Reflections on Resignations

Yesterday Québec Premier Jean Charest shuffled his cabinet slightly and dislodged a veteran cabinet minister to make way for a more popular kid. In firing Thomas Mulclair from Environment, he offered him Government Services. Thomas told Jean where to stick Government Services.

This nice story goes to prove that there are still some politicians out there with some personal pride. There are still some politicians who won't slit their mother's throat for a seat at the cabinet table. Remember, before you say anything... I said "some".

This is an ode to the parliamentary anarchists who longs for a parliamentary utopia where Members of Parliament regularly tell the first minister where to put his Crown appointments. Could it be that there are some issues worth standing up for? Could it be that some abuse won't be tolerated? Could it be that hard to drive yourself to work instead of having that ministerial chauffeur? What about a sense of perspective that favours the long term, global impact of our actions versus the short term, tangible gains to be accrued to our own person?

Whether M. Mulclair resigned on principle, or in a huff, is immaterial to my larger point. Those who resign on principle deserve respect. Those who cling to office as if it were their own moral centre of gravity deserve our pity.