Read on Twitter
We can learn a lot about who politicians refer to as their "friends". In speeches & responses to questions, the people they choose to mention offer us insight into whose interests they're considering. (Thread) #ableg #COVID19AB
A few weeks ago, Premier Kenney talked about his encounter with a small business owner, who thanked him for his reluctance to lock down the economy. https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/venezuelan-restaurateur-referenced-by-kenney-recalls-slightly-different-encounter-1.5206638
In the same press conference, he mentioned his "friend" the ICU nurse. She was concerned about the health care system's capacity to withstand another surge of #COVID19AB cases. https://www.macleans.ca/society/health/jason-kenneys-coronavirus-announcement-these-measures-are-tough-but-necessary-full-transcript/
A week later, Minister Shandro responded to questions about a province-wide mask mandate by saying, 'What am I supposed to tell the guy in Cold Lake?' https://twitter.com/itsakev/status/1332911058982371330
References to these personas is deliberate in many cases, subconscious in others. Ralph Klein talked a lot about "Martha and Henry", as has Premier Kenney. He's made a habit of stopping by their favourite restaurant, the Blackfoot Diner, throughout his time in Alberta.
But, as @KenBoessenkool pointed out recently, Martha & Henry are no longer the centre of Alberta's political universe. https://theline.substack.com/p/ken-boessenkool-the-populists-are
According to our @cgroundpolitics research, people in this province see a much younger persona when they envision the "typical Albertan".
"Average Joe", as he's become known in many of our focus groups, is still white & male. But he's in his mid-30s & less set in his ways than Martha & Henry (his parents). He's libertarian (preferring to leave big decisions to families rather than governments).
But he's also more connected with the world outside his small-town community than Martha & Henry. He's developed relationships with people from other walks of life. And the outside world has entered his community & home in new ways.
We see this when we ask our participants to tell us how "Joe" would react to the opiod crisis. "Joe knows guys who are struggling with it," we're told. "He knows it's more than just personal responsibility. And he thinks government has a role in helping."
Which brings us to yesterday's remarks from @jkenney. As the headline below suggests, the premier is now referring to friends personally affected by COVID-19. "Talk to my friend in the ICU" has replaced "talk to my friend at the Blackfoot Diner." https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/talk-to-my-friend-in-the-icu-premier-kenney-calls-out-covid-19-truthers-anti-maskers-1.5217179#_gus&_gucid=&_gup=twitter&_gsc=SbJ9WyK
This aligns with what we know about "Joe Albertan". Like many conservatives, Joe's capacity to understand & prioritize policy crises depends significantly on his proximity to them.
https://jspp.psychopen.eu/index.php/jspp/article/view/5209
https://jspp.psychopen.eu/index.php/jspp/article/view/5209
In plainspeak: "Joe Albertan" starts to care when his "friends" start showing up in the ICU. Deliberately or subconsciously, Premier Kenney has sensed a shift in Joe's feelings about the pandemic as case numbers, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to mount. #ableg
In our research, "Joe Albertan" personifies Alberta's political culture. When our participants tell us "Joe won't go for a PST" or "Joe's fine with a mask mandate", they're reflecting what they view as the boundaries of acceptable thought, expression, and behaviour in Alberta.
If it's a no-go for Joe, there's little point raising it.
Politicians, including Premier Kenney, operate in the same way.
If the Premier's remarks are any indication, Joe's reached the point where he's had enough with half-measures.
Politicians, including Premier Kenney, operate in the same way.
If the Premier's remarks are any indication, Joe's reached the point where he's had enough with half-measures.
To put it poignantly, the Premier's "friend in the ICU" might well be Martha or Henry. And Average Joe wants us to act. Will the government? #ableg #covid19ab
@threadreaderapp unroll
