Reboot Alberta

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Join the Reboot Alberta Movement & Be Proud of Alberta Again.

My commitment is to frame this blog around Citizenship, Ownership and Stewardship in Alberta and Canada.  It is so easily accomplished when I look at the volunteer work being done in the spirit of those principles by a group of citizens coming together in the Reboot Alberta movement.

The Reboot Alberta Launch in November 2009 was an overwhelming success and a unique political experience in citizenship for most, if not all, of the participants.  People with a progressive personal philosophy came to Reboot Alberta at their own expense and on their own time.  They came to explore some ideas about how to change the political culture and improve democracy in Alberta. 

Reboot participants decided amongst themselves what they wanted to discuss and they self-selected how and where they wanted to participate in the conversations.  The result was not chaos and cacophony.  It was all about people being reflective, thoughtful and respectful as they listened and shared with each other.  It was about authentic conversations, and as one participant noted, "Conversations are game-changers."

The event created a citizen's movement that has taken off and is now creating a life of its own.  It is based on citizen engagement with people parking their cynicism about politicis and then coming back to participate in the political culture of the province.  Some Rebooters want to start a new party.  Others want to enhance the impact and effectiveness of civil society organizations on the political culture of the province.  Others want to change the existing political parties and institutions to a more progressive mindset.  Others are simply individual citizens who want to be better informed and more active in how they undertake their responsibility of citizenship.  

The well worn cliches that "politics is all about perception" and "all politics are local" are being revived and taking on a renewed sense of reality because of Reboot.  When individuals come to realize that their citizenship is more than about their rights, it also has an individual responsibility aspect,  then the "local" nature of politics now becomes "personal."   When individuals are starting to rethink their feelings about their government and how they are being governed, then the perceptional reality about politics becomes more personal too.

Citizens are starting to pay attention to politics again.  They are seeing unacceptable things being done by THEIR government by the people THEY elected, or allowed to be elected becasue they could not be bothered to vote.   When citizens come to realize those political decisions are not being made to serve the best interests of the public but rather to enhance or sustain the personal power interests of political leaders, political parties and the politicians, something snaps and people start pressing for change.

For progressive Albertans who are joining the Reboot Alberta movement, part of what has "snapped" is the realization that it is OUR government and what they do is in OUR NAME.  After all we elected them and in a democracy you always get the government your deserve.  When we elect a government we give our CONSENT for those chosen politicians to use their best judgement to make decisions on our behalf about the serious issues we face as a province. 

When we see the decisions being made based on the pure preservation of political power and that trumps good government and democracy, we have to respond as citizens and press for change.  We need to take back the political responsibility part of our citizenship.  What does that mean and what does it look like for progressive minded Albertans?  Reboot Alberta's launch started to frame the new questions we need to ask and set up a process to seek some new answers.

The first question the Reboot movement want explored was "What does it mean to be a Progressive in a 21st century Alberta?"  A number of people in the movement have taken the time to share their thoughts on that question.  The Reboot Alberta website as a link to those provocation papers.  I encourage you to login to Reboot Alberta, read the the papers and comment as you see fit.  Reboot will no longer allow anonymous or username comments.  Engaged and effective citizenship demands courage of conviction and a new openness.  Otherwise abuses, fear, and intimidation will continue to be used as political weapons against individuals and organzations to demand compliance to serve the personal political ends of those in power. 

If you are intrigued, encouraged or just curious about what you see in Reboot Alberta, then register here and come to the next event in K-country Feb 26-28.  I guarantee you will meet some of the most interesting people in Alberta  from all over the province. They will be from all walks of life, ages, interests and experiences.  They will come from every kind of community and with a common hankering to share their experiences and stories as citizens of Alberta. I can assure you at Reboot Alberta 2.0 you will be part of conversations with ordinary Albertans who have some of the most inspirational and aspirational stories imaginable - all focused on creating a better future for Alberta.         

There truth is there is good news and bad news about the future of Alberta.  The good news is we have all the pieces in place to not just be one of the best places in the world, we have the capacity to be one of the best places for the world.  The bad news is, we as Albertans, will have to do the hard work to design and deliver a different sense of what is means to be an Albertan from what we have today.  We need to change a lot of things currently going on in the governance, politics, economy, environment and how we serve the public interest if we are going be successful in defining and pursuing such a vision. 

If you want to be proud Alberta again then join Reboot Alberta.  Reassert yourself .  Dust off your citizenship and become part of the Reboot Alberta movement.  Reboot is all about Albertans being intent on recreating a province that we can all be part of  - and proud of once again.

20 comments:

  1. Ken,

    Registered today!

    Are you going to attend the Manning Centre's Conference in early February?

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  2. See you at Reboot 2.0 and yes I am planning to attend the Manning Centre event in Edmonton early February

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  3. Hi Ken - What are your thoughts on Fair Vote, Canada. Could this be an allie organization?

    http://ken-chapman.blogspot.com/

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  4. Anonymous7:10 pm

    People can have very similar ideas of what it means to be a "progressive" in terms of wanting environmental stewardship or funding for PDD, but have radically different ideas of how to reach those goals.

    You are political strategist; please begin asking relevant and concrete questions. One of the most important questions for any citizen in Alberta is "How do you want the oil and gas industry managed?" or "What O & G policies do you support/dislike?"

    I feel like you're purposely avoiding hard questions. As I said, taking questionnaires on being a cultural creative or offering a personal statement of what it means to be progressive feels a lot more like eHarmony than politics.

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  5. Re comment at 7:10 pm - I am not sure if you are Polly Jones as per this link or Joanne Costello as per your Twitter account. In any event you are misreading (or perhaps misleading)about Reboot Alberta. I presume you are merely misreading and misunderstanding what Reboot is all about.

    There is a progressive voice in Alberta that is not organized and not about to do so around the conventional political parties...or it would have done so already.

    How does that progressive voice get heard as the PC Party shifts dramatically to the right in response to the even more extreme right wing rise of the WAP?

    That is the original motivation behind convening a gathering of progressive Albertans at the first Reboot event at the end of Nov.

    Nobody speaks for Reboot Alberta but some of us speak to the community that is forming around the longing for a better democracy and better much governance of our province.

    The new progressive part of society and politics does not have vehicles like unions or churches or professional/trade groups to gather together and share ideas and concerns. So Reboot is an effort to address that need.

    It is self-organizing and open as to agendas and concerns. It is moving rapidly and will no doubt come around to focusing on hard policy and political issues and concerns. But right now the people participating in Reboot are as focused on forming trusting relationships amongst themselves as progressives and doing this through Reboot.

    Most participants in Reboot are individually all about pursuing political action in their other roles and responsibilities. They have ways and means to do that but Reboot is different. It is a place for progressives to share concerns about the direction and destination our political classes are taking us.

    Hope this helps Polly or Joanne or whoever you are.

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  6. Anonymous8:37 pm

    I agree that the Reboot movement seems to be little more than a bunch of buzz words at this point. It's cute that everyone has their own definitions of "progressive", but since that appears to be the primary descriptor for the movement, perhaps it demands some degree of an actual definition.

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  7. I beleive that the erosion in our collective confidence in the system brought into focus by this latest proroguement is part and parcel with the issues motivating Reboot Alberta in the first place.

    Looking forward to attending the second iteration of Reboot, and hope to find it as stimulating as the first one.

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  8. Anonymous9:20 pm

    E-harmony! LoL!

    I would also suggest passing out songbooks with the words to "Koom Bah Yah" along with glasses of Kool Aid.

    I may sound cynical but I actually wish Reboot Alberta (what a ridiculous name) the greatest success. Nothing pleases me more than seeing 4 leftoid parties and one right party.

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  9. Anonymous9:27 pm

    Thank goodness, Ken, that you were able to sidetrack the discussion.

    My name is Joanne Costello. I blogged for years under the alias Polly Jones, although people have known my real name for years. You had a picture of Snoopy on your Twitter profile for months - is this really an issue? You're more comfortable with fluff, aren't you?

    You continue to evade my questions both on Twitter and here on your blog.

    What is your position on current and prospective policies relating to the oil and gas industry?

    It is not a trick question. It has nothing to do with traditional organizing; it is an issue affecting all Albertans.

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  10. Thanks for clarifying Joanne, it was Linus on my Twitter Profile which bears my name, no obfuscation there. Not avoiding your oil and gas question. Here is a start to your answer. I published a book last year called Green Oil written by my busines partner Satya Das. It represents my policy position (not Reboots - my personal position) on oil and gas in Alberta - mostly oilsands but we cover all the sector.

    You can check it out on my company website www.cambridgestrategies.com or www.greenoilbook.com - where you can buy it on line. There are lots of blog posts on this topic too.

    We also did a DCM survey on Albertan's values around the concept of responsible and sustainable oilsands development. A summary of the findings is on the CSI site too.

    If you go to my blog www.ken-chapman.blogspot com and search Royalties, energy and oilsands you will find a number of posts on my position on the energy sector.

    How this dispels you sense I was evading your question.

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  11. Anonymous10:31 pm

    Thank you; I will definitely check these out.
    I understand that you are not the sole voice of Reboot Alberta but you are the key organizer; I think it is reasonable to ask what your positions are on various issue.

    I resent the implication that blogging under an alias is an attempt at obfuscation. Women bloggers face real threats. I personally chose to change to my own identity, but I respect those who continue to blog under aliases - I don't think it makes them whoever-you-ares.

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  12. Joanne - you are way too distrusting and suspicious. I was saying my pix of Linus on my Twitter profile was not me obfuscating because my Twitter account is my name - just like yours.

    I am not implying you can't blog under an alias either. You are leaping to conclusions. You are not anonymous either. As for me unless your identity is known you carry less credibility. That said their is lots of justification for some folks to blog and comment anonymously but we should be told of a reason. I know some of my anonymous commenters and I know and respect thier reasons to be anonymous.

    As for being entitled to know my position on things because I am the key organizer is to mistake the natrue of Reboot. It is compose of individuals in thier personal capacity as citizens.

    I don't control Reboot's agenda or what they what to talk about, do or say. I only help organize the events, and help where asked, like fronting money for deposits on hotels.

    There are about 12 key organizers now and more taking up roles and responsibilities all the time.

    It is a sad fact that women legitimately feel at risk on the Web and elsewhere. I have seen the angst in the hearts and minds of female friends of mine caused by random spammers on the Internet. You do what you have to do but you can relax with me. Just don't presume about me that I am something that I am not either.

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  13. Anonymous11:21 pm

    Alberta will only be worth being proud of with a truly principled conservative voice under Danielle Smith and the Wildrose Alliance.

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  14. Wow, so that's the way we can be proud of Alberta again. It only takes one woman? Heck, it'll be easier than I guessed.

    Here I was... thinking it would take more commitment from all of us to recreate an Alberta we can be proud of.

    Guess it's easier to vote for Danielle... and let Link and the boys fill in the blanks afterward.

    Who'da thunk it?

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  15. Anonymous12:24 pm

    The last guy at 10:54 is exactly right. The Stelmach PC's have destroyed all pride in Alberta. By voting Wildrose Alliance and giving a new government we will give new hope to investors, energy companies, and all Albertans. It's time for change.

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  16. Anonymous9:11 pm

    Leftoids are terrified of Danielle Smith. I see it everywhere in their tiresome, panicked and absurd scaremongering posts.

    This is enough validation alone for me to vote Danielle!

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  17. Progressives are concerned about the WAP and when they will burn Smith because she is too prgressive for them. Don't just vote for her - protect her political future from the wrath of the Socons

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  18. Anonymous9:16 am

    Progressive = left wing

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  19. Anonymous9:40 pm

    We love Danielle so don't vote for her?

    Typical "progressive" nonsense! Let's all save sweet little Danielle. She is but a helpless lamb in the clutches of nefarious oil companies!

    What a bunch of patronizing crap.

    Premier Smith is already calling the shots in Alberta. She is running Stelmach like a little servant boy and already has her man Morton in a key position.

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  20. Anonymous5:35 pm

    Ken,

    Thank you sincerely for posting anonymous posts that I know you do not agree with. Says a lot about you.

    An anonymous (for good reason) WAP supporter.

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Anonymous comments are discouraged. If you have something to say, the rest of us have to know who you are