Can’t everyone just get along?
As a reporter, it is a question that I often get asked by members of public and to tell you the truth, for those of us who work on the editorial side of newspapers, one we often ask ourselves. Although, in those cases we really don’t expect an answer.
Most of the time when we are asked or hear that question it tends to be about politics.
On occasion people are referring to our local situation regarding the town and county’s seeming inability to come to a recreation agreement.
However, most of the time the question is asked about the adversarial nature of provincial or federal politics. And who can really blame them? Especially when one watches the nightly news or streams question period on a regular basis.
The truth of the matter, in a large number of cases is that politicians are not only civil to each other, but on a regular basis work together despite party and ideological differences to solve matters concerning their constituents.
Take the NDP and the Wildrose Party as examples. On the face of it, they are from a policy and ideological point of view as different as one can be, but on a regular basis members work behind the scene and come up with solutions that work for everyone involved.
That is one of the major points Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock MLA and shadow minister Glenn van Dijken made during a visit to Barrhead town council on Tuesday, Sept. 27.
He said on many occasions he has met with his counterpart, Brian Mason, Minister of Transportation, and has been able to rectify an issue his constituents had. Remember the Klondyke Ferry? In early April we received a phone call from a Neerlandia/Vega area farmer telling us about his concern that the government, in an effort to save money, was going to delay the ferry’s operation until late May, causing many farmers added expense, time and effort. van Dijken received those same calls and in the same week after raising the concern with Mason the government reversed its decision.
How often does this happen? I’m not sure, but van Dijken said the government and Mason in particular have demonstrated a willingness to listen.
The problem is that the general public, at least in the circles I tend to travel in, doesn’t seem to be willing to give the government the same courtesy because they are NDP.
Now as many of you know, I have spent a lot of time in B.C. and I have seen many changes in government, from Social Credit, Liberal and yes, even the NDP and I can tell you, from experience, they all had their strong and weak points, as do all the individuals who represent us. True political parties do have philosophical differences that guide their actions, but often on every day matters, philosophy has little to do with the action that is needed. So let’s give everyone a little grace when we can and just get along.
