Federal Conservatives Lack Focus, Vision and Direction

Let me begin by stating that I am both a fiscal as well as a social conservative. I have been so for a number of years and unashamedly declare my allegiance to conservative idealogy and values. Having said all this, I am dismayed at what I see as a lack lustre attempt on the part of Stephen Harper and the Canadian Federal Conservatives to reestablish a legitimate alternative to the reigning Liberal government.

In these past 18 months it has been revealed that the Liberal government has been and is currently riddled by scandal and corruption. The opposition parties have rightly challenged Paul Martin, Jean Chretien and the climate of corruption which has the Federal Liberals firmly in their grip. They need to be held accountable and I am in favor of the recent non-confidence vote initiated by Mr. Harper and confirmed by the other opposition parties in the House of Commons. What saddens me and concerns me is that in the preceeding 18 months, Conservatives have done little or nothing to educate the Canadian public on Conservative idealogy.

What Mr. Harper needs to realize is that he is much more than simply the head of a political party. He is the head of what needs to be a massive grass roots movement that seeks to win hearts and minds over to Conservative idealogy. Conservatism needs to confront Liberalism in the marketplace of ideas and this has not been done. Nor is it likely to be done with Mr. Harper at the head of the Conservative party.

The Conservative platform has been, under Mr. Harper's leadership, to attack and criticize the Liberals for their rampant mismanagement of the country. I am all in favor of holding Martin accountable. However, this has been the sole basis of the Conservative platform for the past 18 months. Political history has repeatedly shown that you cannot build a movement, energize a nation, rally people for a just cause and capture their hearts and minds by constantly trumpeting a negative message. In addtion to the criticisms, Conservatives need to present a platform that is upbeat, optimistic, positive. Canadians need to know that Liberalism has failed and why it has failed them. But more importantly, they need to know what distinguishes Conservatism from Liberalism. These distinctions need to be more than simply Conservatives love children and that Liberals relish in the death of the unborn.

The Conservative platform has always been:

The sanctity of the individual to determine his or her destiny

The right of the individual to own private property

The fruit of one's labor belongs to the laborer and not the government

Minimal taxation

Religious Freedom

Smaller less intrusive government

Sanctity of Life

Free market economy

National Sovereignty

Strong National Defence

Freedom of Speech

Committment to Law and Order

The proper role of the judiciary

Traditional Family Values

In the upcoming campaign, the Federal Conservatives have said little or nothing about these issues. In fact, these are not issues but the very cornerstone of Conservative idealogy. We have been offered an alternative that says vote for us, we are not Liberals and by the way we will reduce the GST 2 percentage points over the next few years.

I am in favor of any tax break, but this platform is missing the point entirely. Canadians in general and Conservatives in particular are tired of bribes and baubbles handed out by politicians. This is not an agenda but a bribe. Canadians today know very little about Mr. Harper and his platform. Most only suspect that he is a "right wing extremist" and is therefore not to be trusted.

We had a glorious opportunity during the Martin minority era to educate, inform and inspire a country. To be a Conservative is more than simply not being a Liberal. Conservatism, I believe, is best suited for all people in general in that it takes into account the natural proclivities of humanity and channels those tendencies in a positive direction. Liberalism, on the other hand, is elitist, arrogant, confiscatory in its view of private property, punitive in taxation. It's goal is to make the populace totally dependant upon the government for existence. The biggest threat to Liberalism is a free thinking, independant, self supporting and politically empowered society. It is a thinly veiled form of Socialism that would seek to ensare all of us into abdicating our freedom, values and property.

I appreciate Mr. Harper's values and I cherish him as a fellow Conservative and hope that he can bring some common sense to the House of Commons. I fear that this campaign will have little to do with idealogy and promoting a movement for the long-term good of Canada and more to do with not being Liberal.