R.H. Parry in his book The English Civil War and After remarked on how opposition arises to a government and the difficult job of a social historian.
Decisions taken [ by the government in the public interest were necessarily speculative. "They could not hope to satisfy all the people - not even the limited people of "the political nation" - all the time. However well-intentioned they were always liable to arouse heats that cold not be quenched by reference to "the commonweal" [here one could substitute the so called "Alberta Advantage"] or other traditional bromide. Rather the atmosphere grew hotter as issues were discussed by groups of people of diverse and shifting outlooks, who wanted to be knowing, asked awkward questions. "
He goes on to say that sentiments were changing among these groups ..."their ideas were formed in the communities in which they lived and worked." (The same is true for Alberta today, it seems, judging by today's (September 27) protest at the Legislature - more on that below).
Parry said the job of a good social historian is to search for these communities an evaluate their impact and relationships. It is a difficult job, he said... "But the historian travelling hopefully, may remind himself of William Walwyn's comment on another long-term goal - the abolition of private property - "We must endeavour it." (page 121)
That is the job of one seeking to change society. We strive to do what we can. It will be a cumulative and shared task stretching over generations. So thanks to the young people protesting today, stepping forward to assume the burden and carry on the job. Together we are moving toward a brighter future.
Parry said that at the time of the English Civil War, sentiments were changing among many groups ..."their ideas were formed in the communities in which they lived and worked."
They were evolving. In other words politics and living itself is a process. We learn as we go. And certainly the situation in Alberta is evolving .
Today's protest (September 27) is a sign of that.
Us old-timers may recall when 10 - 20 thousand teachers protested at the Legislature in the 1980s.
In sheer numbers today's protest may be larger or smaller than that. but the important thing is the great number of young people involved in today's protest.
Through the last 50 years, Alberta governments have claimed massive popularity and got away with it due to the unfairness of the electoral system - they took sometime 95 percent of the seats with usually not more than 60 percent of the vote. In part they were able to do this due to disenchantment and disengagement of a large part of the voters. Voter run-tout is often hardly more than half.
We don't know how much of that was young people but w can surmise much of it is pessimistic opposition votes who had seen their vote wasted in too many elections.
Hopefully the environmental movement sees the need for electoral reform. The status quo elects status quo politicians who don't seethe need for change or see it but find their own beds are feathered well enough that they do not take action.
Motorcar-commuting work a day non-thinkers seem to be the greatest group, although not a majority. and under FPTP they elect the most MLAs and MPs.
It is time for change, both change away from our use and mis-use of the planet and our political system in which 40 percent to 60 percent of the voters who do come out are ignored. And it is heartening that young people are seeing that and taking action.
I was part of a large protest at the legislature against Klein's attempted privatization of health care.
The shouted slogan there was "that is not democracy this is what democracy looks like."
An old leftie and I looked at each other in surprise -- protesting outside the chamber where decisions over a basic necessity of life was being decided by 80-some politicians was not our idea of democracy. Standing outside in the dark making as much noise to prevent a heartless demagogue from selling off this precious social service and putting us at the "mercy" of the private sector did not seem like democracy to us but more of a last-ditch stand against an unfeeling oppressive system.
Not to say that it was not important. and not to deny the fact that it and the courageous stand of the small (under-represented) NDP caucus in the legislature itself did in fact stop Klein in his tracks.
But to say that democracy (or the constitutional monarchy that we live under if you prefer) should have given us a government that was not set on such a disastrous move.
Such a government is what democracy looks like.
And here's hoping that the young people do not forget their involvement today and later when they are old enough to vote that vote for change both in personnel of the government in the very shape of government itself.
"We need change and we need it now."
(The English Civil War and After, Macmillan, 1970)
(keywords:
protest, Ralph Klein, healthcare, electoral reform, STV)
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