Bigger Isn't Always Better
It's not every day that government gets it right. But sometimes they do. Our Prime Minister has been consistent in his promise to create smaller government. And he has delivered.
I mean yes, sure, he is tied with Brian Mulroney for having the largest Cabinet in Canadian history at 39 cabinet ministers. And yes, some simpler countries like the United States, they get by with 23 cabinet ministers. But to be fair a lot of our cabinet ministers, they’re not that bright. If they didn't have this job they might have to turn to crime or public broadcasting. And this government is tough on both.
But as the old adage goes, sometimes you have to spend money to make money. Which is why, in an effort to make government smaller, Stephen Harper is making it bigger by creating 30 new members of Parliament. Because who among us when faced with major problems of the day, poverty, unemployment, Tony Clement, has not said, "If only we had more members of Parliament then everything would be ok"? Suddenly I don't feel bad that the people who take the search and rescue calls from drowning fisherman are being laid off because we’re getting new MPs. See? It's all about a balance.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for electoral reform. Many geeks with an obscure interest in the subject are. But before we add new MPs, why don’t we fix some of the problems with the existing MPs. Like the fact that we are the only parliamentary democracy in the entire world where an MP does not have the right to stand up and ask a question not approved by their leader. Yes freedom of speech is a right we all enjoy in this country, unless you're a Member of Parliament. And a bill addressing this very problem was killed last year in committee.
So really, if Stephen Harper’s idea of job creation is creating 30 new MPs, why don’t we save ourselves a pile of cash? Get 30 old mannequins, throw them up in the back row of the House of Commons, sit back and see if anyone notices.
Posted: 02/11/2011 7:38:28 AM | with 0 comments