Posted by John Ibbitson on 6/14/2004, 2:54 pm, in reply to "How to make Canada Pro-Life" By JOHN IBBITSON Liberal strategists think they have found, in a speech by Stephen Harper, proof of a hidden, social-conservative agenda. They're right, but the revelation might not actually be to their advantage. Mr. Harper's speech, delivered last year to Civitas, a conservative interest group, and reprinted in Report magazine, does tell us a lot about Mr. Harper. Any citizen who reads it will fully understand the Conservative Leader's deep commitment to a carefully implemented, socially conservative agenda, despite his election promises of moderation and non-interference. The Liberals say this proves, as one strategist put it, that the Conservative Trojan horse truly is full of dangerous Greeks. But what it might actually explain is why the Liberals are in danger of losing this federal election. In the speech which in its scholarship and its erudition is clearly the work of Mr. Harper's own hand the Conservative Leader distinguishes between classical economic liberalism, as espoused by Adam Smith, and classical social conservatism, as espoused by Edmund Burke. The two streams, he argues, merged in the 20th century in reaction to the threat of socialism. But that threat has passed, and even middle-of-the-road types (such as the Liberal Party) now embrace the fundamental principles of conservative (really classical liberal) economics. "The real challenge is therefore not economic, but the social agenda of the modern left," Mr. Harper argues. "Its system of moral relativism, moral neutrality and moral equivalency is beginning to dominate its intellectual debate and public-policy objectives." How is that amorality made manifest? In a simpering we-brought-it-on-ourselves response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In the lack of solidarity with the United States as it set out to rid the world of Saddam Hussein. In "moral neutrality on the use of marijuana or harder drugs mixed with its random moral crusades on tobacco." In blaming society rather than the criminal who offends against it. In "views ranging from radical, responsibility-free individualism, to tribalism in the form of group rights." Canada and conservatives, Mr. Harper argues, must rediscover and re-establish the fundamentals of Burkean social conservatism. That means taking such steps to promote and protect the traditional family as "banning child pornography, raising the age of sexual consent, providing choice in education and strengthening the institution of marriage. All of these items are key to a conservative agenda." Ultimately, the Conservative Leader believes, a new conservative coalition will emerge, broadly based and strongly supported, that will lead Canada out of the twilight of its post-Cold War moral relativism and into the broad, upland meadows of a neo-conservative day. For Liberals, the Civitas speech offers conclusive proof that Mr. Harper has a secret, hidden agenda to reverse the progressive social values that distinguish Canadian society, replacing them with a bigoted and intolerant religiously driven alternative. But even the most careful reading of the text reveals nothing to suggest that Mr. Harper would, for example, change the laws on abortion or repeal the existing rights of same-sex couples. Yes, the right of homosexuals to marry would probably be curtailed, which is lamentable in this writer's view. And our criminal justice system would certainly become more American more concerned with punishment and less with prevention. But none of this is at odds with Mr. Harper's public statements during the campaign, or perhaps with the larger Canadian consensus. The question is to what extent the broader public wants a more socially conservative Canada and to what extent people are confident that existing institutional and political constraints will limit a Conservative government's ability to legislate in its own image. Still, whatever else it is, the Civitas speech is a revealing look into the personal and political philosophy of Stephen Harper, aspiring prime minister of Canada. You can find it by going to globeandmail.com and following the links.
How much social conservatism?
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
However, "rebalancing the conservative agenda will require careful political judgment," Mr. Harper warns. Policies must not be denominational, but must attract believers of as many creeds and faiths as possible. As well, (and here is where the Liberals salivate) "we must realize that real gains are inevitably incremental. ..... Conservatives should be satisfied if the agenda is moving in the right direction, even if slowly."
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040611.wibbi12/BNStory/Front/
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