Not Dark
Back in Oslo for a week. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to the fact it doesn’t get dark at night, it’s not daylight out, but its still very light out. Unsettling.
I arrived the night of the election and it was strange to be away from local TV. All I could get was a very bad version of the CBC website on my hotel TV. For the first time (I think I’ve been following politics since I was a baby) I can remember I went to sleep not knowing the winner. My gut (see earlier posts to this affect) was that people would send the Liberals back, albeit humbly. I think it had little to do with the scary ads (although admittedly there were very well done) but was more a general mood in the country of not knowing enough about the the total views of the new conservative party. In the end I like many of the ideas of Stephen Harper, a better run government, lower taxes, choice in delivery, a new perspective (even on constitutional issues). The bottom line though was that there were core issues I just don’t want to see in the public domain anymore. These ’so called’ social issues may be controversial but I think Paul Martin nailed it when he said ‘there’s nothing wrong with hiding behind the Charter’ [my paraphrase from the debate]. Minority rights protection exists for a reason, and as long as it does not infringe on the freedom of others (not their personal values) then I’m all for supporting that freedom. I think Harper could have kept it all in check, but the true conservatives in Canada need to realize (before they finally win) that Canadians are sophisticated enough to debate change in our government, systems and ideas without sniping at people’s choices behind closed doors. I do hope however that Paul Martin governs better than he campaigns; as head of this minority mess he’s going to be earning his keep.
By the way, thanks Derek for the Google Mail account. Finally.