Politics for Joe 8:

Where Have All the Parties Gone?

Why isn't this man your MP? No Party behind him silly!

The living journalist I admire above all others is Christopher Hitchens. It is not that I necessarily agree with his every stand, but I so admire his willingness to take them – proudly, publicly and well-reasoned. And even those points of disagreement somehow emerge from the same ethic. For instance, Hitchens believes in the Afghan War as a necessity to eliminate radical Islamic sects ben on destruction of the West. I concur with the goal, but the war itself is a March of Folly. Like the wonderful histories told in that title by Barbara Tuchman, this particular expensive, exhausting, long and deadly fight began with the noblest of goals.

In any event, Hitchens is better-read than the contents of the average political studies section in a university library, bears no prejudice against any race or colour, is unafraid and is a compelling writer and public speaker. Why in heaven's name (sorry, Hitchens is an atheist) has he not at least been the Honourable Member for Cheddar-Spread-Sandwich?

Clearly the thought has occurred to him as well, judging from his latest on-line column on slate.com. To quote:

I could introduce you to dozens of enthusiastic and intelligent people, highly aware of "the issues" and very well-informed on all questions from human rights to world trade to counterinsurgency, to none of whom it would occur to subject themselves to what passes for the political "arena." They are willing to give up potentially more lucrative careers in order to work on important questions and expand the limits of what is currently thinkable politically, but the great honor and distinction of serving their country in the legislature is only offered to them at a price that is now way too steep.

Being an elected member – a term that does imply some form of amputation – is indeed a brutally tough job. On the other hand, name me anything that is really worth accomplishing in life that isn't brutally tough. And no, winning a lottery doesn't count. It's almost a cliché that you can watch American Presidents age two years for every one served.

Now I grant you that the American Presidency is probably the most stress-inducing political job in the world … save for being the President of some corrupt dictatorship who's just got the midnight call that the Army has turned against him. But neither of those is the norm, thankfully, for elected officials. No McKellar Ward Municipal Councillor ever turned to the bottle because the sewer down the street backed up, unless he was headed there already.

Which in a way is the point I wish to add to Hitchens' lament. Canadian politics faces nowhere near the scrutiny and hyper-judgment of its American counterpart. Personal religious views have never been an issue in Canada (thankfully) and Ontario has had a succession of powerful provincial Cabinet Ministers who were gay without the electorate batting an eye.

And yet, the reader can undoubtedly compile a personal list of names of people they knew or know who would be thoughtful and effective politicians, none of whom ever threw a hat, golf glove or parchment into the ring. Why?

One interesting place to look is at the process we are going through right now: municipal elections. These should be the breeding grounds, the fish hatcheries if you will for future Provincial and Federal members. The tradition of the political parties avoiding full endorsement and – God forbid! - application of party machinery to school board or City Council candidates has always puzzled me. Do correct me if I'm wrong, but outside of certain wards in Toronto and Vancouver, the traditional parties all go on vacation.

What a missed opportunity.

Mind you, to be able to do that requires a political party to actually exist in between elections, nomination meetings and delegate selection to leadership conventions. Were help to be offered to a challenger in a Ward there would actually have to be, er, help to be offered. And none of the local political parties in Northwestern Ontario really have such a machine, with the exception perhaps of the NDP in Thunder Bay – hence two elected Mps.

Still and finally one wonders: How many of those talented individuals who never ran and never will run made that non-decision simply because they were never asked?

Be seeing you.

Hubert O'Hearn

for Lake Superior News