Sunny Days

Emma, my darling friend in the south.

I woke up this morning feeling like had a bad hangover. Election hangover. I now feel as if I was being naive - having faith in people's respect for the importance of democracy and the principles that hold it up. Instead, people voted with fear. "It's about the economy" he kept saying, with a blatant self satisfaction that, after two terms of a minority, he would walk into a majority. H spent this campaign disengaged. Quiet, almost. Well, accept for the attack ads. His campaign was essentially a one-lined tweet: "Canadians don't want an election. This is about the economy." What's the rule? 145 characters or less? Those are the terms we communicate with these days. He figured that one out.

I am afraid that H will take full advantage of the fact that the PM, if he so wishes, has all the power he wants. He will pass bills through, stack the senate, disregard the opposition - like a whiney mosquito in his arrogant ear. My biggest fear is that he is actually smart and is aware that Canadians will respond to drastic changes - sweeping shifts. In this case, he'll play his cards right and pass things slowly but surely, assuring a fundamental change in the way this country operates. He won't illicit protests, rises to revolt, civic outcries. He'll just plug along, as he's always done. And then, one day, we'll wake up and we'll pay 500.00 for a doctor's visit. First 50, then 100....and on it goes.

And then what will we say? Well, it's about the economy. Somehow we forgot that "the economy" is code for the interests of the wealthy elite. What about trickle down? Well, look at America. That's what happened. It's funny look across the tree line and into the United States, at an example of a hyper capitalist system that DIDN'T work. That is declining. The truth is out; yet, we want to follow that example? You have to be fucking kidding me. America has collapsed and now we want to use its cupcake recipe?

Bad idea, my friends, bad idea. I've chatted with my Gramps and with a few friends. They don't seem to be as miffed. Somehow, things will be okay - maybe even better. This may be true. In most cases throughout history, things had to get way worse before they got better. This is probably something like that. Even if it can pull Canadians out of our state of apathy and our strive for mediocrity, this will have been worth it - I hope.

Sending love and kisses to you and the Caveman. Perhaps a cottage in the forest, with a small mushroom garden and plenty of Hariboo really is the way to go?

xox, kay