My Lenten penance so far this year has been to listen to the spring training games of the Washington Nationals. I follow this team because they used to be the Montreal Expos, and I was living in Montreal when that franchise began playing, back at Jarry Park. I have hardly ever been in Washington, and have never seen a Nationals game live, but they are my team.
And this spring they have started off with 11 straight losses, following the tradition of the last two full seasons when they have lost more than 100 games each time.
Ah, but now, today, they played two split-squad games and won both of them. Will I have to root for single-payer health-care reform from now on?
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Harsh realities
The less I pay attention to Canadian politics, the pleasanter my memories of it. We have been out of Canada for five years on this current stint (just got the notice saying we are being dropped from the voting lists because of prolonged absence), which has allowed me to pretend that Canadian politicians, base their fervent disagreements and maneuverings on high principles and a shared concern for the well-being of all citizens.
But I have been following events a little more closely over the last few months, and my rose-coloured lenses need to be set aside.
The Conservative government shut down Parliament around Christmas time to choke off an investigation into mishandling of prisoners in Afghanistan, and to try to defuse a confrontation where the government is refusing to provide documents which Parliament claims it has the right to see. The shut-down in itself was cheesy and petty, and underscored that the dispute over the documents seems to be because they would be embarrassing to the government, not because they would reveal matters damaging to national security.
And this week the government's budget proposals came out (Summary article by a former Conservative staffer: http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/ericmang/2010/03/conservatism-and-economic-incompetence). More tax cuts for those who have already had tax cuts. Retrenchment on efforts to help people out of the disastrous recession. A more militant military. Much much less for the arts.
The government has the principles of its dogmatic base at heart, but not the needs of the generality of Candians. Why, they are almost acting American (Bush-era) in their arrogance and disdain.
I much preferred the rosier view I had built up. Wish I was in a position to do anything about the current situation.
But I have been following events a little more closely over the last few months, and my rose-coloured lenses need to be set aside.
The Conservative government shut down Parliament around Christmas time to choke off an investigation into mishandling of prisoners in Afghanistan, and to try to defuse a confrontation where the government is refusing to provide documents which Parliament claims it has the right to see. The shut-down in itself was cheesy and petty, and underscored that the dispute over the documents seems to be because they would be embarrassing to the government, not because they would reveal matters damaging to national security.
And this week the government's budget proposals came out (Summary article by a former Conservative staffer: http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/ericmang/2010/03/conservatism-and-economic-incompetence). More tax cuts for those who have already had tax cuts. Retrenchment on efforts to help people out of the disastrous recession. A more militant military. Much much less for the arts.
The government has the principles of its dogmatic base at heart, but not the needs of the generality of Candians. Why, they are almost acting American (Bush-era) in their arrogance and disdain.
I much preferred the rosier view I had built up. Wish I was in a position to do anything about the current situation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)