Grandpa Tells us about Politics

It is one of those hot, lazy August days at the cottage.  Grandpa has his nose in a book of Canadianisms* - words and expressions from the past.  Later that day over a cocktail, his memory enhanced, Grandpa takes it upon himself to explain an important time in Canadian history - the summer of 2002.

-------------------------

Kids today spend too much time playing video games and not enough time learning about their country’s past. Well kids the summer of 2002 was a crazy time in Canadian politics.  So, I’m going to tell you about it.

I am older than footprints and I thought the day I saw buzzards saying grace before meals was the day that I’d call the Liberals fiscally responsible.  But in 1993 this guy Paul Martin comes along and not only balances the books but has money left over.

Our Prime Minister back then was a fella from Shawinigan Quebec named Jean Chretien.  He’d been around since hell was a grass fire and he believed that Martin was about as slippery as a walrus on an ice flow.  Early in the summer he sacks him.

This leaves the country all up in the air – like a dog between two trees.  Throughout June and July, the public is hung up by the tongue of the garrulous media who, in their wisdom, tell us that the country now needs Chretien about as much as a kangaroo needs a purse.

One thing everyone had to admit about Jean Chretien was that he was quick on his skates.  He realizes that this chances of succeeding at the February leadership review were slim and none and slim was visiting Alberta.

Overnight Chretien concocts a plan that could sneak sunrise past a rooster – or
Paul Martin anyway.  He will retire, but he’ll do it in his own time – more than 18 months down the road.  Well now, that made the cheese more binding. (1)

Now Martin comes out the next day looking like he’d spent the night on a clothesline. (2)   This millionaire son of a politician clearly doesn’t know whether to swallow his watch or wind his food.

Martin declares the PM a great leader.  That was just too much candy for the penny (3)  - if anyone had asked me.

There is no need to connect the dots on this one.  Martin had a problem – a leadership race that’s going to go on longer than the time served by several Prime Ministers.

He has one thing going for him though.  His rivals aren’t so reckless that they will get off the ladder before they reach the ground.  Besides too much competition for the top spot might see them kicking stones down the road.(4)

Anyway you look at it; Martin’s big victory party was a long way off.  His supporters were well advised to put the big pot in the little pot and boil the dishrag. (5)  The little guy from Shawinigan wasn’t done yet. 

                  Notes 

1. An interesting turn of events.

2. A Quebec expression indicating a hard night had been had.

3. A metaphor from the penny candy store era

4. An Ottawa Valley expression that counsels good behaviour when work is scarce.

5. A sarcastic expression from the Depression.  There will be no party tonight.

------------------

*Dunnville author Bill Casselman’s book Canadian Sayings, 1000 Folk Sayings used by Canadians (McArthur and Company – Toronto 2002) has inspired Grandpa and this writer.

Harry Leslie Smith in London (ON) Next Week

Recently I wrote a bit of a story about Harry Leslie Smith and specifically about his book Harry’s Last Stand.

http://foreveryoungnews.com/posts/3024-bob-s-blog-history-repeating-itself-says-crusading-author-91

A major theme of the book and Harry Smith’s advocacy efforts is to save the National Health Service (NHS).

On Twitter (@Harryslaststand) and in his book Harry characterized the big political battle in the U.K. as being fought to save the NHS. I must say I knew little of the National Health Service when I read the book.

Certainly those with closer ties to the U.K. will have views and knowledge on it.  I’m going to come back to lessons from the U. K. election another day.  Today I’ll like to talk about Harry’s Canadian tour.

He is in the midst of it now.  The last stop is next Tuesday (July 21) in London. It is at the

Museum London, Lecture Theatre

421 Ridout St N

London

Smith will be addressing what is a stake in our upcoming federal election.

A discussion will follow with a panel of progressive activists including Abe Oudshoorn (housing activist and nursing professor at Western University), Jonathan Sas (Director of Research at the Broadbent Institute),  and Kaylie Tiessen (economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Ontario).

The Broadbent Institute is running the tour.  You can find out more at
http://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/stand_up_progress_national_tour_london

Harry Leslie Smith Coming to Canada

I just heard that Harry Smith is coming to Canada for a "full-tilt effort" against  Stephen Harper. http://thetyee.ca/News/2015/03/21/Harry-Smith-Is-Coming-For-Stephen-Harper/


This rates as good news on this chilly early spring weekend. .  In case you don't know who Harry Smith is, following is a short piece I did about his book, Harry's Last Stand.  My story appeared recently in Forever Young Information.

-------------------

I’ve just read a much recommended book, Harry’s Last Stand. How the World My Generation Built is Falling Down.


The author, Harry Leslie Smith, is a 91 year old who grew up in Yorkshire and spent and good portion of his life in Canada.  He wasn’t educated at “Oxbridge,” so those who were will undoubtedly be able to punch holes in his thesis. 

Katrina Clarke Photo

I won’t do that though.


As The RAF veteran emphasizes in the book, he is not an historian but he is history.


At 85, Smith was about to live out a quiet retirement in Algarve, Portugal when the banking crisis hit.  This crisis forced him on “a spiritual odyssey.”  He began to explore and “unravel the anguish that my generation endured before the (post-war) creation of the welfare state.”

The author looks back at the Depression and the brutal poverty he and millions of others experienced in the thirties and makes plain to the reader that history is repeating itself.


“These men. They have the same suits, the same accents, the same smiles,” he observes of decision makers in the United Kingdom.


“These men” in western countries around the world are applying the same remedies as eighty years ago.  They are cutting money for services, housing and job creation. Politicians and leaders of all stripes who champion the austerity mantra are targets of his critique. 

Smith’s cites many examples.  There is workfare, the serious housing crisis and food shortages.  (In England the Red Cross is now, for the first time since WWII, delivering food parcels to destitute families).


Even funerals.  Harry’s own father and ten year old sister, who died during the Depression, were buried in mass graves set aside for paupers.  Today estimates are that 100,000 people in Britain “will not have the dosh for dying this year.” 


I sometimes forget to appreciate how Harry’s generations changed history. The book ensures that I remember as does this video of Harry speaking last November in support of the National Health Services.  http://www.harryslaststand.com/about/