Everybody chill out.

That’s the advice I freely give Canadian politicians — especially the leaders of the parties and their most vocal MPs — as the country heads into a federal election campaign.

Maybe with an exclamation mark.

Everybody chill out!

No mudslinging. No name calling.

Just state your platform, make your pledges, shake some hands, kiss some babies, and get your picture in the paper.

See you on voting day.

Yes, you might say I’m a dreamer: Canadian federal politics have been particularly nasty for the past two months. All signs are pointing to a nasty election campaign, and a mere “Chill out” call isn’t going to achieve much.

Even if they heard/read it and took it to heart, it might take the party leaders months to approximate anything close to even a temporary zen state through meditation. Justin Trudeau and Andrew Scheer are so amped up and in each other’s faces these days, it won’t be long before they’re slugging it out like the schoolyard boys they are.

They need some instant zen.

I suppose it would be further unrealistic of me to recommend that the leaders and their closest MPs and advisers should ingest some psilocybin once or twice a week during the campaign and use its meditative qualities to, at the very least, reflect upon some of their public dialogue both spoken and as-yet unspoken.

Psilocybin, it seems, and meditation affect the same parts of the brain, according to a report on the Ultraculture site, in turn citing Science Daily. Both, especially used in conjunction, can bring about “more lasting positive changes to traits including altruism, gratitude, forgiveness and feeling close to others …,” reports Wikipedia.

But psilocybin gets you there faster, if only for a relatively short period of time. It’s time enough, though, to review the day’s events and dialogues. “OMG, did I say that!”

Alas, consuming those types of ‘shrooms is probably illegal.

And too trippy.

Think sitars, White Rabbit, All You Need Is Love, Fool on the Hill . . .

Actually, that sounds like the beginning of a very groovy scene, but it’s too utopian for today’s strait-laced Parliamentarians, with some exceptions, I’m sure.

But cannabis might work. One can consume it without feeling the need to hug everyone on the planet, yet still come away with a greater sense of altruism. And a greater self-awareness of the public speaking process.

Maybe treat the opposition with respect.

So, bottom line: All Canadian MPs should toke/smoke/vape up together before Question Period in the House of Commons, and see how it goes.

Peace and love all around?

Or would it be mudslinging business as usual?

— Jillian