TubaOrNotTuba

We grow up with certain stories that teach us the values we need to live in a civilized world. For example, you should not alarm those around you, especially when they are calm in spirit and without need of stress to the soul. Henny Penny knew this. So did (albeit, after the fact) the boy who cried wolf. We now live in a Brave New World. If you want to cry fire in the theatre, it had better not be a fire set by an insurgent terrorist.

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Tonight we were a mallcrawler family, out to eat some fast food and lay a few of those new swell loonies on the merchant class. Now, I’m not suggesting that I had any new money, in the sense of greater income or a windfall or a piggy bank that was miraculously found instead of lost. This was just the average “pay is in and it’s time to spend a little bit”.

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Our world is turning upside down. Proof. Lots. Let’s see: yesterday we had three byelections at the federal level in Quebec and no candidates from the “Natural Leading Party” won the toss. However, veils may be to blame. The loonie has grown chubby from all the cheap job food we’ve been serving, and may close at par with the neighbour’s currency real soon now. The thermometer is down to within a degree of freezing at night, and we’re still technically in summer. Global warming except for us. And on and on.

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The electoral office has “done it again”. The latest modification to rules on voting in federal elections, passed as Bill C-31, assure that the identity of any voter will be guaranteed through the use of photo identification cards. Don’t worry, because if your religious beliefs hold that your face should be covered, the picture will assure that it really is you “under there”.

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Two stories out of the news this evening have rattled my reassured view that there are laws that protect me. In spite of all we do to improve things, the double standard is alive and well. Teach your children what you will; society has two classes. Those who say and those who do. Wait – in these two cases they’re identical.

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The afternoon (if I can trust the TV news) was an innocent company picnic, for a company of soldiers and their own company of family and friends. The local convention centre was turned into a playground, with a big friendly picnic and speeches from the usual faces to confirm the solidarity that has nothing to do with soldiers and everything to do with politics. Just one chapter in a day that forces the rest of us into inevitable ambivalence.

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The common people are easily provoked. And more easily driven to forgiveness, if history is any measure. Just consider the love/hate relationship that exists between those who have, and those who have less. I’m not examining the richer/poorer universality here. Rather, the ability of mankind to rest subservient to those with regal titles.

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At least the professional politician is constant in his ability to say one thing today and another tomorrow. Some might think this is a virtue; the willingness to change in response to new information, the skill to alter direction whenever necessary. Or, it could just be added evidence that the profession is based on the shallow foundations of untruth. I’m too polite to use the term lies.

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So what’s an offended politician to do? After all the ranting on the public stage, the accusations of calumny and worse, the assurance that the smoking gun would be found, what do you do with an official report that says nothing was found? It’s easy; you continue ranting, making accusations of calumny and worse, assuring anyone that is still listening that the smoking gun is, well, still out there. At least, that’s one way of keeping a small percentage of your faithful close to you.

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The polls on the Island closed about three hours ago, and I’ve been an indulgent media junkie ever since. Two, sometimes three web browser windows open, the TV tuned first to Newsworld and then to the streamed feed out of Charlottetown, even a quick look at the Guardian and the definitive PEI blogroll, just to make sure of the details. The people have spoken, and the tide has changed. A new government for the Island, for the next four years and a bit.

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