Lack of Originality

The most disturbing aspect of our new government is the apparent inability to develop an original thought. Whether you agree or disagree with the government, people should be concerned at Harper's propensity for adopting "foreign" concepts. The latest example of Harper's plagarism is the decision to ban coverage of the soldier's caskets. Whether you listen to the language, or the framing, everything coming out of this government on Afghanistan mirrors the Bush administration. We won't cut and run, we are fighting them over there before they attack us there, we are in it for the long haul, the terrorists won't win, etc, etc.

The problem is not confined to Afghanistan. On the environment, Harper's "made in Canada" approach to emissions is verbatum Bushspeak. On taxes, on defence spending, on media restrictions and message control, Harper finds inspiration from outside. All these early signs serve as proof for my theory that the Harper government is essentially a collection of "lifted" philosophy. Even the Harper election campaign took its cues from the Australian Conservatives example. I don't see a uniquely Canadian vision, I see aping and latching on to others ideas.

People can point to the Conservative platform as evidence of an overarching philosophy. What I see is a program that isn't about principles, but sustained power. The hyper-politicism, coupled with the lack of originality, makes the Harper government a "soulless" entity. This fact makes the government dangerous because it operates without a core. Is the decision to allow Quebec a seat at UNESCO derived from a sensitivity to Quebec's aspirations, or is it a simple measure to further the Conservatives self interest? Is Harper concerned about the soldiers family privacy, or does he want to limit coverage of powerful negative images like his southern overlord?

More aping evidence here.