Demagogia del Premier Monde

Insisto, en todos lados hay una muy marcada tendencia hacia el populismo y la demagogia en la política. La diferencia entre los países a los que les va bien y a los que les va mal está en el piso de racionalidad sobre el que se mueven.

Es muy llamativo ver que en Canadá los candidatos juegan carrera para ver quién es más antinorteamericano en la campaña por las elecciones en enero. Uno no espera este tipo de cosas en países como este. Es cierto que los indicadores del país son la envidia de muchos otros del grupo de los países industrializados, pero creo que hay problemas y temas sobre los que se deberían ocupar en lugar de perder el tiempo con estas cosas.

Patrick Basham de Cato sostiene que Canadá debe madurar de una vez por todas y terminar con el gataflorismo en su relación con los EEUU. I concur:

Peaceful and picturesque, Canada is proof that God exists. But Canadian politics proves that He also has a sense of humor. How else does one explain a campaign dominated by Paul Martin's calculated insults towards the United States, as simultaneously Stephen Harper seeks absolution for his fondness for America? In power for nearly 13 years, but perhaps five weeks from opposition status, the Liberals have pinned their hopes on nationalistic flag-waving. In a replay of the last election, Liberal fortunes will rest upon the party's ability to exploit anti-Americanism.

This sorry state of affairs is both politically sad and culturally tragic. On a political level, it reflects the Liberals' precarious position. Philosophically spent and ethically challenged, they are left to plummet the political depths with a perverse brand of statesmanship.

The party's only hope is to cast itself as Mother Canada, protecting her vulnerable and insecure children huddled for warmth along the American border. Which makes one wonder what ever happened to Liberal Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier's 1904 forecast that, "The 20th century shall be the century of Canada." Laurier must be turning over in his grave. A century later, his countrymen remain so culturally insecure and politically adolescent that they may once again fall prey to such crass politicking. Canadians need to grow up. And they need to do so quickly.