now pundits have already pored over riding-by-riding results, finding trends, aberrations, bloopers, and generally squeezing every bit of news, or what passes for news, out of the provincial election.
For one brief moment last night most candidates were gracious in defeat, humble in victory, and, thankfully, did not take full advantage of their moment in the spotlight to - yet again - hammer home the tired themes of this provincial election. And for that we are thankful. We are also thankful that so many good, principled people still choose to put their names forward to run in what is often a trying experience. Yes, many of the candidates are born out of political families or organizations. The union activists are used to battles waged with pointy elbows and 24-hour campaigning cycles. The candidates who earned their stripes during struggles as advocates for health care, small businesses, and sundry other causes, are used to lobbying, pleading, making, and remaking, their cases for change. Hard work and an uphill battle are not new to them. But constant media scrutiny and a system that prefers short, simple answers for everything, rather than longer, more complicated solutions, can be frustrating and demoralizing. The media, of course, are key to the 'dumbing down' process of democracy.
In many ways, it's surprising that we do end up with as many good, principled folks in politics as we do.
So, to the winners we offer our heartiest congratulations during this brief honeymoon period. To the losers - thank you for stepping up to the plate and allowing us to share your ideas, your enthusiasm, your belief that win or lose, voters need to have choices to make democracy more than just a word.
