Harper Trying To Market Alternative Universe

It's also not new for a government that relentlessly labels itself "new." Ideology and populism emerged as the prevailing currents early in this minority and are only gaining strength as the Conservative grip on power weakens. Wilfully blind to bureaucratic policy options and isolated from all but a few cabinet ministers and advisers, Harper's guidance comes from his own unshakeable certainty. Causes are disconnected from effects and facts are no match for beliefs. Sure, there's a certain appeal to simple Conservative solutions after watching Paul Martin's Liberals make every decision labyrinth difficult. But the sad result is a federal government now asking history's most educated and informed citizens to park their brains at the door and go with their gut. There's every reason to suspect Harper won't get the environment answer he wants. Canadians in general — and young urbanites in particular — are light-years ahead of politicians on this century's existential issue and long ago decided universal survival warrants a few personal sacrifices. Harper and his minister of pollution, Rona Ambrose, now risk being seen as national health hazards. While the oil and auto industries breathe easily, the majority of voters who live in five big cities will not and that's no way for Conservatives to cling to power let alone morph from minority to majority. Harper isn't giving up on that project and is using fear on issues more immediate than the environment to sculpt public opinion in more pleasing ways. From community crime to the threat of terrorism, the Prime Minister is positioning Conservatives as the party with the tough-as-boots, common-sense responses to scary problems that hurt our heads. http://tinyurl.com/yew6te

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