So the next Premier is???

Yesterday - Sue's Blog outlined some of the characteristics, experience, and accomplishments many of you had suggested would be great to have in our next Premier.

As I suggest who bests meets the same criteria outlined yesterday - and before you may condemn or question the choice - put on your journalistic hat.

For each of the 22 qualities I listed - check to see if the individual I predict for Premier possesses it.

It would be a very beneficial process to actually "know" who somebody is before we elect him/her as Premier. Instead of the "saviour" phenomenon which essentially boils down to some media personalities deeming popularity of a person seeking office - let's really do our own research.

Picking flamboyant media darlings as our prospective Premiers has not worked out very well for us. We often hear people asking why our politicians "change" after they are elected. Perhaps they have not changed at all - perhaps we only knew an image of the person not the actual person. Media can selectively report on a biography or curriculum vitae and can choose not to delve further into the persons experience and make-up.

The truth is - you and I have been hearing all kinds of names thrown out by media outlets for the potential leader of one party or another. The stories are filled with anticipation - they pump the audience up by headlining "so and so will decide over the next few months, weeks, days if they will seek the nomination". With Danny Williams it went on for decades - until he actually ran. Next up Dean MacDonald? No - that's not the way I want to choose.

This government is now in third place and Kathy Dunderdale is becoming a foreigner to most Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. This time -this one time - let us the people decide. Let us question or demand that our media do the digging in order that they may present us with facts not fairytale romanticized versions of our next savior.

This time let's really know who we are electing - no surprises - expectations measured and satisfactory. Let's take more seriously the interview procedure when electing a person who will possess enormous power.

Our democracy is not perfect - one such imperfection is the power of both the Office of the Prime Minister and the Office of the Premier. There are very few checks and balances of that power as we have been made painfully aware by both Harper and Dunderdale.

They rule with an iron-fist and with arrogance. We have no process of recall and the House of Commons and House of Assembly have become gong shows with little respect - when a majority government holds the reins.

It therefore is very important for us to understand the nature of an individual before we hand over those reins. It is important to truly analyse the candidate's response to success and power. If one is consumed and driven to achieve massive personal wealth and power then it is unlikely they will be consultative, reasonable, or even open to intelligent discourse and debate. These people also tend to surround themselves with people who are likely to fulfill their every request and support their every decision versus - strong minded and willed who likely bring with them competence we could use to promote our province - both financially and socially.

We also must avoid those leaders and potential Premiers who use phraseology like "me and my party", "my decision", "I believe", "I have called for" etc. etc...

Over the past 15 years our democratic expectations have evaporated. We expect politicians to cheat, lie, and even involve themselves in criminal activity. We have allowed our expectations of leaders to plummet. We wonder why almost half the population will not vote? Not really - we know that many are sick of the corruption, incompetence, secrecy, media control, and arrogance. We have grown accustomed to expect less. We anticipate that each and every one of them will break their word, represent party not constituents, and will intellectually sleep-walk through legislative and policy development.

This must stop. My prediction involves a candidate that is hidden in plain sight. The person that I predict will be our next Premier is Dwight Ball. Now have a real look and tell me how he does not measure up to the 22 qualities - most of us are looking for.

For people who believe that these qualities can only be found in a higher being - you have let yourself expect much less than we deserve as people. A few decades a go - this type of individual would be called a person of their word, a fine fella or gal, or honest Abe - now we think it impossible?

This Premier to be has 22 qualities

The political polls are shifting and shifting quickly.

I listen - sometimes amused - at Liberals, Tories, and NDP speculating about the Liberals attracting a respected business person. They all muse about Dean MacDonald and his likeness to Danny Williams.

The unconnected Tories think they could politically go at this guy and so encourage his entry. The connected "Tories" the behind the scenes corporate sliders that groom and place leaders - threw Dean's name out as a possible replacement for Danny? One of the gang as it were.

So who is it we are looking for?

1. A successful respected business person,
2. A person committed to public service,
3. A person independent enough not to be bought - sold - and bartered,
4. A keen manager of people,
5. A person with a reasonable knowledge of health and education,
6. A Newfoundlander and Labradorian who loves this place and knows it from exploring it,
7. A person able to negotiate with and respect labour groups, organizations, and associations,
8. Promoter of managed growth within all industrial sectors - able to negotiate a solid business deal,
9. A person who understands small to medium size local businesses and what they contribute,
10. A person committed to rural and urban development and understands community needs,
11. A person who brings people together,
12. A person not consumed by their own ego,
13. A person who is committed to giving back and making a social difference,
14. A person who can represent us on the national and international level,
15. A person who appreciates the arts, culture, and tourism of our province,
16. A person committed to bridging the gap between Newfoundland and Labrador,
17. A non-savior who has a great work ethic and takes responsibility seriously,
18. A caring individual who can truly appreciate hardships and challenges of others,\
19. A person committed to meaningful consultation,
20. A person who will cause Bill 29 to be repealed and is committed to transparency,
21. Somebody who has the courage to put the brakes on Muskrat,
22. A person who does what he/she commits to and is as they appear.

We have this person available and time will prove it so.

This person may very well be the next Premier - who is it?

Sue's Blog will make the first solid prediction on this tomorrow.