Thoughts on Canada and self

Nice to have my perspectives corroborated by other sources, considering my low credibility. Here's an excerpt from Maclean's interview with long-time journalist and former resident columnist, Peter C. Newman:

[Interviewer is Maclean's Editor Anthony Wilson-Smith]

You've known both Paul Martin senior and junior well. How is the son doing?

...[Paul Martin Jr.] acts too much like a puppet, fast on both feet, trying to jump out of the way of the next crisis before it overwhelms him, by giving the store away. That's not the way to lead a country. There are days when he makes Jean Chretien look good, and that is a terrible condemnation. Chretien may have been a thug, but at least we knew who was running the country." ('Going Strong.' Maclean's Nov 8. 2004: 28.)

Yes, Prime Minister Martin seems to be 'giving the store away' and likely knows it. Just as former prime minister Brian Mulroney did, when he signed the free trade deal. It reaped him many personal gains, and an important place in history.

Isn't Martin the successful owner of a large shipping line? Didn't he also choose not to fly the Canadian flag, in order to avoid paying taxes? (See PaulMartinTime.ca and FlyOurFlag.ca)

Like Newman, I had expressed similar appreciation for former prime minister Jean Chrétien, in retrospect: Chrétien at least stood his ground with U.S. President George W. Bush.

I can't help but feel that blind, entrenched party loyalty, and this 'lesser of two evils' approach to politics and electing representatives, are slowly killing democracy. It's like the environmental situation: people may only be moved to consciousness and action when things get really, REEEALLY BAD. By then, it may be too late.

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Self and National Identity

My original post was a rambling mess. Revised version to come...