Meaning you are in the Army now and yours is to follow orders whether you are a Buck Private or a top General.
So that brings me to General Andrew Leslie and his infamous move from one Rockcliffe home to another smaller one…at taxpayers’ expense.
Many are up in arms (pun?) especially the Government in Power who see this as a blatant waste of money.
But I submit to you that this is not the main issue here.
That said, what I do find strange is that the person focused on – General Leslie (ret’d) – is a Liberal and not a Conservative since most of these types of stories relate to the latter…thanks to the left leaning media. But in that I have digressed.
There are two other issues of more importance.
First relates to the policy itself:
The policy is designed to move military personnel once they retire – should the military person wish to move that is. When you and I think of this we think of some poor soldier based in Victoria whereas he grew up and joined the military in Halifax. So the policy is designed to return this chap home after his military career comes to an end.
We do not think of this occurring in the same town – as in Leslie case, where he took his last move to move from one home to another home virtually down the street, at a cost of some $72 grand.
But Leslie, like many other in the military, had many moves throughout his career – indeed some 18 moves. He had no choice in that since he was military and went where ordered. And I submit he would have the same mindset re each of those 18 moves – that is to say, they were not a permanent move and that and the end of his days, he would make a decision as to where he wanted to live out his days. Indeed his move, although just down the road, was a down size move to a smaller home more in keeping with retirement.
Ergo – if there is a problem here, it is with the policy – it was and continues to be the Government’s responsibility to reform it. For instance, cut out ‘in town moves’,… if that is their wish. (For me, I would leave it alone for my reasons given).
Therefore the fact that General Leslie and countless others followed the policy is really not the issue.
To me, the most important issue here is that this is just one more ‘got u’ moment. Our politics, I submit, has sadly descended into this. Politicians of all stripes and all media seem to relish in catching folks out in what I would call misdemeanours while the real issues go unresolved or are left to the Courts and / or to the Auditors General etc. to deal with. I have come to believe that this is just a ruse for them to ignore having to do anything of importance to the electorate.
To me this is what is transpiring with General Leslie – another piddling issue to distract the masses. When are we going to demand better from our leadership – be they Tory, Grit, Dippers, Green, White of Purple?
No wonder less and less get out to vote. It is all the same old.
Switzerland makes great use of Referenda. Maybe the time has come for us to do likewise and show Parliament, the Courts, the Quasi Courts, the Officers of Parliament…who really is in charge.
As I see it…
‘K.D. Galagher’
