One hundred and twenty-seven soldiers dead. That’s the causality count (to date) of Canadian solders in Afghanistan… for what could possibly be the biggest most costly renovation project that Canada got suckered into. We’re fixing up Afghanistan folks, but the tenants don’t want us to.

Seven years ago. This whole thing was sold to the Canadian public as a war. The war on terrorism. While not a conventional war, we were still behind it. We were part of a global initiative to make the world safer. For us, them, and everyone. And we were going to kick the Taliban’s butt to boot. Sounded good. Right?
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I, like most people, have to admit to certain beguilement, when seeing a fight take place in the media.
Two pugilists swinging …bludgeoning each another with their point of view. Usually it’s the politically left and the political right battling it out. Usually it’s one argument pitted against another.
And usually the strongest one wins.
Usually… but not now.

Now….. the winner is not the one with the best argument. Best intentions. Or best plans.
Now the winner is the one … who was loudest, who was more outraged, and who got the biggest apology.
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It appears that Michael Ignatieff is doing what Liberals do best. Threatening to bring down the government if they don’t get their way. Usually, this bravado is backed up with all the power and force of a yelping chihuahua. Rather annoying and not meaning much. This isn’t too harsh a description. Two years of Stephane Dion’s less than stellar turn at the Liberal leadership left many Canadians with that impression.

No. No. Mister Harper. Back our initiatives or we will bring down this government
(re: green shift – carbon tax). Then, nothing.

No. No. Mister Harper. We cannot support this government. (re: extension of Canadian troops in Afghanistan past February 2009) Then, nothing.

And again. No. No. Mister Harper… that just won’t do. (re: Conservative budget – Feb 2008) And again… nothing.
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I’m sure that every French dilettante who ascended the steps to the gallows during those cleansing day of the French Revolution were wondering the same thing as many titans of business are today.

“Why do they hate use so much? I mean really we’re not that bad.”

Yet, as U.S. public perception of big business rapidly turns from hero to villain, from placid Canada, nothing.

Oh, maybe I’m being a tad harsh. There is the slight grumbling of resentment and outrage. That sort of coffee talk indignation that ends at the finish of a mocha latte. But no marching in the streets. No mass calls for righting an egregious wrong.
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When do we get our stimulus, Mr. Harper? I believe the answer is: April 1
with portions being small and not too filling.

As Stephen Harper continues his good time feel good campaign of showing up at barely functional industrial plants to inform the Canadian public that it’s not as bad as it looks. The rest of us…. and I mean the rest of the Canadian public is wondering:so where is our great initiative?

Mr. Harper’s rosy outlook, odd in comparison to the south of the border Obama : “hold on to the wife and kids… it’s gonna get very bad approach”, begs the question: what’s our elected bodies doing?
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