In British Columbia we do things differently when it comes to politics. Anywhere else, the topic of politics and
politicians can come up, and a civil, even occasionally heated, discussion can
take place.
NOT in British Columbia.
Mention the words ‘politics’, and / or ‘politicians’ and the fight is
on. Either that, or folks tune out
entirely.
Thoughts that come to mind for many are money grubbing … power seekers
… looking out for number one … unaccountable … unresponsive … and a host of
other things that can’t be repeated.
That’s because, as I mentioned, we do things differently here in BC.
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| W.A.C. Bennett |
We generally have one party that’s in power for a long period of time,
with one sitting on the wings … waiting to take over when voters get sick and
tired of the governing party. We’ll say,
“Well at least these guys can’t do any worse than those jerks”.
This really began in 1951 when W.A.C. Bennett, “Wacky” as most people called
him, took over what was then called the Social Credit League, and renamed it
the Social Credit Party. Social Credit
really was a big tent party that keep both small ‘c’ Conservatives, and small
‘L” Liberals, all under one roof.
Bennett reviled the NDP with a passion, calling them the Socialist
Hordes, and so it must have been with a great deal of anguish and upset that he
turned the reins of
government over to Dave Barrett and the NDP following the election of 1972.
That government was short lived however, only staying in power for one
term. The ‘socialist hordes’ as Wacky
called them, tried their social engineering much to fast -- overtaxed industry
– raised debt dramatically -- and scared the hell out of the majority of people
in BC once they realized what they had voted for.
Then Wacky’s son Bill
Bennett took over the leadership of the Socred’s, winning the next
election, and became Premier in in 1975.
The Socreds then remained in power again, for another 15 years.
What led to their downfall, and demise, after those 15 years?
Most people would say it was due to a disconnect with the people … and
an arrogance where they believed themselves to be the natural ruling party
(much like the federal Liberals used to be).
Another issue was Bill Vander Zalm, who took over leadership of the
party once Bill Bennett resigned. With Bill Vander Zalm as
leader, many also objected to what they considered to be his right wing,
socially conservative, policies.
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| Bill Vander Zalm |
Vander Zalm was ridiculed in the media … and he took a tongue lashing
from voters in Letters to the Editor, and phone in talk shows. He too was forced to resign, and Rita Johnson
then took over the reins – not for long however.
Does any of this sound familiar?
In 1991 voters returned the NDP to office. This time they governed a little more slowly
with their social policies, and taxation, and managed to be re-elected several
times. Again however, a disconnect with
voters, and a number of scandals (the financial debacle of the Fast Ferry’s, and Bingo-Gate, spring to
mind) which saw the leadership of the party switch from Mike Harcourt, to Glen
Clark, and finally to Ujjal Dosanjh. Changing leaders was no help however, and
they were soundly trashed
at the polls in 2001; retaining just 2 seats in the legislature.
Again, the ruling party was tossed from office by the voters who no
longer believed anything they said, and who were tired with the scandals that
surrounded them.
What also happened, in the time between 1991 and 1996, was the growth
of a third party following the decline of the Socreds. Just prior to the 1996 election, four Socred
members, led by Jack Weisgerber, moved to the populist BC Reform Party. In 1996 Reform duked it out with the BC
Liberals, who had a much better organized and better financed machine, for
dominance as the center right party.
As history shows, the
Liberals won for dominance as BC Reform was reduced to just 2 seats, and
British Columbia was once again back to a two party system; one big tent center
right party (the Liberals) … and a center left party (the NDP).
