Toronto Star: Time for a vote in the dominion of King Stephen

[marmar]

Growing up in a kingdom, among family and friends close to the court, you learn early that the king’s word is law.

The Nizam of Hyderabad — ruler of British India’s most prosperous princely state, a territory the size of France — was no tyrant. Still, courtiers dared not contradict him. Those who couldn’t compromise their conscience resigned or were fired or transferred to the boonies. Those who stayed had to resort to rhetorical ruses to steer him in the right direction.

He fancied himself a great Urdu poet and decreed that his rhymes be compulsory reading in university. Courtiers had to convince His Exalted Highness that stupid students were not worthy of his literary brilliance.

Usually, they were not that successful. He could be stubborn as a mule, even if his chosen policy was shown to be wrong and expensive.

I recalled all this during recent goings-on in the kingdom of Harper.

King Stephen wants his orders obeyed. Those who don’t are fired, transferred or demonized. Or they quit. The list is long:

Linda Keene, nuclear regulator. Bernard Shapiro, ethics commissioner. Peter Tinsley, military police complaints commissioner. Kevin Page, parliamentary budget officer. Richard Colvin, the diplomat who exposed the Afghan detainee abuse. Paul Kennedy, RCMP watchdog. Pat Stogran, veterans’ ombudsman. Marty Cheliak of the RCMP and the police chiefs from across Canada, who both backed the gun registry. Remy Beauregard, head of Rights and Democracy, who died of a heart attack after being hounded into line. ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/article/863024--siddiqui-time-for-a-vote-in-the-dominion-of-king-stephen