Link of the Day: WTF TORY (again, with a bonus rant)

The reason why it’s such a good idea to pay attention to the news on Friday afternoon is because most people don’t tend to do so. If you’re a government, a corporation, or anyone else with bad news you’re obligated to share, then Friday afternoon is generally understood to be the best time to slip it in under the radar.

Nonetheless, I’m guessing the Harper government – by which I mean the Conservative Party, not the entire Government of Canada, but we’ll get to that – would have preferred that Friday’s many news stories about the party hadn’t broken in the first place. Put them all together, and they don’t paint a very pretty picture.

Take the coverage of the Tories rebranding the federal government in Stephen Harper’s name, which is in itself unconscionable. Add to that the coverage of the same party reshaping more government language to suit its own political ends. And if you’re a fan of really basic irony, you’ll enjoy reading about the gag order written into a disgraced integrity commissioner’s six-figure severance package.

It was an awful lot to take in at once, and if your Twitter feed is anything like mine, then it was no doubt full of people calling for action on Friday evening. Specifically, a number of friends of mine independently called for a website presenting a full account of all the awful things this party’s done since it came to power in 2006.

Enter WTF TORY. I’ve linked to this site before, calling it “a pretty vital bummer.” But with an election coming up, and opponents of the Harper government eager to share information on what an awful government it is, a site like WTF TORY is arguably more vital than ever.

It’s certainly not exhaustive, and I doubt any Tumblr account could be, especially when it comes to a government as allergic to transparency and accountability as this one. But it’s an informative read, and it’s an invaluable source of material for anyone looking to build a full account of the Harper government’s worst moments.

It is naïve to think a site like that could really have an effect on the next election? Even if it managed to gain national attention, would it sway the opinions of swing voters or would it simply preach to the choir? It’s tough to say, but that’s no reason not to give it a shot.

Posted in Link of the Day