Any person with even a modest dose of PJS (Political Junkie Syndrome) will have watched with fascination, the antics as they unfolded in the United States House of Representatives this past week.
It was a classic example of a rump group of extremists hijacking not only a political party but one that will quite likely call the shots in the House of Representatives for the next two years. It was not, as McCarthy insists, “a great exercise in democracy”, but rather the opposite, an exercise of allowing the tail to wag the dog.
It took four days and 15 ballots for Kevin McCarthy to win the speakership he desperately wanted, and in doing so he caved to almost every demand of the extreme right wing of his party. Twenty members of the Republican Caucus held off awarding McCarthy the speakership. Almost all of them gave in at the end in one way or another but not before they got what they wanted.
And what did they want? They wanted far more influence in the Republican Caucus of 222 members than their rump status deserves, and they got it. Positions on key Congressional committees, concessions on far-right policies, and a formula to boot McCarthy out of the speakership at any time if he doesn’t dance to their tune, to name a few.
And who are these people? Well, one of them is Marjorie Taylor Green. Remember her? She is an extreme right-wing conspiracy theorist, an election denier, a Holocaust denier, and fairly well-known to be a purveyor of fake news and false facts. Even her husband has a problem with her. He filed for divorce in October of last year.
How much influence will Greene have on McCarthy? One picture on social media taken immediately after McCarthy’s win on the 15th ballot, showed her and the new Speaker cheek to cheek, with a caption that read something like, ‘Kevin McCarthy with the new Speaker, Marjorie Taylor Greene.’
Matt Gaetz is another one, also a brash proponent of far-right politics and an election denier. He fought against McCarthy tooth and nail but on the 15th ballot, likely after a call from Donald Trump, he did not vote, intentionally changing the number of people present and voting, thus allowing McCarthy to win the speakership by one vote. He was the kingmaker, and he won’t forget to remind the Speaker of it, every step of the way.
Another person who was present and voting and is almost certainly soon to join the other twenty as a member of the so-called Freedom Caucus is George Santos. This is the guy that admittedly outright lied about much of his background and qualifications during the recent election and at least once, when voting for McCarthy as Speaker, clearly displayed the white supremacy sign.
These are some of the folks who will effectively hold the hammer and control the agenda of the House of Representatives for the next two years.
So, what does that mean? In my view, it means the United States, the largest democracy in the entire world, will be predominantly dysfunctional for at least 24 months. It means another step toward isolationism, reduced support for Ukraine in their David and Goliath war with Russia, and indeed, closer ties with Russia itself. It means, unproductive, unnecessary, and hugely expensive investigations of America’s Intelligence resources, further weakening the reputation and influence of the United States in global issues. It could also mean a lengthy and time-consuming impeachment attempt of President Biden, which will ultimately fail in the Senate. It will also cast doubt that any meaningful and important legislation can, in fact, be passed into law. Clearly, the foxes are in the hen house.
I can almost hear someone reading this far, saying, so what? What does this have to do with Canada?
My take on that is whether we like it or not, Canada is inexorably tied to America’s apron strings. We are not only neighbours who depend on each other for trade but in many ways we share a similar culture. What happens there often finds its way into the fabric of Canada.
For example, in my view were it not for the assault on the United States capital two years ago, and the populist wave that followed that, I doubt very much if the so-called trucker’s convoy and related blockades across this country aimed, at least in part, at bringing down the government, would have gotten off the ground, at least in the form that it did. Many dissenters here were emboldened by what occurred there.
The United States has been historically a huge part of the Western world’s power structure. Canada is a part of that alliance. Declining respect for the United States and the weakening of its influence is as much a problem for this country as it is for the maintenance of an effective worldwide balance of power.
In Canada, while most of us believe we have a much better governance structure than that of our neighbour to the south, there are cracks in it too, and some believe that with three national elections in six years and a third-place party propping up the government, it is not currently effective.
One of those who believe that is former federal Liberal Finance Minister Bill Morneau. He is not a fan of what is happening here now. He has written a book about his concerns, and I look forward to reading it.
In summary, I think all of us should be interested and concerned about what is happening politically in the United States because ultimately, in one way or another, it will affect us here.
That’s just the way it is.
Hugh Mackenzie
Hugh Mackenzie has held elected office as a trustee on the Muskoka Board of Education, a Huntsville councillor, a District councillor, and mayor of Huntsville. He has also served as chairman of the District of Muskoka and as chief of staff to former premier of Ontario, Frank Miller.
Hugh has also served on a number of provincial, federal and local boards, including chair of the Ontario Health Disciplines Board, vice-chair of the Ontario Family Health Network, vice-chair of the Ontario Election Finance Commission, and board member of Roy Thomson Hall, the National Theatre School of Canada, and the Anglican Church of Canada. Locally, he has served as president of the Huntsville Rotary Club, chair of Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, chair of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, president of Huntsville Festival of the Arts, and board member of Community Living Huntsville.
In business, Hugh Mackenzie has a background in radio and newspaper publishing. He was also a founding partner and CEO of Enterprise Canada, a national public affairs and strategic communications firm established in 1986.
Currently, Hugh is president of C3 Digital Media Inc., the parent company of Doppler Online, and he enjoys writing commentary for Huntsville Doppler.
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Many good important points raised here. Jim in particular nailed the failing grades of the Trudeau government. The only thing they truly excel at is spending our tax $, and even that is frought with waste and disappointing results. Why Canadians continue to put up with such incompetence is truly bewildering.
Mr Mackenzie makes a lot of valid points in his article in regards to the true cost of getting someone elected. And Mr Tapley is correct to point out the lack of credentials for many if not all positions within government.
One only has to look at the how poorly our federal government is performing currently to reinforce this.
Report Card on Federal Government if it existed today would look something like this.
Economy -F
Military Procurement- Big F
Border Security-F
Airport Management-F
Healthcare-Big F
Affordable Housing-F
Immigration-F
Phoenix Payroll System-Big F
Deficit Spending-A+
Censorship-A+
Taxpayer funded Propaganda via national media subsidy A+
Contract Labour A+
Confiscation of firearms-A+
Lighter sentences for gun related crimes -A+
The cost to educate the Trudeau cabinet over the last 7 years has been astronomical and the repercussions of their mismanagement will take decades to correct.
If the Feds can not fix payroll after 30 years it may be and indication that all is not well in Ottawa.
The Liberals and the Conservatives failed to correct the system and spent billions in fees needlessly. Trudeau increased the federal workforce drastically without addressing it compounding the problems within the system. Similar to his immigration policy allowing 500,000 immigrants/year without addressing affordable housing or setting up immigration to handle the demand.
The decisions I just referred to prove beyond a doubt that are elected officials and their consultants are not qualified to run our country.
Brian Tapley, if only there was a mandatory test or course on ethics and morality. Candidates must more than pass it; they must score ‘A’ or thereabouts. Although passing the test doesn’t mean the candidate would be ethical/moral once in office. Uggh!
Ethics and morality seem to be subjective. How to run a country seems to be subjective, as well. Again – uggh.
How come it is that ….
If you want to drive a car, you need a license.
If you want to be a carpenter you need thousands of hours of apprenticeship and training.
If you want to be a lawyer you need to learn how to approach some bar somewhere.
and the list goes on to infinity.
BUT
If you want to be a politician, and spend trillions of dollars on projects that must last a lifetime or maybe, if done just right (come on readers, don’t laugh here please) they might save us from an overheated and over active weather pattern that will be no fun at all.
Well if you want to work on these kind of things instead of building decks or driving trucks, YOU NEED NO TRAINING AT ALL, NOTHING! All you need is some money and a bit of luck to win an election and zowie… your in, your it, and look where it got Trump and his friends who still, years on, can’t seem to get a grasp of reality.
Maybe this is why our systems are not working well? Maybe the lack of reality might explain the debits that countries run up. Face it, there is no way we shall ever pay off the national debt, who are we kidding?
I fear that many of our politicians do not know the difference between a plus and negative sign.
Perhaps it is time to have a few courses and such about how to run a country and candidates need to pass these BEFORE they are allowed to put a name on a ballot.
A concerning point is the new house rules passed by the GOP that weakens ethical oversight of its members.
For example, will Santos face any accountability for the many bold-faced lies concerning his campaign profile?
I concur, we do well to watch and learn.
Yes Hugh, the evolution of politics in the USA should indeed be a major concern to everyone in the world with a conscience, except perhaps a few authoritarian states where the people have no freedom. And that should be of special concern to Canada. Over the past 50 years, the once great GOP has gradually become morally bankrupt. They care about nothing but power, and money. The rump group that now has control stands for nothing that any reasonable person can admire. Republicans may eventually find their way back to being the viable force for good they once were. It may happen sooner than we think. McCarthy himself may be in trouble in 2024. He was elected in California, a state that received one foot of rain yesterday. Like Trump, the mean-spirited power-hungry rump group will likely try to avoid providing aid to democrats in California, and any other meaningful action to mitigate climate change. Many states (Red and Blue) have been hit by unprecedented and devastating weather in the last 12 months. California and other voters will not forget. To regain the respect of Americans and the world, Republicans will have to turf the rump group.
By the way, Bill Morneau turned out to be a disappointing finance minister. He can’t hold a candle to Christia Freeland.
Actually MTG supported McCarthy all along she was in his camp so he owes her big time. Too bad!
God help us all !!!