It’s been almost two weeks since the election delivered a sense of relief confirming Canada and Canadians aren’t the nasty, individualistic, divided, uninformed, uncaring bunch of callous taxpayers we were being moulded into. It’s a huge relief that democracy, despite the many barriers thrown to militate against free expression and informed decision making, was able to assert itself.
The election was also revelatory. Despite the deluge of daily attacks against Canadians and Canadian society, and the useful chronicling of these attacks over the last decade, the deep dark secrets of how that was done, the details about why and who benefited, the crossing the line of moral justification, and the disreputable actions of numerous individuals is now coming to light. Sadly, the Duffy affair will likely only be the tip of the iceberg.
These unaccountable actions have galvanized Canadians and the Liberals to seek out better democracy in the form of electoral reform. It’s sad to have had to come to such extremes, and while it could have been worse, we now have the opportunity to improve the voting process in Canada.
Repeal – another theme likely to echo over the coming months and years. The loss of door to door postal services will be stopped and Bill C-51 will be scrutinized – as it should have been done in any democracy in the first place – and reformed. Environmental assessment is promised to become more accountable and trusted, and attacks on Canadian drinking water will be reversed.
At the same time, environmental, foreign policy, social programs, housing, First Nations, military, information, science, health, the economy and communities, among others, will receive a reinvigorated shot in the arm. It’s shocking that so much effort was wasted strengthening only one of our economic sectors, while the remainder floundered pinched between the clutches of Harperlands’ thumb, neoliberalisms’ forefinger and middle-fingers’ austerity.
This decade long Canadian fiasco should serve as a reminder to us all how fragile democracy can be, especially when apathy, resignation and divisiveness creep into the Canadian psyche.
As citizens, we need to be engaged, actively, in the political processes within our community, region and nation. If that’s not possible, change the system. Don’t be apathetic, whether it’s a federal election, or a change to your local Fire Services. The experiences you hold, stories you tell, and information you share becomes the knowledge our decision makers need to make wise decisions.
As the Rush song Freewill notes:
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice
You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill
I will choose a path that’s clear
I will choose freewill
Apathy and non-participation is a recipe for disaster: blame is better to give than to receive. Disengaged citizens is a guarantee of lost freewill.
Canadians can never again afford to resign to the visions, aspirations and goals of those elected without testing, questioning and understanding. Margaret Mead observed that “human nature is almost unbelievably malleable, responding accurately and contrastingly to contrasting cultural conditions.”
We find this clearly in the last decade’s rule: the use of known techniques to engineer Canadian society, values and behaviour along irrational lines to benefit wealthy, and harm the majority, yet all done in a manner that the majority believed were of benefit.
As was recently noted by political blogger Christopher Majka, “We should not underestimate the actual and potential harm of this virulence: Stephen Harper’s vision of obedient consumers marching to the tune of corporate kleptocracy is not a pleasant place and we shouldn’t imagine that Canada could not be driven to such a dystopia. The stunning progress of neoliberalism owes its success to snake oil salesmen like Harper pitching tax cuts, austerity, the fear of whatever there is to be feared (and an infinite number of apprehensions can be conjured ex nihilo), chest-thumping patriotism, sabre-rattling at imaginary enemies, privatization, trickle-down economics and other such sleights of hand. As Naomi Klein’s power book The Shock Doctrine illustrated, these tactics can work anywhere. Sow enough fear and panic and an irrational stampede can ensue.”
Read it; it’s in the public library. If your attention span is as short as the fleeting bytes running through your mobile, watch it. It’s on the web.
“When you have more than you need, you don’t build a higher fence, you build a longer table.” Using wealth disparity to isolate from poverty, environmental destruction and social conflict makes for a sick society. Sharing that wealth improves health for everyone. A key point made in the Spirit Level, by Wilkinson and Pickett – read it too.
Whatever you do, become engaged.
Relief, revelatory, reform, repeal, reinvigorate. A lot of missing in action needs over the last decade will now be resolved.
3 Comments
Thanks to Jack Fall for a well thought
out article and to Northern Hoot who continually publishes thought
invoking essays.
I thoroughly agree that Democracy and
all political systems, need constant vigilance by the population due
to the basic fact that any decision made affects all the people.
Whether the people can survive their feedback to their government
systems is another point to be considered.
Is a self described democracy, not a
democracy if less than 50% of the people vote in an election?
I’ve been told by individuals who
believe that their voice only counts during elections and any other
communication to politicians is considered harassment. I wonder
where that thought came from?
The accountability of what politicians
say and do is high on my list of “being engaged” in the political
system. I have discovered that for the most part this form of
engagement is met with bullying, harassment and disregarded. I am
doubtful of issues being resolved from the past “Leader” as I
don’t believe that one person ‘controls’ the country but rather self
interest groups who benefit from their connections.
Thank you Jack Fall for this poignant reminder that democracy, indeed, is the underlying fabric that enables communities to function freely and as a reflection of our collective needs, interests and priorities. As you point out in your article, civic engagement is a necessary ingredient for the effective experience of a democracy. I appreciate you urging the citizens of SSM to become actively engaged in the political processes in our community “whether it’s a federal election, or a change to your local Fire Services”.
Your specific reference to the recent change in our local Fire Services, also highlights another integral prerequisite for the effective functioning of a democracy- the responsibility of elected officials to ensure and facilitate opportunity for free expression and civic engagement.
I have been personally dismayed, disillusioned, and enraged at the recent actions of Mayor, Council and Fire Chief Figliola, with respect to the changes to our local Fire Services. In my opinion, the Mayor and Council completely robbed the public of any reasonable opportunity to review the report submitted by Chief Figliola (which was only released for public review the Thursday prior to Council), digest the information presented, formulate any thoughts or opinions about the proposed plan, and express any concerns that may have arisen from this review. Indeed, in this case, the citizens of Sault Ste. Marie were denied the opportunity to “test, question, or understand the visions, aspirations and goals” of our elected officials. This was a complete manipulation of political processes and a true failure of our City to uphold democracy and protect our most cherished right as Canadian Citizens.
If it can be considered consolation in any regard, the Mayor did, after all, characterize Chief Figliola’s proposal to dismantle our Fire Services as a “fluid” plan. So now that the proposal itself has been pushed hastily through to Council for approval within a matter of one week, without any public consultation or input, Mayor Provenzano has now formally invited us to become politically engaged on this issue. Better late then never I suppose…..
So I echo Jack’s request. Don’t be apathetic. Don’t “resign to the visions, aspirations and goals of those elected without testing, questioning and understanding”. Don’t disengage. Because the changes that are set to occur in our City will without a doubt, impact the safety of each and every citizen in Sault Ste. Marie.
Get informed. Get engaged. Take action.
Because as Jack notes above, a community full of “disengaged citizens is a guarantee of lost freewill.”
I didnt read too much about democracy here, just the usual anybody but harper stuff. ironic reference to selling snakeoil and tax cuts. I seem to remember the liberals selling tax cuts also but I guess this doesnt count. I also understand that you could not even run for the liberals if you don’t tow the line on certain issues, this speaks more to democracy than anything written here. Having said this I also believe in term limits, 8 years tops.