jean Cretin is gloating over the "strange alliance" between Progressive Conservative wannabe Prime Ministers, Orchard and MacKay, which at first glance seems to be the old Canadian game - compromise! In reality, this leadership convention was a demonstration of a SARS-type disease labeled 'neo-liberalism' - symptoms are well known; Mr. McKay's sell-out of  conservativism for Mr. Orchard's version of  liberal-socialism are sure signs of an entrenched plague known as "Canadian Values". Found only in The True North, it is welcomed as pure Canadiana!

    Compromise used to be a game played to gain a goal of uniting differing opinions - this is where the PC's  truly represent Canada - for the disease has mutated into "no unity, no progress, and certainly no goals". The divisions in the "new" leadership are a microcosm of the state of the Nation - devolution!. Already the status quo spin has started ----quote, "the left and right wing of the PC Party are inclusive, open to discussion and reviewing past policies... Mulroney approves, blah, blah", unquote ----- sounds nice, so democratic, so Canadian, just so warm and fuzzy all over. But beware, this is a group with no ideals, no values, and no vision except that of "Liberalism", raw power fed by rampant personal ambition - a recipe for disaster. Those looking for something better best leave or hit bottom!

    There will now be a great  re-shuffling of those proverbial "chairs" as the entire Federal Crew scurry about to gain new positions in the Nation's zero sum game. For example,  Mr. Cretin with his liberal patronizing and haughty demeanour, reminds us of,  'that orchestra leader on the deck soothing the passengers with melodic tripe', while his lackeys secure the few lifeboats remaining. His delusions of security match his intellect, for he forgets he sails onward in the same ship of fools where Captains and Navigators are part of the cocktail circuit and taking the helm is only a distant memory of leadership. Ah, and then there is the poor NDP - locked down in steerage with their 'lifeboat' commandeered by Orchard's mutiny - the Bounty never had such
a motley crew.

    The entire Canadian political establishment, from the anointed to the appointed, represent a strange phenomenon of our two legged species, they have not the wit of their furry little cousins, who would by now, 'desert the ship'. The Canadian opiate of  Responsible Government is indeed a wonder drug,  it shuts down the frontal lobes of  even the most intelligent, denying even the innate instincts of a rodent, for our 'leaders' continue to play with their chairs, the band plays on with 'bow down and decks awash'. The sharks of the world patiently circle for the kill - Canada's vision of 'representative government' - how do you
like yourself  so far?

    Mr. Orchard and Mr. MacKay have struck an alliance, a repeat of another Alliance - no unity, no progress. As to goals, I congratulate all MP's for doubling their salaries and tripling their pensions, which all suggests that 'power and arrogance' is not confined to the ruling crew of the Titanic, but infects the entire passenger list;  could it be they are ever so busy with the shuffling of troughs, oops, meant chairs, they never noticed that Jean Cretin's remarks, and Mr. McKay's sell-out is another re-run, "Back to the Future"?  Of course no surprises here if you are  from Quebec; replaying HMCS Titanic is a must for their distinctive culture,  they rely on it - Mr. Prentice of Calgary just got thrown overboard for challenging this concept -  sailing in eastern seas is definitely dangerous to western health.

    Which leaves us with Mr. Martin, a wannabe clone of Cretin, wishing to 'lead the new orchestra'. For him the "ship of state" is a flag of convenience; replace the Maple Leaf with a Bermuda/Liberian registry or the UN's 'blue', no matter,  it is still the Titanic  -  Mr. Orchard and Mr. MacKay have just guaranteed Martin's musical ambitions  - can we hope that this re-run will finally sink HMCS Titanic and the Regime that crews it?