Can the hot air

We all know it’s better to pull off a Band-Aid in one quick motion rather than try to peel it away gently—the short stab of pain being preferred over the longer, albeit duller, ache.
In a sense, that’s precisely the situation voters are faced with: whether we should have an election now, and get it over with, or let the current political game of “chicken” drag out over the winter months.
Neither option is particularly palpable but, like the Band-Aid, quicker is better.
We’ve already been barraged with overblown rhetoric, grandstanding, and outright brinkmanship over next Tuesday’s throne speech. First, the Opposition parties vowed to defeat it if it doesn’t satisfy their key demands. Prime Minister Stephen Harper then drew his proverbial line in the sand last week—basically daring the Liberals, Bloc Quebecois, and NDP to force an election nobody seems to want.
Now Liberal leader Stephane Dion is playing the blame game, suggesting just yesterday that it will be the Tories’ fault if an election is triggered over the throne speech.
So what can voters look forward to? More of the same over the coming months until either the Tories or Liberals decide when it’s in their party’s best interest to have an election.
Lucky us.
While it’s true a snap election this fall isn’t likely to change the political landscape much, at least it will put an end to this “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral” mentality that only serves to hold voters—and the country—hostage.
Enduring a short election campaign, with specific promises and platforms, is far better than suffering through an interminable “unofficial” one. In short, it’s time for the parties to put up, or shut up.
Our country needs action from our politicians, not just hot air.