I have one quibble: that being, one can favour a liberalization of immigration requirements, and support codifying personal rights, without being the precursor of the lasting damage done by the Trudeau Governments.
“The Chief” championed personal rights and personal responsibilities.
His pan-Canadian sensibility was the exact opposite of what the Trudeaus tried to accomplish, and destroy.
Well, about the 'unravelling' description. I think you're hinting that Diefenbaker set the stage, and began, a great unravelling. But in the world everything everywhere had been unravelling - if you use the same word. I prefer to think of it as unbalancing or rebalancing, because it doesn't create the vision of a helpless tangled mess. Things can be rebalanced, and I think the struggle of the Conservatives today is trying to find where the new balance would/should be. Your point about Dief not having put together a strong and lasting policy vision is well taken. What else could he have done, knowing what he had on his desk and what was going on around him?
Conservatives have always eaten their own while Liberals will defend theirs to the death.
An excellent essay and an enjoyable read.
Well done.
I have one quibble: that being, one can favour a liberalization of immigration requirements, and support codifying personal rights, without being the precursor of the lasting damage done by the Trudeau Governments.
“The Chief” championed personal rights and personal responsibilities.
His pan-Canadian sensibility was the exact opposite of what the Trudeaus tried to accomplish, and destroy.
Other than that, a thoughtful and engaging essay.
Thanks for this history. How to squander a majority.
Well, about the 'unravelling' description. I think you're hinting that Diefenbaker set the stage, and began, a great unravelling. But in the world everything everywhere had been unravelling - if you use the same word. I prefer to think of it as unbalancing or rebalancing, because it doesn't create the vision of a helpless tangled mess. Things can be rebalanced, and I think the struggle of the Conservatives today is trying to find where the new balance would/should be. Your point about Dief not having put together a strong and lasting policy vision is well taken. What else could he have done, knowing what he had on his desk and what was going on around him?