Edmonton Journal front page story by Sheila Pratt notes the Stelmach government has shifted to the right. I think they are hunkered down and have retreated into a command and control top down "father knows best" governing philosophy. This is unfortunate because in these times Albertans want to know what is happening and not be told what is happening.
With the Internet increasing connectivity and enabling communities of interest to form and push for public policy changes. The capacity for citizens to organize to engage and influence public policy has never been greater nor easier to do. For democratic governments to fail, refuse or neglect to pick up on this shift in power to the little guys means they will have to pay a political price. The Stelmach government has shifted from its initial governing philosophy of enabling and informing the public discussion and debate to where they now focus on controlling the message and sometimes some politicians are taking steps to intimidate some people and stifle dissent.
I have done a commentary paper on this shift in governance and influence for a client and it will be published soon. I will make it available when it is public. I know regular readers of this blog will find it interesting.
About as out of synch as an overstuffed approximation of Al Franken masquerading (poorly) as a Conservative so he can bill his clients as an "insider" with some measure of influence.
ReplyDeleteHey Ken:
ReplyDeleteWhat can a well-seasoned political analyst such as yourself bring to a discussion of this Sir Roger Douglas character and his influence on the Deep Six? http://ow.ly/6WCX
Are his ghosts haunting the halls of the Legislature?
The Stelmach government needs to move much further to the right if it wants to maintain the pulse of Albertans.
ReplyDeleteLove the anxiety that comes from the Anonymous Right thinking that narrow mindedness is the nature state for Albertans. So far from reality.
ReplyDeleteSheila Pratt? Really? We are basing political analysis on Sheila Pratt? Some of the comments are hilarious on the Journal website.
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad so few of the public will ever understand what a good Minister Stevens was. Being a Minister is far more than a few minutes during Question Period.
Ron Stevens took care of Ron Stevens. He didn't do taxpayers any favour by running while he was secretly courting a judicial appointment from HArper & co.
ReplyDeleteKen, you are right. The right wing is being pandewred to and it will hurt the PC Party in the long run.
Wonder what P C internal polling has shown as far as what direction Albertans want the government to take?
ReplyDeleteWonder what internal P.C. poliing has shown as to the direction Albertans want to take? Or rather the corporate straw vote?
ReplyDeleteThe right wing is being pandered to and that's who elected the Government of Alberta.
ReplyDelete