Canadian Politics are irrelevant Thank God.

Canadian politics are mostly irrelevant, coming in seventh after family and neighbourhood, internet, work, shopping, and entertainment activities.   (Internet is a transnational oddball, not even Canadian).  A #8 Robertson screwdriver, the Nanaimo bar and a drive across the prairie are more of my Canadian identity than antics in Ottawa.

We still love our politics, especially in an election year, but since government spending is only one sixth of the GDP  (15.9% cited in Cato report and down from 22% some years back), it's only reasonable and desirable that politics should be more of a hobby than a calling for most.

Chuang Tzu (369 BC - 286 BC) may have been the first to point out that less government is better government:  "They made no history"

"In the age when life on earth was full, no one paid any special attention to worthy men, nor did they single out the man of ability. Rulers were simply the highest branches on the tree, and the people were like deer in the woods. They were honest and righteous without realizing that they were “doing their duty.” They loved each other and did not know that this was “love of neighbor.” They deceived no one yet they did not know that they were “men to be trusted.” They were reliable and did not know that this was “good faith.” They lived freely together giving and taking, and did not know that they were generous. For this reason their deeds have not been narrated. They made no history."  -Chuang Tzu

Martin & Chretien share credit with Harper for having reduced the burden of government in Canada.  At the same time, the United States has been climbing from 18% to well over 20%.