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Ecowrappin'
POSITION AND POWER = CONTEMPT, CORRUPTION AND ARROGANCE
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Little time ever goes by without our hearing of impending elections, threats of elections or bringing down the current government as these utterances spill from the mouths of confused politicos across the breadth of this country. As such, I cannot help but give thought to the follies and foibles of our illustrious politicians. Current leaders of all political stripe are pretty transparent these days---based on a lot of the comments I am hearing even the least jaded of the electorate are beginning to take notice of these spendthrifts and pickpockets. People are finally beginning to realize how much of their money is being thrown away with nothing of substance to show for it.I mentioned in a previous column that my wife has never voted; that she considers politicians and senior bureaucrats to be the most dishonest and self-serving low lives in society. She wants nothing to do with them and refuses to support their ambitions. Something akin to the way a lot of people see lawyers. Now I do know some good, ethical lawyers, even a few beyond reproach, but the significant number of lawyers that ascend to political office seem to quickly lose any modest self-image that they might have started out with. No matter their background, discipline or profession, politicians are the chameleons of democracy.
Position and power leads to, in the majority, contempt and arrogance. These seem to grow in direct proportion to the length of time an individual holds said position and power. Corruption is often the result of an extended term in power and whether the office is political or corporate makes little difference. We have all seen it! It seems to be a given! The mild-mannered and soft-spoken evolve into self-important and self-serving tyrants.
As a taxpayer and/or senior you are currently being fleeced and the future of your children and grandchildren is being heavily mortgaged. This seems to be the style of present day governments and their complement of politicians. But was it always this way? May be, to some degree. The general impression though, based on written record and, to some extent, memory, was that the politician of earlier times was a different breed. The focus of the olden day politician was the betterment of the individual, society, and the country as a national community. The focus of the present day politician is self-advancement and personal prosperity, buying votes and garnering a generous pension at the end of the day. The present day politician, in contrast to copious lip service, seems to care little about the Canadian people, especially the traditions and culture that built this country; or the aspirations and betterment of the individual. Fleecing the establishment for everything that it is worth and catering to New Canadians (buying votes) seems to be the social, liberal norm these days. I suppose though, that public profile and self-aggrandisement has always been a mainstay in the circle of political animals.
The national leaders of my time, as I remember them, started out small on arrogance and corruption---they were more for bluster and drama. One is best remembered for crushing the aeronautical advances and aspirations of this country. No matter the length of tenure, another maintained a somewhat humble profile. One was considered the best prime minister we never had, but could not muster the opportunity to prove it. Another started out as charming and soft-spoken but grew into the epitome of arrogance: an arrogance that grew into contempt for the traditional elements and aspects of the old Dominion and those that had built it. Still another was equally charming and soft-spoken but well cloaked arrogance came back to roost years later. Yet another came with a learned arrogance from long associations with previous governments that evolved into well-exposed corruption. A long-term associate was likewise infected but escaped much notice due to a short term as leader. You may be able to put a name to those mentioned above; and you will have your own opinions; yet all were great people whether the country gained or lost while under their direction. And who is to say that anyone else in those times and situations would have done any better.
I was born on the Bruce Peninsula on July 20, 1951 and raised on a farm just south of the village of Lionís Head, which is located about halfway up the peninsula on the Georgian Bay shoreline. I graduated from Georgian College of Applied Arts and Technology in Barrie in 1973 as a Resources Engineering Technologist. I was hired by Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) in April of 1975 as the first DUC employee in Ontario. Throughout almost 29 years I was involved with the implementation of more than 500 wetland projects and project complexes in southwestern and south central Ontario. Some of these habitat projects included important waterfowl and migratory bird habitat along the eastern shoreline of Lake St. Clair. Just three weeks short of completing 29 years with DUC, I accepted an early retirement opportunity effective March 31, 2004.
