Comments on: Democratic seeds sprouting in Alberta http://albertasfuture.ca/2010/02/democratic-seeds-sprouting-in-alberta/ February 5-6, 2010 in Edmonton Sat, 13 Feb 2010 03:07:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Link Byfield http://albertasfuture.ca/2010/02/democratic-seeds-sprouting-in-alberta/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Link Byfield Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:22:28 +0000 http://albertasfuture.ca/?p=55#comment-26 I used to sometimes ask people whether they thought government should be something done TO you or something done BY you. My thought was that on balance it can't ultimately be both, and so we must choose. Govern or be governed. Most regular folks didn't really seem to get the question, and I could never quite put my finger on why until one astute friend said, "Neither. Government should be something done FOR you." Look no further than this attitude -- government as Walmart -- to explain why democracy is withering. Danielle Smith put it well when she said that to have political vision we must first decide the proper role and limits of government. If its moral mandate is much narrower than most people have come to think, our challenge is to inspire people to want and expect less of it. No small task. Governments should try to encourage the principle that we should take responsibility for governing ourselves, educating and encouraging people in the right ways to do this. There is a profound paradox to this I realize, but perhaps it's possible. There is still a significant minority of people who understand this, and if this minority can get itself elected to govern, it can do some good. This should not be seen as sinister or conspiratorial. All political philosophies, from left to right, are minority views, yet some govern and the rest don't. I enjoyed the weekend conference. Thanks for going to all the effort. If we do not sow we will not reap. I used to sometimes ask people whether they thought government should be something done TO you or something done BY you. My thought was that on balance it can't ultimately be both, and so we must choose. Govern or be governed.

Most regular folks didn't really seem to get the question, and I could never quite put my finger on why until one astute friend said, "Neither. Government should be something done FOR you."

Look no further than this attitude — government as Walmart — to explain why democracy is withering. Danielle Smith put it well when she said that to have political vision we must first decide the proper role and limits of government. If its moral mandate is much narrower than most people have come to think, our challenge is to inspire people to want and expect less of it. No small task.

Governments should try to encourage the principle that we should take responsibility for governing ourselves, educating and encouraging people in the right ways to do this. There is a profound paradox to this I realize, but perhaps it's possible. There is still a significant minority of people who understand this, and if this minority can get itself elected to govern, it can do some good. This should not be seen as sinister or conspiratorial. All political philosophies, from left to right, are minority views, yet some govern and the rest don't.

I enjoyed the weekend conference. Thanks for going to all the effort. If we do not sow we will not reap.

]]> By: Larry Steier http://albertasfuture.ca/2010/02/democratic-seeds-sprouting-in-alberta/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Larry Steier Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:28:15 +0000 http://albertasfuture.ca/?p=55#comment-17 Nicholas has written a great article. Putting the questions of the emerging sprouts into such concise wording. How do we engage in and how do we encourage our fellow Albertans to be fully engaged in public life and the policy decisions affecting our future? So many have given up and feel powerless to make change. Those of us who are activists tend to become shrill and cynical. Shaping a more positive and inspirational future for Alberta is a great ideal. Larry S Nicholas has written a great article. Putting the questions of the emerging sprouts into such concise wording.
How do we engage in and how do we encourage our fellow Albertans to be fully engaged in public life and the policy decisions affecting our future?
So many have given up and feel powerless to make change. Those of us who are activists tend to become shrill and cynical.

Shaping a more positive and inspirational future for Alberta is a great ideal.
Larry S

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