With both the Canadian and the U.S. election campaigns in full swing, I figured I’d toss my few cents worth into the fray in the form of some advice to politicians, or those running their campaign. I fully expect it all to be ignored.
For the Canadians: If your team has lots of experience, make the most of it. Let some of those people expected to play a major role in government, should your side win, speak out on relevant issues. The system of “shadow” roles in the UK works well to my mind, and would work well in Canada (tough to tell how it would work in the US). Of course, it does assume that there are people running for office who are capable of becoming cabinet ministers and capable of discussing policy cogently in public (and if the other side doesn’t, what better way of showing that?)
Show respect to the other side (this is sorely lacking in the US campaign). Each of the four major candidates in the US campaign has shown themselves competent enough to build and win a campaign to get them where they are today. I can’t imagine it’s all that easy to become senator or governor in any state, which means all four have at least some degree of intelligence, perspicacity, and capacity for hard work (you can fight over how much all you want). Whether someone is likeable or trustworthy, or has the right set of policies, is a different set of questions that doesn’t obviate the need for respect. Isn’t this something most people should have been taught as toddlers, or in kindergarten?