The politicians have largely abandoned issues in favour of assaulting opponents with buckets of fear and loathing.

The local Conservative candidate has knocked on our door twice. The first time I told him politely, but firmly that I would never vote for his party or for him. Two nights later he was back to chat with my spouse. He asked her whether it was the Conservative Party she disliked or its leader. Both, she replied. Unfazed, the candidate went on to ask if she thought the party had a "secret agenda". Yes, she replied. He tried to reassure her that the Conservatives would only win a minority victory.

The Conservatives have essentially succeeded in making Dion look like a hapless little man who should stay in the classroom (as a teacher I object to the denigration of the professoriate.) In response the Liberals have largely dropped the Green Shift–"You have said it was [the centerpiece of the Liberal platform], never me," Dion said to reporters. They’re back to firebombing Harper.

In this First World War style battle of attrition, two issues are slipping from view: the environment and the war.

Most voters don’t understand either the carbon tax or cap ‘n trade and the Liberals and NDP have mainly given up trying to explain them. That matters, because after voting day the accepted wisdom in the mainstream media will be that Canadians showed no appetite for serious action on the environment and that the issue can remain unaddressed.

Same with the war. Jack Layton was good on the issue when questioned by Peter Mansbridge, but the NDP has made no effort to make it an issue. Despite the fact that most Canadians want the military mission to end now, the talking heads on Don Newman will agree after October 14 that the voters didn’t care much about it.

Those who are concerned about these issues need to make a fuss now.