Canada Post - Why the NDP is crazy

A lesson in politics for Mr. Layton. If you have a Quebec base, missing St. Jean Baptiste day is like...well, I don't know, actually. It is really stupid.

I have many views on the Canada post issue, but the most important is this: You need to have reality in context when you try to take your fight public. Let me explain.

Cops and Firefighters have a lot of political power. When they strike, they are effective because of the invaluable services they provide.

Canada Post also provides an invaluable service. But it is one that is quickly becoming dated. More letter mail can be replaced by email - even secured documents (might even be more secure). Only packages have the same need for delivery and that is what delivery services are for.

Now, don't misunderstand this as support for the government. Their legislation is PERFECT for their own political goals. They can drive down costs, use their majority to do it, and allign it with their goals for public service renewal. In a perfect world, I would have introduced even more draconian legislation and used that to pressure the sides to settle. The Government has NOTHING to lose on this issue - and will ultimately take credit for the work startage (is that a word? It is now!)

The Union AND Management at CP are on another planet. Neither side has any public sympathy and both of them are helping the PM get a few booster points. The Opposition is doing itself a disservice by thinking they are standing up for the workers of Canada Post - they are just prolonging the inevitable and giving the government a way to whap them repeatedly.

Sadly, Whack-a-Jack doesn't get that he is being played. He doesn't (or refuses to) understand the larger picture. He will push against a piece of legislation that he doesn't think he can stop. He will do so on principle.

Principles are really only worth the practical applications to which they are applied. In principle, I can fight for the freedom of speech, but in practice it is stupid to argue for the free speech of an idiot. This time around, Jack's principles are hurting him. Badly.

And, you know that I will hear about it from a 10-percent-er.