Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Media Alert

Here's my latest column in Report Magazine.

I provide some ideas as to how politicians can help end voter cynicism.

Ideas such as:

* Keep election promises. (Yes I know this is a radical notion, but desperate times call for desperate measures.)

* Resist the urge to accept cash-stuffed envelopes from sleazy businessmen or party bagmen.

* Stop switching party allegiances the way other people switch TV channels.

* Stop attending “fact-finding missions” especially when those missions take place in January and are held in Hawaii.

* Stop voting yourself pay raises, while continuing to complain about how much more money you would make in the private sector.

* During Question Period try to raise the caliber of debate to a level slightly higher than that used by squabbling and cranky five year old children fighting over a toy.

* Try standing up for a principle, rather than simply telling people what you think they want to hear.

* Stop thinking that just because you are a politician you are somehow “entitled to your entitlements.”

Thanks to Joel Johannesen for posting this on his excellent site.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Gerry:

You're crazy!

Peter MacKay would need a complete personality overhaul with this list of yours...

However, I would consider adding... If your dad was a politician, you need not apply.

No, cynicism is here to stay as a political voice in Canada...