The Good in Our Government
Currently, if I were to hazard a guess, when asked, many people would not have many positive things to say about our government. Recent scandal and conduct on the hill has, I am sure, significantly contributed to this, but you have to remember that any good Canadian has to be a good complainer. We are always able to find something to shout out about. Of course, in no way is this entirely a bad thing. Constant discourse and debate is the only way to promote societal growth and avoid stagnation. Canadian opinion, however, does tend to lose sight. It reminds me of my Grandfather. He was rich, he was well situated, and he was in great health, but if he wasn’t finding something wrong with the situation he was presently in, I don’t know what he would be doing. Canadians are no different; if it isn’t something that should rightly dominate the public’s concern (i.e. Adscam), we slide the slope to problems that are relatively unimportant (i.e. potholes). Here, we begin to take for granted how good we have it, just like my Grandfather did. He could go golfing anytime, and I could reach my MP anytime. What is important is that while we push for the things we believe in, it pays to be mindful of the things we have. Now I know it may be hard to recognize the good in our government, especially a stalled government, but I think that we (and I am certainly not biased here…cough) have one of the greatest examples of what a government should be. Of course I speak not of the current Liberal government but of our system. Even in other democracies, the individual does not have the voice a Canadian does. Ours is a government where politicians are accessible, can be held liable, and represent us in a deliberative body that can both preserve our values and promote change for the better. Thomas Friedman calls the US a “shining beacon of Democracy” in the world, but the US does not display fully the qualities I listed above. So, I would suggest that while doing your duty as a good Canadian and whining about something, remember to reflect on the value of our system. Don’t stop forwarding what you believe, but be mindful of what we have. When viewed this way, I think that present action in the House is not actually a degradation of our gov., but instead a testament to its strengths. Hopefully, people remember this and avoid the disillusionment that is taking place, and grasp the power they can wield.
There, a nice little shot of something positive. Do you feel better? Now back to finding fault…
