Sunday, May 01, 2011

On stability

With a Harper Con majority looking less and less likely, it's worth taking a quick look at how the Cons' campaign spin fits with any real desire for stability following an election.

After all, even leaving aside Stephen Harper's interest in provoking yet another constitutional crisis, it's the Cons who have chosen to raise confidence showdowns at every turn, refusing to make any concessions which might result in any certainty of avoiding an election for longer than a given sitting of Parliament. And there's little reason to think that motivation will change after tomorrow.

In contrast, the NDP has already indicated its willingness to enter into a longer-term arrangement to move past the constant election speculation we've faced ever since Harper took power. And a government led by Jack Layton will surely have every interest in breaking the cycle of a new confidence threats every couple of months.

So part of the choice ahead - both for voters tomorrow and the Libs if the election produces the anticipated result - will be whether people recognize the positives in moving past the Cons' constant brinksmanship. And if people think through how any actual desire for stability fits in with the NDP's commitment to working with other parties, the Cons' campaign message may prove to be their undoing.

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