Editor:
I’m not naïve enough to believe that ethics and integrity have often been a part of politics, but shouldn’t it be?
Should not the leaders of the country, province or municipality be held to the highest standards? Shouldn’t honesty, integrity, courage, morality and high ethical standards be a prerequisite for entering the political arena? If not there, where should it begin? Shouldn’t our leaders be role models for our youth?
Politics today – at least at the federal and provincial levels – aren’t about dreams and ideals or about concern for its citizenry. It’s about seizing power and holding on to it no matter what has to be said or done.
It means pandering to money and votes and especially to multinational corporations, which now make the rules on how governments act.
It means making promises to the citizens that the party doesn’t even have to believe; It makes promises it believes will bring power and then breaks those promises or even states that it never made them!
How can we trust them? Look at (North American Free Trade Agreement) NAFTA and the (Harmonized Sales Tax) HST! These acts, so often done in secrecy, which have such profound effects on the lives of all of us, are enormous breaches of trust of the Canadian people – the very people whom politicians are entrusted to govern and protect.
It is time for legislation to enable impeachment of premiers and prime ministers who knowingly and outrageously breach the trust of the Canadian people in the name of globalization and
competition. Canada is a democracy in name only; we have no say in any legislation that so terribly wrongs us! We need national referenda on major issues. Honesty, honour, courage and integrity: these are qualities we try to instill in our children while all around us – in big business and in government – we see so much that is truly ugly.
Except at voting time, we are ignored, belittled, and sneered at as though we are of no consequence whatever.
No wonder there is so much voter apathy.
Donna Fildey, Grand Forks