FINDING OUR WAY IN UNCHARTED TIMES

FINDING OUR WAY IN UNCHARTED TIMES

A sextant was an indispensable navigation tool in the early days of European ocean going discovery.

Unlike Heisenberg's Theory of Uncertainty, a sextant could tell you both where you are and where you're going. Are you on or off course and what do you need to do to make necessary changes and corrections.

But to do this you needed an irrefutable constant to determine where you are. For those using a sextant, that constant was the North Star.

As you navigate through your Citizenship Journey, as Rebooters, or as independent citizens and voters, do you have your personal North Star? What facts or articles of faith do you use as your known and reliable constants? Have you considered and calculated what is happening in your life-experiencing reality? Do you know where you are as an Albertan? Are your clear on how you got to you current reality? And are your clear about what you want in your future and how to find your way forward?

Alberta is entering into uncharted waters caused by events and issues beyond our control. Pandemics, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Energy Transition, Economic Recession, and so many more changes are coming at us as Albertans.

TIME TO EXERCISE PERRSONAL AGENCY

There are still many things we can still do personally and in groups to respond actively and positively to these macro-dynamics, and to make the changes we want to actually happen. We do have personal agency and can take control of some aspects of our political culture up to, during and after this critical election.

The question for us then is will we take back Control? Will we set out on an Alternative course from the failing of the past? Will we be wise enough to Delete the harmful actions and assumptions of the past? Will we explore and Reboot ourselves and our province to co-create a Better Alberta?

Elections are prime times to define new directions and get moving into new future-fit destinations. Are you getting ready, as a citizen, to take effective election-time action to make the changes you want to see in public policy, government programs and political processes? Do you accept that an informed citizenship and purposeful voting is a personal duty in a Free and Democratic Society?

A BETTER ALBERTA NEEDS BETTER VOTERS AND CITIZENS.

We will not get a better Alberta until we become Better Citizens and, in the process, become Better Voters. Are you willing to do what you can to become a Better Voter this election and beyond? That means investing your time to decide what is important to you and your family in these uncertain times for Alberta. It means taking the time to step up and raise your awareness of what's happening, and improving the quality of your information on issues and events.

Then are you able to invest and donate into the democratic process? You donate to a local candidate, or a political party, or even an interest group who is active in pressing for change in a policy area.

Remember, democracy is influenced and run by those who show up.

ELECTIONS MATTER BECAUSE OF CHOICES AND CHANGES

ELECTIONS ARE TIMES TO TAKE ACTION

We are rapidly approaching the May 29th Alberta General Election.  Elections are those rare times when political power actually shifts from the elected to the electors.  Citizens as electors, can actually make a difference up to and through the election period.  This can only happen if we are focused, purposeful, politically aware, issue informed, effectively engaged and assertively activated. 

Political leaders, party operatives, advisors and volunteers plus local candidates know that at election time, they have to pay serious attention to the issues, attitudes, needs and aspirations of We the Citizens.  That is simply because they want and need our votes in order to win and keep or take power.  

But there is real political power in our citizenship.  Our power over the political system is always exercised through purposeful application of our personal agency.  Our personal agency power is never more effective than in the time leading up to and on election day.  But very few of us realize this, and if we do, we often do not take advantage of this power shift to citizens as electors.

COMMIT TO BECOME A BETTER VOTER

Elections are about change through individual choices.  The world is run by those who show up and engage.  Voting is the most obvious way we have to show up and exercise our personal political power. That means you have to be serious about the role and responsibility you have as a citizen. 

Unfortunately, most of us do not show up, stand up, speak up, and act up  to exercise the power of our citizenship.  The chronically low voter turnout at election time proves this point.   That can change if voters are motivated in a common cause.  

In the 2015 Alberta election, voters were motivated to send the arrogant and entitled PC government a message.  The result was a dramatic shift from over 40 years of rightwing government to a surprising election of a leftwing majority government. 

In the 2019 election the percentage of voter turnout was the second highest in Alberta history.  The incentive of the United Right, through the newly minted Kenney creation of the UCP, was to motivate others who lean Right to ensure the NDP did not get a second term to govern.  They didn’t. 

What will motivate us to turnout and vote in 2023?  For sure many on the Left and Right will be voting “strategically” against the “Other” side.  Beyond that, will voters become motivated to be more focused and aware of  issues and personal concerns?  Will the moderate majority of non-partisan Albertans be committed enough to vote affirmatively in what they see as a way forward to a better Alberta? Let’s hope so!

 

HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY

Will we have to do more than hope better voting will happen this election! Are you ready, willing and where able, do the work of citizenship to help make the change you want to see in Alberta happen?  The only change you can be assured will happen is the changing we do about ourselves. 

Do you know what you can and will do to become a better voter?  That requires that we personally commit to become better as citizens by actively participating in this election and in our political culture afterwards.

The change we are usually offered by political parties at election time is about leadership and promises made based on partisan ideology.  The changes many citizens want are very personal and local.  They are often specific concerns about public policy issues, individual anxieties, and aspirations about preferred futures.  

Individual citizens often organize to collectively press for policy, program, and process changes in government.  This  common cause approach to impacting change at election time is how positive pro-social differences can be achieved. But this takes leadership and other organizational skills. 

AN ACTION FRAMEWORK AT ELECTION TIME

So how can that hard work of thoughtfully and purposefully deciding your vote be done in a logical and methodical way?  I think a framework based on  Head, Heart, Hand, and Hope can help you determine what is important to you that will help you drive to a conclusion on how to mark your ballot.  

WHAT ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT?

What is in your HEAD?  What is keeping you up at night?  Are you worried about inflation, or recession and job security? Will healthcare be there should you or your family need it? This is obviously personal even though the issues are broadly public policy or program related.  Ask yourself, what are you paying attention to and why?

HOW ARE YOU SEEING AND FEELING ABOUT YOUR WORRIES?

Where is your HEART? What are you feeling and believing about the matters that concern you? Do you feel your concerns are on the political agenda this election?  If so, which leader, party or candidate is aligned with and focused on your concerns? Do they “get it?”  Are your feelings driven by fear, uncertainty and doubt? Or are you feeling confident that your concerns and aspirations for change can influence the narrative, political agenda, and outcomes in this election?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT YOUR CONCERNS?

Next is your HANDS? What are you actually doing to impact change this election year?  Are you going to commit some of your time, talent, money and other resources to make your concerns known to those seeking your vote and your consent to be governed? Will you volunteer for a local candidate?  Will you donate to a campaign?  Will you speak to your friends, family and others in your orbits about your concerns and your efforts as a citizen and encourage them to participate too?

WHAT DOES A BETTER RESULT LOOK LIKE?

Finally and most importantly is what do you HOPE for as an engaged, politically active citizen?  Have you determined your answer to the “then what” aspect of the fundamental question at election time?  What exactly does better look like in your areas of concern?  What do you want to see your government keep doing, stop doing and start doing in your policy, program and process concerns?  

LET’S SHARE AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHER

Reboot Alberta will convene some online events for our community to share experiences and efforts to be the change they want to see as citizens using this framework.  We will focus on the interest areas in Reboot like health, education, economy, social justice, environment and good government.  We can share, learn and even collaborate in pressing for change in our political culture and how we are governed.

How will you let your views be known to the potential lawmakers who are seeking your support in this election?  How will you make an effort to make a difference? More on how to do that is coming.  Stay tuned, stay attuned and do not tune out!  Our democracy is at risk.  Use it or lose it.