2010-10-30 I am a conservative, liberal, democratic, green. (Is that how to say it, Mike Fornssler?)

CONTENTS

1. WE LOSE PEOPLE OF HEART BECAUSE OF THE SYSTEM
2. I AM A CONSERVATIVE, LIBERAL, DEMOCRATIC, GREEN ? – MIKE FORNSSLER, ANOTHER GREAT KID!
3. “IF I WAS INVENTING DEMOCRACY FROM SCRATCH, I WOULD NOT HAVE INVENTED POLITICAL PARTIES.  THE PARTISANSHIP OF WELL-ORGANIZED, WELL-FINANCED POLITICAL PARTIES IS PART OF THE REAL FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM WITH WHAT’S POISONING THE CULTURE OF OUR DEMOCRACY.” (ELIZABETH MAY)
4. LEAP-FROG OVER “PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION” TO “WITHOUT POLITICAL PARTIES”.  PRIVATE MEMBER’S BILL AS EXAMPLE?

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1.  WE LOSE PEOPLE OF HEART BECAUSE OF THE SYSTEM

Mike is this guy who likes other people.

Mike writes: “The Saskatchewan Party, New Democratic Party of Saskatchewan, and Green Party of Saskatchewan along with the Liberal Party of Canada are in agreement on this issue (has this ever happened before?)”.

I am excited that Mike has identified and spontaneously organized an event in this context!  The Proroguing of Parliament events would have excluded the conservatives in the Province.  This one includes us all.

Through the years I offer up the North West Territories and Nunavut as examples of Governments in Canada that use a representative system of democracy with no political parties.  There is dialogue among people.

I am reminded of the story of Ryan Meili, a young man of conscience (Saskatchewan) who undertook to become more actively involved in governance.  According to a recent (in the last month) newspaper report, Ryan’s experience with the system has led him to abandon the endeavour:  it is “too divisive”.

We lose people of heart because of the system.

Surely to Goodness we are capable of creating a new system!  We created this one – – why not in its place, one that actually reflects our values?

Item #3 below is an addition to the discussion:  “IF I WAS INVENTING DEMOCRACY FROM SCRATCH, I WOULD NOT HAVE INVENTED POLITICAL PARTIES.  THE PARTISANSHIP OF WELL-ORGANIZED, WELL-FINANCED POLITICAL PARTIES IS PART OF THE REAL FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM WITH WHAT’S POISONING THE CULTURE OF OUR DEMOCRACY”.   (Elizabeth May)

I haven’t read Elizabeth’s book yet (“Losing Confidence”).  In Item #4,  I  am going out on a limb wondering, “do recent Private Member’s Bills show us the “how-to” path that leads to governance without political parties?”.

Cheers!

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2.  I AM A CONSERVATIVE, LIBERAL, DEMOCRATIC, GREEN ?  – MIKE FORNSSLER, ANOTHER GREAT KID!

Hey Sandra what’s up?  Currently I am organizing a protest at Saskatoon city hall this saturday from 1pm-2pm to support the Wall government’s attempt to block the sale of Potashcorp to BHP…  Never thought I’d organize a protest on behalf of the Wall government… I guess we live in interesting times.

Dear Sir or Madam
This Saturday October 30th from 1pm-2pm the people of Saskatchewan will be asked to rally in support of the government of Saskatchewan’s stance in blocking the hostile takeover of Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan by BHP Billiton.

The rally to “Save Our Potash Stash” will take place in Civic Square (Saskatoon city hall) and will include several as of yet confirmed speakers (I started organizing this yesterday).

The Saskatchewan Party, New Democratic Party of Saskatchewan, and Green Party of Saskatchewan along with the Liberal Party of Canada are in agreement on this issue (has this ever happened before?) and we ask that the government of Canada listen to their wishes and block the sale of PotashCorp.

Clearly the government of Canada is willing to listen to our concerns on this issue and if enough of us show up and shout with one  voice we will be heard.  So please this October 30th at 1pm come down to Civic Square and fight for a more secure future for Saskatchewan.

When asked if Tony Clement and Steven Harper should say “deal or no deal?” Let it be heard that Saskatchewan shouted “NO DEAL!”

Yours Truly,

Mike Fornssler and the rest of the province of Saskatchewan.

Note: I am just a university student concerned about the future of Saskatchewan trying to use peaceful protest to stop what I see as a policy with potential for mostly negative consequences.

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3.   “IF I WAS INVENTING DEMOCRACY FROM SCRATCH, I WOULD NOT HAVE INVENTED POLITICAL PARTIES.  THE PARTISANSHIP OF WELL-ORGANIZED, WELL-FINANCED POLITICAL PARTIES IS PART OF THE REAL FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM WITH WHAT’S POISONING THE CULTURE OF OUR DEMOCRACY.”  (ELIZABETH MAY)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R56wyHgSsc0

CBC Interview which briefly summarizes the book,  Losing Confidence, by Elizabeth May

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4.   LEAP-FROG OVER “PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION” TO “WITHOUT POLITICAL PARTIES”.  PRIVATE MEMBER’S BILL AS EXAMPLE.

We are moving fast.

–        “Fair Vote Canada” has done a great job of bringing into consciousness the problems with our “first past the post” electoral system.   It has to go.

LEAP-FROG OVER

I am thinking (hoping?!) that in the search for a new system, we will leap-frog right over the countries like Australia and New Zealand that implemented some form of proportional representation.  The lily pad we land on will be one that does not have political parties.  Some believe it can’t be done.  But I think it might already be started:  what are “Private Member’s Bills”?   Could be a first step in this direction?