Tea Party Politics Pt 1: Why is mistrust of government growing?

A recent column asserts that some of the chief characteristics of Tea Party politics - tax cuts and mistrust of government - are rearing their noisy heads in Canadian politics. (Tea Partyish Mistrust Gaining Steam, B. MacLeod, Oct. 13, London Free Press)

I asked myself, why is mistrust of government growing? Is it all my fault?

And if not, who is to blame? Governments? Radicals? Media? Me - in part? You? Rob Ford?

I think it’s important to think about the problem because mistrust of government affects the efficiency and forward movement of our political system.


["Why is mistrust in an important institution growing?"]

Some might immediately say, when has our government ever been efficient and moving forward?

Boy, that was quick! But for now, let’s just ask why mistrust of government is growing for now.

MacLeod writes:

“The Toronto mayor's race is ground zero. Rob Ford's populist campaign, which focuses on spending cuts and accusations of wrongdoing at city hall, has propelled him into first place...”

(Ford’s once considerable lead has now shrunk or vanished due to a recent Smitherman rally.)

But why was Ford able to rattle so many chains with his message re spending cuts or city hall wrongdoing (aka Tea Partyish tax cuts and mistrust)?

Well, isn’t his message an easy sell to people who are experiencing financial difficulties or who see more coming down the pike?

Growing household, municipal, provincial national, US, G7, OECD, and global debt is more in the news than in the past. (I write about certain aspects of debt on a regular basis. Sure, it ain’t over ‘til the fat lady sings but there are singers warming up behind every curtain in town!)

Government wrongdoing, even perceived wrongdoing, has propelled thousands of people into the streets in protest in various European nations recently, and European scenes of unrest have become as much a regular feature of our local news as NHL updates.

Many people do not feel as confident as they once did in the Canadian political or economic or financial scene.

MacLeod adds, “Indeed, a Harris-Decima survey released earlier this month suggested about 19% of voters would join a Canadian Tea Party.”

A sense of mistrust is growing.

More to follow.

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I smell a short series of some significance in my future.

Please stay tuned.

Please click here to read a recent series of some significance.

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