'Political' Correctness

With a national election coming up on October 19th, it is inevitable that some part of the controversy would spark a blog. However it wasn’t what one of the candidates said, but rather what they printed on their sign that caught my eye.

The first few times I saw this sign, I read it as saying ‘Delivering Change Better’. Now while I didn't subscribe to that concept for this particular party, I could see it as being positive in the sense that it did admit the party saw the need for change. However it was only on closer contact that I noticed the two words in smaller, lighter print ‘FOR’ and ‘THE’. Add those two words into the slogan and it completely changes the meaning. ‘Delivering Change for the Better’ . No longer does it speak of the need for change from the present situation, but rather it is speaking of the present reality as seen by the Conservative party - that the change they are making and have made over the past 8 years has been made for the better.

I’m not sure who would agree with them - certainly not the veterans, the aboriginals, the middle class, or those trying to exist and get ahead on minimum wage. Unemployment is up. The dollar is falling. We are no longer looked up to on the world stage. In 2010, for the first time ever, we lost the vote for a seat on the Security Council of the United Nations because of the government’s unqualified support of Israel. All of this is part of ‘The Change for the Better’ touted on this campaign sign.

I have more respect for the conservative candidate in a neighbouring riding who choose not to use this slogan, but rather has used a dark blue background along with her name, and party on her campaign signs. Is she trying to distance herself from the Harper conservatives? One can only speculate.

This sign however reminds me of those advertisements that appear to promise great things until you read the small print at the bottom. Are the Conservatives trying to ‘con’ the voting public into supporting the known brand? If so, that is an insult to our intelligence, speaking clearly of how they view us.

Whenever we find it necessary to mislead another with our words, we are being not only both untruthful, and desperate, but also showing the weakness we perceive in the truth.

“It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit.” ― Noël Coward, Blithe Spirit

Every vote matters on October 19th. Make sure yours is counted!

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