Wealth and politics

[CHIMO]

Watching Belinda Stronach's whirlwind entry into the Conservative party leadership race, one can't help but notice something interesting about Canadian politics: the rich like to play at it. Interestingly, the rich often include the strangest of bedfellows. A close look at the NDP gives a picture of wealthy socialists the public may not know about.

Surprisingly, one must also add David Lewis to the list of rich people in politics. Lewis's labour law firm handled all the labour contracts of the big trade unions like the Steelworkers, plus the accounts of their many locals. Union members buying and selling houses went to Lewis's law firm to deal for them. The combination of these two elements made Lewis a millionaire before he died.


Canadians prefer the rich, or those who know the rich, to a poor man like Harry Truman at the Canadian helm. Perhaps that's because Canadians still have a deferential streak in them that makes them feel they need politicians who can't be bought, who are rich enough to not be on the take. Canadians have that now with Paul Martin's millions, and are getting a second shot at it with Belinda Stronach's.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_zolf/20040127.html


Oh well. Still a dollar a year attitude.