Andrew Coyne plays let’s pretend

Let’s pretend nearly every major paper, having endorsed harper in the last election, was being neutral and responsible.

Let’s pretend that harper keeps his promises.

Let’s pretend harper is not a control freak by nature and that now that he has a majority, he will suddenly become reasonable, respect democracy, no longer use whatever means - legal or not - at his disposal to stay in power.

A third priority: democratic reform.  This may seem unlikely, given the Tories’ abysmal record to date. But a majority might soften Stephen Harper’s control-freak tendencies: moreover, a reform package might make an attractive late-term offering, as the next election approaches.

But look through their past platforms, and you find some other interesting nuggets. Banning partisan advertising by government departments (heavens, does that still go on?). Cleaning up party nomination and leadership races, including a system of voter registration. Ensuring that candidates are the choice of their local riding association, not party leaders. Making all votes in the House of Commons, outside of the budget and main estimates, free votes. And this, from 2004: “We will also look at new proposals for allowing greater direct democracy and changing the electoral system used to elect members of Parliament.” Perhaps a royal commission, reporting back in two years?

But a government that accomplished even half of these reforms could make a fair claim to have earned a second majority.

Dude, he won his Parliamentary (but not real) majority by controlling the media (that includes you, Coyne), by contravening TB regulations and legislation and using departmental sites for partisan purposes, whipping votes, intimidating his own members, ousting any who opposed him, disengaging the public from the democratic process, insisting over and over that Canadians don’t care about how democracy functions.

Harper won the last election largely by breaking the rules and encouraging public apathy and ignorance.  Having his prize at last, can you seriously hypothesize that he will now risk it by allowing any voice but his own to be heard?

But you know that already, since you are one of his political whores.