Municipal governments, in most parts of Canada, are spared the divisiveness promoted by political parties and their extreme ideologies, but they have a very serious problem of their own. Their special majority isn’t moderate; in fact, it isn’t anything. It is totally missing in action.
The silent majority is a vaguely reassuring term that implies that behind the extreme and strident minorities on both sides of a controversial issue a majority of citizens are moderates who have chosen not to enter the angry debates but will support sensible, middle of the road action. If such a segment ever existed, it appears to be long gone in today’s polarized world, with politicians increasingly moving to the extremes and showing no interest in trying to find common ground and broad public support.
Municipal governments, in most parts of Canada, are spared the divisiveness promoted by political parties and their extreme ideologies, but they have a very serious problem of their own. Their special majority isn’t moderate; in fact, it isn’t anything. It is totally missing in action.
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AuthorC. Richard Tindal, Ph.D is a retired Professor of Government. He taught for 30 years at St. Lawrence College, Kingston and was an occasional Visiting Professor at Queen's University. He has also written and consulted extensively about government. Archives
October 2023
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