I really LOVE social media. I get to meet so many interesting people - virtually and IRL. I run across them by happenstance, introductions or even recommendations from Twitter and Facebook. Dr. Judy J. Johnson is just such a discovery coming to me as a recommendation while confirming a new Friend request via Facebook.
We have a number of mutual Friends and I visited her page and clicked on the link she provided. That lead me to a piece on her new book: What's So Wrong With Being Absolutely Right: The Dangerous Nature of Dogmatic Belief
Go to the link and read the Q&A section but think about the kind of right-wing reactionary commentary we see from the Harper government, the Fox News commentators and the Tea Party movement. It will clarify and chill but it will also help you understand just what is going on at a deeper level in the minds of these dogmatic political sources and operatives.
I will be making an effort next time I am in Calgary to meet her, encourage her to be part of the Reboot Alberta progressive citizens movement and invite her to Reboot3.0.
The democratic deficit, like in Canada and Alberta, will not be fixed by inertia or ennui. It will only be fixed by a re-energized progressive voice from activists citizens speaking up, showing up and demanding a change in political culture. Progressives want a governing philosophy that aligns with the moderate and inclusive values of diversity, fairness, equity accountability, honesty, transparency and most of all - integrity.
We have veered so very far off that course in our federal government especially. We are in danger of doing the same kind of damage to our society in Alberta without a significant course correction away from the reactionary and retrograde retreat from the culture wars we see happening on the right side of the political spectrum between the aggressive Wildrose Alliance and the tired and timid Progressive Conservatives.
If you want a progressive political culture in the Next Alberta register now for RebootAlberta 3.0 at www.rebootalberta.org
I came across this about 2 years ago, and made an effort to connect with Judy the next following time I was in Calgary. Her thesis is, in essence, the same one that Dan Gardner has been advocating for the last 5 or 6 years; the difference is that Judy comes from a scholarly approach, while Dan comes from that of a journalist. But they are not alone - take a look at what Franklin Zimring from UCLA has been writing about for years (within the criminology context).
ReplyDeleteOr check out this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0CsvqZ3hDg
The more marginalized Chapman becomes, the more extremist his rhetoric. But Chapman's arm waving achieves nothing but isolate him even more with his ever-dwindling crowd of "progressive" extremists.
ReplyDeleteChapman thought his "Reboot" would salvage his career but with every rebooted reboot, attendance and interest flounders even further precipitating further his frustration manifest in his lashing out against a status quo that has rejected him and a grass roots movement ie Tea Party/Wild Rose that has left him behind.