With the election behind us, and the outcome not what was predicted, where do we go from here?
There is a political horse but there is no authorized rider that can mount that political horse as yet. The rider has to win her political spurs to climb on to the noble steed’s back, so to speak. As we all know, she was unseated from that political horse a short while ago and since, has been looking for a place to remount. It seems that she has found a place to try to do that. A minion has stepped forward and offered her the chance to get back into the saddle.
I guess the question here is, in so doing, are we going to get much of the same wishy, washy, political crapola, namely: Balanced budget; massive employment opportunities; economic improvements and economic stability and other idiosyncratic promises made by her nibs. Many of these, undoubtedly, will be shelved, downplayed or put on the back burner as being in the works or as works in progress. Where have we heard this before?
With a few new faces in the ranks, and many of the old guard faithfuls we should be prepared for the same old same old of days gone by. Nothing much has changed except the day, the date and a short passage of time since the election. Leopards don’t change their spots, as we all know.
As for our newly elected MLA, it’s anyone’s guess where Mr. Ashton will sit.
As rookie politicians have to earn their way to caucus and further up-ladder points. Irrespective of that, I encourage you to put pen to paper expressing your interest in follow-through on the hospital development. Remember those famous campaign words: “I get things done.” Well Mr. Ashton, it’s time that the rubber hit the road with the wheels turning and no unforeseen detours. Let’s see if you are as good as you say you are.
Ms. Clark, in her effort to get elected, has chosen a safe seat. There will, no doubt, be payback for the candidate who gave up that seat so that she could run. Given that the candidate garnered 58 per cent of the vote in the area, it will be interesting to see what she does there. Having been in radio for some time, she appears to be her own spin-doctor this time. She is schmoozing up the area voters that the South/Central Okanagan is a spawning ground for Premier politicians with the likes of W.A.C Bennett and Bill Bennett.
I guess the inference here is that when elected, she would form part of that triumvirate and be a part of the legacy left by these individuals. More smoke and mirrors, perhaps?
In the end, we must take the blame for the abysmal response to this last election. It was, in my opinion, an abomination of democracy. So few (51.2 per cent) decided the fate of this province and those few have given almost absolute power to 50+ individuals who can and do what they want and when they want to do it! Depending on your political perspective, you will realize the significance of this. Democracy, as we were taught way back when, has morphed into something entirely different from what we were led to believe it to be. We have ourselves and our complacency to thank for that! Keep in mind, four years is a long time. The past is the past but it is not always forgotten.
Ron Barillaro
Penticton