We Live in Exponential Times Update

This is a very thought provoking piece - it is 8 minutes long but worth every minute of it.

An official update to the original "Shift Happens" video from Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod, this June 2007 update includes new and updated statistics, thought-provoking questions and a fresh design.

For more information, or to join the conversation, please visit http://shifthappens.wikispaces.com -- Content by Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod, design and development by XPLANE.

Give Elections Canada Audit Powers

Duff Conacher of Democracy Watch has a Letter to the Editor in this weeks’ edition of the Hill Times calling for Elections Canada to be given audit powers in dealing with political parties’ books. I could not agree more.

More on MP Integrity Awards

Good to see the Edmonton Journal Editorial Board also seeing the MP integrity awards as somewhere between pathetic and pitiful. My take on this hair-brained idea is in my post of September 1, 2007

Their front page story in the Edmonton Journal on Sunday September 2 deals with the serious negative implications for the Nonprofit/Voluntary Sector from the pending Bill 1 Lobbyists Act in Alberta. This legislation is a good idea that has gone too far. Full disclosure - I helped write the position paper for Volunteer Alberta and did an editorial of my own on it on our affiliate website Policy Channel. You can read the entire document on Policy Channel in the Community Theme area.

An Award for Political Honesty and Integrity is Disturbingly Orwellian

Has our respect for our federal governors declined so far that we now need to have an award of recognition for a parliamentarian “…who slug their guts out on behalf of their constituents in a very honest, forthright way with high integrity, don't get recognized for it…?”

Has it now come to the point where honesty and integrity are considered such unique character qualities of our elected representatives that they deserve special recognition?

Such character qualities ought to be taken for granted in those to whom we entrust our environment, our economy, our community, or future prosperity, and even our public safety and security as a nation. We empower and delegate power to these people who we elect and endow with our consent to be governed. We expect them to make some of our toughest and most critical decisions as a society - like going to war and putting other citizens we call soldiers in harms way. We expect them to steward our environment and help enable our prosperity.

If we have to hand out awards for basic honesty and integrity as a basis to recognize outstanding parliamentarians, we are electing the wrong kind of people in the first place.

George Orwell: "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

Have we descended so far into an Orwellian reality that this quote reflects our times? In a democracy we always get the kind of government we deserve because we are the ones who choose it.

Harper Deserves Credit on Mental Health Commission

OK - when Mr. Harper gets it right we need to say so. This time he has done just that...gotten it right. The big event today is the announcement today of the National Mental Health Commission. Look ignored and swept under the policy carpet -Canadians with mental health issue needs attention and support...as do their families.

More kudos for Mr. Harper for appointing former Liberal Senator Michael Kirby to head it up. the Kirby Commission on health reform coming out of the Senate was the most comprehensive, intelligent and practical review of heath care reform for the country.

So one example of a nonpartisan, non patronage appointment does not absolve but it is evidence of hope for enlightened change from other recent appointments.

Good on ya Mr. Prime Minister.