An election under false pretenses..... Politicians are not born, they are excreted( Zeno of Elea )

      Charest claimed that he called this election, because the opposition parties were making it impossible for his gov't to deal with the economic crisis, because of constant threat to bring down the government. This is a lie, as both parties have promised just days before that not to bring it down. Charest called this election because the polls show that he can win a majority and he wants to take advantage of the disarray in the PQ and \the ADQ. This is understandable, but he preferred to lie to the public. He has insulted them and they will deny him a majority.  

      The ADQ is mired in bad polls and face the severe loss of seats and 2 of its MNA's have deserted the party for the Liberals. Also Finance Minister Jerome-Forget recently assured Quebecers that the province is in a good position to deal with the economic slowdown .

      The PQ have their own problems.....the usual infighting and a leader with an image problem. " Call me Pauline " is seen as a snob. That will not play well in the Regions, where the PQ lost support to the ADQ in the last election. Granted that the PQ had an unpopular leader and Dumont capitalised on his " reasonable accomadation "

      Now that the campaign is on, the promises are piling up. Charest is promising everything to everyone....more daycare places, continue the $ 7 a day, create 100,00 jobs a year , spend more on infrastructure, boost paychecks, raise minimum wage by $1, improve transit, and on and on...every day a new set of goodies. This is the one, who promised $ 5 billion tax cut the last time.

      The PQ, not tio be outdone are making their list of promises...tax credits for mortgages, more money for job training, $200 to 2.1 million low income, more child care spaces, as well as more money for newborns, tax credit to middle-class with combined income of less than $150,000, tax credit on mortgage, reduce number of students per class , and on and on.

     The ADQ promise less government, more help for small business, privitize 7.5% of Hydro-Quebec, give tax credit to home owners, provide $ 858 million of direct help to families, tax exemptions for RRSP's, loan guarantees, tax credits to invest in business etc etc.

      The PQ and the ADQ are also investing in the Politics of Division. Louise Buaudoin, former cabinet minister, newly resurrected, wants to force new arrivals to sign a contract in which they commit to learn French within 3 years or they will not be given " Quebec citizenship ", when Quebec becomes independent ( O happt da. The ADQ will use the new ethics and religious culture courses to incite fear of " les autres ", even as he did with reasonable accomadation in the last election. These lame brains do not realise that attitudes about diversity can be readily change by education, example and tolerance. They persist in the politics of fear , ignorance and insecurity,

      They fail to realise that the world is moving on.  "Les Bleuets " are no longer isolated and insulated in their far-flung hamlets. Cell phones, text-messaging, blackberry and the internet, have opened up the world and bring it to their doorsteps. They no longer can be kept in a linguistic and insular ghetto. They will no longer be fooled or taken for granted. The opening lines from Rousseau's Social Contract ....." Man is born free. but everywhere is in chains " , is about to be " Vox Populi, Vox Dei ". Let the Jean, Pauline and Mario, take heed.