Stephen Harper -
“One thing you do is you have to pull conservatives, to pull the party, to the centre of the political spectrum. But what you also have to do, if you’re really serious about making transformation, is you have to pull the centre of the political spectrum toward conservatism.”
What does Stephen Harper mean by “pull the centre of the political spectrum toward conservatism”?
In order to move the centre of the spectrum to the right, you need to impose unexpected neo-conservative policies in order to demonstrate the moral goodness of these policies. Harper, steeped in the Calgary School, will begin to implement what he believes good for Canada once safely in power with a majority government.
A neo-conservative accepts that “noble lies” play an important role in attaining and maintaining power, and according to neo-con father Leo Strauss, it is not possible to be completely truthful and achieve what is necessary. This is predicated on the idea that the ruling class are intellectually superior to the common citizen and as such are required to guard and protect those lesser than them.
Some of the elements of the Calgary School’s neoconservatism includes, establishing a stronger military-industrial complex, increased privatization of state assets, stricter punishment for criminals, in the field of domestic policy. Foreign policy is characterized by support for Israel in the 2006 Lebanon war, criticism of Cuba and Venezeula, support for the Iraq war and War in Afghanistan.
“an agenda that focuses on delivering benefits to people and to families instead of creating bureaucracies; whether it’s restoring pride in the country — not just in things like, you know, health care or various government programs, but pride in things like our institutions, our military… – Stephen Harper
