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Maybe We Need More Radicals

March 25th, 2010

On the outskirts of a town in the Annapolis Valley, a homeowner often erects small hand-painted signs along his road frontage to express his frustration and displeasure with public policy issues of the day. Recently the signs have expressed views on the prorogation of Parliament, MLAs expenses, hospital closures, treatment of Afghanistan prisoners and other current issues.

This particular citizen is a thoughtful, caring and a well-respected member of his community that frequently and freely gives of his time in a wide range of endeavours. He, like many other citizens, is sensing the growing disconnect between the governed and those who govern.

This disconnect is most frequently seen at an immediate level. The most recent examples revolve around the perks to which some elected members seem to think they are entitled or the widespread belief that Parliament was prorogued to avoid embarrassing questions on a number of topics.

Examples spill over into the bureaucracy. The regional health authority held a public meeting seeking community input on issues that were important to the health administrators. They refused to discuss citizen’s priorities.

There is also the disconnect between the bureaucracy and politicians who are responsible for oversight of the public service. Each seems to be living in separate worlds with different perspectives and priorities.

Throughout Atlantic Canada, federal, provincial and municipal officials from all political parties have expressed concern about the withdrawal of Environment Canada funding community programs in the Atlantic region. Environment Canada support is being extended in Quebec and Ontario.

When the occasional reply to their numerous letters and e-mail messages was sent, a stock bureaucratic non-response was prepared by low-level functionaries for signature by someone with a big sounding title and bigger salary. There has not been a single response that actually replies to the questions being posed.

There is also a broader disconnect that seems to be paralyzing the capacity of many of our political and economic institutions to respond to the ecological, social and economic crises facing the world today. For example, our current structures seem utterly unwilling or incapable of dealing with climate change, religious wars and global poverty.

Some of those who lead our political and economic structures seem most interested in protecting and expanding their entrenched interests. It is likely that these leaders also sense the same disconnect but believe that if only they could control more of the variables they could better manage the situation.

It is becoming increasingly obvious that our current political and economic arrangements lack the capacity to adequately respond to the very complex and interrelated issues facing our global community. As new structures evolve, many will express frustration and displeasure. Others will try to sweep away the rising tide of change.

Without regard to political parties and ideologies as we know them today, Eric Hoffer, a political scientist, observed in 1950s that a traditional conservative feared the future while radicals were those who embraced it. Maybe we need a few more of Hoffer’s radicals.

Comments are always welcome and can be addressed to stephenhawboldt@annapolisriver.ca