Are Progressives to Blame for Far Right Shift in Politics?

I am a former Federal and Alberta Progressive Conservative.  I got involved in federal politics to help Joe Clark win the PC Party leadership in the mid 70s.  I became an Alberta Progressive Conservative to help Peter Lougheed replace the social Credit government of Harry Strom.

I saw the demise of the federal PC starting with the second election of Mulroney, the reduction to 2 seats in the mess he handed to Kim Campbell and the betrayal of the PC brand by Peter McKay to the Reform Alliance types of Stockwell Day and Stephen Harper.

I left the provincial PCs with Bill 44 as the last straw and after years of frustration with Ralph Klein.  I did not suppor this leadership but did applaud his Premiership in the early years.  He was good at one job – getting rid of debt and deficit and then put his feet up and got lazy for 10 years until he was ousted by his own party.

I did not support Ed Selmach’s bid to lead the Alberta PC until the second ballot but it was an easy choice to make at the time considering the alternatives.   For the first year Stelmach was a great Premier but then he went off the rails and now is in survival mode running hard to the right in fear of the Wildrose Alliance.

All of this is background to the great column byLawrence Martin in the Globe and Mail today “Is the an old-style Tory in the House?” His conclusing is federally there is not any left.  Provincially there are few but they are marginalized and isolated from influencing the thinking of the right-wing reactionary conservative mainline thinking  of the “evolved’” Stelmach government.

There is a reason right-wing governments have taken  over.  A great deal of it is the indifference and disillusion and disengagement of progressive in the political process.  I was guilt of that in the federal PC Party and share the blame for its demise as much as any other part member.

Since I left the Alberta PCs I have worked hard on establishing Reboot Alberta as a place and space for progressives to meet and talk about what they want to see happen to have a more progressive political culture in Alberta.  RebootAlberta is welcoming regardless of political affiliation but is dedicated and focused on progressive political principles.  Go to http://www.rebootalberta.org and read what some Albertans consider progressive political principles.

I do not want to make the same mistake of presumptive indifference again like I did in the federal PC Party.  Progressives are partially to blame for the reckless and abusive nature of how power is used in the governments in power in Canada and Alberta today – because of indifference.

I am not committed to the PC Party but have joined the Alberta Party to help them grapple with their idea of doing politics differently and progressively.  I am especially committed to the idea of a progressive citizen’s movement like Reboot Alberta as a way to get political control back in the hands, hearts and minds of thoughtful, informed active and effective citizens.  Come and see this in action at Reboot 3.0 Nov 5-6 in Edmonton.  Click here to register.

Alberta Party Gets Organized

It was great to catch up with Michael Walters today.  He is the former organizer for the Greater Edmonton Alliance and now working as an organizer for the new Alberta Party. The announcement of his appointment is out today I believe.

He had an interesting observation in our conversation.  He said, “The fuel in your private life is love.  The fuel in your public life is leverage.”  One would feel very empty without love for sure.  As for leverage, that is what is missing for many Albertans these days.   Our recent conjoint study at Cambridge Strategies found that 51% of Albertan’s did not believe their provincial government listened to them.  There was also 51% who feel like their opinions do not matter to their government.  So much for the same old same old consultation processes.

Michael was an active participant in RebootAlberta 2.0 so I expect he will becoming to RebootAlberta 3.0 November 5-6 in Edmonton too.  RebootAlberta 3.0 is all about Taking Action to get progressive values back into the political agenda for Alberta.  Join us in making a difference.

Another Blogger Senses the Shifting Political Climate

Here is a very interesting blog post by Gerard MacLellan that promotes the new Alberta Party as a viable alternative.  His comments show a deeper insight than pure partisan politics and definitely worthy of a reflective read.

Full Disclosure: I am a member of the Alberta Party

What About an Education Charter for Alberta

Dr. Stephen Murgatroyd is a fellow traveler on the progressive political path for the Next Alberta and very involved in the Reboot Alberta citizen’s movement.

He is promoting the idea of an Education Charter for Alberta.  I think it has merit and recommend you read his blog post for more information.

You can sign the online petition to support the idea too.  If you want to meet Stephen I am sure he will be at RebootAlberta3.0 Nov 5-6 in Edmonton all about how we go about Taking Action to get a more progressive inclusive and effective democracy in Alberta.

Working on RebootAlberta 3.0 Agenda

There are a lot of good ideas out there on what to talk about, how to organize conversations, capture the ideas and set up the space and place for Progressives to take personal and political action to do what need doing to make Alberta a more inclusive, progressive, prosperous and preferred place to live.

You can register for RebootAlberta 3.0 at http://www.rebootalberta.org. If you are a progressive thinking person and want to change Alberta for the better you need to be there

RebootAlberta3.0 “Taking Action” is a GO!

If you think the existing political culture in Alberta is broken, the status quo is not acceptable and the trends and alternatives we are  offered by the dominant and conventional political parties are inadequate for Alberta to realize our potential then you will want to be part of RebootAlberta3.0.

We need to renew our democracy, revise our governance models and restore citizenship as the source of political power and influence.  That is the essence of the Reboot Alberta citizen’s movement.

If you want to be part of it and make a difference in changing the trajectory of your province through personal and political action you will want to be at RebootAlberta3.0 November 5-6 in Edmonton.

Click here to register

Committing Makes It So!

A small group of us have start to focus on the shape and content of Reboot 3.0 the next province-wide gathering a large group of progressive thinking Albertans.  We will get together in Edmonton Nov 5-7 to starting taking action to make a different kind of Alberta based on progressive values.

We will outline a distinct departure from the options we are being told we should follow either one of the PC political machine that runs the province, or the Wildrose Alliance, that aspires to run the province.

All progressive thinking Albertan agree we need to send a message that there is a large and engaged group of like-minded people who think differently.  we want a more long-term view, that is integrated, caring and compassionate, inclusive, innovative and progressive as a policy agenda and political culture in Alberta.  We aspire to a society that is based on natural and human capital stewardship and building a responsible economy that is sustainable and thinks about the future.

I see the commitment of everyday citizens towards making Alberta a better place including all the small things people do every day to support and embrace the various quality of living concerns they have.  These are often individual gentle actions that combine to make enormous differences in the lives and living in their communities.

It had given me pause and the inclination to look at what it takes to make a real difference in a place like Alberta. I am drawn to and struck by these words of Goethe:

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw  back–

Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and  splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then  Providence moves too.

All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issue  from the  decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen  incidents and  meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would  have come his way.

Whatever you can do, or dream you can do,  begin it.

Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”

~ Goethe

This piece of poetry supports and informs my mantra about the greater meaning about being Albertan.  It is borrowed from Ken Low, the man who conceived and runs Leadership Edmonton and Leadership Calgary.  He first brought the thought to my attention and made me reflect about our potential as a province and our provenance as a people.  He said: “It is not about Alberta being the best place IN THE WORLD.  It is about our chance to be the best FOR THE WORLD.” That is a philosophy and a goal worthy of  a serious commitment.

To achieve that end we will need to see more understanding, curiosity, energy, wisdom, investment; and yes Real Commitment.  Will progressives rise to that challenge/opportunity?  I hope so.  Reboot Alberta will be a platform for folks to come together and figure out what that might mean in terms of real action and what kind of real commitment it will take to achieve it.

People will be looking at what they can do politically, socially, environmentally, culturally and yes, economically, in the next few months to help change the trajectory of Alberta.  We want real change, for the better, and to embed that change in a new and better and more fulfilling sense of being Albertan.

Join the movement and commit to some real change in the direction and destiny of Alberta.  Commit to come to Reboot 3.0.  In the meantime register with Reboot Alberta as your first step in your personal commitment to fostering progressive change in Alberta.  There is a tribe of progressives out there and you can be part of it.