Political Reason

CTV is not Journalism

2009-05-04T04:14:00.000-07:00

I have said it time and time again. CTV news is not objective political news. Look at 3:30 on this video.

Now, drum sarcastic stereotypical blogger drum roll please.....

Micheal Ignatieff to raise taxes!

Shame!!!

I am known for my stance on ethics and my more traditional view of honor. At 3:30 the body language clear indicates that she is aware of everything she is doing. She is telegraphing guilt and is extremely nervous about being called on it. At 3:47 the second Nik accepts the frame and continues to speak she leans back in relief. You can even see that she is holding her breath in anticipation, of Niks response.

Alltough this is the not the first time CTV has stoopped to this level, I cannot help but be disapointed. Democracy is a privaledge and a great gift that has been passed down to us by our grand parrents, who have fought, struggled and died defending it. We dishonor those who have fought racism and opression to stimulate evolution within our society.

We have a duty to our country and that is to act with honor. We will not disrespect the elders that fought a racist government that made the noblest ceremonies illegal.

We have a duty to up hold standards of respect an decency. To abandon this is to fail as a Canadian.

The current Conservative Party is a blight on the very soul of Canada.

Metis Pride

2009-02-23T07:14:00.001-08:00

Understanding what it means to be Metis has always been an issue for me, but it has taught me strength. I have taken every lesson about my culture to heart and that has dictated my path in life. The Metis people have been scattered, and descendants shamed.

My grandfather passed away last year and that caused me allot of anguish. I always felt he never really cared about me. What is worse is I could not feel valid in saying I wanted his love, just as I could not say being Metis was part of who I am. I was paralyzed...but I understand now that he was in pain and could not have been what I wanted.

I can't help but think, what would my life would have been like if my grandfathers heart was not sick? What would my life have been like if this was not passed down to my aunts and uncles? What if my mother did not have to endure what she did?

What if I could have had my grandparents with out the pain or war and dispossession that the inherited? The injustices of the past may have taken something more valuable to me then any land...a healthy family.

While I have not experienced the poverty and constant barrage of racism that many of my Native friends did growing up, there are certain things I can relate too. The pain that was left in our families is one of them.

I love the Anishinabe, the Cree, the Dene like they are my own. When they bleed my heart aches...

Louis Riel was just as native as I am, but perhaps more Metis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuXS3VU791U

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/09/13/canada-indigenous.html

http://iwgia.synkron.com/graphics/Synkron-Library/Documents/InternationalProcesses/DraftDeclaration/07-09-13ResolutiontextDeclaration.pdf

Simply put, there is to much money and racism involved to do the right thing.

Riel was hanged for treason, but executed for an ideal.

"I have watched my people die – I have seen an entire way of life trampled by a new
civilization they did not understand and for a brief moment I stood in the path of this new
civilization – of this progress – not to stop it but rather to address a new government – a
government far away in the east which had no idea of who my people were or how they
lived. All I asked for was the respect for the right and the liberty and the dignity of the
Métis. If this be madness then I am mad but I am in good company. If this be treason
than I am guilty for in this I will always believe" - Louis Riel

Ottawa has not learned the lesson Riel left for us.

http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=10646

Marsé and Meegwetch

How Einstein taught me the value of the seven teachings.

2009-02-13T01:31:00.000-08:00

Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value. - Albert Einstein

Ethics are a hard thing to learn, because it takes vision to see reward. It takes patience to see result. The truth is that success with out value is a forlorn apology for failure.

When we turn our back on this we lose something very precious, something so simple so small that it haunts our every step.

When success is gained through value it is an extension of a creation bearing no falsehood and sacrificing nothing. This is the greatest act of creation in our being, when life is a true reflection of our will.

"Nbwaa kaa win - To cherish knowledge is to know WISDOM. Symbolized by the beaver.

Zaa gid win - To know LOVE is to know peace. You must love yourself in order to love another. Symbolized by the eagle.

Mnaa dendi mowin - To honor all of the Creation is to have RESPECT. Symbolized by the buffalo

Aak wade’ ewin - BRAVERY is to face the foe with integrity. The bear symbolizes the moral courage to do the right thing.

Gwek waadi ziwin - HONESTY in facing a situation is to be brave. Symbolized by Sasquatch or Wilderness Man.

Dbaa dendi ziwin - HUMILITY is to think things through carefully and to know your place. Symbolized by the wolf.

Deb we win - TRUTH is to know all of these things. Symbolized by the turtle. "

(From a write up about The Birchbark House)

When you let go of death and life all that is left these teachings are all that are left.

True reward is all to often misunderstood. These are the virtues that help you build a life out of value, I have never truly realized their significance. Thankfully, I am am still a foolish young man. Knowing your place is one of the greatest gifts a man can receive.

If you do not know where your heart belongs how do you know who you are?

Israel and Gaza in Context.

2009-01-31T08:48:00.000-08:00

Israel and Gaza in Context.

There is absolutely nothing constructive to gain from taking sides in this conflict. Both parties are guilty of crimes and injustice. Most people are not experts in the conflict and therefor get caught up in the emotionally compelling aspects of this conflict. With out any doubt this is one of the most seductive longstanding conflicts, so much so that we as outsiders get very emotionally invested in it. A significant aspect of this conflict is that both sides seek to direct our opinion, for their own personal benefit. We must be Peace makers and we cannot do this if we take sides needlessly.

Here is some important back ground information that is not commonly known, but important in understanding the context of the conflict:

First of all, many are unaware of the Irgun and the King David Hotel bombing. In this note I will not go into great detail (This is a note not an essay), however I encourage you to research these events and draw your own conclusions.

The King David Hotel bombing was essentially the birth of modern terrorism. A bombing designed to capture the attention of the world media. This was also a false flag operation.

The Palestinian refugee crisis resulted from many causes. However it did not result for a radio broadcast by the Arab nations calling Palestinians to leave their homes, this has been a hallmark of Israels position. This has been confirmed by the CIA and the BBC.

A large percentage has been attributed to the actions of the Pre-Israeli forces of the time period. I am aware of how controversial a topic this is and I will only touch on this lightly as it is not essential to my premise. However it is important to know.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Palestinian_exodus ( I understand Wikipedia is not the best, but not everyone here has access to Google Scholar.)

Another significant event is the Deir Yassin massacre, I suggest you look into that event.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deir_Yassin_massacre#Reconsideration_of_the_massacre

Irgun was disbanded after the war of 1948, however similar yet more sophisticated tactics continued to be used my Israel. Here are some notable false flag operations:

Lavon Affair: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavon_Affair

Operation Entebbe: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article1867995.ece

USS Liberty Incident: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Liberty_incident

John Gunther Dean Assassination Attempt : http://www.wrmea.com/archives/november02/0211015.html

There are several other possible events that I have not included because the evidence is to speculative.

Some of these events have been used in Anti-Jewish/NWO conspiracy theories. These theories are narcissistic speculation used to create a fictitious sense of self importance in an other wise socially/professionally incompetent individual. If someone sends me another David Ike Reptilian video, I will eat your SOUL!

I have heard many people claim that Hamas uses human shields. There are documented instances when Israel has done the same thing. Both side are guilty.

Amnesty International Reports http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4580139.stm

Israel http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3650791.stm

There have also been reports of Israel using human shields in the current conflict.

Israel has also repeatedly used banned munitions. While white phosphorus is technically not illegal, it is problematic none the less.

Cluster Bombs

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5299938.stm

White Phosphorus

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28642180/

I assume everyone reading this understand the violations that Hamas has committes. If not research Hamas...right now. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas

Now another issue that demonstrates some of the problematic elements is how Israel runs its counter insurgency operation. First off to acquaint you with what not to do in a counter insurgency:

The Algerian conflict demonstrated one maxim of counter insurgency operations, Torture creates terrorism. This a is a fact. The Muslim brother hood and Egypt reinforces this point, and gave us Dr. Ayman Muhammad Rabaie al-Zawahiri the second in command and ideological leader of al-Qaeda .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algerian_War (Read the section French counter-insurgency operations)

Terrorism and in this case terrorist insurgencies thrive on circumstance that facilitates dehumanization. (Read David Grossman on Killing) I am stealing this quote form Wikipedia but it is surprisingly good...When people become things, the logic follows, they become dispensable - and any atrocity can be justified.

You cannot facilitate the dehumanizing process in a counter insurgency. Israel has willfully disregarded this process with absolutely predictable results. Gravity works, this is a fact. You cannot have a terrorist insurgency with out a circumstance that facilitates widespread dehumanization, that is a fact. This has been consistent in every insurgency to date.

The Shin Bet has admitted to torturing Palestinians on a significant scale. Perpetrators have even gone as far as to described it as ``Holy Work``. This is absolutely un-acceptable, why because it facilitates the dehumanization process and is terrible intelligence work. As a general rule nations/groups only use torture on groups that they have dehumanized. It is just shameful intelligence work.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/637293.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7345025.stm

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE15/031/1998/en/dom-MDE150311998en.html

(Note* Fatah uses torture as well) http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/palestinians-use-torture-regularly-879423.html

http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:ojs7phsJDRYJ:www.pcbs.pna.org/Portals/_pcbs/PressRelease/E-Prisoners%2520Day%25202006(1).pdf+The+Palestinian+Central+Bureau+of+Statistics+detained&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=ca

Now the case of Algeria teaches us that torture only strengths the insurgency. Israels treatment of detainees constitutes negligence in an insurgency operation.

I have said time and time again that the greatest ideological challenge of our generation is the refinement of the democratic process. The current assault has been conspicuously timed with the Israeli election and a drop in the polls for the current government. Now that the assault is underway, the government has climbed in the polls. Correlation with the US Presidential inauguration is suspicious as the past government has supported Israel 100% for the last 8 years. Even going so far as to adopt its similar interrogation methods. The opinion of the President elect has yet to be determined, however it is rational to assume that given his stated morality, he will not be to offer the same carte blanche. All of this creates a specific sense of urgency. I have no doubts that the rockets will be used as rationalization for the assault and the blockade a rationalization for the rockets...and the circle continues....

In no way shape or form is Israel a moral beacon. What we have here is two warring factions who have so much blood on their hands that assigning blame has become irrelevant. The conflict needs to end, both sides are perpetuating it. They are simply two warring factions, who are both guilty of war crimes. We need to act as impartial mediators. If we take the role of Peace maker there is absolutely no logic in taking side in this conflict.

“Don't get down in the mud with the pigs. You will both get dirty and the pigs love it”

Unless we remain above the emotions that perpetuate this conflict, we cannot hope to help. Both sides are responsible for the current crisis and neither party has an objective moral high ground. Whether it is the rocks or the incursion, no party can be absolved of responsibility.

Children of Hamas

2009-01-13T14:29:00.000-08:00

Watch this first ---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTGbP55HGi8

Then this one-----> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8YfA_DngUM

Hamas runs schools, orphanages, mosques, health care clinics, soup kitchens and sports leagues. They do these things successfully when members of Fatah have been accused of corruption and are generally not considered honest.

Reciprocal behavior creates a desire to well...reciprocate. The stereotype of a big business executive offering class of expensive Scotch to a potential partner is not a mistake. This is a basic part of our psychology, we will want to align with those who offer us a reciprocal relationship. This is a huge part of marketing.

Desperate people will do desperate things. Israel has been negligent in the roots causes of this conflict. You cannot attack the Propaganda of Hamas unless you can provide better social services. The Hamas children ... is extremely bias and can be considered Propaganda. It offers useful information with out context.

This is the exact same psychological process that facilitated Germany to trust a man they did not understand. The need for pride and psychological freedom from utter desperation. The Gazans are stuck in a situation that they are psychologically powerless to stop.

Israels strategy is either incompetent or willfully ignorant to long term conflict resolution. Perhaps they have not bothered to listen to some of the greatest counter Terrorism scholars of our generation. You cannot destroy terrorism with out defeating the underlying causes that facilitate the rationalization of terrorist attacks.

My next post will be a case study, demonstrating this effect during the battle of Algiers. How foolishly we have made the same mistakes, time and time again when dealing with insurgency and terrorism.

Morality, Terrorism and Social Dynamics

2009-01-12T01:40:00.000-08:00

First of all so there is no misunderstanding, war is a social contract those who put on a Uniform and fight have consented to kill and be killed. This is why we have a distinction between combatant and non-combatant. Ideally war should only be among those who have agreed to this contract. Essentially I believe that we should only consent to dehumanize those who have consented to this contract. This like war is still a last resort, and a result of preemptive strategic failures.

Good and evil have no empirical basis unless they are circumstantial. Good and evil will vary from person to person and group to group. We will justify things that increase our perceived fitness, that is how the mind is structured. I would contend that reason and self reflection complicated the equation significantly, unfortunately many people do not value reason or self reflection as they do not consider them essential for survival.

This highlights the futility in calling an even good or bad in Political science, since it is entirely relative to the individual and to the situation.

Here is a quick trivia question, why do fighter pilots have a lower resistance to killing then say an infantry man.... Psychological and physical distance. The dehumanization process at work.

Now what is racism at its core? It is one of the many forms of dehumanization. Dehumanization is especially popular in war time, with out is and several other factors only psychopaths can kill. (See On Killing by David Grossman)

Now put any healthy individual in a social situation where he will have cultural pressure to dehumanize an adversary. Add an increase in survivability and status for compliance along with the demands of an authority you have a ripe situation for extreme dehumanization. Create an asymmetric conflict, with limited means of resistance and you will find attacks on a civilian population and voila instant War Crime. Apply this model to any attacks on civilian populations by organized violence and the pattern should be clear.

Now this is the same dehumanization process used for terrorism. But it is clearly circumstantial. We know that if we drop a ball it will most likely fall. If we put a human being in these circumstances he will most likely attack a civilian population, there is no morality involved simply cause and effect.

How I ask how can we call a terrorist immoral? If anything it is circumstantial. This is of course why Intelligence agencies are necessary, you cannot preempt this situation for every individual. However I would contest that this can be avoided with larger groups, nations and communities, if preemptive measures are taken.

Modern day terrorism can be either breed from this phenomenon either nationally or more locally in isolated communities/situations.

Upon understanding this, I have come to perceive terrorism as very impersonal. However like all conflict it is subject to the mathematical like precision of Political Science.

Needless to say, one cannot solve a crisis if one is consumed with the dehumanized process. Most notably nationalism can be used for this purpose, ethnic or territorial is irrelevant. This above all else is why my own sense of Canadian nationalism is so meticulously calibrated, once understood it can become a tool to create true satisfaction within the self creating a deep sense of inner peace while preparing you for the world.

That however is another post.

The challenge of victory

2008-12-12T04:28:00.001-08:00

With victory there wakens an unredeemed being.
Empty worlds with vanishing forms.
Shamed by our desire and lifted by our hope.

The requisite skills of the victor,
To cry havoc, and let slip the dogs no more.

The tides of an advancing age absolve our dissolution,
To reinstate existence conceive anew.

Childish Stupidity and Respect for Democracy

2008-12-05T00:51:00.000-08:00

"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."

--John Adams--

My highest commitment is facilitating political discourse. I believe that it is through discourse and open conversation, that we will arrive at the best choices for our society.

However unless we have the proper moral structure in our society and in our party, there is no chance we will prevail. People are victims of their containers, the form of the organization will change the nature of its people.

Part of our problem is that there is nothing more self interested then a coward. They hold on to fame and status like it is their childhood toy. It is a shame they have never grown up and learned what it means to be a responsible citizen of a democracy.

I am appalled by the people who will stand on the shoulders of heroes ,to take something they do not deserve. But this is the world we live in, and many of us tolerate this more then we should.

The wise have no obligation to the ignorant?

2008-12-03T00:31:00.000-08:00

Except respect and understanding. Many who embrace ignorance, have never truly had respect or understanding. How do we deal with this problem? It is a very circumstantial issue.

Fundamentally many of our political problems are problems of character, and one thing I can be truly grateful of is that I have learned this lesson well. Even in youth politics we are at each others throats. Even in our own party....

I forget the humility of working under a noble elder. More then anything, I think that part of our culture is truly missing...perhaps I project to much of my own desire for first nations culture on contemporary Canadian society.

At least when I hear the drum, I can see what I hope for.

Am I a fool to believe that social institutions should be a pillar of our society. Noble institutions that represent the best of our society. Or perhaps I am simply becoming jaded like I knew I would, like I was warned. I by no means have been perfect in this endeavor, I have made many mistakes treated people in ways that I am not proud of. All because it was in the same spirit as those who have surrounded me. How am I not the ignorant here, I wish I could have been a better man. To have built these relationships in a better way. I started out this way, truly I did...but slowly day, after, day, and week after week, I started to change.

And I have forgiven myself for this. It is true wisdom to understand the balance of necessity, goodness and peace. So for now I struggle, at least I know I am a fool. At the very least it gives me something to work with.

People must be free to have a voice that counts.

2008-12-02T14:06:00.000-08:00

I have my issues with Canadian elections, coalition governments are not one of them. Political parties are responsible for representing the interests of their constituency and at times their interests are best represented through compromise. Overlapping consensus as coined by Rawls is the foundation of the our democracy and the Conservative government has proven they cannot honor this agreement.

This coalition is in the best interest of the people and it is just.

Threshold

2008-11-28T02:41:00.000-08:00

Trust my dear friends is a very difficult thing. Letting yourself be close to some one is a very difficult thing, guile makes monsters of us all. Yet I cannot help but be reminded of a literary reference, (ironically I have never read the book but....) it is Fyodor Dostoevskys Idiot.

To the best of my understanding the point was that to tell the truth all the time will lead to ruin.( echoing the voice of Machiavelli that just as much harm can be done by good as by evil.) This lesson is all too piercing, this reality all too painful. This world that we live in can bring us to the edge of madness, yet how can this be? We are a democracy not a dictatorship. We cannot all be so self deluded. I resist the implications that we are. We need to survive but we need justice and conviction as well. We need to be strong and we need to be good. There is a time and a place for deception but it should not be among friends.

There is a reason I joined the Liberal party of Canada.

When I was young, had already had enough. Society felt distant and cold. Education was a bondage not the joy that it is to me today and love was something I could only dream of...so I gave up and sat in bed for weeks. Then one day my father forced me out of bed, then told me "Brett I will buy you a ticket to anywhere in the world it will not be better then here". While I may have disagreed with what he truly meant, I learned something worthwhile. Something in me snapped and I came to realize, that I would need to fight for the beauty in this world. If I ever wanted to live with myself that is. From that day I started walking. Here I am.

Tonight I was lying in bed listening to a meditation tape. My friend Tim insisted I listen too it (Blew my mind by the way). It helped me remember something I though that I had forgotten. People can be good and that things can change. This is a simple lesson but it is easy to forget and lose hope. If some one reading this loses hope then remember, I will fight until my dying breath and I have dedicated my life to this pursuit. You are not alone and if you are you don't need to be. Honor is not a myth, while there are no perfect people. There are good ones.

People in their hearts are fundamentally good and I have proof. This is how I know about the basic goodness in our hearts. Simply, we just want to be safe.

I cannot look at vicious people with disgust anymore and I can blame them no more then I could a sick man. We need good medicine to cure this ,to come together and rely on each other. We cannot all be a Judas. We are noble when we are not traumatized. We need to stop being victims of our past and become designers of our future. We need to be human again.

What I want is to know that a child can be safe. To grow up and dream. What I want is for families to be secure. I want this world to be just. And most of all I want to be free...

Finally starting to feel right

2008-11-24T23:14:00.000-08:00

I sat down with the guys/girls on my executive today to hammer out the AGM. It has been postponed for various silly reasons. Needless to say during leadership, it made people suspicious and I indulged it more then I should have. This leadership will not tear us a part, and we can finally start getting back on track. I have always heard stories about the Diamond days in Manitoba. Liberal shot glasses and condoms while fighting for gay rights sounded like a blast. Made me really start thinking and reminded me of Atlantic Caucus when Denise was so passionate about gay rights that she was almost in tears. I have allot of respect for that because, that is the kind of passion we need as aspiring politicians. A profound love of Humanity, Justice and Efficiency should permeate our existence.

Honestly we have been in a slump. We did not even make it out to Western Caucus, which is embarrassing to say the least. Now is a good time to make a change. I am looking past where we were to where we will be, and it puts a smile on my face. After the meeting today we just sat around talking about morality, justice and international relations. I love to talk about peacekeeping. If you ever want to get my attention for an hour, talk to me about how we can save innocent lives and I am yours

Off topic...check this out.

Jonathan Haidt: The real difference between liberals and conservatives at Ted.com. It is a seriously wicked lecture. ( http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/jonathan_haidt_on_the_moral_mind.html)

But the nice thing is that it started to feel like it should. It wasn't back stabbing or political posturing, we actually acted like responsible young liberals should.

Holding Together

2008-11-24T02:48:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we have a chance to do something worth while. In spite of the cynicism that may grip us. In spite of the imperfections that surround us. In spite of the weakness of our own character. We can find reason to hope.

I get through this by remembering my dream and taking every step to reach it. I get up each morning with the sole purpose of fighting for Humanity, Justice, and Efficiency.

All my life I have dreamed of embodying these virtues. Yet at times I have chased shadows, I have failed. If only for a few moments. I cannot deny my utter foolishness, this world is greater then me and always will be. I cannot escape this. We can take comfort in finding elders and friends who have walked the same path. With any luck, they have become much more adapt in walking this path. I am grateful for people like this to look up to, who teach me valuable lessons. I am happy to have people who can teach me to be a better man. We are honor bound to carry the torch for a new generation. To expand humanity at its very core.

Only when we question everything can we ever truly gain stable ground within ourselves. Only once we have aspired to stability, can we truly come to terms with what is right.

At the very core of liberalism there is a deep commitment to the refinement of perspective. This is essential to our party and our principles. How tragic would it be to forget that we must look at ourselves honestly each day.

"If my life is to be prolonged now, I know that I must live out my old age, seeing worse, hearing less, learning with more difficulty, and forgetting more and more of what I have learned. If I see myself growing worse and reproach myself for it, tell me, how could I continue to live pleasantly? " Socrates

Political Canabalism

2008-11-22T01:37:00.000-08:00

Political circumstance, specifically leadership conventions, can cause otherwise cooperative individuals to be at odds with each other in every ways. The underlying issue here is that rationality has now left the building, it becomes a game of survival and benefit. The real commitment to political issues are lost.

We as a democracy and as political parties have a terrible pattern of falling into extended periods of madness.

We need to actively question ourselves and our motives. The reality is that many of us are siding with candidates for less then noble reasons. This is my first leadership convention and I have not had the wonderful experience of being desensitized to it, nor am I the kind of man who will take things at face value.

You cannot have a true just society with out politicians who are willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good of our society. This sacrifice is our own, we must be willing to lose for our nation to win.

When leadership becomes a fist fight instead of a dialogue we are a shadow of our true selves. We do a great disservice to our party and most importantly to Canada.

A dear friend of mine has said something that must be heard.

"When personal freedom is conditional on the actions of others, we become beggars of circumstance. Freedom is an approach, not a condition. All the hope in my heart rests alone on my shoulders."

http://helipad.wordpress.com/

In a world where we are sometimes blissfully ignorant of peoples intent, we cannot deny the existential isolation that we all feel. The reality is that all desires and thoughts comes from some place that only we can know. This is life, but I can only hope that through right action and right intention we can some how navigate our own hearts. Then maybe, just maybe shine bright enough to bridge the distance and peek through the keyhole. Into the hearts of others, outside the tyranny of ourselves.

2008-11-15T03:46:00.001-08:00

Trust is a difficult thing in a world filled with objectives and ego. Guile becomes a tool for survival whether we are willing to admit it or not. Still again that delicate balance exists and you are left to wonder if the passionate ideal lives on or is eclipsed by our vanity.

Political status is egotistically rewarding this is inherent in its nature, so it is not difficult to understand the tensions that are involved.

Tory Times are Tough Times

2008-10-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

We sit battered and bruised from the second worst liberal defeat in our history, but let us not forget that from the ashes of Turner came Jean Chretien and a solid decade of Liberal Leadership. This was the time where we prevailed, when Canada prevailed.

In spite of how much I disagree with the late Tommy Douglas, we can all agree as Canadians that Tory times are tough times. We simply hold on... weather the storm and wait for an opportunity to break free.

Mr. Harper we are not going to roll over and die. We will not let the very things that define us as Canadians be stripped away, we need to fight! Even more so we need this fight! To renew ourselves, learn from our mistakes and reemerge with more ferocity than the Tories ever thought possible.

We are the Liberal Party of Canada and we will prevail.

2008-09-04T12:43:00.000-07:00

Every great movement has faced the delicate balance of moral calibration. Every great fight fills us with fire and ambition that stir us on to victory. More than anything else, we need to realize that we cannot abandon who and what we are to achieve our objectives.

The believer in an ethic of ultimate ends feels 'responsible' only for seeing to it that the flame of pure intentions is not quenched: for example, the flame of protesting against the injustice of the social order. To rekindle the flame ever anew is the purpose of his quite irrational deeds, judged in view of their possible success. They are acts that can and shall have only exemplary value.
-Max Weber

In modern politics there are unfortunate facts. Perception dictates reality and whomever can best influence perception will control the political world. In many ways this is the poverty of democracy, for in a greater world our fate would be controlled by passionate individuals, and good solid reason being the defining factor of the discourse. I do not believe in political ideologies, to me they are simply a matter of mathematics. Liberalism is the logical choice for governance and builds the only real sensible social contract.

However, we need to realize that we are still fighting for perfection in our organization. Democracy is a work in progress that needs to be renewed with new thoughts and ideas. As the political discourse changes so does its structural realities. As technology changes so must the structure of democracy. There are many things that need to be done that are are either temporarily unfeasible or simply put: not sufficiently developed solutions for the constantly apparent political problems of our time. It is very easy to argue that our current organization can at times detract significantly from governmental efficiency. The sad reality of modern politics is that a logical, functional and efficient policy cannot survive on its own esteem. Political discourse in this country is not about adhering to logical fallacies. All too often I hear Stephen Harper using ad hominem arguments exposing the sad reality that such a baseless branding has a tangible effect on Canadian public opinion. Stephan Dion is not a leader is branding an association without common respect for the intellect of the Canadian people. In Manitoba I have heard that same insidious accusation parroted, consistently with no reason associated. What infuriates me the most is that I find myself reduced to talking points that end up being the most persuasive and effective means of countering this effect.

However, this is the reality and we cannot be the logical saints that we wish to be. So what is an honest, well intentioned politician to do?....Fight, and never forget why. Conflict can only be a means to an end. Yet it takes something strong to hold on to, to make sure that your very reason for conflict is not stripped away from you in the battle. This, more then anything, I need to remember. Politics is about duty and not the self, yet it is a realm so attractive to the ego that my fear is not unreasonable. Should I ever lose that fear, would then I know for certain that I had lost?