Recently, I was reading an article by an NDP supporter complaining that Prime Minister Harper was too dictatorial. According to him, with Mr. Harper, it is my way or the highway.
It reminds me of a union meeting I attended a while ago. The union boss was delivering a motivational speech riddled with bad language including one comment which was not flattering to women.
After his speech he invited questions from the floor. A very young and timid lady wanted to know what would happen if she chose not to join the union. He slapped her down in a hurry. Then you would be looking for a job. In other words, it is my way or the highway.
That is exactly how unions operate. They collect your union dues whether you like it or not and they use the money to support political causes you do not necessarily agree with.
A fact that is not well known is that nearly half of the NDP shadow cabinet in Ottawa consist of former union bosses. Powerful unions are the force behind very high salaries, severance packages, pensions and health packages for some of the richest members of Canadian society. Those gold-plated benefits are paid for partly by taxes and much of it goes to the national debt.
The NDP is not the party of the poor as they claim. When it comes to dictatorial, there is enough blame to go around.
I personally would enjoy the power surge which would arise from telling somebody “It’s my way or the highway.” One word of caution though, don’t try this at home.
Gerry Lepine
Summerland