Okay, perhaps this title is a bit of an oxymoron, but good manners tend to rise and fall in politics, and we seem to be diving into a pretty deep hole at the moment.
For example, Christia Freeland is not a comedian, and she shouldn’t try to be. Her comment in the House last week about Pierre Poilievre’s makeup was way out of line, especially from someone who has always carried herself with dignity and decorum.
The rough-and-tumble of the House of Parliament is usually run something like a hockey game. Each party has its share of enforcers who take on the regrettable function of attack dogs, allowing the leaders to do their jobs with a modicum of decorum. Into the mix comes, Poilievre, gleeful to do his own growling and snapping. Up until this point, Justin Trudeau has managed to keep it down to the odd snarl, but now desperation due to his poll results has rendered him less wise. He would be better to focus on getting some important legislation passed in the next year, so he has a record to stand on in the next election.
Rising Levels of Disrespect
It was ever thus. Everyone decries the lack of respect shown to politicians in general. The advent of Internet trolls has exacerbated this problem. Security expenditures for MPs have peaked this year.
Teaching the Voters
But what can you expect when the members themselves show no respect for each other? If politicians are seen on television trashing the other members in Question Period, they are training the public to do the same. When parties use hate campaigns against other leaders, they are telling the wingnuts in the population that hate is a good thing.
We complain about the rise in anti-Arab, anti-Semitic, and anti-Asian activities in our society. But then we see our leaders using hate as a political tool. We even see the Conservatives attacking the Speaker of the House, who represents the standard of propriety for Parliament, and by extension, the whole of Canada.
The Bottom Line
Entertaining the populace with bread and circuses went out with the Roman Empire. It has no place in Canada, especially at the highest level of our political system. Christia Freeland should be ashamed of herself. Justin Trudeau should focus on doing his job. It would be useful if Pierre Poilievre continues to act like an idiot and a bully, showing the thoughtful voters of Canada what kind of leader he would make.