A Capital Scandal

This is a polemic with few redeeming features. The prime minister is too powerful, elected MPs nobodies. Of course, the press, represented by the two authors, spends more time during elections on party leaders than on all the other candidates put together, so of course voters tend to elect the leader rather than their MP. The 2011 NDP caucus is merely the most recent example, not at all unique. Polls dilute the feel-of-the-country role of MPs, but the media constantly cover them and rarely cover candidates in their ridings. Every dollar of MP expenses is treated as a ripoff, but no comparison done to equivalent private sector compensation packages for comparable work, just to low level salaried workers. Etc. Not recommended.