“…the strategic thing to do would have been to disguise closures at Alberta Hospital in amongst a raft of other cost-cutting measures.”
Reading Lorne Gunter’s opinion piece in Sunday’s Edmonton Journal answers a few questions about why we receive such low turnouts in our elections, provincial and federal. Apparently, according to Gunter, the way policy should be put forward to the unsophisticated voter is to “disguise” policy rather then the method used by Stelmach, which was to come right out with it. Embedding specific policy goals would allow the government to do what it wants, while diffusing the public criticism with widespread initiatives.
Although I don’t agree with Stelmach’s proposals at least Albertans were given the opportunity to voice their disagreement with them, which after all, is allowed in our “democratic” province. What Gunter is exposing in his article is how former governments in Alberta have been successful and THAT is what I take exception with and what I believe are the seeds of citizens’ discontent.
It is the political strategic game that alienates the voter. This form of politics reinforces the belief that politicians are only interested in power and their own self-interest and, more importantly, they are dishonest. Gunter’s and our past government’s contempt for the voter is even more disgusting. Their contempt for all Albertans apparently works very well for the Conservatives as they continue to return to the Legislature in droves.
What is needed is exactly the opposite of what Gunter proposes to bring democracy back to this province. Albertans are fed up with the ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ strategy of those directing the Alberta government or any political party. We need clear policy and honest discussions that voters can evaluate and decide upon, not the old conservative method of ruling Alberta. We deserve better and we should demand better.
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