While technology continues to expand, real science—exploring and understanding the real world—is often replaced by the manipulation of ideas for political ends (think “global warming,” and the UN’s demands to become a global power—with global taxation authority—to counteract its alleged threats). But the political manipulation of science is not at all new. It began early in the 20th century with Edward Bernays (Sigmund Freud’s nephew)—a showbiz flack, who applied his uncle’s insights about the power of subconscious motivation when he worked as a propagandist for U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. Bernays’ ideas laid the foundation for public relations as a profession. In his 1947 essay “The Engineering of Consent,” Bernays wrote: [T]hose who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. In almost every act of our daily lives, whether in the sphere of politics or business, in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are dominated by the relatively small number of persons... who pull the wires which control the public mind. Franklin Roosevelt further expanded the manipulating public opinion to sell his “New Deal,” as did John F. Kennedy, and later, Lyndon Johnson for the “Great Society.” Some of Kennedy’s and Johnson’s political “technocrats” were imported into Canada by Pierre Trudeau (in those days, we who worked in the federal government called them “Trudeaucrats”); they used Bernays’ public relations (PR) techniques to promote Trudeau’s “Just Society;” and the Liberal Party continued to use their techniques to maintain a near-monopoly on political power that was only briefly interrupted by Brian Mulroney’s use of the same PR techniques on behalf of the Progressive Conservatives—who were neither progressive nor conservative. These same tactics are being used again, in the name of a “conservatism” that is actually “Liberal Lite,” by Mulroney’s protégé, Stephen Harper. But there are signs that all this manipulation of the public psyche may be losing its potency. More and more Canadians—those whose personal philosophy seeks equality of opportunity that would allow achievement based on merit, rather than a socialist equality of outcomes—realize that what has been sold to them under the label “conservative” is really only re-branded liberalism. They yearn for something different. “But,” some Conservatives ask, “what’s the alternative? Do you want the Liberals back?” Certainly not! Yet while CHP Canada offers a truly conservative alternative—both morally and fiscally conservative—it’s also true that we’re not yet big enough to govern. Canada’s sixth-largest party must grow more; and for that, we need the help of many more Canadians. Today’s Tories take the support of pro-moral Canadians for granted… they think you have nowhere else to put your support—and that won’t change until those of us who believe in the sanctity of life and marriage show that we’re willing to discipline the turncoat “Conservatives” for their betrayal of the principles for which they were elected. Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party—“Liberal Lite”—got into office promising conservatism; but after being elected, they turned their backs on pre-born children; they tried to straddle the fence on same-sex ‘marriage;’ they broke promises to seniors about taxing income trusts, and to Atlantic Canadians about its Accord with Ottawa—and finally, they produced the most lavish federal budget in Canadian history. Some “conservatives”! “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time; but you can’t fool all the people all the time,” said Abraham Lincoln. It’s time to show the Harper Tories that conservative Canadians aren’t being fooled any longer. To make them become what their name implies, we have to show them that we’re really willing to give our support to another party: by becoming a member of the CHP—even if there’s not yet a CHP candidate in your riding—you’ll be telling the Tories, “I want an option that’s truly conservative—both fiscally and socially!” Let’s start today to send a tidal wave of change across Canada! Join the Christian Heritage Party at www.chp.ca