Not just for so-cons: Why fiscal conservatives should vote FCP

Enter Stage Right ^ | September 8, 2003 | Pete Vere

[Theosis]

While contemplating my discomfort over the Ontario election, I came across Steve Martinovich's following statement: "Unfortunately for conservatives, Eves seems less than willing to carry on this revolution of tax cuts, fiscal responsibility and business friendly policies which have fostered economic growth and job creation. [...] Should I reward someone who seems to be abandoning the policies of Harris or should I help hand McGuinty victory by staying home. Does it matter?"

I know the feeling. Ann Coulter once remarked about swing voters: "I like to refer to them as the idiot voters because they don't have set philosophical principles. You're either a liberal or you're a conservative if you have an IQ above a toaster." Under normal circumstances, I might agree with Miss Coulter. Yet how should a principled conservative vote when the party changes principles? Although tempting, voting for the toaster simply spoils the ballot.

Of course, voting Liberal or New Democrats spoils the economy. But voting for the Progressive Conservatives now raises questions of its own. As a social and a fiscal conservative, I find Mr. Eves unacceptable. He not only fudged the same-sex marriage issue, but he lives with a woman who is not his wife. And as Steve already noted, Mr. Eves appears to be abandoning the fiscally conservative policies of his predecessor. PC may not yet stand for political correctness, but nor does it carry the same connotation under Ernie Eves as it did under Mike Harris.

[goldstategop]

I read Pete Vere's article. The Family Coalition Party would get only 1 to 2% of the vote in next month's election in Ontario Province. Ernie Eaves is no Mike Harris but he is no Dalton McGuinty either. Some Canadian conservatives would rather be pure than work to change society from the margins. Canada is already socialist. And Vere's prescription is to give either the Liberals or the New Democrats the rein of government to make Canada's largest province even more socialist. Hey, that's brilliant! And the FCP will have no chance to effect the course of Ontario's next Government if it winds up with zero representation in the Provincial Legislative Assembly. Its a lesson for American conservatives on how to form a circular firing squad just so you can feel good about being 100% right.

[Theosis]

Remember it was when the Tories lost big to the socialist NDP, because of the FCP vote split, that Mike Harris came along the following election and brought the Tories back to their principles.