The “greater good” seems to be on a lot of people’s minds these days, as party insiders jockey for position leading up to the race for B.C.’s Next Top Premier.
And, as always seems the case, some individual campaigners – each one convinced that his or her candidate of choice is, indeed, the chosen one – have left their scruples at the door in an effort to win the coveted prize and, likely, the reward of influence down the road.
Know a cat? Sign it up. An amateur hockey team? Enlist en masse; don’t ask, don’t tell. Restaurant staff? Hmmm, if you happen to preside over a chain of upscale eateries, perhaps free iPads will encourage your all-too-supportive management teams to rally the troops.
After all, your candidate is best for B.C., so you’re doing good. Right?
Like contestants on some modern-day television game show, these players seem to care less about the principles of democracy and more about the rewards, embarrassing themselves and their alliances along the way.
It must be acknowledged that in each of these outrageous lapses in judgment that have come to light in recent days, supporters have stepped in to note that the candidates themselves had no direct knowledge.
Convenient and presumably true.
However, such a truth doesn’t say much for the candidates’ abilities to manage teams of people – a skill that just might come in handy for the new leader of the BC Liberal party to be selected in two weeks’ time.
A strong candidate, one could argue, should clean house publicly of any supporters who prize victory over principles of democracy. No second chances.
It’s not enough to say simply that an error was made. Offenders should be effectively told they’re fired – to pack their knives and go – to ensure the weakest of links have been eliminated from the game.
After all, the victor in this contest will not just be party leader but B.C.’s new premier, selected by party members to lead themselves and the rest of us until the next election, scheduled for May 14, 2013.
Interestingly, also reported somewhat critically in recent days has been the mass signups targeting certain ethnic groups – specifically Surrey’s South Asian community. But for me, this is a non-starter as a scandal, at least as far as the new party members and recruiters are concerned.
If any individuals are smart enough to join a political party simply to have a say in who will govern, I say all power to them. Literally.
Any condemnation should be directed to those of us who have an opinion on who will best protect our interests, yet do nothing to influence the outcome.
Regardless of this opinion, the issue has resulted in a lot of infighting and accusations within party circles.
This latter inner-party conflict is not exclusive to the BC Liberals, noticeable now especially as the New Democrats also select a new leader.
But if you’re wondering why the media focus on the Liberals, I refer again to the fact that only one party’s victor is destined to lead the province, thanks to our somewhat-antiquated voting system.
Sure, we had an opportunity to vote for the ruling party, but the power is in the premier’s office – as evidenced in outgoing BC Liberal leader Gordon Campbell’s autocratic run since 2001.
Reality is, the premier holds the cards; it’s the rest of us jokers who will be shuffled.
Silver lining: come 2013, it will be our turn to play. Only then will the tribe truly have spoken.
Lance Peverley is editor of the Peace Arch News.
