March, 18, 2004
by Brian Goodman

So this is politics...

As a young Canadian that has decided to pay some interest to the government of the country that I will one day inherit, I can say that it has been a hell of a ride.

This is what I have seen in the few short months since I first opened my eyes to this world: billions of taxpayer dollars wasted on the HRDC and gun registry scandals; millions of taxpayer dollars blown on one government project with no purpose other than to boost the political fortunes of the party in charge; leadership reminiscent of high-school politics; and, generally, a bunch of bad people that are trying to serve their own ends by being in political life.

It's a darn good thing that I don't make enough cash yet to really contribute as much as I soon will once I get into the higher tax brackets. The reason being, that when I'm paying 35-40% of my salary to an organization that is as clueless as this one, I will be ashamed not only of my country but also of myself for being such a fool.

But, you know what? I'm young and naïve enough to hope. I am young and naïve enough to believe that politics in this country are starting to change.

Being from the West, it is quite possible that the reaction to our most recent scandal; on radio talk-shows, in the newspapers, and on the street, is a result of traditionally Conservative Canadians blasting a party that they love to hate. But I like to think that there is more to it.

I see an MLA in B.C. that leaves the Liberal caucus because she is sick and tired of being a pawn in the game that is dictated by the king, her boss Gordon Campbell. A phenomena, despite all the jawing by the "new" administration, that is not by any stretch restricted to provincial politics in this country. Sorry Pauly, but it seems curious to me that you're weeding out any opposition to you in your party and I think that others in this country will agree.

I see a return of an alternative in the spike in support of a Conservative Party. The evident desperation for a change, as this party does not yet have a leader or established policies. Canadians, even Canadians that vote with their social conscience are realizing that they could consider supporting a party that may govern a smidgen further to the right as long as it's change. Hell, I don't know if there's any more room left on that end of the spectrum.

Maybe I'm seeing things in too positive a light. Maybe I'm crazy to think that a government can accomplish what it is set out to do. I'll tell you what, though. It does a man good to muster up a little hope for his country. It feels good to think that one day, our government will start to serve the people that use their own hard-earned money to fund it. That one day some of this power will actually trickle down to the people that keep this country going, not just those that reap the rewards of their labour.

And this is what I've convinced myself is starting to happen in Canada. That we are starting to understand the fundamentals of democracy. That we are starting to realize that we should be the ones making the rules that we follow. That we don't have to be victims anymore.

And it feels good.

Brian Goodman is a graduate of the University of Manitoba with an advanced diploma in International Business from Red River College in Winnipeg.