The big questions Danielle Smith poses to Albertans as referendums
Desperation Is Not Policy
There was once a time when Alberta’s politicians had some tact when dealing with the public. But, with a Premier facing allegations of corruption, she’s giving Alberta one of the most cynical displays of political survival Canada has ever seen. A display that the Premier backed herself into, and is spiralling down. We’re in a death spiral of sorts because Smith has started a loop of incentives that she won’t stop chasing. She’s not just ready to sell the metaphorical family farm, she’s prepared to dump all the family savings and the kids college funds into a new crypto coin she learned about last week and her wallet password is jesustakethewheel.
https://albertaviews.ca/the-case-for-sticking-around/
If Canadians were to look at Smith at face value, then perhaps the issue may be Alberta seeking a new identity that’s separate and distinct from Canada. An overwhelming majority of Albertans are not interested in separating from Canada. Full stop. For God’s sake we can’t even get a hockey team to win the Stanley Cup with some of the greatest players on the planet, there’s no way there’s enough competence here to run the full affairs of a state. For Canadians then, I suggest to you that the issue out of Alberta is not separation, but rather Danielle Smith’s interests of self-preservation.
A look over some of the articles related to separation and for Canada fall into two groups. In one group would be warnings of some of the negative things that Albertans can expect from separation. In the other group, are generally highlights of the positives of remaining in Canada.
I’ve Got A Question
But, rather than revisiting the merits of Canada, which others have already done so eloquently, I want to do what you might expect, and look at Danielle Smith. There’s plenty of material out there to review so I’ll keep it brief by recapping these core points:
First, Albertans are aware of the CorruptCare cluster of contracts to varying degrees. But regardless of public engagement, there’s a real probability that the Premier herself was implicated in the contracts, and that her role was not nearly as pedestrian as she claims.
Second, a number of her caucus are also involved in the same cluster of contracts.
Third, there may be criminal and civil consequences to these contracts.
Fourth, Danielle Smith is in power and intends to remain in power for as long as possible to avoid said consequences.
From where I stand, the question isn’t whether Alberta should separate, or the merits of separation. My question is probably what Smith is asking: how does such a politician facing career changing scandal, survive scandal WITH power?
My rough answer is what we can all guess. The Politician - just like the gambler who has set a limit and destroyed it years ago - needs to cut down the number of people who she owes, and satisfy these people just enough - and not a penny more - so she doesn’t over extend. What we’re seeing in Danielle Smith then, is a laser focus on personal survival. Her current agenda has retreated back to her own party, and anyone who’s prepared to pay for membership in the UCP.
As long as she meets the expectations of those who pay up, and those who expect to be paid, then she’ll maintain the backing of the powers that be. For obvious reasons, we can guess that her current major backers are the separatists who may be funded by the Americans, Oil and Gas players, and private healthcare service providers who just want to break open a public good and all that sweet money inside.
Each of these major players are greedy as they should be in a capitalist system. Each will push Smith deeper into the depths because she knows, that they know, she’s desperate.
But, each of these players understand that they too will still be around for probably longer than Smith. They won’t be interested in overplaying their hands if they understand that it will lead to consequences that they care about.
So Danielle will gamble. She’ll keep gambling because stopping means the end. She’ll keep betting it all because there’s no other move left. She’ll keep going until she’s forced to consider the needs of others beyond those in her circle of power. She won’t do it voluntarily.
It’s About Mr Clean
Under this “theory”, I suspect that Danielle herself doesn’t even care about separation. She cares about power. If the separatists demanded that Albertans declare their undying love of Mr Clean, and they were prepared to dump the same money and energy into the UCP for that end, I suspect Danielle would shave her head instead.
I’m no separatist. I’m Canadian. But, in light of the UCP and Danielle Smith’s announcement for referendum, it’s time to point out what’s being rubbed in our collective faces: the tyranny of Alberta’s minorities have captured the UCP, and brought their asylum directly to us.
Her circle of power has money. Some of them may be real invaders. Danielle’s not going to consider the interests of all Albertans unless she’s forced to pay a massive price in either power or money or both.
We all know that polls, referendums, and even elections can be a means to an end for autocrats and dictators. They’re manipulated, they’re worded funny, they’re interpreted endlessly, and they may just be designed to waste Canada’s energy and resources.
Don’t play into what’s essentially public polling done at Canada’s expense.
Danielle’s addicted to her own supply.
