Londoner Article on the question: Why Go Into Politics & Is Politics too dirty?
Sometimes you have to ask: Why go into politics?
Despite the common sense reasoning of some members, the majority of city council has crushed Ted the Mechanic’s dream for new boundaries in Ward 1. The status quo remains – the little guys lose again.
It makes me wonder why people want to get into politics.
The other day, I got an unwanted email from the national director of the Liberal Party of Canada, Steven MacKinnon. His message stated that “the opposition parties have conspired to defeat this government . . .”
You don’t have to be an expert in criminal law to know that a conspiracy is an agreement to do something unlawful, or to do a lawful thing by unlawful means. In other words, according to Mr. MacKinnon, the Conservatives, NDP and the Bloc Quebecois engaged in criminal conduct to defeat the Liberals.
On the other hand, Stephen Harper alleges that the Liberals were involved with organized crime during the sponsorship mess.
If you listen to these guys, you have to believe all these folks in Ottawa are crooks. So who would want to slog through the snow, bang on doors and spend a lot of money to get elected to this place of ill repute we know as the House of Commons?
I put that question to an old friend the other day. Dan Mailer, at 49, is a political novice and the Conservative candidate in the London Fanshawe riding. As a skillful trial lawyer and an accomplished musician, why would he want to join this unholy group?
“I’ve always dreamt I could do something for my country,” he told me. “I think I can make a difference.” I have no doubt he was speaking from the heart.
I asked Dan why he didn’t get into civic politics instead of seeking federal office. I told him Londoners are more concerned with policing, the state of their roads and snow removal than they are about national defense and softwood lumber.
Dan agreed local concerns are important, but said his goal has always been to serve the national interest. “I live in Fanshawe and I know that voters in the riding are concerned with what has been happening in Ottawa. Many have told me they feel it’s time for a change.”
The riding Dan seeks to represent is very large and diverse. The last representative, Liberal Pat O’Brien, had a falling out with his party over the same-sex marriage issue and is not seeking reelection. The Conservatives have tagged London Fanshawe as one of 20 Ontario ridings they might win on election day.
He’s got a tough fight on his hands. Paul Martin’s multi-billion dollar spending promises have attracted a lot of attention. And despite the dagger Buzz Hargrove shoved in Jack Layton’s back, the local NDP candidate is no pushover.
Once Christmas is over, I hope people will take enough interest to sit in some all-candidates’ meetings. I know I will. The local newspaper and TV ads often don’t present a true picture of what’s at stake in the election.
I was thinking of Dan’s upbeat mood when I walked over to Ted’s garage the other morning. He’s posted a sign on his door: ‘All Politicians Keep Out’.
Despite the common sense reasoning of some members, the majority of city council has crushed Ted the Mechanic’s dream for new boundaries in Ward 1. The status quo remains – the little guys lose again.
It makes me wonder why people want to get into politics.
The other day, I got an unwanted email from the national director of the Liberal Party of Canada, Steven MacKinnon. His message stated that “the opposition parties have conspired to defeat this government . . .”
You don’t have to be an expert in criminal law to know that a conspiracy is an agreement to do something unlawful, or to do a lawful thing by unlawful means. In other words, according to Mr. MacKinnon, the Conservatives, NDP and the Bloc Quebecois engaged in criminal conduct to defeat the Liberals.
On the other hand, Stephen Harper alleges that the Liberals were involved with organized crime during the sponsorship mess.
If you listen to these guys, you have to believe all these folks in Ottawa are crooks. So who would want to slog through the snow, bang on doors and spend a lot of money to get elected to this place of ill repute we know as the House of Commons?
I put that question to an old friend the other day. Dan Mailer, at 49, is a political novice and the Conservative candidate in the London Fanshawe riding. As a skillful trial lawyer and an accomplished musician, why would he want to join this unholy group?
“I’ve always dreamt I could do something for my country,” he told me. “I think I can make a difference.” I have no doubt he was speaking from the heart.
I asked Dan why he didn’t get into civic politics instead of seeking federal office. I told him Londoners are more concerned with policing, the state of their roads and snow removal than they are about national defense and softwood lumber.
Dan agreed local concerns are important, but said his goal has always been to serve the national interest. “I live in Fanshawe and I know that voters in the riding are concerned with what has been happening in Ottawa. Many have told me they feel it’s time for a change.”
The riding Dan seeks to represent is very large and diverse. The last representative, Liberal Pat O’Brien, had a falling out with his party over the same-sex marriage issue and is not seeking reelection. The Conservatives have tagged London Fanshawe as one of 20 Ontario ridings they might win on election day.
He’s got a tough fight on his hands. Paul Martin’s multi-billion dollar spending promises have attracted a lot of attention. And despite the dagger Buzz Hargrove shoved in Jack Layton’s back, the local NDP candidate is no pushover.
Once Christmas is over, I hope people will take enough interest to sit in some all-candidates’ meetings. I know I will. The local newspaper and TV ads often don’t present a true picture of what’s at stake in the election.
I was thinking of Dan’s upbeat mood when I walked over to Ted’s garage the other morning. He’s posted a sign on his door: ‘All Politicians Keep Out’.
posted by Dan Mailer @ 8:35 PM
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