- Variations of the Chicken Little story have been around for hundreds of years in various countries. In many versions, the chicken believes the sky is falling because an acorn fell on its head, but the story is really about making light of mass hysteria and paranoia. As such, it seems an apt way to describe the exaggerated reactions that are now prevalent in our political systems. A classic example, I would suggest, can be found in the over-the-top nearly hysterical reaction of the federal Conservative Party to the news that the NDP and Liberals have reached an agreement that will ensure continued NDP support until 2025.
The interim leader of the Conservatives, Candice Bergen, has characterized this agreement as socialism. Pierre Poilievre, the frontrunner in the race to become permanent leader rails against “a radical and extreme agenda to expand the power of government by taking away the freedom of the people.“ Some of the media commentary on this development has implied that it is radical and somehow undemocratic.
Yet such joint agreements are hardly new to Canadian politics. For example:
- In 2017, three Green MLAs in British Columbia agreed to support the NDP government and a list of shared priorities – although the joint venture didn’t last long.
- In 1999 in Saskatchewan, the governing NDP, just short of a majority, formed a coalition with the three Liberal MLAs.
- The Liberals in Ontario held power from 1985 to 1990 with support from the NDP.
An Alternative Perspective
To close this heavy topic on a lighter note, I am reminded of the story of the experience of a first grade teacher who was reading the story of Chicken Little to her class. She came to the part where Chicken Little tried to warn the farmer and read, "... and so Chicken Little went up to the farmer and said, "The sky is falling, the sky is falling!" The teacher paused and asked the class, "And what do you think that farmer said?"
One little girl raised her hand and said, "I think he said: 'Holy shit! A talking chicken!'"