This blog was started about a decade
ago to highlight the lack of respect for our democratic conventions
by the then second term Harper Regime and to highlight efforts to
protect and enhance our system of governance. The change of federal
leadership in 2015 gave me hope that the years of abuse were coming
to an end and for a while there it was looking promising with the
attempt to bring in a more equatable electoral system and a more
diverse members of cabinet. Sadly the first item fell by the wayside
and the latter is now in tatters due, at least in part, to the
inability of two strong minded individuals to back down and / or
compromise. I will not comment further on that particular mess there
is more than enough opinion available on that out there, I will
however expand upon how the interaction between the public, our
elected representatives (of all stripes), the leader of the day and
his appointed 'cabinet' , both provincial and federally, and our
democratic norms is changing..... and not for the better.
One of the things that a change in the
way we elect or representatives may have affected the balance of
power both in the various legislatures across our nation and within
our national government is the amount of influence those individuals
we elect actual have within government. Back in 2009 in one of my
first posts entitled MP
or Party, Which comes first? I wrote “ The
respondents to the forum on Public
Consultations on Canada’s Democratic Institutions and Practices
were of the opinion political parties are generally perceived as
non-accountable, as neither good nor especially honest in
communicating. Aspersions were cast on the quality, clarity, and
ethical integrity of party platforms. “ Further on in the article I
said “We have seen in recent time how, when an MP
votes or speaks
out against his party in support of his
constituents he or she is censured by that party, often to the point
of expulsion. As an independent they have even less resources and
influence available to them to do their job …..”
How little things have changed ! Here
in Ontario in the first year of their 'mandate' the Ford Regime is
already down four of those individuals who dared to disagree with the
blustering mouthpiece we call the premier and although there are over
70, mostly previously unelected, individuals in this 'new'
legislature hardy a word has been heard from any of them. Said
blustering fool and his unelected advisers are busy dismantling many
of our hard won heath, education and social support systems and
unlike in the federal system he does so with no further 'Upper House'
checks. His actions thus far have been perhaps the best support for
Electoral reform and the probable minority governments that would
result. Our federal government seems to be doing their best to
encourage change by default right now however I suspect that the
change we will get will not be to our liking given the partisan
inclination of ALL our political 'elite'.
Democracy Defined.......As mentioned
above I dived
back to some
of my posts about democracy way back
in 2009 and in rereading some of those articles
now I find that whilst my opinions have largely remained unchanged I
had a much clearer way of expressing those views than I am able to
cobble together now in my dotage! I encourage you to scroll through a
few of those posts (the entire list is available by date and title in
the side bar) but here are a few brief extracts about democracy to
get you interest.
Woodruff says:
Democracy is a beautiful idea - government by and for the people. Democracy promises us the freedom to exercise our highest capacities while it protects us from our own worst tendencies. In democracy as it ought to be, all adults are free to chime in, to join the conversation on how they should arrange their life together. And no one is left free to enjoy the unchecked power that leads to arrogance and abuse. Like many beautiful ideas, however, democracy travels though our minds shadowed by its doubles - bad ideas that are close enough to be easily mistaken for the real thing. …......
Democracy is a beautiful idea - government by and for the people. Democracy promises us the freedom to exercise our highest capacities while it protects us from our own worst tendencies. In democracy as it ought to be, all adults are free to chime in, to join the conversation on how they should arrange their life together. And no one is left free to enjoy the unchecked power that leads to arrogance and abuse. Like many beautiful ideas, however, democracy travels though our minds shadowed by its doubles - bad ideas that are close enough to be easily mistaken for the real thing. …......
An electoral system is legitimate when
it reflects the values of the voting public. Even if you’re not
happy with the outcome of an election, you can accept it as
legitimate if the electoral system is based on principles that most
people value.
In effect, legitimacy is the result or consequence of a good electoral system. If a system reflects the seven remaining principles, it is bound to be legitimate.
In effect, legitimacy is the result or consequence of a good electoral system. If a system reflects the seven remaining principles, it is bound to be legitimate.
...........
Political
Parties Forum Overview
The general image emerging from the forums is one of parties losing attention and respect from their potential clientele or members. They are generally perceived as non-accountable and, in some instances, as secret.
Parties were generally characterized as not immensely interested in recruiting members or hearing from ordinary citizens. They are perceived as neither good nor especially honest in communicating. Aspersions were cast on the quality, clarity, and ethical integrity of party platforms.
The general image emerging from the forums is one of parties losing attention and respect from their potential clientele or members. They are generally perceived as non-accountable and, in some instances, as secret.
Parties were generally characterized as not immensely interested in recruiting members or hearing from ordinary citizens. They are perceived as neither good nor especially honest in communicating. Aspersions were cast on the quality, clarity, and ethical integrity of party platforms.
..........
There is much more to be said on this
subject in light of recent events both provincially and federally
much of which I have probably touched upon at one time or another in
the past 10 years. However given my difficulty in rationally
dissecting the current collective political cluster fuck I will
simply be highlighting and commenting upon a few of my past articles
in the foreseeable future.
6 comments:
In retrospect, Rural, there is little that has happened in the last ten years to make us feel better about our democracy.
I believe that my coming look at past articles on that subject will bring that fact into startling perspective Owen.
I often attribute some of our democratic decay to an apathetic and ill-informed electorate, Rural, but you make a good case for the structural problems within our system. Like you, I am absolutely appalled by the dismantling of the things we hold most dear in Ontario, and Ford is certainly not being held to account in any way by his feckless MPPs, with the recent exception of Randy Hillier, who he dispatched from the caucus quite quickly for showing some independence.
There seems to be a large collection of sheep in the Ontario legislature now days Lorne!
Only the Greens & the NDP are talking seriously about electoral reform and the existential threat of a changing climate.
It's time for truth telling and acceptance of the societal changes we need to implement. Only the Greens have the gumption to put forward the required objectives in concrete terms and that is not popular. But popularity is not what we need right now. Our young people are waking up to that in the form global protest and we need to support them. Partisan leaders are tone deaf. Is there finally a growing recognition of that? It's starting to feel like it. but will it come fast enough?
Good to hear from you again Allen, I entirely agree with you on this one but fear that that the 'popularity' you refer to will win out and lead us deeper in the swamp.
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