Trust us

"All we have to say is 'We won't steal your money'," the Conservative stalwart said... "We're just looking at this and saying, 'We've got the ballot question,' " said the Conservative. "We can go from town to town, city to city, telling people, 'These folks robbed you blind.'"

Is it just me, or does this sort of cynical triumphalism sound less than reassuring? I know the Tories think they can just run on "elect us, we're not them," or even "we're more honest than they are," but the public has heard that now for twenty years. Mulroney said it, Chretien said it, Martin said it. What this member of the public wants to hear is: Don't trust us. You don't have to. Here are the specific things we'll do to ensure that you don't have to trust us -- because this kind of thing will be impossible. That means the sort of deep structural reforms that remove these standing pools of money from temptation's way: whether by privatization, or New Zealand-style corporatization of government departments. And, of course, by ending business subsidies. All things the Tories don't want to talk about. POSTSCRIPT: Of course, for mind-blowing cynicism, it would be hard to top this, from Martin spokesman Scott Reid:

On the broader issue, Mr. Reid said that the government does not believe there should be an election before Judge Gomery completes his work and reports. "No doubt the opposition would prefer to campaign on the basis of rumours and unproven allegations, but Canadians deserve the full and considered conclusions of the justice," said Mr. Reid.

Funny. That's not what you said last June. POSTERSCRIPT: Mind you, after all the lies Canadians have been told, election after election -- McGuinty is only the latest in a very long line, although the first to have his right to tell deliberate falsehoods upheld by a judge -- it will be difficult for any party to make itself believable, especially on an issue of integrity in public office. People just feel so burned. I've proposed a plan that might begin to address this very serious problem.