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Michael Taube: Conservative infighting risks splitting the party

The petty mudslinging needs to stop

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“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” the Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana famously wrote in his 1905 work, The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress. While this aphorism is commonly associated with tragic events such as the Holocaust, it can actually be applied to many moments in history.

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We’re seeing one such moment in Canada right now. The recent upsurge in Conservative infighting has an ominous resemblance to the split between the Reform Party/Canadian Alliance and old federal Progressive Conservatives. If the raging political and personal fires aren’t put out quickly, the entire Conservative movement could end up in the political wilderness once more.

Michael Taube: Conservative infighting risks splitting the party Back to video

While most political parties attempt to construct a big-tent philosophy where all individuals, groups and ideas are welcome, there will always be some amount of disagreement in the ranks. Party leaders, politicians and grassroots members don’t always see eye-to-eye on issues. You can’t expect them to, either. There’s more than enough room for intelligent discussion and rigorous debate in a big tent. As long as the conversations remain civil, and the outbursts are controlled and largely held behind closed doors, it’s not terribly difficult for warring factions to co-exist.

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