Sitting above my computer screen is a saying: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has!"
It is a quote from the anthropologist, Margaret Meade.
As I was gathering my thoughts about last week's provincial election, this is the quote that was staring me in the face. It struck me as a very applicable quote.
Were the results of the election a surprise? Personally, I thought that it would be close, despite assurances from many friends who are members of the BC Liberals. I did not think that the NDP had it "in the bag".
Indeed, as Christy Clark pointed out very early in the campaign, between elections no one likes government but during the election, the question becomes which of the two parties do you dislike the least?
On the other hand, her assertion that prior to the election call, the BC Liberal government was being compared to "perfection" is flawed. Most people realize governing parties are fallible.
No one expects government to be "perfect" but we do hope that government will at least be "competent."
This is why scandals hit so hard. When half a billion dollars is spent fixing the roof of BC Place stadium or the cost overruns on the new Port Mann bridge reach into the billions - and then the bridge design is shown to be flawed - it eats at the very heart of our expectations about governance.
In the end, though, the election results weren't really a surprise if you consider the last three elections.
In 2006, the BC Liberals pulled in 46.08% of the popular vote and received 46 seats. NDP received 41.43% of the popular vote and 33 seats.
In 2009, the BC Liberals' numbers were 45.83% of the popular vote compared and 49 seats compared to 42.14% and 35 for the NDP with one independent MLA elected.
In 2013, the BC Liberals received 44.41% of the popular vote and 50 seats compared to 39.49% and 33 seats for the NDP with one independent MLA and one Green party MLA.
These numbers tells us is that about 44% of the voting public is going to vote for the BC Liberals and will likely do so in perpetuity. Further, about 39% of the voting public will vote NDP in perpetuity. And if this is case, then BC Liberals will hold a majority of seats.
The only surprising part of the election results is that the pollsters had consistently managed to underestimate the stability of the BC Liberal base.
In past five elections, the party faithful has remained in the low 40% range regardless. In 2001, the BC Liberals managed a rare feat when they actually won with 57.62% of the popular vote but such rare heights of popular support have not been seen since.
So, what does this have to do with quote at the top of this column?
A lot.
It seems that the party faithful will follow the leadership of the BC Liberals regardless.
That means that the small group leading the BC Liberals party has a tremendous amount of power. A small group of committed and dedicated people will be setting policy and practice for the province for the foreseeable future. They can change this province as they see fit and many of them are not even elected officials.
This is scary because this group has made some particularly egregious decisions over the past four years. Consider the HST or the roof of BC Place or the payoff for the trial of former aides to the Premier or the selling of government assets. I would suggest that these represent billions of dollars of bad ideas.
But what are the consequences for these bad decisions? The BC Liberals get re-elected. After 12 years in power, and having the authority to change the province in pretty much anyway that they see fit, they have been handed a mandate to keep on going. Yes, you were bad but let's ignore that, they have been told.
Does anyone seriously doubt that the Northern Gateway Pipeline will now be given a go-ahead? There will be a show so that Premier Clark can say that her five conditions have been met but British Columbians will be left holding the bag on this one.
Does anyone really think that the answer to all of our economic woes lies in the sale of Liquified Natural Gas through northern ports? It will go ahead but economists tell us it is a flawed strategy. If anything, LNG will be an albatross around BC's economic neck.
After 12 years in power, I would suggest that maybe it is time for the BC Liberals to listen to some of the other small groups that are trying to change the world.
They might learn something new.
