There's another problem with polling the electorate...generally, the people have unrealistic expecations, compounded by overlapping and often mutually exclusive interests. Depending on how you ask the questions, people will support more spending on health care, education, the environment, defence, child care, economic development, aboriginal affairs, foreign aid, crime reduction, multiculturalism, language policy, culture, recreation, sports, womens' issues, infrastructure and foreign affairs, but without running provincial or federal deficits, and accompanied by tax reductions. This can only leave one going, whaaa? As a result, government(s) are faced with trying to make sense of exactly what it is people are asking for, because a) it IS their money and b) of course governments strive to retain a major share of popular support, even between elections. But the people don't make it easy, so governments are reduced to trying to give people what they THINK those people want.
Health care? Of course...it's a motherhood thing. How could you go wrong spending money on health care. Except, of course, more $ for health care isn't really the answer; in Ontario, health accounts for 49 cents of every tax dollar and that amount is increasing by 8-10% per year. In another decade, according to the Secretary of Cabinet in Ontario, there will be one Ministry--the Ministry of Health. Obviously, this isn't sustainable at all. The government is going to have to wrestle this one to the ground.
Education? Again, sure. How can you hate spending on education? Of course, if you also believe in standardized testing, then the results don't seem to fit the amount already being spent. The environment? Of course! Except most environmental impacts are trans-national, so all the $ spent on cleaning up effluent in Canada won't make a whit of difference on nitrous oxides generated by coal-fired power plants in Illinois. Child care....? Well, you get the idea. The government often throws money at problems because it's quick, easy and creates an appearance of progress. Unfortunately, defence is in the same boat. Just more money for defence is only a part solution, and could make things worse, if not properly managed (there are few things more damaging to an organization than one-time or short-term funding that results in acquisitions with long-term operating costs, if those operating dollars aren't also provided. I watched a whole provincial government program collapse that way, once).
So MY wish is for governments to actually stop listening to "the people" through polls, get smart, show some leadership, and use some vision to craft a broad range of policies. Then, bring "the people" in when its appropriate...and then do it wisely i.e. focus groups, town-halls, citizen round-tables, that sort of thing.
Okay, you can all stop laughing now.
