January 27, 2009
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There’s political magic in the air
Al Lehmann
Terrace Standard – Opinion
IT’S A remarkable thing when millions of people around the world hear and use language as if it really were magical.
One such word is “democracy.” Of course it’s not truly magical. But people treat it as though it is, and that treatment creates considerable power.
It’s no accident that Communist East Germany, one of the worst police states the world has ever known, called itself the German Democratic Republic. Although the name fooled very few, communist or not, invoking democracy did, and still does, provide an aura of national respectability.
Dozens of other states have also attempted to magically obscure vicious flaws and corrupt practices under this categorical title of universal respect.
Despite some extraordinary examples of hypocrisy, we in the West tend to pride ourselves on our democratic institutions. Although some may chafe at the idea of one person one vote, most Western constitutions define themselves this way, and use these votes to grant the consent of the governed.
The further splitting of powers into levels of government (e.g. national, state or provincial, and local) and branches of authority (e.g. legislative, administrative and judicial) have attempted to cement checks and balances into the apparatus of government in order to prevent the rise of tyranny or the easy practice of corruption.
We usually experience government as a distant force or operation, unless we happen to be at the business end of a speeding ticket or are writing a cheque for our yearly taxes.
To erase some of this distance, our MP Nathan Cullen recently hosted an unusual event-a local meeting on the federal budget.
The most common practice for the formation of federal budgets usually ignores the common citizen.
The federal Minister of Finance, the Prime Minister, and a number of senior civil servants from the finance ministry examine current policy desired by the party in power, revenue projections, economic conditions (and predictions), current obligations (such as CPP payments, etc.), the current level of the national debt, and last year’s budget success.
Then government officials contact the movers and shakers in the Canadian economy-the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, Bank of Canada officials, the C.D. Howe Institute, and other think tanks-and ask, “What do you want?”
After much lobbying by business, trade unions and NGOs, and days of meetings in a few major cities, the Minister of Finance constructs a new budget. He doesn’t generally ask ‘the little guy.’
That’s why Cullen’s meetings across the riding are so interesting. He solicited local input to consider when he and his party vote on the budget which was presented just yesterday.
Will the new federal budget address our needs?
Those attending the session here were a refreshing blend of right and left- wingers, professionals and trades people, the smooth-talking and the ornery. There was a banker, several city councillors, and a novice political candidate.
For 20 minutes or so we absorbed Mr. Cullen’s summary of the parliamentary events leading up to the current situation. Then we broke into groups to discuss such topics as ‘bailouts’, ‘infrastructure’, ‘taxes’, ‘small business’, and ‘the environment.’ Each group brainstormed wish lists and cautionary tales, caveats and suggestions.
At the end, our MP was provided with a diverse but organized collection of ideas and recommendations to inform him with respect to the desires of his Terrace constituents.
This is the way democracy should work.
People in this region are tough and resilient, but given recent economic events and looming challenges, we’re edgy and concerned.
We may not get many, or even any of the things we recommended, but the process was exhilarating, and should we achieve some success, it will feel truly magical.
Al Lehmann is a Terrace writer and educator
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