Bright Sides to the Canadian Election

I know, this is overdue.  What can I say?  It’s playoff season in the NHL and yes I am basically a walking stereotype on that front.  I also needed time to simmer down from the fact that we have a Conservative majority.  This time has been a mix of sheer disappointment in people’s unwillingness to actually learn something combined with a lot of “you’re dead to me” thoughts against those who voted Conservative.  However, some silver linings from this election have been a slight comfort for the uncertainty ahead.

1. Word is, The Conservative government has no plans to go bat shit crazy on individual rights, such as abortion.  I think even a robot like Harper knows that he has to play it safe over the next four years, otherwise he knows the party could get destroyed a la Progressive Conservative post-Mulroney.  Does it relax me completely?  No.  But if it means that I don’t have to listen to that squirrely faced doucecanoe by the name of Rod Bruinooge, I’ll take the win.
2. Who’s the Official Oppostion?  NDP is Official Opposition!  Not that it can really do much in a majority setting, but the record number of seats has me hopeful for the future.
3. The collapse of the Bloc.  THAT.  WAS.  AWESOME.
4. The near collapse of the Liberals….and I don’t mean that in the same gleeful sense as I do with the Bloc.  I’ve mentioned it before that they had the wrong leadership and no real sense of cohesiveness.  With Ignatieff resigned, they can do a real search for a leader and start rebuilding.  The thing that makes me laugh the most?  Their old leader, Stephane Dion kept his seat while Ignatieff lost his.  I guess that’s a part of the karma for throwing Dion under the bus in the way that party did.
5. Elizabeth May FINALLY won a seat in Parliament, putting the Green party on the map and gaining some much needed legitimacy.
6. A record 76 women were elected to Parliament, now making almost 25% of the seats, up from the 22% last time.  Is it perfect?  No.  Should there be more women?  Duh.  Is it a good step in the right direction?  Yes.
7. While still a sucky voter turnout, it did go up from the last election.

So that’s what has been helping me sleep at night.  I figure focusing on the good for now until shit really hits the fan will keep me from having my fair fall out.  More than anything, I hope that this cold shower gets our progressive asses moving.  I hope we stay vigilant, make more noise and fix this fuck up in 4 years.