Thomas’ statement about Trudeau an exaggeration
By Lethbridge Herald on September 21, 2022.
Editor:
In her most recent column (Sept. 3), our Member of Parliament, Rachael Thomas, states: “From day one, the Prime Minister’s strategy was to divide Canadians, stigmatize anyone who failed to hold his ideals, and pit regions of our country against each other.”
Surely this can’t be true! What would it gain Trudeau or the Liberals to do such a thing? Ms. Thomas’s statement is an exaggeration surely?
And exaggeration is a departure from the truth.
I count at least five similarly exaggerated attacks on the Liberals in the first half of her column.
I’ve heard it said of Alberta’s beloved wilderness story-teller, Andy Russell, that he never let the truth stand in the way of a good story.
Exaggeration has its place, it seems to me, when you’re sitting around a campfire telling grizzly bear stories. But it reflects badly on politicians.
In politics, exaggeration is intended to mislead the public. It is a form of dishonesty, which seems to be rampant in politics these days. As voters and taxpayers, we want to be told the truth, not have it hidden by our representatives in order to fool us. Exaggeration in politics also damages the tale-teller’s credibility.
The last half of Ms. Thomas’s column, it seems to me, is a perfectly reasonable criticism of the government’s mishandling of a bad funding decision they made.
The problem is whether or not her account is credible, given the unfair nature of the first part of her column.
Ms. Thomas is certainly not unique among politicians in making exaggerated claims. I’m aware that a lot of politicians do this. It’s part of the “us” versus “them” and never-mind-the-country that has become so much a part of politics these days and is so damaging to our democracy.
Ms. Thomas accuses the prime minister of “dividing” Canadians. But isn’t that exactly what Conservatives and others like Ms. Thomas are doing these days?
She concludes her column, though, with something I can agree with, when she writes. “Keep it truthful. After all, honesty is the best policy…” Good advice, Ms. Thomas. Take it.
Dave Sheppard
Lethbridge
16-15
Speaking of exaggeration, sshhhh, don’t tell anyone, budgets balance themselves.
They do when you are collecting proper royalties and taxes like Lougheed did but I bet you aren’t smart enough to understand that are you? . How do you explain this
“B.C. is forecast to post it’s seventh straight balanced budget”
Yeh Bring Cash. 800 k without a family doctor and Horgan is your hero. As usual you have your derogatory comments.
Dave My conservative friends and I aren’t fans of Trudeau but know he is a hero for how he has saved Albertans. While these fake conservatives feed their mindless supporters the lie that he is stealing all our money facts prove he gave us an extra $30 billion and the oil industry is thrilled what he did for them. Stephen Harper never worked with them, like Trudeau has done.
Well said.
Rachael Thomas is like the American GOP nutcase Majorie Taylor Greene. Both are attempting to make a name for themselves in politics. In similar fashion they spout off garbage and hope it falls on the ear of their followers. Shamefully I voted for her when she first ran after a support gathering at a family home even though I was no sure about her. Come the next election I did not vote for her as she was well established as a MTG whannabe. i would love to have her recalled as our local MP.
It isn’t hard to understand why Alberta is in such a “Horrific Mess” as our hero Peter Lougheed called it when we have so many ignorant seniors believing every lie these phony conservatives, Reformers, feed them. They have no problem watching them helping their rich friends steal our oil and tax wealth, while they force us into a lot more privatization, like Ralph Klein did. Now once again we see mostly seniors being treated like morons at these rallies and they have learned absolutely nothing from what these Reformers have done to them. But then I shouldn’t be surprised as the retired police officers in our circle of friends have been pointing out for years. Seniors have a horrible reputation for being easy to fool Con-artists and Politicians have been doing it for years.