The Slumbering Masses and the Chimera of Compulsory Redemption

Hark! In the land of the sleepers, where the somnambulant masses wander aimlessly through the fog of their own complacency, a new drama unfolds. The puppet-masters of the political theatre, those self-proclaimed guardians of morality and order, have once again raised their voices in a cacophony of promises and platitudes. At the center of this spectacle stands one Pierre Poilievre, a Conservative Leader whose very title drips with irony, for what is there to conserve in a world that has long since lost its way?

Behold, the dance of the last men! How they scurry about, seeking solutions to problems they themselves have wrought. They speak of "involuntary treatment" as if one could force the will to power upon those who have relinquished it willingly. Oh, what folly!

Poilievre, in his infinite wisdom, proclaims support for the involuntary treatment of drug-addicted minors and prisoners. He speaks of those "incapable of making decisions for themselves," as if decision-making were a privilege bestowed by the state rather than the very essence of human existence. But let us peer deeper into this abyss of contradiction and see what truths may be gleaned.

The Conservative Leader, a title that rings hollow in these times of spiritual poverty, dares to suggest that children and prisoners should be subjected to mandatory drug treatment. He stands before the slumbering masses, his words a lullaby for those who fear to wake, and declares, "I believe for children, and for prisoners who are behind bars, there should be mandatory drug treatment, when they are found to be incapable of making decisions for themselves."

How the mighty have fallen! Once, we dreamed of creating a race of supermen, of beings who would transcend the petty limitations of morality and societal constraints. Now, we content ourselves with force-feeding sobriety to the weakest among us. Is this the pinnacle of human achievement?

But lo! Even as Poilievre speaks with such certainty about the fate of the young and the incarcerated, he falters when confronted with the question of non-incarcerated adults. "For adults, I'm still doing a lot of research on how that would work," he stammers, revealing the depths of his ignorance. How typical of the last man, to speak boldly of that which he knows not, and to retreat into the safety of "research" when faced with the complexities of human will!

In this land of the sleepers, where the masses drift through life in a haze of comfortable numbness, Poilievre's words fall upon eager ears. They yearn for simple solutions to complex problems, for a world where the state can simply wave its hand and banish the demons of addiction and despair. But what of the will to power? What of the individual's right to choose their own path, even if that path leads to destruction?

Oh, how the herd longs for a shepherd! They would gladly trade their freedom for the illusion of safety, their autonomy for the comfort of conformity. But do they not see that in doing so, they forfeit their very humanity?

The Conservative Leader speaks of defunding programs that provide "safer supply" to those at risk of overdose, replacing them with "recovery and rehab." He promises to tighten border controls, as if the human spirit could be contained by mere geographical boundaries. In his myopic vision, he sees only the surface of the problem, blind to the depths of human suffering and the complexities of the will.

To illustrate his point, Poilievre invokes the tragic tale of Brianna MacDonald, a child of merely thirteen summers who perished from a suspected overdose. He declares, with the certainty of one who has never grappled with the abyss, "There's no question in my mind that she should've been in mandatory, involuntary, psychiatric and substance abuse treatment, rather than in a homeless encampment in a tent."

Ah, the arrogance of the last man! To believe that one can save a soul through force, to imagine that the human spirit can be tamed by decree. Have they learned nothing from the countless failed attempts to legislate morality throughout history?

Yet, in this land of eternal slumber, Poilievre's words find fertile ground. The masses, ever fearful of that which they do not understand, cling to the promise of easy solutions. They nod in agreement, never questioning the implications of granting the state such power over the individual. For it is easier to sleep than to wake, easier to follow than to lead.

But hark! A voice of caution emerges from the wilderness. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association dares to speak of rights and freedoms, of the individual's autonomy even in the face of addiction. They remind us that even those behind bars have not forfeited their fundamental rights. But in a world where comfort is prized above all else, who will heed their warning?

See how they cling to their precious "rights," as if such constructs could shield them from the harsh realities of existence. They speak of liberty while cowering in the shadow of their own mediocrity. Oh, how far we have fallen from the dream of the Übermensch!

And what of the experts, those who have dedicated their lives to understanding the complexities of addiction and recovery? Leslie McBain of Moms Stop the Harm speaks words of wisdom, saying, "If you look at global statistics, it doesn't work. It isn't successful because people have to want to recover, they have to come to the need to recover on their own." But in a world where quick fixes and easy answers are the currency of the realm, who will listen to the voice of reason?

The debate rages on, with provinces like British Columbia, New Brunswick, Alberta, and Ontario all grappling with the question of involuntary treatment. Some, like Premier Blaine Higgs of New Brunswick, even speak of invoking the Constitution's notwithstanding clause to protect such laws from challenge. But what are laws and constitutions but the feeble attempts of the weak to constrain the strong?

Oh, the irony! They would use the very instruments of democracy to subvert the will of the individual. Do they not see that in doing so, they sow the seeds of their own destruction?

As the sun sets on this land of eternal twilight, we are left to ponder the fate of a society that would so willingly surrender its autonomy. The Conservative Leader and his ilk may speak of salvation through force, but what they offer is nothing more than a gilded cage. They would have us trade our freedom for the illusion of safety, our individuality for the comfort of conformity.

But let us not forget that it is in the crucible of adversity that true strength is forged. It is through struggle and suffering that we transcend our base nature and aspire to greatness. To deny individuals the right to face their demons, to overcome their addictions through the force of their own will, is to deny them their very humanity.

Awaken, ye slumbering masses! Cast off the shackles of complacency and embrace the glorious uncertainty of existence. For it is only in the face of adversity that we can truly become who we are meant to be.

In the end, we are left with a choice. We can continue to sleep, to accept the easy answers and false promises of those who would control us. Or we can awaken, face the harsh light of reality, and forge our own path through the wilderness of existence. The choice, as always, is ours to make.

Let the last men have their involuntary treatments and their illusions of safety. For those who dare to dream of something greater, who aspire to transcend the limitations of their nature, the path of self-overcoming remains open. It is a path fraught with danger and uncertainty, but it is the only path that leads to true freedom.

As the curtain falls on this latest act in the grand tragicomedy of human existence, we are left with a final, inescapable truth: The road to hell is paved with good intentions, and those who would save us from ourselves may well be our greatest oppressors. Let us choose wisely, for the future of humanity hangs in the balance.