A Stark Disparity: What Were You Thinking (Or Drinking), Canadians?

Not that it matters any more, but David Solway bothers to compare and contrast the C.V.s of Canada's newest and just defeated prime ministers.

First, the new one:

Trudeau studied environmental geography at McGill University and engineering at the Université de Montréal—but failed to complete degrees in either discipline. Among his other triumphs, which apparently earned the confidence of the electorate, Trudeau was a snow board instructor, a camp counselor, a white water rafting instructor, and a substitute drama teacher. Even a farcical billet like community organizing would have been more impressive.

Next, the old one:

Notwithstanding the smear campaign, Harper was on the whole a decent leader with sound moral instincts and, with a master’s degree in economics—a degree he actually completed—a leader with fiscal savvy. Let us review some of his legislative accomplishments. As blogger Jeremy Swanson points out (personal communication), the Conservative government got us through one of the worst financial crises since the Great Depression. The government reduced the GST by two percentage points, a 30% reduction on a universal value-added tax. It introduced pension splitting for retirees, a boon for both husband and wife. It instituted tax free savings accounts, which benefits anyone willing to save. It negotiated a number of international trade deals which will stand us in good stead in years to come. And Harper stood four square in favor of Israel, a country threatened with extinction by the vast Islamic surround, and the only democracy in the Middle East. He has much to be proud of.

Call me a Debbie Downer, but I doubt we will be able to say the same of Justin--that he "has much to be proud of"--once he's been ejected from office (as I'm sure he will be in due course).

Update: Whither Canada? (Shouldn't it be "Wither Canada?)