competitive arts and culture

I've been trying to figure out what Prime Minister Stephen Harper's vision is for Canada. It's hard to tell with this guy.

My theory is that Harper is not so much concerned with governing the people of Canada, but rather with operating Canada on the world stage. It would appear that Harper wants to be in the big leagues with world leaders.

Our Prime Minister is diverting attention and social funding to explicit economic initiatives and, most importantly, to the army. In my opinion, his approach to bolstering the economy is severely flawed, but that is not the point. Harper is probably trying to strengthen our economy and army in an attempt to gain clout among the leaders of the developed world.

If this is indeed the case, then he's doing it all wrong. First of all, it would appear that the Harper government is adopting American-style policies. There is a lot of evidence that the Bush administration's approach to governing is not working very well at all.

More importantly, however, is the PM's low regard for social and cultural funding. Among many other programs cut by the Conservative government were ones that fund literacy programs and international promotion of Canadian culture.

An illiterate population is easier to control, so one can see why Harper would want to chop that. However even the slowest of us realize that an educated populace is more productive. And as for promoting Canadian culture abroad, cutting this program works against Harper's possible plan to gain clout among the other leaders of the world.

Harper seems to ignore that leaders in other parts of the world are influenced by their citizens (at least somewhat). Briefly put, a populace that knows and understands and likes Canada is more likely to have a leader that feels the same way.

Harper may be a good strategist, but as he enters the world stage his narrow-minded approach is becoming apparent.