Honesty is Such a Lonely Word....Billy Joel

Although I try to maintain political neutrality I must admit that when I hear that the President of the United States is delivering a speech I usually try to tune into the event. I always find him interesting,  exciting and informative. Thirty-million Americans seem to think the same thing! He is just a damn good speaker  - tele prompters notwithstanding! Then I read the rebuttals and comments such as 'hate speech' or that he is a 'sycophant' (a self-seeker trying to win favour) or even 'all his promises will be broken in five minutes'. I find it difficult to understand American politics. I am probably not the only one!  Sadly, I tend to turn off the TV when our own leader believes he has something important to say to us.

When I see that our Veteran's Affairs Minister Julian Fantino can reduce a small cohort of Canadian war veterans to tears I wonder why he was even appointed to that position in  the first place given his seeming lack of interpersonal skills! Perhaps the closing of those service centres is necessary, that I don't know! However it's the attitude of the Minister towards those who have suffered and endangered their lives for us that bothers many Canadians.

Then we hear that CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) might be spying on Canadians! Who would believe it? Or what about Quebec's desire to 'turn the page with municipal elections after  an era of scandal'. Is Quebec the only place where greed and dishonesty is active and alive in our country?

As I am trying to figure this all out I receive a chain email blasting Canada's contributions (Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada) of tens of millions of dollars to twenty different countries  while neglecting the obvious needs of so many fellow Canadians here at home.

So much that is going on in Ottawa seems to reflect a willingness on the part of governments to push and shove Canadians around in the interest of settling a debt they caused in the first place! Some seem more interested strutting around the world stage as if Canada was some sort of major power! Or is it just to attract votes at home?  There seems to be so much dishonesty I honestly almost forget how to spell the word honesty!

I have to ask is altruism finally dead? Have so many of our trusted leaders lost their ability to evaluate a situation on its merits rather than on their own myopic and questionable values? Have our politics gone so far down the party road that it is no longer possible to return to a position where representatives reflect the general principles and interests of those who elected them? Who really understands that the good of our fellow Canadians comes first? Where truth is not only exercised but is seen to be so?  

Many individuals have shown us that, although the way is difficult, in the end it is possible for one individual to make a difference. The great  Brooklyn Dodgers hitter, Jackie Robinson, broke the colour barrier  in  the 1940's. In the early days of his career even his team mates did not want to play with a black man. They got up a petition to get him off the team; pitchers actually threw the ball at him; players would try to spike him when running bases; they often told him to shine their shoes; they even threatened him with death. But he persevered in the end and changed the world of sports.

I don't want to tar all politicians with the same brush. But I do hope that the honest ones will continue to fight for those values that make this country great.

P.S. I am off on three weeks of holidays. See you then. NO! - I am not taking my devices with me!!!

And that's Dick's View of the World this Week