Plus ca change ...

"Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely," so said the English historian, Lord Acton. Prime Minister Stephen Harper does not hold absolute power, but he is now the most powerful man in the country, and after only days as PM seems intent in proving the wisdom of Lord Acton's words. Let us count the ways:

A major belief in the Reform/Alliance/Conservative philosophy of government has always been that the Senate must be elected. So what is one of the PM's first acts? The appointment of a good and faithful servant of the Conservative cause to the Senate. And to top that, he appoints him to his cabinet as well. And not just to cabinet but to Minister of Public Works, the ministry responsible for spending many of the federal dollars and a ministry prone to scandal. Sitting snugly in the Senate, Minister Michael Fortier will be spared awkward questions in the House of Commons. This would seem contrary to Mr. Harper's professed passion for accountability.

Speaking of accountability, the new PM has waxed eloquent about proposed legislation to address this very issue. A key article in the legislation will prevent ex-ministers from lobbying for five years after they depart cabinet. Yet Mr. Harper has appointed Gordon O'Connor Minister of Defence, a man who only two years ago was lobbying for defence contractors.

And then there's the amusing case of floor-crosser David Emerson and his elevation to cabinet. Conservatives were scathing toward Belinda Stronach for her similar escapade but gave Mr. Emerson a standing ovation in caucus.

And so it goes. What do the French say? Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose -- the more things change, the more they stay the same. Very wise, those French.