It has been several years since
we have posted on our political blog but it seems appropriate to anticipate
both the federal election and Alberta election gearing up for 2019.
Since 2016 the rise of what is
now being termed “populism” has rapidly increased to the point where it often
falls into the more worrying term or xenophobia. Donald Trump arriving on the political scene
has catapulted populism to front and centre not only in the USA but here in
Canada. However he is not the only
driving force of populism since it is growing steadily in Europe, and elsewhere
in the world, at the same time and with even more speed.
Canadians should be very wary of
this trend not only for its immediate effect on society but also the long term
effects. In the foreseeable future many
societal advancements (if we use the “liberal” view) of such things as
pro-choice, LGBTQ rights, multi-culturalism, acceptance of legal refugees and
so forth may be overturned or compromised.
But longer term, if these things are indeed overturned or compromised we
could slide onto a slippery slope that may lead us into something a great deal
more sinister. Taking away human rights
can lead into a very narrow, regressive regime.
Populism also appeals to many
people by using one issue topics to lure people into favoring a candidate or
party. For instance, many people simply
abhor paying taxes of any kind so when a politician says he will cut, cut, cut
taxes, do be aware that the only way to cut taxes is also to cut programs. Naturally the selfish non-tax payer will be okay
with cutting programs that they don’t need because why should that non-taxpayer
want to help his fellow citizen? Never mind
if he happens to go to the same church as you, because why should he pay for
his fellow citizen’s daughter to have an abortion? And that citizen on the other side him, why should he
want to pay for his old age security or his employment insurance? It’s no skin off the non-taxpayer's nose if his neighbour loses his
house or his dignity. Why should a
single mom get cheaper daycare when someone like Doug Ford says a program 4
months old is “not working” – like he would be telling the truth on that
one? Let’s make sure, this populist
non-taxpayer kicks everyone who is down, as long as it is not him or his
kids.
Populism is a nasty, nasty
movement . . . and we haven’t even touched on refugees in this article.
