By Sally Barnes
I haven’t checked with my pharmacy lately, but I’m willing to bet they have seen a real run on sleeping pills.
If you are a news hound as I am (lifelong addiction I can’t shake), it’s hard to count sheep when the world is filled with people intent on killing each other and while our democratic institutions are threatened and ridiculed.
It used to be that bad things only happened somewhere else. Today, our own tidy communities are experiencing violent crime, drug addiction is epidemic and homelessness, anger and racism are rampant.
Worldly problems are now in our own backyards.
Pictures of hungry kids and breadlines resemble the families who live down the street.
Leadership is at a premium. We’ve joined the disturbing trend of politicians and other public figures deciding to throw in the towel. Too many have experienced threats to their safety, their staff, and their families because they have supported causes unpopular in some circles. In many cases, the cause is racism, which today is at an all-time high, with antisemitism leading the pack.
Democratic elections used to be a time to air our grievances, feed off promises of hope and a better future, and the entertainment of opposing politicians in verbal combat. Sadly, that has all changed. Politics has turned into a blood sport.
Parliament, once the domain of skilled debate, intelligent and respectful public dialogue, is now dishonoured with vicious personal attacks, bitter anger and downright hatred.
The current U.S. election is a circus. It is more of an embarrassment than it is an exercise in democracy.
A great nation that remains a beacon of freedom, opportunity, and hope around the world is now the subject of ridicule and easy fodder for everyone from late-night TV comics to foreign leaders lusting over power and aggression.
It is hard to believe that this is a nail-biter election for our friends to the south. How can Donald Trump possibly be a serious contender for the presidency? He’s been there and done that. His presidency inspired and condoned riots, racism, and insurrection.
He made lying and character assassination acceptable behaviour for public figures. He is a convicted felon who owes millions of dollars in fines for crimes he has committed against the American people and awaits court dates on more charges.
He has no respect or concern for anyone but himself. Researchers have lost track of his bankruptcies and the ways he has cheated friends and foes alike. His biography is bereft of any examples of empathy, generosity, or mercy. He is a hypocrite who professes a belief in God when everything else fails—which, indeed, it does in everything he touches.
He uses people until they are no longer useful and finds a bus to throw them under. He surrounds himself with only fawning “yes” people and topples the reputations of others like they are bowling pins.
He disrespects women and hates to lose at anything. The only thing in this world worse than losing the upcoming election would be Donald C. Trump losing to a woman. And a Black woman at that!
Trump’s heroes are dictators, and he has publicly expressed admiration for a motley collection of truly evil people, both past and present.
His admirers are those who venerate his bullying style and benefit from his policies that reward the wealthy and have nothing but contempt for the weak and downtrodden.
It is inconceivable that at this time when the world teeters on the brink of more wars that there could be enough American voters willing to trust Trump and return him to the Oval Office in what is arguably the most powerful position in the world.
But that’s the picture today’s polls are painting. It could be a dead heat between Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been the subject of Trump’s fetid name-calling since day one. The foulness increases each day as the election grows closer and Trump fights for his political life.
His faux faith serves him well, especially with the hard-core Christian right of the Republican Party. He clutches a Bible for a photo op, has celebrity church leaders at his elbow, and leads supplicants in prayer for hurricane survivors. Lord have mercy.
Meanwhile, up here in the Great White North, we continue to sneer at what’s happening south of the border while we ourselves are up to our ears in major social and economic problems that far outnumber solutions on which our leaders can or will agree and cooperate.
The Bloc, a party of avowed separatists, holds our Parliament to ransom, and our population is deeply polarized and divided. There is much anger and pessimism across the land.
If a federal election were held today, I believe we would see the lowest voter turnout in Canadian history. Many Liberals and Conservatives are unhappy with their leaders, and I can’t remember a time when so many people agonized over whether to vote for the very parties they have always supported—sometimes for generations.
Liberals have sickened of Justin Trudeau, his policies, and promises. He struts like a peacock. He sneers and smirks. He oozes self-confidence and believes that despite lagging support he must stay in office if Canada is to be saved from the loathsome Tory leader Pierre Poilievre.
Trailing badly in the polls, Trudeau struggles to regain public support and calm a restless caucus worried about hanging onto their own seats. His challenge to get re-elected begins at home, but the Liberal Party—once Canada’s Governing Party with leaders like Pearson, Chretien, and Pierre Trudeau—is not a convivial place these days.
Meanwhile, many loyal Conservatives are fearful of Poilievre and pray that between now and election time, he can mutate into a more pleasant and less intimidating person. If only the schoolyard bully with the smirk and repetitious slogans would lighten up and show some civility. Frequent references to his attractive and fiercely loyal wife and three cute kids aren’t enough to make him likable and trustworthy by shaking off his Mr. Nasty persona.
No one and nothing is safe from Poilievre’s glare. I especially resent his Trump-like disparagement of the media and the CBC in particular. This at a time when media outlets struggle to survive as one of the pillars of democracy, keeping the public informed and holding governments and politicians to account.
So, if Liberals can’t bring themselves to vote for Trudeau again and the Tories need Poilievre to reverse his scary tendencies before they can vote for him, where are they all going to go? Some might consider the NDP, of course. But many will just choose to stay on the couch and let their fellow Canadians decide who will next govern this wonderful country that deserves much better from its current politicians and those who follow them.
Meanwhile, turning off the late television news and taking some warm milk before bedtime would be a helpful formula for much-needed sound sleep.
Sally Barnes has enjoyed a distinguished career as a writer, journalist and author. Her work has been recognized in a number of ways, including receiving a Southam Fellowship in Journalism at Massey College at the University of Toronto. A self-confessed political junkie, she has worked in the back-rooms for several Ontario premiers. In addition to a number of other community contributions, Sally Barnes served a term as president of the Ontario Council on the Status of Women. She is a former business colleague of Doppler’s publisher, Hugh Mackenzie, and lives in Kingston, Ontario. You can find her online at sallybarnesauthor.com.
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Bob Braan says
You are not the only one that thinks Poilievre is similar to Trump.
“How can Donald Trump possibly be a serious contender for the presidency?”
How can Pierre Poilievre possibly be a serious contender for prime minister?”
Search ” More Canadians think Poilievre and Trump are similar than different” according to Abacus.
And “What Pierre Poilievre and Donald Trump have in common”
“we now have a Canadian Conservative leader who trades in the same trademark combination of bombast, belligerence, and bs.”
Lucky for the US at least it looks like Trump and his bs are history.
The bs continues in Canada.
Some career Conservatives are thinking of not supporting Poilievre as well.
See Hugh Holland’s comments.
“Hugh, like you I have always voted for moderate conservatives, but this time I cant do it. So, I will vote Liberal.”
https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/political-dysfunction/
Bob Braan says
Poilievre thrives on conflict and dysfunction. Just like Trump.
https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/political-dysfunction/
Search “For Pierre Poilievre, the conflict appears to be the point”
“has any Canadian politician in recent memory embraced rhetorical conflict as enthusiastically as Pierre Poilievre?”
” the list of those Poilievre and his party have attacked or clashed with includes the governor of the Bank of Canada, the World Economic Forum, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the mayors of several cities and towns, journalists with the CBC and Canadian Press, academics and policy experts.”
“Having phrased his view of Poilievre’s words in rather genteel terms, Wilkinson then decided to put it more simply:”
They are stupid.”
Just like Trump Poilievre is a liar. As well as Dani Smith in Alberta and Doug Ford.
Note all Conservatives.
Trump has shown Conservatives in Canada that blatant lies hardly affect polling numbers any more.
Of course all politicians from all parties lie occasionally.
But at least they try to be subtle about it and make it difficult to fact check.
Not since Trump.
Blatant lies that are easy to fact check yet polling numbers aren’t affected.
I actually don’t blame politicians.
I blame the apathetic electorate.
I also blame the media.
It used to be that the media would present both sides of a story.
Lies from politicians followed by fact checks.
Not always anymore.
Now often just the lies are reported as if they were facts.
There is a need for optimism.
And far less lying and complaining.
https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/a-need-for-optimism/
Rob Adams says
Having suffered eight years of Trudeau in Canada, it should be obvious to all of us that we need to change many things for our democracy to work. Even the term ‘democracy’ has become a joke in Canada as we haven’t had that for years. Trudeau has abused our democratic process and created chaos with a minority government that has no real mandate to do the things he’s done. He rules like a dictator and fires anyone from his party that disagrees with him. He’s dishonest and unethical. Will Poilievre do better? Probably not in the long term, because our political system is weak with inadequate checks and balances to hold our governments accountable, other than a futile vote every 4 years or so. I have been in Canada for 45 years and voted Liberal for most of those – but no more. Trudeau and the Liberals need to go and we have to start there.
When it comes to accountability, the commentary says ‘This at a time when media outlets struggle to survive as one of the pillars of democracy, keeping the public informed and holding governments and politicians to account’. Oh, if only that were true it would give us a glimmer of hope. During Trudeau’s time in office, the media have allowed themselves to be bought off. They have not held our government to account and they have not kept the public informed. The message has, for the most part, in support of the government propaganda. It certainly has not been in the public interest. Trudeau has also been intent on introducing laws and influencing social media to prevent public opinion from being voiced, citing misinformation as a threat to our democracy. In reality, it’s our government that have been the masters of misinformation and the architects of dividing our country. Unfortunately, in terms of credibility, journalists have been dragged down to the same level as politicians.
For many of the same reasons, the next election south of the border is not only important for Americans, but critical for the world as a whole. The US has a huge influence on world politics and whatever happens there will affect us. When choosing a person to run the country, it should not be a popularity contest. Many people voted for Trudeau because he wore nice socks – look where that got us. I don’t like Trump as a person, for many of the reasons stated, but I don’t have to like him to believe he’s the best person for the job. I believe that 4 more years of Democratic leadership in the US will be a disaster for all of us. Like Trudeau, their neo-Liberal policies, their lies, their gross mishandling of public funds and their promotion of world conflicts has been a catastrophe. I honestly believe Trump will set the world back on track, and we desperately need that. It won’t be pretty, but something needs to be done. I’ve also been encouraged to see that RFK Jr. has endorsed Trump and, if Trump wins, will take control of many key issues – like cleaning up food quality, our pharmaceutical practices and our environment, along with moving us to a more peaceful world – all of which are long overdue. It won’t happen with the Democrats or the Liberals.