I have been told many times, during countless conversations,
that politicians can never be trusted, that they are in some sense different
than common folk, different than average Canadians.
that politicians can never be trusted, that they are in some sense different
than common folk, different than average Canadians.
Unfortunately, this train of thought almost always ends in
some negative description of politicians, like that they are all liars and
profiteers, that they all just put on a facade to get elected into power and
then abuse their position, that they all pander to special interest groups and
almost always steal money from people through various under-handed and opaque
schemes.
some negative description of politicians, like that they are all liars and
profiteers, that they all just put on a facade to get elected into power and
then abuse their position, that they all pander to special interest groups and
almost always steal money from people through various under-handed and opaque
schemes.
Thus, one can say that politicians have their own unique but
always negative stereotype.
always negative stereotype.
This is the case because there will always be people who did
not get what they want out of their candidate or MP, once elected, whether the
MP had valid reasons for not accomplishing what he or she set out to
accomplish, or not. People will always direct their disappointment, their anger
and frustration at the face which represents them in either Queen’s Park if you’re
in Ontario or Parliament in Ottawa.
not get what they want out of their candidate or MP, once elected, whether the
MP had valid reasons for not accomplishing what he or she set out to
accomplish, or not. People will always direct their disappointment, their anger
and frustration at the face which represents them in either Queen’s Park if you’re
in Ontario or Parliament in Ottawa.
Such a situation cannot be avoided and very often failures are
more vividly remembered and for a longer time than successes.
more vividly remembered and for a longer time than successes.
However, aren’t politicians human after all? Did they not
start out as ordinary citizens themselves? Do they not in most cases carry
their responsibility with the best intentions in mind?
start out as ordinary citizens themselves? Do they not in most cases carry
their responsibility with the best intentions in mind?
A simple and brief sojourn with your local MP or candidate
is all that is needed to gauge the caliber of the man or woman in whom you will
put your trust in to get things done over the next four years.
is all that is needed to gauge the caliber of the man or woman in whom you will
put your trust in to get things done over the next four years.
Meeting the candidate in person is of course very important,
like Mr. John Milloy, my local Kitchener-Center MP and Liberal incumbent.
like Mr. John Milloy, my local Kitchener-Center MP and Liberal incumbent.
He may look impressive on paper, but how do I know if the
man can be trusted?
man can be trusted?
The first thing then is to ask questions of the man
directly, then to listen to his answers and political message, gauge his
honesty and finally join his effort to promote his constituency’s vision for a
better community and for a better Ontario.
directly, then to listen to his answers and political message, gauge his
honesty and finally join his effort to promote his constituency’s vision for a
better community and for a better Ontario.
Once convinced, canvassing is a great way to get to see the
man or woman in action. The way he behaves in front of people, the way he talks
to them.
man or woman in action. The way he behaves in front of people, the way he talks
to them.
It is also essential to notice whether there is a family,
the constituency, building around the man or woman and supporting his efforts
to help pursue the liberal dream.
the constituency, building around the man or woman and supporting his efforts
to help pursue the liberal dream.
This is precisely what I noticed canvassing yesterday with
Mr. Milloy
Mr. Milloy
Despite the fact that there were only five of us out and it was Labor Day, a great many Kitchener Ontarians were both welcoming and
critical of Milloy’s efforts to improve the standard of life in the
municipality.
critical of Milloy’s efforts to improve the standard of life in the
municipality.
Regardless of the individual or family on whose door we
knocked, Mr. Milloy handled himself with supreme confidence, despite having
come from his dentist after a wisdom tooth extraction. The man looked dauntless
and almost care-free but at the same time he also looked deeply concerned with
the fate of Kitchener,
our fair city, if it were left in the hands of his conservative rival, David
MacDonald.
knocked, Mr. Milloy handled himself with supreme confidence, despite having
come from his dentist after a wisdom tooth extraction. The man looked dauntless
and almost care-free but at the same time he also looked deeply concerned with
the fate of Kitchener,
our fair city, if it were left in the hands of his conservative rival, David
MacDonald.
Suffice to say, I learned quite a bit about John just by
watching him talk to his fellow Kitchener residents.
watching him talk to his fellow Kitchener residents.
Therefore, I have to rebuke those who say that politicians
are all dishonest, lying and cheating scoundrels.
are all dishonest, lying and cheating scoundrels.
Have you ever met your local representative and have you
ever talked to him or her? If you haven’t, that should be your first step in
finding out whether the above claim carries any weight or not.
ever talked to him or her? If you haven’t, that should be your first step in
finding out whether the above claim carries any weight or not.
