Now that the federal election is part of what many people call a shameful episode in our political history the speculation has started over what we can expect from a parliament comprised almost completely of adherents to the two political extremes — far-right and far-left.
The innuendos, half truths and outright lies tossed out by Mr. Right and parroted by his gang, before and during the campaign give a strong hint of behaviour to be expected.
Mr. Left meanwhile was Mr. Clean and Mr. Nice Guy towards everyone, regardless of the impracticality of his vision for the country.
So what have we got? Firstly, the number feeding with feet in the gold-plated trough is expanded to 39, with another flock in lesser but equally lucrative appointments.
Amongst this selected bunch the party’s chief bully-boy has been awarded a position from which he can raise the hackles on all our international contacts.
Don’t expect much respect for we peasants. Pride of place will continue to go to the corporate world.
Decisions will favour big business regardless of ecological concerns and the realities of global climate change.
Rich and poor will continue to grow further apart.
“Jobs for the boys” — and girls — will be the underlying principle of all government appointments — as we have already seen.
The opposition can expect to have little or no influence on any future government decisions.
As good little members of the corporate world, we will continue the feverish sell-off of our bountiful natural resources, confirming our reputation of being hewers of wood and drawers of water, willing to sign any free-trade agreement with seemingly sharper negotiators.
We now have a prime minister whose philosophy of governing is unrecognizable from what it was 20 years ago, so, like the Boy Scouts, “Be Prepared” for some shocks.
F.H. Horner
Qualicum Beach