A Study In Contrasts

He could have endeavoured a little harder to reach his goal while yet prime minister of Canada. He might have been somewhat less equivocal, rather more attuned to the subliminal message he imbibed from his father; might have evinced the courage to be true to himself. But what exactly is "himself", in any event?

Doubtless he would like to think it's the current Paul Martin - the one having succeeded the earlier incarnation's quest in the realm of wealth accumulation, corporate kingpin, high finance, the undisputed power attached to the administrative/legislative rule of a great country - now an individual of personal integrity and consciousness of society's needs.

As citizens of this country, and taxpayers representing a global sensibility for justice and fairness, we tend to remember him as someone who shielded his corporate enterprise from adding to this country's taxation coffers, while at the same time insisting Canadians pony up.

Oh yes, lest we forget, although we're not likely to, in the famous battle against the national debt, his infamous decisions to cut back on social spending, impacting notoriously on our health care system and the social umbrella that assisted the unfortunate among us.

What else? His seeming inability to reach decisions without anguished immobility of purpose. His resultant lack of action on so many fronts, not the least of which was Canada's declaration to fight child poverty within this prosperous country; to level the wage-field between the lower middle-classes, the poverty-stricken and the job-elites.

Stick the fight against environmental degradation in there, too.

Yet he is now re-born. I've no doubt he's essentially a good man at heart; just that it was a trifle difficult for him, to the manor born, to fully understand just how difficult it is for low-wage earners to make a life for themselves and their families. He may not have lacked compassion, but it certainly did appear so, when he ruthlessly cut back government investment in Canada's social fabric to create a more level atmosphere for all her citizens.

Look here, now, Paul Martin apparently reconciled with his loss of political status, devoting himself to the betterment of educational opportunities for First-Nation youth. All hail Paul Martin re-born. Unlike his predecessor he hasn't seen fit to cast aspersions upon those with whom he shared legislative powers. Jean Chretien unveiled a memoir full of spite and odious accusations, never accepting of his role in all the things that went so wrong under his tenure.

Released from the constraints of prime ministership, Jean Chretien wasted no time in hauling himself aboard lucrative engagements, representing the creme de la creme of advocates and lobbyists behind the respectable facade of a highly esteemed law firm. Becoming their personal elder statesman. One who could lead fully commercial missions after test-flying governmental missions.

Mr. Martin did prove in the end the courage of his convictions, even if he came by them tardily, in earlier manifestations declaring deference to the imperatives of political expedience. He now refers to the disgrace of the conditions in our aboriginal communities, referring to them as Canada's very own 'third world' communities, our great collective shame.

Get on with it, Right Honourable Paul Martin. On behalf of all of us. Spur us to action. Demonstrate the effectiveness of your first tentative stirrings of conscience and determination to succeed.