The Dance of Political Mediocrity: A Symphony of Sleepers in the Liberal Leadership Contest

In the grand theater of Canadian politics, where the masses slumber in their comfortable dreaming, four aspirants to power engage in what they call democracy - that most deceptive of modern inventions. These would-be leaders, these self-proclaimed shepherds of the flock, gather once more to perform their ritual of debate, a spectacle designed to maintain the illusion of choice in this land of endless comfort.

Behold how they gather, these politicians, like merchants in the marketplace! They trade not in gold or spices, but in promises - the currency of the weak. They speak of 'affordability' and 'public safety' - as if these were the highest aspirations of mankind! O, how far we have fallen from the heights of true greatness!

The four contenders - Freeland, Carney, Gould, and Baylis - stand as perfect exemplars of our age of diminished expectations. They speak of 'growing the economy' and 'Canada's place in the world' with the self-satisfaction of those who believe that material comfort is the highest good. They debate in both tongues of this divided nation, French and English, as if the mere ability to speak in multiple languages could mask the poverty of their ideas.

In their French-language performance, they demonstrated the ultimate symptom of our age - agreement. They nodded their heads in unison, these seekers of the middle ground, these apostles of mediocrity. "We agree," they declared repeatedly, each afraid to strike out with bold vision, each careful not to disturb the peaceful slumber of their audience.

See how they fear to wound each other with words! They have forgotten that truth comes not from agreement but from the clash of opposing wills. They seek harmony where discord should reign, consensus where battle should be joined!

The disqualification of Ruby Dhalla stands as a metaphor for our times - one who dared to break the rules of this carefully orchestrated performance must be cast out, lest she disturb the somnolent peace of the herd. The rules themselves become sacred, while the spirit of rule-breaking - that essential characteristic of all great achievement - is condemned.

And what of their discussion of relations with the American empire? They boast of their ability to "handle" President Trump, as if diplomatic manipulation were a virtue. They speak of trade agreements and border policies, but where is the vision of greatness? Where is the will to power that might truly elevate Canada beyond its role as a comfortable suburb of empire?

These candidates speak of leadership, yet they know nothing of true leading! They would guide the herd to better pastures, when what is needed is one who would teach the sheep to become lions!

The spectacle shall be broadcast across the electronic ether, carried by the CBC - that great equalizer of minds, that lullaby-singer to the masses. The people shall watch from their comfortable chairs, in their heated homes, nodding along to discussions of housing policies and environmental regulations, never once questioning whether these are truly the heights to which a nation should aspire.

March 9th approaches - the day when one of these four shall be crowned leader of the Liberal Party. The masses shall celebrate this changing of the guard, this rotation of shepherds, while remaining blissfully unaware that they are celebrating their own mediocrity, their own willingness to be led.

And so the wheel turns, and nothing truly changes. The strong become weak through comfort, the ambitious become cautious through prosperity, and the noble become common through democracy. When shall we see one who dares to wake the sleepers?

Yet perhaps there is hope, though not in the way these candidates imagine. Perhaps in the very tedium of their performance, in the obvious bankruptcy of their small ambitions, some few might awaken. Some might look upon this spectacle and feel stirring within themselves a great nausea, a rejection of this comfortable mediocrity, and begin the long climb toward higher things.

Until then, let them debate. Let them agree. Let them promise safety and comfort and prosperity to all. The truly awake will recognize this for what it is - not a contest of leadership, but a lullaby sung by the high priests of mediocrity to keep the masses in their peaceful slumber.