Democracy.
When other people do it, it's an attack on democracy.
When Danny Williams uses the same sort of tactics, he is just standing up for his peeps.
Actually it's not really the tactics it's the fundamental challenge on Williams represented by the Labrador "revolt"
Danny Williams argues that "Canada" exploits Newfoundland (and Labrador) resources and gives nothing in return. Within the province, people of Labrador make the same argument and with some justification.
This sort of argument flies in the face of Danny's core political belief, namely that the only legitimate political fight is the one between the "nation" he leads and the one on the mainland. Everything else must be subordinated to that since, if nothing else, it becomes the justification for his holding power. His political legitimacy derives from his supposedly superior ability to wage the supposedly only legitimate fight.
Take a look at his campaign song.
Look at the line: "stop your 'more for me please' rants"
Not aimed outward, but aimed inward.
"We" all must stand together behind the single leader and speak with a single voice in the Great Fight. "Cause if we don't stand together, then we don't stand a chance".
Danny's cause is just and noble.
Every other demand within the province is illegitimate, a 'political game', a subversion of democracy simply by virtue of the way he defines it.
His language is simplistic and self-serving.
It's like he never learned the Golden Rule, or it's political equivalent: "What goes around comes around."
But subversion of democracy?
Well, around these parts that's the sort of term we'd reserve for a Premier who has no problem with taking away free speech in the House of Assembly.
-srbp-
