There is a great deal of defensiveness from some Alberta government-side politicians who are feeling at-risk these days with the new volatility in the Alberta political culture. That defensiveness is being expressed in public meetings by some - not all - PC MLAs lashing out at citizens and accusing advocates of being liars. Not good.
Danielle Klooster has done a very engaging blog post around such an experience that I recommend you read and reflect on. (H/T to AlbertaVote.ca for the link)
There is an increasing level of anxiety and angst reflected in what amounts to casual corruption through acts of intimidation and bullying of employees, agencies, boards and commissions by political people in "our" government. that behaviour includes politicians actually calling staff people directly making vague threats and innuendos clearly embedded in the kinds of questions they ask.
It is very difficult to bring truth to power when power has its own agenda. It is even more difficult to bring truth when that agenda is abusive of those who are vulnerable and pushed to compliance for personal survival.
We know that Albertans see Integrity and Accountability as the most important values in their politicians. We also know we don't have enough of it in our current political culture. An election is coming up. That is a time of citizen's making choices and sending messages. Silence and cynicism is no longer an option if you value your democracy and want to have your say.
Compliance in the face of bullying is not an option if you want respect from the politicians who are supposedly working you. Complacency is not an option if you want self respect. Citizenship is about leadership and in a democracy that leadership starts by looking yourself in the mirror and staking a stand.
It's time for Albertans to take back control of our democracy by engaging. It is time to empower and embrace alternatives to the status quo. It is time to delete those from political power who are inept, abusive and believe they are above accountability to the public. It's time for Albertans to start thinking for a change in government and about a change in governance.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
An Alberta Party Update from Sue Huff
Sue Huff, Interim Leader of the Alberta Party speaks in Lethbridge at a special meeting of the Southern Alberta Council of Public Affairs on the development and growth of the the Alberta Party.
If you are Alberta Party curious, and who isn't these days, you can get a real sense of who we are and where we are on policy, people and progress of the Alberta Party. Listen to this audio file of Sue Huff's in a speech to over 100 folks who came out to learn more about the Alberta Party.
The Q and A is very interesting too.
If you want to know more about Alberta Party leadership candidate Glenn Taylor I encourage you to visit his website too.
If you are Alberta Party curious, and who isn't these days, you can get a real sense of who we are and where we are on policy, people and progress of the Alberta Party. Listen to this audio file of Sue Huff's in a speech to over 100 folks who came out to learn more about the Alberta Party.
The Q and A is very interesting too.
If you want to know more about Alberta Party leadership candidate Glenn Taylor I encourage you to visit his website too.
Embrace the Act of Imagination
I was at the Sir Ken Robinson lecture in Red Deer last night. This amazing event drew over 700 people and was sponsored by the ATA, Red Deer College, Creative Alberta and the Red Deer Advocate. Another indication of a yearning for real change in Alberta.
The lecture was video taped and I hope we will be able to feed the need for change at the next Learning Our Way to the Next Alberta events in Edmonton March 17th. You can get tickets online using this link. It promises to be another inspiring evening.
I received a tweet from a teacher who was at the SirKen event. She bought his recent book and asked him to write a line to new teachers when he signed the book. What he wrote resonated with me, and I expect with most of the readers of this blog. He wrote: "Embrace the Act of Imagination."
This is not an abstract ephemeral aphorism but more of an admonition that the status quo for our society is unsustainable, socially, economically and environmentally. I would even say our adversarial and personally nasty approach to political culture is unsustainable.
There is a shifting consciousness starting amongst a growing group of previously apathetic Albertans that we need to start thinking for a change. It is not a groundswell yet but it is gathering momentum. The opportunity for the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party and the Alberta Liberal Party to respond to the change will come from the results of their pending leadership decisions. The same can be said for the newer, smaller but intriguing Alberta Party as an agent for positive political change is these revived citizens seek a leader.
Full disclosure I am an Alberta Party member and working on the Glenn Taylor campaign to lead this new movement. I also had an Alberta Liberal Party membership to support David Swann' s leadership and as a PC member I supported Dave Hancock's leadership bid in 2006 and moved my support along with Dave to Ed Stelmach on the second ballot. I have let both of these memberships lapse and feel a bitter sweet irony that both these gentlemen are now leaving political leadership positions and I expect politics as well.
My sense is the Alberta Party with it aim of "doing politics differently" is the closest thing Albertans have as a choice that will pick up and deliver on the spirit behind Sir Ken Robinson's advice to "Embrace the Act of Imagination." Alberta is ready to move beyond the Alberta Advantage of corporate tax cuts, royalty breaks and industry subsidies.
The next Alberta is about a struggle for defining narrative about the Alberta Aspiration. What does that mean and how will we see in ourselves and define ourselves as we move forward into the creative age and not just the industrial age of resource extraction as our reason to be. The new narrative will be written by Albertans in part as a result of who these political parties choose for leadership. Another big part of writing the next Alberta narrative will be decided when we citizens select and elect our new government as we pause about how we are poised for striving and thriving in the changing world we must all face individually and together.
Granting your consent to be governed is partly a forfeiture of personal power to a politician so be careful who you vote for. In a generative time like Alberta is in today full of challenges, threats as well as strengths and opportunities citizenship should be more than merely voting. It should be the active act of embracing and imagining our aspirations as Albertans.
That is the stuff that motivates me to be so heavily engaged in the Alberta Party and the leadership campaign of Glenn Taylor. Visit his website and the party website and if you are at least curious take the next step and join the party and become a Glenn Taylor supporter. Be the change you want to see happen.
The lecture was video taped and I hope we will be able to feed the need for change at the next Learning Our Way to the Next Alberta events in Edmonton March 17th. You can get tickets online using this link. It promises to be another inspiring evening.
I received a tweet from a teacher who was at the SirKen event. She bought his recent book and asked him to write a line to new teachers when he signed the book. What he wrote resonated with me, and I expect with most of the readers of this blog. He wrote: "Embrace the Act of Imagination."
This is not an abstract ephemeral aphorism but more of an admonition that the status quo for our society is unsustainable, socially, economically and environmentally. I would even say our adversarial and personally nasty approach to political culture is unsustainable.
There is a shifting consciousness starting amongst a growing group of previously apathetic Albertans that we need to start thinking for a change. It is not a groundswell yet but it is gathering momentum. The opportunity for the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party and the Alberta Liberal Party to respond to the change will come from the results of their pending leadership decisions. The same can be said for the newer, smaller but intriguing Alberta Party as an agent for positive political change is these revived citizens seek a leader.
Full disclosure I am an Alberta Party member and working on the Glenn Taylor campaign to lead this new movement. I also had an Alberta Liberal Party membership to support David Swann' s leadership and as a PC member I supported Dave Hancock's leadership bid in 2006 and moved my support along with Dave to Ed Stelmach on the second ballot. I have let both of these memberships lapse and feel a bitter sweet irony that both these gentlemen are now leaving political leadership positions and I expect politics as well.
My sense is the Alberta Party with it aim of "doing politics differently" is the closest thing Albertans have as a choice that will pick up and deliver on the spirit behind Sir Ken Robinson's advice to "Embrace the Act of Imagination." Alberta is ready to move beyond the Alberta Advantage of corporate tax cuts, royalty breaks and industry subsidies.
The next Alberta is about a struggle for defining narrative about the Alberta Aspiration. What does that mean and how will we see in ourselves and define ourselves as we move forward into the creative age and not just the industrial age of resource extraction as our reason to be. The new narrative will be written by Albertans in part as a result of who these political parties choose for leadership. Another big part of writing the next Alberta narrative will be decided when we citizens select and elect our new government as we pause about how we are poised for striving and thriving in the changing world we must all face individually and together.
Granting your consent to be governed is partly a forfeiture of personal power to a politician so be careful who you vote for. In a generative time like Alberta is in today full of challenges, threats as well as strengths and opportunities citizenship should be more than merely voting. It should be the active act of embracing and imagining our aspirations as Albertans.
That is the stuff that motivates me to be so heavily engaged in the Alberta Party and the leadership campaign of Glenn Taylor. Visit his website and the party website and if you are at least curious take the next step and join the party and become a Glenn Taylor supporter. Be the change you want to see happen.
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Hearing Sir Ken Robinson in Red Deer Tonight
Looking forward to enjoying the company of 700 cultural creatives and fellow progressives who will gather from all over the province in Red Deer tonight to hear the insightful articulate and entertaining Sir Ken Robinson.
For those readers in the room here is the review of Sir Ken's new book "The Element." It will give those of you who are not coming tonight a sense of what you are missing.
For those readers in the room here is the review of Sir Ken's new book "The Element." It will give those of you who are not coming tonight a sense of what you are missing.
The Element
by Ken Robinson
Viking USA | January 13, 2009 | Hardcover
From one of the worldas leading thinkers and speakers on creativity and self-fulfillment, a breakthrough book about talent, passion, and achievement
The element is the point at which natural talent meets personal passion. When people arrive at the element, they feel most themselves and most inspired and achieve at their highest levels. "The Element" draws on the stories of a wide range of people, from ex-Beatle Paul McCartney to Matt Groening, creator of "The Simpsons"; from Meg Ryan to Gillian Lynne, who choreographed the Broadway productions of "Cats" and "The Phantom of the Opera"; and from writer Arianna Huffington to renowned physicist Richard Feynman and others, including business leaders and athletes. It explores the components of this new paradigm: The diversity of intelligence, the power of imagination and creativity, and the importance of commitment to our own capabilities.
With a wry sense of humor, Ken Robinson looks at the conditions that enable us to find ourselves in the element and those that stifle that possibility. He shows that age and occupation are no barrier, and that once we have found our path we can help others to do so as well. "The Element" shows the vital need to enhance creativity and innovation by thinking differently about human resources and imagination. It is also an essential strategy for transforming education, business, and communities to meet the challenges of living and succeeding in the twenty-first century.
The element is the point at which natural talent meets personal passion. When people arrive at the element, they feel most themselves and most inspired and achieve at their highest levels. "The Element" draws on the stories of a wide range of people, from ex-Beatle Paul McCartney to Matt Groening, creator of "The Simpsons"; from Meg Ryan to Gillian Lynne, who choreographed the Broadway productions of "Cats" and "The Phantom of the Opera"; and from writer Arianna Huffington to renowned physicist Richard Feynman and others, including business leaders and athletes. It explores the components of this new paradigm: The diversity of intelligence, the power of imagination and creativity, and the importance of commitment to our own capabilities.
With a wry sense of humor, Ken Robinson looks at the conditions that enable us to find ourselves in the element and those that stifle that possibility. He shows that age and occupation are no barrier, and that once we have found our path we can help others to do so as well. "The Element" shows the vital need to enhance creativity and innovation by thinking differently about human resources and imagination. It is also an essential strategy for transforming education, business, and communities to meet the challenges of living and succeeding in the twenty-first century.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Wildrose Policy Wants to Put a Price on Volunteering
The Wildrose Alliance is talking about giving a tax break for volunteering. I can't see that is anything close to a good idea. It runs contrary to the human motives about wanting to contribute to the greater good. Volunteering is not about individual rewards but participating in something greater than yourself.
Daniel Pink talks about the motivators of Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose for volunteering. People do what they love because the love it and payment - like tax credits sullies the sense of contribution. Community is formed by intrinsic rewards being enough of a motivator. You don't strengthen a community by paying people to do what they love. Remove barriers and increase capacity for people but don't insult them with payment to do what they love to do.
Listen to this video on the research that shows why this is.
The attitude that you can put a cost on everything tends to be blind to the fact that what people really value.
Daniel Pink talks about the motivators of Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose for volunteering. People do what they love because the love it and payment - like tax credits sullies the sense of contribution. Community is formed by intrinsic rewards being enough of a motivator. You don't strengthen a community by paying people to do what they love. Remove barriers and increase capacity for people but don't insult them with payment to do what they love to do.
Listen to this video on the research that shows why this is.
The attitude that you can put a cost on everything tends to be blind to the fact that what people really value.
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