Recently both conceded that the reins of office perhaps could be bequeathed to someone else, albeit less worthy. Not now, however, but later. In the same vein New Democratic Party Leader Alexa McDonough, visited Britain five years ago to study how Tony Blair’s New Labour Party does so well while her own party vegetates with little more than a corporal’s guard in Ottawa.

She learned little. Effectively, socialist dogma was ditched. Mr. Blair rejected a tattered belief that government spending creates jobs. Further, taxes were slashed, welfare programs revamped to eliminate rampant abuses, and a costly plan to make the military even more professional. All this faded within minutes of returning to Canada. Remarkably, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) fails to learn from its own history. More than 30 years ago delegates opted for revolution when its self-satisfied leaders coasted along in a sleepy haze. They chose themselves for re-election prior to each convention, gradually becoming oblivious of what the basic membership wanted. They exulted in cosy relations with politicians, accepting with gratitude the small crumbs thrown in their direction.

Above all, some executive members called down evil upon those who urged confrontation with the government in power. Finally the mice roared, actually shouting down a placid, comfortable, executive. Irate delegates changed voting rules — illegally of course, to the horror of management and most on the platform — and chose their own executive, including Gordon Hill of Varna a former president of the Ontario Farmers Union.

The then-Agriculture Minister William A. Stewart later told me that the OFA’s fawning sycophancy undercut his efforts in the Cabinet for a strong pro-farmer policy.

Urban politicians felt that rural Ontario could be handled easily as some farm leaders grovelled before them in an audience. They did not grasp that only the Pope and monarchs grant an audience.

Forgetful of the past, the OFA recently reverted to its old ways. A board of directors approved a cutoff for presidential nominations two weeks prior to the convention. So rude or disrespectful delegates may no longer propose nominations from the floor. Mr. Hill, still glowing with the vitality of 30 years ago, protested loudly: "I object to the process because it insulates and protects the offices of this organization from its members… Are we going back to backroom selection?"