Free Scarlet Bohemia

Stephen Harper, Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party, has entered into closed room talks with his opponent, Michael Ignatieff, Leader of the Liberal Party. No these are not secret fight club meetings but a cosy tea time between to feuding leaders. Perhaps they are smoking the peace pipe, because each time they emerge, the two parties have merged closer together, holding hands...singing songs...love is in the air!!!

Canada has a long history of these two main parties struggling for power, fighting each other, no-hold back politics brutally discrediting the other’s agenda, policy and practice. But instead of continuing the competition for the throne, it appears that they are now working together in parliament. Hell has in fact frozen over, watch out for flying pigs. Speaking of Pigs, Michael Ignatieff, though a Liberal, is almost more of a neo-con than Harper is. He has supported the use of torture, supported the Iraq war, and has congratulated George W Bush on being the reason we have human rights today. Scary stuff!!! Not even the conservatives would dare say such things. Not in public at least.

Harper was in flames over the once coalition between the Liberals, NDP and Bloc that had the potential of bringing down government last December. He hid instead of facing it, and come spring Iggy had replaced Dion, and the romance began. And the tune has changed from “Heartbreaker” to “Love maker”. After all, Harper and Ignatieff have a lot of common. Both support the war on “terror”, both support increased military, both support war criminal, George Bush. Both are on the side of large corporations, both support the ridiculous amendment to the criminal code, that would attack small time pot users, tie up the legal system, over crowd the courts and prisons in order to get “tough” on crime. Imagine the horrific policies these two could brew up together!

Ignatieff is no doubt part of the ruling class, and for you conspiracy theorists, we are talking about “THEM”. His background, his policies, and his current rise into power make him the pick for the new world. Harper loves the same fascist policies, but I think he believes they are right, it’s not so much he wants to take over the world, but I think he believes the world will benefit from a family values, conservative revolution. Now, don’t get me wrong, I will fight Harper every step of the way. The man is a menace, but I am much more concerned about our Iggy; a man that has been able to take the worst of the neo-liberal and neo-conservative agenda and bring them together. I know what I’m getting with Stephen Harper, his policies don’t surprise me, what surprises me is that they are not instantly voted down by the other more “progressive” parties. Michael Ignatieff surprises me, every step of the way. Instead of distinguishing himself from a far-right Prime Minister, he is moving Harper to the left, by jumping over him. As the NDP become the Liberals, and the Liberals become the Tories...what’s left for the old boys in blue? CCRAP it is.

So.... Liberal, Tory, same old story? Absolutely.

I look forward to the matching sweater sets.