'A voice crying in the wilderness'

Letter to the Editor -

Dear editor,

Although over the past few weeks most people in Newfoundland and Labrador have been glutted with politics, and because we have been so tied-up with municipal, provincial and school board politics, we have almost forgotten politics on the federal side, and how it affects us.

It seems only a short while ago, when the mighty red machine dominated politics in Canada, and Newfoundland was no exception, the good old days, when our federal member Mr. Byrne was a cabinet minister, and to a certain extent held part of the string to the "money bag." How things have changed. Now he has to rap on Mr. Flaherty's door with "cap in hand." And it seems recently for this province that door don't open very wide, but I guess there is an escape route.

All Mr. Byrne can do is ask. If turned down he can truly say, "Them rascals are punishing us."

During a provincial campaign some years back a politician said to me that he got more goodies for his district as an opposition than when on government side. I took it for what it was worth. That politician wasn't from our district.

But politics is like everything else - 'Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours'.

The federal Liberals had a glorious chance to form the government with a coalition but blew it. They booted out their leader StÉphane Dion because they said the Liberals could never form the government under his leadership. Instead they picked "Michael wasees name" to pluck the rabbit out of the hat. Since the Liberals crowned Mr. Wasees name, the big red machine has sunken so low it will take years for the party to ever form the government. Their only hope there lies in the hand of a young politician by the name of Justin Treadeau, who is still 'wet behind the ears politically'.

There was another big setback for the federal Liberals over the past few days when the wife of former Liberal Leader StÉphane Dion, Janine Krieber, who is a political and sociology professor, openly criticized the way the Liberals put the boots to her husband, and states the party is in full collapse and its future appears bleak. So what option do our member Mr. Byrne have if he wants once again to hold part of the purse strings? He has to launch a campaign to replace Mr. Michael Wasses name or cross the floor. Other wise this district can only wish for the good old days, because until the Liberals are back in power, our good member will only be a 'voice crying in the wilderness'.

Francis Patey,

St. Anthony