Firing the first shot of the Canadian culture wars

In his book Open and Shut (see Walt, passim), John Ibbotson talks about the differences between American and Canadian political culture and society. Keeping the book short, Mr. Ibbotson did not explore the significance of the "culture wars" that now divide the USA.

To paint with a very broad brush, Americans divide into two camps: the Christian right vs the secular left. The Democrats tend to line up with the latter. The Republicans tend to waffle becauase the former are a minority...a very vocal minority to be sure...and the Republicans need some of the non-religious voters to get back in office.

And now we have the Tea Partiers, the cranky old white men (and women) like Walt who are against the nanny state and in favour of individual rights, freedoms and responsibilities. A few weeks ago Walt said Canada needs a Tea Party. Just recently Sarah Palin spoke to a sell-out crowd in Hamilton, Ontario -- Canada's answer to Bethlehem PA. Believe me, there are lots of disgruntled Canadians out there.

Now Frank Graves of Ekos Research, a sometime adviser to Canada's Liberal Party, has told the Grits that the "wedge politics" of the Conservatives provide the Liberals with a chance to present a "stark alternative".

In other words, he recommends that the Libs throw the conservative wing of their party under the big red bus and pin their hopes on winning a majority of the "progressives" who reside in the genteel areas of Toronto and Montréal. "Forget about the yokels. Win Westmount and Rosedale and all will be well."

Bring on the polarizing debate, says Mr. Graves. It worked for Jean Chrétien against Preston Manning and Stockwell Day, so why wouldn't it work for the Iggster?

"I told them," Mr. Graves confides to a reporter, "that they should invoke a culture war. Cosmopolitanism versus parochialism, secularism versus moralism, Obama versus Palin, tolerance versus racism and homophobia, democracy versus autocracy. If the cranky old men in Alberta don’t like it, too bad. Go south and vote for Palin."

Wow! Strong stuff! Walt doesn't live in Alberta, but hopes most fervently that the Liberals will take Mr. Grave's advice and BRING IT ON!