OK - this idea of an Alberta minority government is a very hypothetical possibility today. There is no imminent election in the province but the politics are more volatile than most people living here have ever seen.
All signs point to a change from the political status quo next election. Will we do the historical thing and go for a wholesale change of government? Or will we reaffirm the status quo like in the last provincial election that returned the PCs with an increased majority under Stelmach as a new leader. Were we that supportive, or looking for stability or just wanting to give him a chance to prove himself? Or will we be so divided and uncertain about our future by the time the next election comes around that we end up with a minority government.
The key question, of course, is which party would form the minority government? Some of the power shifts in a minority government situation to a smaller party, provided they have enough votes to keep the minority government in power, or not. In that case it is just as critical a question for citizens to consider as to who should have that balance of power to make or break the minority government.
If Albertans decide to elect a minority government next time, will it be a sign we want to change incrementally or perhaps we want to send the PCs a message of our discontent but not rejection. That is what Albertans in Calgary Glenmore did in the by-election by putting the PCs in third place in popular vote. That was in a constituency that had been held by the Deputy Premier. OUCH!
I wonder if Albertans interpret that by-election as indication that the warning shot across PC bow has already been delivered. If so the next election outcome could be much more open and uncertain than the conventional wisdom that tends to think tomorrow will be a reflection and a mere extension of yesterdays results.
The blog poll this week presumes a minority government but not who wins. It ask who do you want to be the conscience of any minority government should we end up with one. Will you answer differ depending on who you think will form the minority government? Or will you trust one party over all others to hold the balance of power to keep any potential minority government on their toes and honest? Is that balance of power party choice chosen because they are able to assure a wider range of opinions will be debated? Or is that balance of power party perceived as a government in waiting and able to pick the time and ballot question in the next election after this one?
This is not a random scientific poll just a conversation starter and an attention focus for readers. I hope your comments on this post will give some insight as to what party you would prefer form a minority and why as well as who you trust to have the balance of power and why. It is complex stuff and an informed answer requires that you think about where you want the province to go and how to return political stability as part of the means to get there.
Looking forward to your choice and you feedback in the comments.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Diana Laufenberg: How to learn? From mistakes | Video on TED.com
Diana Laufenberg: How to learn? From mistakes | Video on TED.com
Here is a video with great insight about public education when the school is no longer the place to get the information but the place to learn how to use the information.
All vital to Inspiring Action on Education and Learning Our Way to the Next Alberta
GOTTA LOVE TED.COM
Friday, January 14, 2011
Canada Called "Climate Criminals" Over Oil Sands
Here is a link to a blog post and a 7 minute video of a protest on the oil sands on the EU-Canada free trade deal that is starting to be negotiated in Brussels.
As an Albertan and therefore and owner of the oil sands, I feel we have to be more aware about what is being said about us in the international community. Equally as important I am concerned what my provincial and federal government are saying and doing about the development of the oil sands, in my name and with my property. Do other Albertans feel the same way? I would love to hear your perspectives in comments.
Then I feel I have to know more about what my tenants, the oil sands developers are doing to exploit my resource in a responsible and sustainable way...along with paying a fair rent to me and future generations by way of royalties.
For the typical citizen it is hard to get the information and when you do get something from the usual sources it has so much spin and propaganda we all know we can't believe it and we start to mistrust the sources. A perfect example of this is the response to my non-scientific blog survey showing about 6% of participants were prepared to trust our governments to monitor the ecological impacts of the oil sands.
The spin and propaganda from governments these days is so obvious we have simply decided to ignore them as a trustworthy source of factual information. This is a dangerous situation for an effective democracy. Something has to change and the climate for more open, transparent and accountable government is not good
As an Albertan and therefore and owner of the oil sands, I feel we have to be more aware about what is being said about us in the international community. Equally as important I am concerned what my provincial and federal government are saying and doing about the development of the oil sands, in my name and with my property. Do other Albertans feel the same way? I would love to hear your perspectives in comments.
Then I feel I have to know more about what my tenants, the oil sands developers are doing to exploit my resource in a responsible and sustainable way...along with paying a fair rent to me and future generations by way of royalties.
For the typical citizen it is hard to get the information and when you do get something from the usual sources it has so much spin and propaganda we all know we can't believe it and we start to mistrust the sources. A perfect example of this is the response to my non-scientific blog survey showing about 6% of participants were prepared to trust our governments to monitor the ecological impacts of the oil sands.
The spin and propaganda from governments these days is so obvious we have simply decided to ignore them as a trustworthy source of factual information. This is a dangerous situation for an effective democracy. Something has to change and the climate for more open, transparent and accountable government is not good
Thursday, January 13, 2011
SEE Magazine Captures Spirit of Alberta Party People
Maurice Tougas has an interesting piece in the most recent issue of SEE Magazine that captures the essence and spirit of the people joining the new Alberta Party. Many of the early adopters and the energy for the the idea of a new progressive political party emerged from the Reboot Alberta movement that started in November of 2009.
Lots has happened since and a lot more needs to happen for the Alberta Party to be viable contender for the hearts and minds of Albertans who are tired of the pointless rhetorical positioning of a Spin Doctor politics. This kind of change is not easy. Real change never is. But there is a growing group of Albertans who know we can and must do better. We know that good governance, quality government and public-service politics with informed engaged citizens can make this happen. After all, the politicians work for us. Not the other way around.
I want to share some comments of an apolitical friend who sent me an email as she contemplate the need for change in how Alberta is governed and growing. I don't have permission to use her name and I am only quoting part of what she told me by email.
My correspondents came to her realization that she need to start participating politically through her involvement in Reboot Alberta. She says she "...thought it was time to begin a conversation about the current state of Alberta and how we, together, could 'reboot' Alberta to the province we all knew and loved...and we knew that the concern for the well being of our province was, perhaps, more far-reaching than we anticipated." She goes on to note "...that many folks, myself included, had a clear idea of what it meant to be both Canadian and Calgarian, (or what ever municipality we were from) but very few had given much thought to what it meant to be an Alberta, or had a vision for Alberta...it occurred to me that many of us, myself included, had taken for granted the stewardship that is our responsibility."
She describes her transformational moment that brought her to the tipping point of dusting off her citizenship and re-engaging in the political culture of Alberta. She was listing to the CBC "about goings on at the Legislature" and the "combined bumbling that caused me to think aloud in the words of my old cartoon pal Popeye the Sailorman 'That's all I can stands...I can't stands any more.' Upon returning home I
immediately went to the Alberta Party website and joined and left a note saying put me to work.'"
She has taken on the role of Calgary coordinator for the Alberta Party leadership bid of Glenn Taylor and has started reaching out to people in Calgary to get involved. She has been in touch with her network of fellow Albertans and at New Years, she asked them (and all of us) "...to count your blessings and consider the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead."
She closed her note to friends and family and said "...please put Alberta on your list of things to think about. The way you may choose to help impact our future is, of course, up to you. It may or may not be political - you may want to get more involved in your community or with causes that are important to you or it may be with me in this new party or perhaps in a party where you are already a member - any of these will make our province stronger."
This email was an important statement of a personal commitment to engage in assuring a prosperous, inclusive future for Alberta that lives with ecological integrity. Our prosperity is not assured in a spirit of pure competition where the goal is to be the best place in the world. It will be found the more profound and personal testament of an aspiring Albertan, like my friend. That more profound personal and collective aspirations for Alberta is to be the best place for the world. That is the foundational motivation for me in my journey to pursue the political transformation I see as possible through the Alberta Party. It is good to see and know that I am not alone.
Lots has happened since and a lot more needs to happen for the Alberta Party to be viable contender for the hearts and minds of Albertans who are tired of the pointless rhetorical positioning of a Spin Doctor politics. This kind of change is not easy. Real change never is. But there is a growing group of Albertans who know we can and must do better. We know that good governance, quality government and public-service politics with informed engaged citizens can make this happen. After all, the politicians work for us. Not the other way around.
I want to share some comments of an apolitical friend who sent me an email as she contemplate the need for change in how Alberta is governed and growing. I don't have permission to use her name and I am only quoting part of what she told me by email.
My correspondents came to her realization that she need to start participating politically through her involvement in Reboot Alberta. She says she "...thought it was time to begin a conversation about the current state of Alberta and how we, together, could 'reboot' Alberta to the province we all knew and loved...and we knew that the concern for the well being of our province was, perhaps, more far-reaching than we anticipated." She goes on to note "...that many folks, myself included, had a clear idea of what it meant to be both Canadian and Calgarian, (or what ever municipality we were from) but very few had given much thought to what it meant to be an Alberta, or had a vision for Alberta...it occurred to me that many of us, myself included, had taken for granted the stewardship that is our responsibility."
She describes her transformational moment that brought her to the tipping point of dusting off her citizenship and re-engaging in the political culture of Alberta. She was listing to the CBC "about goings on at the Legislature" and the "combined bumbling that caused me to think aloud in the words of my old cartoon pal Popeye the Sailorman 'That's all I can stands...I can't stands any more.' Upon returning home I
immediately went to the Alberta Party website and joined and left a note saying put me to work.'"
She has taken on the role of Calgary coordinator for the Alberta Party leadership bid of Glenn Taylor and has started reaching out to people in Calgary to get involved. She has been in touch with her network of fellow Albertans and at New Years, she asked them (and all of us) "...to count your blessings and consider the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead."
She closed her note to friends and family and said "...please put Alberta on your list of things to think about. The way you may choose to help impact our future is, of course, up to you. It may or may not be political - you may want to get more involved in your community or with causes that are important to you or it may be with me in this new party or perhaps in a party where you are already a member - any of these will make our province stronger."
This email was an important statement of a personal commitment to engage in assuring a prosperous, inclusive future for Alberta that lives with ecological integrity. Our prosperity is not assured in a spirit of pure competition where the goal is to be the best place in the world. It will be found the more profound and personal testament of an aspiring Albertan, like my friend. That more profound personal and collective aspirations for Alberta is to be the best place for the world. That is the foundational motivation for me in my journey to pursue the political transformation I see as possible through the Alberta Party. It is good to see and know that I am not alone.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Political Progress and the Emerging Ridicule of the Alberta Party
While I will direct my mind to the Alberta Party, much of the paradigm I will describe applies to the evolution of the Wildrose Alliance and the PCs, Liberals and NDP as well...we are all just at different stages and phases of this process.
I am inspired by a quote that I believe came from Schopenhauer. He said to the effect that all truth passes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Second it is violently opposed and third it is accepted as being self-evident. I was reminded of this quote in a recent workshop I attended on "Unstoppable Conversations" that I thoroughly enjoyed. It helped me get a handle on a framework for many of the thoughts about changes and transformations in the Alberta political landscape that I have been rumbling through my brain lately.
Back to Schopenhauer' s quote and the evolving nature of "truth." First off, I don't hold much stock in truth. It is too subjective, temporary and perceptually ambiguous a concept to deserve the weight it has in our political culture discourse. I can accept the de Bono concept of a proto-truth. To me that is something we hold on to as self-evident until something better (or just different???), comes along to occupy the mind space of a society. That sense of a proto-truth is very alive in the context of the Schopenhauer quote too. Truth changes. It is not absolute.
THE OLD LINE PARTIES ARE AT STAGE THREE OF THE "TRUTH"
The image of the PCs, Liberals and NDP are all at the third stage of truth in Schopenhauer's world. The self-evident niches for each of them are embedded in the political cultural context of the times and perceptions about them are set in the minds of citizens. The PCs after 40 years in power are the natural governing party but they are off their game of late. The Liberals are the oldest political party in Alberta but marked with a cultural meme that ties them to the federal party and the alleged evils of the often reviled National Energy Policy. To many misplaced beliefs and mythologies make them a political non-starter for most Albertans. The NDP are not extreme but just not mainstream enough to be seen as ready to govern. We like the NDP as critics of government in service of the public interest - but no more.
These conventional political parties seem to be able to sustain and reaffirm their political space on the left-right spectrum in the minds of most Albertans. Otherwise they would lack a sense of significance and could just as well disappear from the consciousness of the everyday Albertan. They tend to oppose each other in a political game of oppositional posturing and positioning, politely called "spin" but is in fact mostly just hard ball propaganda. They are not seen as nimble nor adaptable to the changing times or competent given the complexity of a shrinking world culture, globalized economy or the realities of an interdependent environment.
THE ALBERTA PARTY AND WILDROSE ARE DIFFERENT
The Wildrose Alliance Party, in my perception, is moving into the second stage of truth, that of being violently opposed. I say that because I am one of those who are actively opposed to the Wildrose Alliance governing philosophy of Libertarianism social policy and Monetarism economic policy and an environmental policy that is based on Climate Change Denial.
However, I would not call my opposition to the Wildrose Alliance Party "violent." The rancorous rhetoric of the extreme right in the USA and the linkage of that rhetoric alleged to encourage actual physical violence. Political based violence like the killings it Tucson and the murder of abortion doctors by radical hardcore conservatives of the assassinations of the 60s some say is returning. The question is why and who, what and where is that level of violent opposition becoming normative in the States? We know how it is becoming normative. The gun culture of the United States of America and the decline of education standards, opportunity erosion and increasing fear, uncertainty and doubt about the future for too many Americans.
Back to Alberta. I am more at the vehemently opposed level to the governing philosophy and political culture of the Wildrose Alliance. My opposition to the Wildrose is is a matter of conviction and vigour, not hate and anger. I do not want Alberta to be governed by that, or any other similar political dogma. My opposition, like every other moderate progressive I know or ever met, is intellectual and philosophical, not a matter of force and violence. I am a democrat and will defer to the will and decision of an informed and engaged majority of voter. Those who win elections with a mere 40% turnout casts a serious suspicion of those criteria being met in our elections. We need both democratic and electoral reform beyond tinkering with advertising rules and rates of special interests groups.
The Alberta Party is just emerging on the political radar screen in Alberta. As a result of such attention other partisans are stepping up the rhetoric and ridicule. That puts the Alberta Party very much at the first stage of the "truth" - the ridicule stage. This stage one level of ridicule is coming from some supporters of the other parties but not the parties themselves. This link is a perfect example. Here is a blog post with point of view on the political context of the stage one ridicule too.
I think this is all in good humour and pretty slick political PR too. It is important because it is an attempt to frame the Alberta Party as something it is not before the party has a chance to express its own narrative of what it is and aspires to be come.
This is not a new tactic for hard core conventional political party operatives. Harper spent an enormous amount of taxpayer supported money on television ads leading up to an election. This negative campaign timing was pretty cynical because this stuff was pure political campaign advertising but done just in advance of an election so it would not be controlled nor limited by campaign spending laws. Harper was successfully framing Stephane Dion, as the new leader of the Liberal Party in the public consciousness before Dion could set out his own narrative in the public mind.
This kind of negative adverting is universally denounced and universally used - because it works. Some Alberta unions did a high cycle television ad campaign in the last Alberta provincial election saying Stelmach Had No Plan. That resulted in new legislation sponsored by the Stelmach government limiting third party election spending in the province. So much for electoral free speech and opinion through advertising in Alberta. Not a big deal really, because there is scant evidence that such advertising changes opinions in any event. But as an offence to free speech...and government control of free speech - its a big deal.
A CIVIL AND PROFESSIONAL POLITICAL CULTURE IS WHAT WE NEED
The Alberta Party is trying to change the nature of the discourse with a policy of MLA Guidelines aimed at returning civility and professionalism back into Alberta politics. I applaud those efforts. They may be naive but the sentiment is not misplaced. The theatre of the absurd that is Question Period or the pathetic discourse that passes as debate, dialogue and even public consultation in Alberta is disheartening.
My contribution to this effort at more civility and professionalism in politics in Alberta will be on this blog. I will continue to be critical of the politics and the tactics of those with whom I disagree but I will not engage in personal attacks about politicians at least not without evidence-based justification. When it comes to comments on how various political philosophies and promoted propaganda, I intend to be vehemently opposed where I disagree. But I will try my best not to be disagreeable in the process. I hope my readers support this position with non-anonymous comments that are aligned with this approach. I hope readers will be civil and vigilant in helping me keep to my word on this. Just a small step but one worth taking.
I am inspired by a quote that I believe came from Schopenhauer. He said to the effect that all truth passes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Second it is violently opposed and third it is accepted as being self-evident. I was reminded of this quote in a recent workshop I attended on "Unstoppable Conversations" that I thoroughly enjoyed. It helped me get a handle on a framework for many of the thoughts about changes and transformations in the Alberta political landscape that I have been rumbling through my brain lately.
Back to Schopenhauer' s quote and the evolving nature of "truth." First off, I don't hold much stock in truth. It is too subjective, temporary and perceptually ambiguous a concept to deserve the weight it has in our political culture discourse. I can accept the de Bono concept of a proto-truth. To me that is something we hold on to as self-evident until something better (or just different???), comes along to occupy the mind space of a society. That sense of a proto-truth is very alive in the context of the Schopenhauer quote too. Truth changes. It is not absolute.
THE OLD LINE PARTIES ARE AT STAGE THREE OF THE "TRUTH"
The image of the PCs, Liberals and NDP are all at the third stage of truth in Schopenhauer's world. The self-evident niches for each of them are embedded in the political cultural context of the times and perceptions about them are set in the minds of citizens. The PCs after 40 years in power are the natural governing party but they are off their game of late. The Liberals are the oldest political party in Alberta but marked with a cultural meme that ties them to the federal party and the alleged evils of the often reviled National Energy Policy. To many misplaced beliefs and mythologies make them a political non-starter for most Albertans. The NDP are not extreme but just not mainstream enough to be seen as ready to govern. We like the NDP as critics of government in service of the public interest - but no more.
These conventional political parties seem to be able to sustain and reaffirm their political space on the left-right spectrum in the minds of most Albertans. Otherwise they would lack a sense of significance and could just as well disappear from the consciousness of the everyday Albertan. They tend to oppose each other in a political game of oppositional posturing and positioning, politely called "spin" but is in fact mostly just hard ball propaganda. They are not seen as nimble nor adaptable to the changing times or competent given the complexity of a shrinking world culture, globalized economy or the realities of an interdependent environment.
THE ALBERTA PARTY AND WILDROSE ARE DIFFERENT
The Wildrose Alliance Party, in my perception, is moving into the second stage of truth, that of being violently opposed. I say that because I am one of those who are actively opposed to the Wildrose Alliance governing philosophy of Libertarianism social policy and Monetarism economic policy and an environmental policy that is based on Climate Change Denial.
However, I would not call my opposition to the Wildrose Alliance Party "violent." The rancorous rhetoric of the extreme right in the USA and the linkage of that rhetoric alleged to encourage actual physical violence. Political based violence like the killings it Tucson and the murder of abortion doctors by radical hardcore conservatives of the assassinations of the 60s some say is returning. The question is why and who, what and where is that level of violent opposition becoming normative in the States? We know how it is becoming normative. The gun culture of the United States of America and the decline of education standards, opportunity erosion and increasing fear, uncertainty and doubt about the future for too many Americans.
Back to Alberta. I am more at the vehemently opposed level to the governing philosophy and political culture of the Wildrose Alliance. My opposition to the Wildrose is is a matter of conviction and vigour, not hate and anger. I do not want Alberta to be governed by that, or any other similar political dogma. My opposition, like every other moderate progressive I know or ever met, is intellectual and philosophical, not a matter of force and violence. I am a democrat and will defer to the will and decision of an informed and engaged majority of voter. Those who win elections with a mere 40% turnout casts a serious suspicion of those criteria being met in our elections. We need both democratic and electoral reform beyond tinkering with advertising rules and rates of special interests groups.
The Alberta Party is just emerging on the political radar screen in Alberta. As a result of such attention other partisans are stepping up the rhetoric and ridicule. That puts the Alberta Party very much at the first stage of the "truth" - the ridicule stage. This stage one level of ridicule is coming from some supporters of the other parties but not the parties themselves. This link is a perfect example. Here is a blog post with point of view on the political context of the stage one ridicule too.
I think this is all in good humour and pretty slick political PR too. It is important because it is an attempt to frame the Alberta Party as something it is not before the party has a chance to express its own narrative of what it is and aspires to be come.
This is not a new tactic for hard core conventional political party operatives. Harper spent an enormous amount of taxpayer supported money on television ads leading up to an election. This negative campaign timing was pretty cynical because this stuff was pure political campaign advertising but done just in advance of an election so it would not be controlled nor limited by campaign spending laws. Harper was successfully framing Stephane Dion, as the new leader of the Liberal Party in the public consciousness before Dion could set out his own narrative in the public mind.
This kind of negative adverting is universally denounced and universally used - because it works. Some Alberta unions did a high cycle television ad campaign in the last Alberta provincial election saying Stelmach Had No Plan. That resulted in new legislation sponsored by the Stelmach government limiting third party election spending in the province. So much for electoral free speech and opinion through advertising in Alberta. Not a big deal really, because there is scant evidence that such advertising changes opinions in any event. But as an offence to free speech...and government control of free speech - its a big deal.
A CIVIL AND PROFESSIONAL POLITICAL CULTURE IS WHAT WE NEED
The Alberta Party is trying to change the nature of the discourse with a policy of MLA Guidelines aimed at returning civility and professionalism back into Alberta politics. I applaud those efforts. They may be naive but the sentiment is not misplaced. The theatre of the absurd that is Question Period or the pathetic discourse that passes as debate, dialogue and even public consultation in Alberta is disheartening.
My contribution to this effort at more civility and professionalism in politics in Alberta will be on this blog. I will continue to be critical of the politics and the tactics of those with whom I disagree but I will not engage in personal attacks about politicians at least not without evidence-based justification. When it comes to comments on how various political philosophies and promoted propaganda, I intend to be vehemently opposed where I disagree. But I will try my best not to be disagreeable in the process. I hope my readers support this position with non-anonymous comments that are aligned with this approach. I hope readers will be civil and vigilant in helping me keep to my word on this. Just a small step but one worth taking.
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