The G8 meeting in Italy hasn’t even started yet, and already we’re seeing evidence folks can’t seem to figure out exactly what they want the rest of us to believe. On the one hand, US president Barack Obama has himself, and probably others, convinced everyone’s getting along rather nicely with regards the current economic situation and future plans for further stimulous action. Then, from seemingly a completely different G8 meeting, UK prime minister Gordon Brown almost completely contradicts that, saying while most countries participating in the summit this week seem to have some kind of a general agreement going in as to how we should proceed, Canada’s Stephen Harper, as well as Germany’s government, aren’t quite so ready to go along with what is apparently a generally accepted approach to the recession. And of course, we have Harper himself, who now says patience, not more stimulous money, is needed to wait out this downturn.

So, I ask anyone who gives a damn, can you figure out which of the three stuges actually comes close to what might, possibly, be considered a semi-truth? Somehow, I don’t think it’s Obama, seeing as his own administration seems to be in agreement with Harper’s general attitude, even if he himself isn’t. And Brown just seems to be continuing the British tradition started by his predecessor in sucking up to the US president of the day. I’m scared to say it–I’ve never been known for being a conservative supporter before, though there’s definitely a first time for everything–but could Stephen Harper actually be the closest to giving us the real picture? The honest to goodness “please save our country” part of me wants to say no, but… the links seem to stand for themselves. I don’t think the Michael Ignatief fan club will enjoy swallowing that pill.