Paul Martin's massive tax cuts that mostly benefit the rich might be a bit of a mystery given that most polls show Canadians are much more concerned about health care, education, homelessness and the environment than they are about tax cuts. But corporate Ontario explains that one too. The Liberals can't afford to lose big contributors to the Alliance so they also kowtow to corporate Ontario, and that means tax cuts. As long as the NDP is still no threat and the Bloc Quebecois wins votes more on its nationalism than its progressive politics, the Liberals will continue to carry out right wing economic policies that are massively increasing the gap between rich and poor, all the while pretending to be the defenders of social equality. In my favourite Simpsons cartoon, aliens come to Earth and take over the bodies of the two candidates for U.S. president.
Homer uncovers the plot and unmasks the imposters in the middle of a presidential debate.
The crowd gasps in horror. It's a two party system. Most of them don't even bother to vote anymore. This year, legendary consumer activist Ralph Nader is making a more than respectable run as a third party candidate but the best he can hope for is the five per cent necessary to qualify for millions in federal funding next time. It is similar fears about Stockwell Day that are driving so many people into the arms of the Liberals.