Editor's note: This is the 9th in the new series of articles by citizen journalist Teresa Wild. All Ms. Wild's articles are being sent directly to PM Stephen Harper as well as being posted simultaneously to her Dear Stephen section here on The Cumberlander.

Bold words in the article are hyper-linked to relevant web resources.

Dear Stephen,

There is one thing that has always bugged me about you. I hope you will hear me out, in your role as public servant, and try and glean something useful from this.

I have always felt that you think you are better than the rest of us Canadians. Why do I think that? Well, aside from your lack of emotion and apparent disregard for the feelings of others, you believe in the "noble lie".

I have done a little reading on your old pal Leo Strauss, that is. He was, himself, a shameless elitist, regarding "the general public" as too stupid to govern themselves, too il-informed to decide important issues, and too lazy to do anything of real importance. He saw himself, and other carefully chosen accomplices, as totally justified in making all the important decisions behind closed doors, to avoid getting the public needlessly riled up. He also believed that if the citizens were allowed to rule themselves, society would crumble into anarchy and tyranny. More on this later.

Strauss was the leading philosopher of the "Calgary School", of which we can call you a proud member. Here's how that philosophy plays out: When you were questioned by the press about what went on behind the closed doors at the SPP meeting in Quebec, you brushed the question off with a flippant comment that there was nothing to be concerned about, that you were just discussing the harmonization of jellybeans. Jellybeans! You must think we're astoundingly stupid, Stephen! Now, that was really a low blow to our intelligence, and certainly not a great way to win our votes. No wonder you keep showing up with a minority.

Now I just want to tell you (refer to my first letter) that I am a disgruntled member of a large minority in this flawed democracy. I actually believe that anarchy would be better than a police state imposing the program of an elite group of bankers and financial oligarchs ( to paraphrase Webster Tarpley). I believe that ultimately the most egalitarian form of social organization is anarchy--but anarchy with integrity. As opposed to tyranny with corruption, Stephen.

Elitism is tyranny, based on the most horrible assumption that some, a very few, mind you, are far superior to others, and, in order to implement the agenda towards their own interests, they need to lie. The noble lie, as Strauss called it, is still a lie. JFK said there was no room for secrets in a free country. Now THAT'S a leader to emulate...

I fear for you, Stephen. I think you may have gone over to the dark side. Be careful.

Sincerely,
Teresa Wild