Canada Cashes In
I know, I know. I promised to stop mocking Canada because they were doing so well for themselves. This time, however, they have it coming.
The ruling party in the Canadian Parliment has lost a vote of “no confidence” and there will be new elections for the lower house in January. Why did this happen? Were I a Canadian I could not legally tell you.
There has been an on-going investigation of corruption within the ruling party for some time. The judge in the matter, as is allowed under Canadian law, has kept nearly the entire investigation, testimony, etc. secret. The Canadian press as well as individual Canadians are forbidden from publishing or broadcasting this material.
But, dammit, we’re Americans! If it’s not specificly forbidden, it’s allowed. Even then, we have a stiff middle finger for authority. Ed Morrissey at Captain’s Quarters began publishing the truth and the testimony in this scandal at the beginning and has been the lead for coverage ever since. He has been America’s stiff middle finger to authority.
However, if you’re Canadian and not a blog reader, you’re kinda in the dark about what’s going on. In fact, you could be clueless about why the government is changing. Imagine holding an election where you cannot talk about the number one issue in detail. Like, John Kerry spent Christmas someplace or George Bush was given a preference in something sometime.
Name calling is allowed, I suppose. Calling a person or a party crooked. Maybe even some of the facts that are public. But still, this will be a very odd election, with all the meat buried and only the gravy available.
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There is a reason that the inquiry (Gomery Inquiry) was kept out of the press - The press tends to speculate on potential facts rather than true facts. The report was always intended to be released in full - when the evidence was compiled and presented in a fair and reasonable fashon. This is reasonable. An example of what the press can do follows:
Around 20 years ago a Nurse was investigated for child deaths at sick kids hospital in Toronto - her name was dragged through the mud on page one of national (and international) newspapers - everyone thought she did it because the MEDIA said so - a one sided presentation - she was never charged, but her career was effectively ruined - even though she had not been working during every fatality, everyone thought she was guilty. Even if you didn’t think she was entirely, would you trust your child with her?? Even if the likelyhood was 1 in 10 million that she was involved??
A few years later the real culprit was finaly caought and the truth appeared NOT on page one, but page 12 of the local newspaper. A chemical in the IV tubing reacted with the medication releasing a chemical similar to the digoxen causing the deaths.
There does need to be freedom of information to the public. Governments need to be transparent to the people. This does NOT mean that we need the information NOW. A reasonable time given to espablish the facts without speculation is reasonable and more beneficial to understanding the truth in any situation.
Surely legislation such as the Patriot Act would offer more concern than the corruption of a few politicians. We have come to expect corruption in politics. It happenes everywhere. Don’t kid yourself that it doesn’t happen in the US too.
The only real difference between the US and Canada is that our respective leaders tell us we are different - That coupled with some imaginary line on a map. Don’t ever think that being TOLD you have something automatically means you actually have it!!!
Cheers