Be afraid...be very afraid

• Given how fearsome our Premier can be with those in the press, especially those who question the deal he and his federal buds seemingly scored in replacement for the Atlantic Accord, you sure won’t catch me raising that issue again. No siree, you won’t catch me wondering why, if the deal is done and just needs inclusion in legislation, it didn’t form part of the recent mini budget in Ottawa. (It didn’t, did it?)

Cripes, they gave away half of the shop, you’d think they could have slipped in a few words to protect our futures out here in the fog. But don’t get me wrong, Mr. Premier; I’d never raise any question when you’ve given your word that we can trust you. Nope, not me. I’ve already seen the fear that a junior high gym teacher can instill and, well, let’s just say I don’t want to go down that road again. • Boy, that Brian Mulroney sure gets more than his share of news. Like some tragic Greek half-god, his “my life and times” book seemed destined to be followed by the worst sort of accusations. That’s why some of the really bright ancient Greeks warned against hubris. It usually has a way of coming around to kick you in the butt. And just when Steve and the boys thought they could ride Danny Boy’s triple-breasted coat-tales to victory in Quebec, too. Drat!

It may not be long before Steve may yet follow his bro, Dubya, and just decide it’s best not to have any friends at all. As long as you’re sure you’re right about everything, who needs them anyway? • One of the apparent paradoxes of our times is that Stéphane Dion appears to be running behind virtually everyone when Canadians are asked who they think would make a good PM. Notwithstanding this and the Tory drive to place the last nail in his political coffin, the Liberals appear to be doing reasonably well.

The recent SES poll, the best of the bunch in my view, has the Conservatives at 35 per cent, the Liberals at 34 per cent, the NDP growing to 17 per cent, the BQ at nine and the Green Party at six per cent. And that was before the rerun of the Life of Brian. We’re a strange, subtle, smiling bunch, eh? • Still, and as if the world isn’t unbelievable enough, the Liberal Party of Canada is poised to offer us as one of their main planks for the next Federal campaign a cure for Canadian poverty, emulating the “third way” of the British Labour Party.

Poverty in Canada is indeed a shame, especially the poverty of our children, some of our First Nations and our homeless. Any Martian political scientist who was beamed down would be forced to say, “Canada: great country, lots to be proud of, a model, in some ways, for other nations. Damn shame they spoil it with an income gap that leaves millions living in horrible conditions while the rich bathe in gold coins.”

Sure the Liberals have big hearts – well, at least some of them do - and they will probably steal some votes from New Democrats who will prefer more Liberal promises on poverty to Steve’s cure, saving those earning hardly enough to pay income tax the price of a cup of coffee. But who knows? Maybe Stéphane can do what the last 10 Liberal leaders before him promised, tried and failed to deliver. • According to figures produced by the Democratic Party, the war in Iraq has so far cost the Americans $1.6 trillion. Even with a dollar at 95 cents Canadian, that’s a load of cash. I wonder how many children might be raised out of poverty, how many of the underclass given adequate educations, with that sort of money? • There appears to be a rumor in this part of the Valley that I might be seeking the nomination of a provincial political party. Now there’s a scary thought.

Those of you who don’t have enough worries about the future of your province or country might wish to add that prospect to your list. But don’t worry too much; I think I’ll wait until legislators are drawn by lot, as they were in ancient Greece. I kind of like my day job.