The Canadian Federal election

It is hard to figure out why Canadians have convinced themselves they need a change in government. First of all, they have already had one. Paul Martin gutted Chretien's cabinet, keeping only about half the ministers that had been in it.

But what is also hard to figure out is what it is Canadians are dissatisfied with. We've come off of eleven years of absolutely unprecedented prosperity, after nearly being bankrupted by the Progressive Conservative party during the time Brian Mulroney was Prime Minister.

And that prosperity is not coincidence. Our current Prime Minister, Paul Martin, is the most competent Finance Minister we have had since C.D. Howe. He killed a deficit conservatives only talked about getting rid of (while making it worse.)

Now don't get me wrong - there have been some minor league scandals, and the gun registry has been a money pit. But an objective performance evaluation would have to objectively consider Martin's demonstrable skill at fiscal responsibility overall.

Then there is the fact that Ontario voters are upset about Dalton McGuinty's lies upon taking the Ontario premiership. But there is only one riding in which McGuinty could possibly find punishment - Ottawa South, which he represents and where his brother David is running.

It is difficult to understand why Canadians are trading in a man accomplished in the business world and as a politician, for Stephen Harper, a man whose resume is very thin in either area.

At least the Conservative predecessor, Brian Mulroney, had a resume to show for in private business when he got hired. Stephen Harper? An ideologue who has not had extensive experience outside of politics and advocacy organizations.

Why are we doing this? Don't you hire the best candidate for the job, when there's an opening?