Opposition Parties seek Opposition Movement

The opportunity is there for the Opposition parties in Newfoundland and Labrador - to make a difference.

The people of this province are upset that Muskrat is being rammed down their throats by people who are drunk on power and obsessed by it.

The people of this province are upset that the Auditor General is once again being hindered - leaving us to wonder who is making and how they are making decisions on the expenditure of billions of dollars.

The people of this province are upset that the Public Accounts Committee has not met in public for 6 years despite the fact that each party had at least one MHA taken off to a prison cell for criminal behavior regarding the use of public funds.

The people of this province are upset that Chief Justice Green's report on the whole mess and accountability has been essentially trashed - while each party points fingers here or there.

The people of this province are upset that kissing up to Stephen Harper by a weak Premier has resulted in continued cuts by the feds. When they are not cutting they are increasing costs for people travelling on the Island's Trans Canada Highway - the Marine Atlantic Ferry.

 The people of Labrador need a highway - a real highway before the Island based government strips yet more valuable resources - in return for temporary employment.

The people of the province are upset that industry continues to downsize or close - paper mills and fish plants.

The people of rural communities are upset that they are being forsaken for the temporary wealth of St. John's Metro from non-renewable offshore resources owned by the feds.

The people of this province are upset that Search and Rescue and Fisheries science are being diminished and tinkered with - like we are second class participants in (Con)federation.

The people of this province are upset that shipbuilding is not king in Newfoundland and Labrador. 

The people of this province are upset that speaking out against a policy of the DunWill government may mean personal consequences. (This is the same crew that were hyped on Whistle Blower legislation) Ha ha ha ha.

The people of this province are upset that Vickie Kaminski seems to spend more time apologizing for continued incompetence, errors, and trouble with our health care system - than doing what she was employed to do - clean it up.

So what then are the Opposition doing?

While Michael is noticeable and relevant on some Health Care issues - they are traditional core NDP positions and do not require a great deal more than repetition. The caucus has one wanna be leader who appears to fancy himself a Jack intellectual. He definitely has the arrogant bit down and definitely believes that people look way up to him.

The Liberals remain fractured with some hoping for a Messiah and others believing they might have a leader already. They might - but that leader must demonstrate it. He must - above all - lead; that's going to take competent and willing staff - exceptional research and then ultimately standing for something.

As a result they are all waiting for the people to cause the opposition they need - in order that a partisan bandwagon may form.

This is exactly what Len Simms was the beneficiary of when the Power of the People took it to Clyde on privatization.

Right now it appears that Opposition members wait for some event organized by a labour group, professional body, or by like-minded citizens and then ask to be invited.

There are some journalists in the province stepping up to the plate and many well-known public figures are weighing in. Ordinary citizens who are not currently consumed by fear that speaking out will make them a "target" of government - are doing their part. The only problem for the Opposition parties is that - as yet - they have not come together.

The opposition parties appear frustrated that there is no pack to follow - so they take a wait and see approach. Right now - we need courageous Opposition members and leadership - in the same way we needed it during the Upper Churchill fiasco.

There is no doubt that Premier Dunderdale is out of her league as it relates to open public debate and therefore hides behind her power.

There is no doubt that decisions are not being made using the best possible information as Dunderdale's government hides behind a curtain and thwarts established processes such as the PUB.

There is no doubt that the Dunderdale government utilizes the skills of a human resource like Ross Reid to control messaging and democracy.

There is no doubt that fear is the optimal choice of persuasion when your mouth can't utter an informed position.

There is no doubt that arrogance is rampant within the regime and that most backbenchers are puppets - hanging on to the best gig they will ever get.

There is no doubt that the PC's claim that all who oppose them are partisan naysayers - is weakened everyday - as more and more well known Tories fall among the aforementioned group.

Right now - sadly - it also appears there is no doubt that the Opposition parties are seeking an opposition movement - that they can follow.

As I write this - I know from experience that all of them would just like me to shut-up. Let's see what punishment they dish out this time. Or as Ches Crosbie may put it - how are they planning to piss on me at every opportunity - when I'm not in the room.

I can assure the reader that the seals are leaving more than cods gutless. Keep clapping and flapping.