Canadian politics is not a fascinating issue. Since it affects (controls?) the lives of us all, perhaps we should pay more attention to the folks on the Hill. Sarcasm, jokes, and humour all have their place.
Recently, we read about the resignation of Senator Andrew Thompson - and we are still reading about this case. Law students will undoubtedly study the case for years to come.
He had been Leader of the Liberal Opposition in Ontario. He was appointed to the senate by PM Lester Pearson when he was 41. Soon, frustrations set in. The senate was no place for an active man. He made quite a few well-researched speeches - and received many accolades.
But, unable to bring reform to an institution that had seen it's day, Senator Thompson invented his own role. Helping his fellow man had always been important to him.
He turned his small office into the office of an ombudsman. Using computers, faxes, telephones, he was able to reach out all over Canada to people with problems.
It is surprising how many problems came to his attention once word got around that "Here is a man who can help"
Pensions, immigration, veteran's problems, problems in education, families in crisis... on and on it goes. Senator Thompson and his assistant dealt with them all personally. In most cases they were successful in helping people.
Senator Thompson personally visited orphanages, old folk's homes, jails, blind children's hospitals and psychiatric hospitals to discover what possible improvements could be made in these places. One day, before Christmas 1997, a memo was circulated to all senators, advising them how to best protect and polish their tarnished image. The sensitive senators decided to focus on abseentism. This made Sen. Andrew Thompson an obvious target because he never believed in wasting time sitting in his senate seat. There is a harsh world outside the red chamber - and he was trying to make a difference in the real world, make it just a little better, make lives a little easier.
Although he never broke a senate rule, self - protective forces inside the senate were gathering against him. Someone had to be thrown to the wolves to satisfy the media and deflect attention from other senators. Stories were leaked to the press about Senator Thompson's "abseentism". The press was excited - senate bashing was always good for a few stories. Nobody realized to what extent the story would mushroom. Like a nuclear bomb, it was soon out of control.
After being harassed and stalked by reporters for months, Senator Thompson, disgusted, finally resigned his seat. He had done nothing wrong but the pressure became too intense.
One fair reporter presented his side of the story; most reporters were interested only in sensationalism.
He is now receiving letters from Canadians urging him not to resign."How can I help?" is the underlying theme. These are the ordinary people he loved and they are coming forward now.
But this is an important case because it sets a precedent in the Senate's 130 - year history.
The senators, who love the status quo, will at least have to pretend to bring in some reforms. The press is watching them.
In a technological world, we could have a "cyber senate". Give every senator a computer, a fax, a telephone,and tell them to work from home.It would save the taxpayer a lot of money.