Election Notebook

By Ivan Morgan

You might think this odd for a political columnist, but I don’t want to tell you who to vote for. I know how I am going to vote, and I feel very strongly about it, but I don’t feel it’s my place to endorse a particular party or candidate. This is for you to decide. I do, however, want to encourage you to think about your vote.
As we careen into this federal election, there’s stuff going on that I feel needs pointing out, stuff we need to talk about. I am going to try and be fair and balanced about this but, like us all, I have opinions.
Right off the bat, let’s take the phrase, “This is the most important election of our lifetime.” I have been around a long time, and I have heard this old chestnut for decades. They have said this every election I can remember. What they are actually saying is, “Vote for us or you’ll be sorry.”
Let me share a little secret with you: no matter who you vote for, you will eventually be sorry you did. Such is the nature of politics.
Here’s another one. Trump! Trump! Trump!
Some of the parties are trying to scare you using the current American president as the bogeyman. I see him more as a scarecrow. He’s there to distract you from the ripe seeds just laying about on the political landscape.
Like any party that has been in government for a decade, the federal Liberals have a track record. How better to draw attention away from that record than to use him as a distraction. Maybe you think the Liberal track record is a good one. Maybe you think it’s been a disaster. That’s for you to decide. But isn’t it passing strange that they do not seem to want to mention it first nor last? After a decade in power, why don’t they brag about all the good they’ve done? They’re trying to make political hay about removing a tax they imposed on you in the first place!
Then there is the issue of parachuting candidates into ridings, overriding the democratic nomination process. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth. The Shoreline profiled a young man last week with high hopes of getting the nod to be the Conservative candidate in Avalon. He was one of two good candidates expecting to compete for the nomination. They both looked like they would be excellent MPs. (The Shoreline also profiled a fine person who is going out for the Liberals in Avalon.)
Then out of the blue former provincial politician (and current Conservative back-room boy) Steve Kent was handed the nomination by the Conservative party. He was appointed. No election. It’s not even his riding. He lives in Mount Pearl. The two local candidates, instead of duking it out, found themselves issuing a joint press release saying how much this sucks.
To add salt to the wound they say it was Kent who recruited them to run in the first place.
What the hell? The Conservatives have gotten a fair bit of traction pointing out the Liberals’ seeming disregard for democracy. Then they pull this stunt? The Liberals did the same thing in Long Range Mountains. What is this all about?
I have known Kent a long time. I know he knows better than this. Do they think the good people of Avalon would rather be told who to vote for than choose for themselves? Do the Conservative powers that be think Avalon voters would be grateful to have a townie to elect over one of their own? Do they think their numbers are so good in that riding that they could get away with this? Was it too ripe a berry not to pick for themselves?
This strikes me as arrogance from a crew who think they have this election in the bag. Were I a Conservative resident of that riding I’d have some serious thinking to do.
All parties will work hard to portray themselves as the good guys battling the bad guys and needing your help (and cash) to beat them. They will all portray their opponents as dangerous and untrustworthy. Politicians looking to get elected (employed) are going to tell you all manner of things to get your vote.
Actions speak louder than words. Don’t listen to what they say, watch what they do.
Don’t listen to them, listen to your heart.
Ivan Morgan can be reached at ivan.morgan@gmail.com