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Saturday, August 14, 2004
Prejudice
Victor Davis Hanson speculates at the hatred directed toward President Bush and points out how rare it is to find a conversative southerner on a presidential ticket.
In fact, we have not seen a twanged president or vice president who was conservative in over a half-century. The previous rule? A Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Lloyd Bentsen, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, or John Edwards could serve or run for executive national office only on a simple triangulating premise — they offered moderate and regional balance to Yankee liberalism and yet did not in the slightest scare the rest of the country with images of a redneck South.
Any unrepentant conservatives from the south — former Democrats like a John Connolly or a Phil Graham — who sought the presidency quickly faded. Mr. Bush is unusual — an adopted Texan who reflects the attitudes and beliefs of most Southerners, and who counts on real political affinity rather than mere regional loyalty for support south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Nixon-Lodge, Goldwater-Miller, Nixon-Agnew, Ford-Dole, Reagan-Bush, Bush-Quayle, Dole-Kemp, Bush-Cheney — not a Southern conservative Republican to be found on any ticket, a trend that surely keeps Karl Rove's wheels spinning each night.
Canada has its own geographical prejudices and conservative politicians who are "automatically under a cloud of suspicion"... I am looking at you Alberta! It seems odd given the lack of a Canadian Mason-Dixon line or brutal civil war. So where does the prejudice come from?
Cross-posted to Ghost of a flea
Posted by Ghost of a flea on August 14, 2004 | Permalink
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» Prejudice from Ghost of a flea
Victor Davis Hanson speculates at the hatred directed toward President Bush and points out how rare it is to find a conversative southerner on a presidential ticket. In fact, we have not seen a twanged president or vice president who... [Read More]
Tracked on 2004-08-14 9:35:06 AM
» A victim of anti-West prejudice? from Le blog de Polyscopique
As soon as the election results were known, a theory began to spread like wildfire: that voters from Eastern Canada had rejected the Conservative Party simply because it was led by a Western Canadian and that this was why the... [Read More]
Tracked on 2004-08-18 7:26:30 PM
Comments
The prejudice comes from one source: Ontario's greed.
Alberta has valuable natural resources that Ontario seeks to exploit for its own profit.
National and international laws (like FTA and NAFTA) prevent this, so their ability is impaired.
This is essential for Alberta's prosperity, but such trivial matters do not concern Ontario.
The result is hate. They accuse Albertans of not supporting their ends without question. They think we can be browbeaten and coerced into submission like everyone else.
Normally these accusations are disguised with terms like "the national interest", "national unity" or "social justice". However, they really mean Ontario's profit. They need that money to built luxury items, improve Ontario's social services and improve the quality of life for Ontario people. The needs of others do not matter.
If you want to see Canada's "social justice" at work, look at Saskatchewan and Manitoba's struggling health care systems.
If you want to see national unity at work, ask Ontario people and Albertans what they think of each other. We are worlds apart - always have been, always will be.
I say let the Ontario people hate us. It proves how unworthy they and Canada are of Alberta's efforts. Such a hateful and racist people are a burden on our talents and patience. Our needs lie elsewhere. Given a choice between Paul Millionaire and George Bush, the President wins every time. He means us no harm - but the CEO cares little for our plight (remember how he insulted Albertans during the election, then tried to kiss ass at the Stampede. He DOES think we're that stupid).
Some changes are needed.
-First, an Alberta constitution should be created to regulate Federal rule with two provisions: first, all Federal laws must be approved by the Legislature before being enforceable; second, in case of any Federal attempt to violate Alberta's sovereignty, the Alberta government is authorized to hold a referendum on secession within 30 days.
-Second, the Canadian flag should no longer be flown by Alberta government institutions, and private individuals are discouraged from doing so.
-Third, the term "Province" should be replaced by "Commonwealth", and the term "Premier" by "Governor". Symbols of monarchy should also be replaced.
-Fourth, closer ties to the United States should be sought, and ALberta's international image should be separated and made distinct from that of Canada.
Our purpose is clear: to serve and protect our people. There's no ideology at play here. We want our protect our prosperity from federal misrule and greed. Yes, we want to keep what we earn and use it properly - and have been doing it better than anyone else for a long time. The feds can't beat us, so they can either give up or join us and stop their theiving ways.
Unfortunately, as the old saying goes, a leopard can't change his spots. Keep a close eye on Ontario people and the feds at all times. They mean us harm.
Posted by: Scott | 2004-08-14 3:07:57 PM
Just wanted a quick note here re Southern Presidents.
Bush is not actually a Southerner. I don't know where he got that accent from, it's kinda strange really -- Because of Hurricaine Charley I got to spend a LOT of time over the past few days listening to his brother Jeb. Jeb is pretty damn cool. He doesn't speak with a Southern accent although he actually was born in Texas - I don't know if anybody else has noticed but GHW Bush didn't have a Southern accent either.
Both W and his father were born Yankees. The family's roots are New-England all the way - which is probably why they are paletable as Presidential candidates.
Just had to point this out - because my Southern husband made a strong issue of this recently in a discussion. W might however qualify for a popular bumper-sticker we've been seeing lately in these parts.
It reads:
"I wasn't born a Southerner, but I got here just as quick as I could"
Posted by: MWW | 2004-08-14 5:52:22 PM
That Bush wasn't born in the South but adopted Texas as his home probably adds to his appeal. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Posted by: Kelvin | 2004-08-14 6:42:11 PM
Stephen Harper was born in Toronto, and made Alberta his home. We accepted him with open arms.
The reverse is not possible. Ontario people will only vote for their own. Outsiders are unwelcome. I know from personal experience that Albertans face extreme prejudice out there.
So much for this "country" - it isn't, never was, never will be a country. Just a gated community and country club (Ontario), surrounded by slums.
Posted by: Scott | 2004-08-14 7:35:33 PM
Jeb's accent is more central Texas university, George is more the west Texas oil and cattle industury.
George grew up in Midland until high school. I think Alamo Junior High. The First Lady was at Lamar Junior High. (Actually the wealthier school, if you could even consider such a classification back in those days in Midland.) I know because I was at Austin Junior High. Back in those days there was only one high school.
When you think George Bush, you cannot think "Southern". You have to think "West Texas". We're talking about cowboys, oil and cattle. Tarantulas, centipedes, land tarapins, rattlesnakes, dust storms and tumbling tumble weeds. And good ol' boys in pickup trucks tearing around the semi-desert chasing huge jack rabbits. Barren landscapes for hundreds of miles around.
Bush is as much a West Texas guy as anyone you could meet.
Our famous law enforcement agency the Texas Rangers had motto that could be Bush's second skin. "Mean what you say, say what you mean, and cover the ground that you stand on".
Scott, Bush knows all about oil and cattle country and people thinking you're a redneck. But here in the US sometimes they make such people president. Once you get out from under the representation by population, half of your troubles are over. From the perspective of US statehood, all you need is 10 or 12 million Americans who are sympathetic with your story. It would be a lot easier than making Stephen Harper prime minister.
Posted by: Greg in Dallas | 2004-08-14 9:29:27 PM
As usual, I think Greg's comments will resonate with many people on the Prairies -- definitely with those of us from Alberta ranch country -- and probably in a good chunk of B.C. as well.
I find it interesting that so many Americans, whether Stateside or transplanted to Canada, are evidently more fair-minded in their treatment of western Canada than are people in the COTU. No one could seriously accuse Diane Francis of an anti-Western animus, unlike many of her media colleagues. Even C.D. Howe, American engineer and near kin of the woman who wrote the Battle Hymn of the Republic, was a fast friend of the West (especially the Sask. Wheat Pool) before he became a Liberal grandee.
Posted by: Charles MacDonald | 2004-08-15 7:51:01 AM
*sigh*
No, Ontario doesn't hate Alberta. Ontario is just stupid. It's caught in an abusive relationship with the federal Liberals, and lashes out against anyone who tries to point that out.
I know, I'm from Ontario -- Toronto, actually. I visited home in early June and convinced my parents to put up a Conservative sign. By the time the vote rolled around, they voted Liberal again, because they were "afraid" of what the CPC would do. I had another friend convinced that Harper's Tories were the way to go (his MP is Bill Graham, so it wasn't too tough), but now he says that we're "too American".
Maybe it's the difference between a province settled by United Empire Loyalists and one that was settled by immigrants post-Confederation.
If you want to leave, it's quite easy. Just follow the Clarity Act. Then apply for statehood. You're wealthy enough that it'd be a slam dunk. But I hope that you won't -- and I suspect that the votes aren't there.
I think -- I hope -- that the Conservatives will get their message out in time for the next election. I just about become ill watching PM the PM on the CBC.
Posted by: Ben | 2004-08-15 8:56:06 AM
Re: MWW
I think you should also consider the following:
As stated by (Retired) General Lewis MacKenzie at a Committee of the Senate earlier this year, the overwhelming majority of Canadian troups are natives of the Atlantic Provinces and Eastern Quebec. So, Albertans, you'll have to put your money where your mouth is. Enroll - and please stop sending incompetent pseuso-federal politicians to the Maritimes to criticize their 'defeatist' culture when you display such arrogance and cowardice.
Money is one thing - we hear ad nauseum of Alberta's financial contribution - but how about your son't life?
Posted by: Loraine Lamontagne | 2004-08-16 4:26:52 PM
Why should Albertans risk their lives for their oppressors?
Join the army and shovel snow in Toronto.
Or be sent to Afghanistan for your "safety" (more Canadians have died there than Dutch in Iraq).
Sorry folks - it's a Canadian military, not an Alberta one. We should have the US military here to protect us from Canada.
Posted by: Scott | 2004-08-16 5:21:16 PM
What is wrong with Canada-
Are we 30 million strong now-compared to 300 million south of us.[almost 300]
Even the Liberals cannot find a suitable person to run for PM from the West.
Martin and Cretien were PM's of Ontario-Will Dion be the PM of Que-ONT.
I do not think we Westerners count-in the Big Pic.
When will Bush say-- come and join us?
Soon I hope.
Posted by: Kcann | 2006-12-03 9:04:01 AM
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