Change, Conservatively
As the provincial election campaign starts to get into full swing, the campaign ads are starting to hit the TV and radio waves. This morning, I heard an ad from Ed Stelmach espousing change on the radio.
Does this strike anyone else as a bit odd: the Conservative Party campaigning on a platform of change?
Ignoring the somewhat paradoxical nature of such a thing (i.e.: conservative change), the Tories are the governing party at the moment, and have been for 37 years. They are, by definition, the status quo.
Campaigning on a platform of change doesn’t really make sense when you’re already in power, especially if you think you’ve been doing a good job for the last 4 decades.
It seems to me that the PCs are trying to tap into the psyche of Albertans—48% of whom feel that we need a change of government (though, most of those 48% don’t see any of the other parties as a viable alternative to the Tories)—and claim that they are the party of change.
I can imagine the ad, “Do you want change? Well, don’t change the government. We’ve heard what you want, and we’re ready to change. Re-elect the Conservatives for change!”
Sorry Steady Eddie, if Albertans really want change, they aren’t going to vote for you. You’re just lucky that most Albertans seem to trust the Liberals and NDP even less than they trust you.
I’m just going to throw this out there, but I think that the Social Credit Party counts as Conservative, especially considering the shared economic and cultural values (let’s not forget the element of the Christian right as a powerful arm of support for both of these parties), which makes Alberta a conservative province for well over 60 years. Expecting a radical change (ie to the NDP) would be akin to a revolution.
Desmond
8 Feb 08 at 10:40 pm
I can’t say I really disagree with your Desmond. And, I certainly don’t except the NDP to form a government in this province any time soon. The Liberals, perhaps, but not the NDP.
Change would be nice, but I’d even just be happy with the PCs getting a minority government. At least that way, they be forced to collaborate with the other parties in order to get things done, which would likely lead to some policy changes (however minor they might be).
Adam Snider
9 Feb 08 at 2:33 pm