Minority Governments as a route to absolute power. . . .

I have been thinking a lot, as many have,about the present political situation and why the Conservatives have been able to maintain a modicum of popularity despite incompetence record deficits etc. I have come to the conclusion that in an incredible irony it was his minority that has saved Harper's political skin thus far. By only getting a minority Harper has been forced to occupy (at least the appearance of) the political centre. If he had been elected to a majority Harper would have seen it as carte-blanche to do anything, which he would have done with abandon. By now Harper's would have done such outrageous things his popularity would be somewhere around where Brian Molroney's  was when he left office. Harper has done terrible things and corroded our democracy to a mournful degree, but much of this has been relatively quiet and behind the scenes, in ways average Canadians are unaware of. In the meantime, this minority has not forced the Liberals to go through a typical period of rejuvenation and properly define themselves in opposition. Instead they have just coasted and acted as though they just have to wait and things will somehow just 'naturally' turn around in their favor. 

Recent history suggests that Harper is not actually able to win a majority. If he was unable to gain a majority after the sponsorship scandal and with Dion as leader of the opposition, it is difficult to see how he can do it in the future. However, in the absence of a Harper Majority, the Liberals could still do their part and actually create a serious opposition with real policy alternatives. But they seem almost congenitally unable to do this. 

So it goes.  . . . .