Political Values

Cosmopolitan Critique of the Degeneration of Canadian Politics

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve G-d and mammon." -- Matthew 6:24 (King James Version of the Christian Bible).

As the Canadian political culture has become more and more based upon materialistic values, prior commitment to supporting progressive social policies, has also diminished. Social policies had originally been developed from a view that Canadian was a progressive "participatory democracy". Government in Canada as a progressive participatory democracy, was viewed to have a spiritual covenant. This represented spiritual covenant was associated with corresponding progressive religious convictions, to support the quality-of-living of Canadians inclusive of healthcare, irrespective of personal access to financial resources. Such a represented covenant embraced a communal quality-of-living focus for Canada, that in effect was beyond any commercial-market consideration.

There was a time when a cadre of Canadian politicians would stand-up, and most notably Tommy Douglas, but also others like Pierre Elliot Trudeau and John Turner, and defend unswerving commitments to civic-spiritual commitments. Such a cadre of politicians would stand-up for a core of such progressive convictions of behalf of defending Canadians, or areas of national sovereignty in general, irrespective of personal self-aggrandizement considerations.

However, under the pressure of reactionary economic policies adopted by successive governments in Canada, such civic-spiritual commitments that had inspired Tommy Douglas have been destroyed within an evolving Canadian political culture of "materialism". The apparent growing crass "materialism" among political leadership, has corresponded with a growing "elitism", and "capitalistocracy", with the undermining of democratic values in Canada.

A certain level of altruism, and spirituality that used to characterize the Canadian political culture related to social idealism, has been replaced for apparent service to "Mammon". Service to "Mammon" has become associated with an apparent de-evolved desire for short-term personal self-advancement, irrespective of the social, environmental and other costs inflicted on other Canadians and on Canada.

Cosmopolitan is committed to supporting the revitalization of "participatory democracy in Canada", based upon rejuvenating a covenant between government, and the diverse Canadian public. This revitalized covenant, envisions renewing spiritual commitments associated with social justice, toward a progressive Canadian society, and toward global peace in the international community.

Cosmopolitan as Tommy Douglas had articulated, envisions a progressive government that facilitates a high quality of survival for all Canadians, toward the development of Canada as a "model society". Hopes for the development of Canada as a model progressive society were articulated from Jean Talon, who was Canada's first Intendant in the colony of New France in the seventeenth century, to many other Canadians of diverse social cultural backgrounds in the nation-building of Canada. Cosmopolitan is a cross-cultural bringing together of Canadian idealists who support the renaissance of Canada from its well-documented social decline under neglectful elites.

The People-Centred Economy

The market is not a sufficient basis for ensuring the development of a humane and civilized society. The market provides a useful context to evaluate commercial priorities, that are in support of private sector considerations. However, Cosmopolites concern for "the Economy" extends well beyond "materialistic" consideration of commerce.

Cosmopolites support the fruition of a "People-Centred" Economy, where social and environmental costs are integrated in qualitative and quantitative analyses of economic development.

In such a socially progressive milieu, the Economy serves the People. In the current prevailing milieu the People serve "the Economy" as "wage slaves". Within the current organization of the Canadian economy, people are being denied the opportunity to fulfill the pursuit of a high quality-of-survival. Instead, the Canadian Economy is being structured to primarily service the interests of "commerce". Canadians are supposed to be satisfied with any "trickle down" benefits to this elite-oriented system in a somewhat analogous way that a dog may depend upon scraps of food from their master at a their master's dinner table.

In a People-Centred Economy, environmental protection that supports the pursuit of high quality of living is integral to all levels of economic development. In the "People Centred" Economy, Nature has its own intrinsic value to the quality-of-living, in relation to protection Canada's and the world ecosystems, which people depend upon for their quality-of-life. In such a revitalized Economy the 'institution of work' serves quality-of-living objectives of Human Development, rather than work as a form of socio-economic servitude. In this alternative milieu social justice and environmental protection is the axiom, of all public policies, without exception.

The pursuit of commercial objectives by the private sector should be respected, as long as the execution of these objectives do not undermine quality-of-living considerations. This includes the negligent dumping of toxins in waters and in the air.

The central role of government in a "People-Centred" Economy is to support, and to execute public sector responsibilities. These public sector responsibilities are associated with the functioning of government in a democracy society. In such a democracy, the public sector must provide effective representation for all citizen-participants, in a viable economy. The pursuit of private sector objectives must be consistent with the vital responsibilities of public sector in a participatory democracy, which embraces social justice, and corresponding social inclusion.

National Green Industrial Plan

Cosmopolites endorse support for a 'National Green Industrial Plan', which would be in the pan- Canadian economic integration spirit of Sir John A. Macdonald's 'National Policy'. Such a 'National Green Industrial Plan' would provide subsidies to the producing of renewable sources of energy which protect the environment, instead of subsidization to sources of energy that create smog, and that overall. damage the environment. Such a pan-Canadian economic strategy would also support other industries which protect the environment, like the growing area of organic agriculture. The federal Liberals continue to rely on economic policy which has continued to undermine the quality-of-living of Canadians, as corroborated by United Nations documentation.

Cosmopolitan endorses support for significant investments in public transportation infrastructure, including the construction of a National High Speed Railway Network. Cosmopolites recognize that with the political will, critical environmental issues can be immediately addressed, before they cause more irreversible and catastrophic damage to Canada, and the Earth in general. A National Green Industrial plan will re-focus on economic development strategies which protects the air, waters, and lands from toxifications from industrial pollutants. The National Industrial Green Plan will also make constitutional provision for the clean-up of areas contaminated by industrial pollutants. The National Green Industrial Plan, in the spirit of Sir John A. Macdonald's 'National Policy' will also be predicated on the safeguarding and promotion of Canadian sovereignty.

Canadian Sovereignty and Independence

Cosmopolites recognize that the safeguarding and promotion of Canadian sovereignty is vital to the capability of government to facilitate the pursuit of the high quality-of-survival of all Canadians.

When the sovereignty of the Canadian government is compromised by external forces, the Canadian government cannot act to defend the vital public interests of Canadians. The compromising of Canadian sovereignty also compromises the ability of government in Canada to be an agent of the diverse public. Instead, government in Canada will principally serve external forces, and societies.

Cosmopolites recognize the need to protect Canadian cultural, social, and economic sovereignty, in a manner that supports the execution of Canada as a participatory democracy, and that also affirms the national identity of Canada; and of Canada as a cosmopolitan community.

All Canadian economic policies, including international trade agreements should reflect priorities on Canadian sovereignty and independence, that have been politically historically defended since Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald.

Cultural Diversity, Social Inclusion and Participatory Democracy

Government in Canada must provide better leadership in making sure that Canadians of all cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, can access opportunities to pursue their quality-of- living, and opportunities to participate in the nation-building of Canada, free of institutionalized discrimination. This will require federal government political leadership, that creates much more effective human rights enforcement mechanisms, that will redress institutionalized discrimination in a timely manner.

When institutions discriminate in hiring practices against peoples of certain backgrounds, in violation of human rights law, this deprives Canadians of economic opportunities. When groups of people of certain background of our cities, are discriminated against in an on-going manner, the result is areas of social despair. Such social despair include alienation, and poverty, which can lead to increasing crime. A Cosmopolitan Government would embrace support to the development of Canada as a participatory democracy. Such a government would facilitate maximizing the opportunities that Canadians have in decisions which effect their lives as citizens- participants, in relation to their pursuit of a high quality-of-living. A participatory democracy must support social justice, as the axiom of all public policies, which include the alleviating of economic disparity.

Universality

Cosmopolites embrace universal access to vital areas associated with the quality-of-living, irrespective of personal access to financial resources. Cosmopolites recognizes that all Canadians have a right to food, shelter, clothing, and other critical amenities of life, which are include access to healthcare and protection of their environment from activities which harm the pursuit of their high quality-of-living.

Cosmopolites support the renewing full federal public funding support to the promotion of the Canadian public healthcare as a model for healthcare system internationally. Cosmopolites support universal public healthcare and access to public health standards in association with environmental quality consideration as a basic human right in Canada.

A Cosmopolitan Government would renew social programmes including direct transfer payments to municipalities, to eliminate "involuntary homelessness", and also to provide affordable housing access equitably to all Canadians in need of affordable housing.

Cosmopolites also recognize access to Higher Education as a universal right. Cosmopolites view that access to personal finances, should not be a barrier to going to university or college in Canada. Cosmopolites support the lowering of tuition fees, so that students can concentrate more on their education and student life on campus, and less on working in a manner that detracts from their education and student life.

Canadian Governance, Federalism, and Rejuvenating Multiculturalism

Cosmopolites recognize the need for a strong central government, and for stronger local municipalities, in order to provide locally sensitized representation on local quality-of-living issues. Provinces in Canada have become so strong that they have undermined the safeguarding of Canadian national interests. Cosmopolites support the amending of the Canadian constitution so that the federal government can directly provide transfer payments to Canadian cities including Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Halifax, to provide critical support to social programmes in Canadian cities, in support of rejuvenating Canadian urban social fabrics.

Cosmopolites support the development of Canada, as a strong multi-cultural and cross-cultural national community, rather Canada de-evolving into provincial feudal elites and somewhat segregated ethnic enclaves.

The De-amalgamation of Canadian Municipalities

A Cosmopolitan Government would support a constitutional amendment that empowers local communities to re-establish local governments which were un-democratically taken away by provincial governments, contrary to the civil rights of Canadians.

Such amalgamated municipalities, which include Toronto, have dysfunctionally supported alienation, social malaise, and insensitivities to local quality-of-life priorities, and that has supported increasing crime in these municipalities. A Cosmopolitan Government would support returning the 'Toronto Megacity' back to the former municipalities of Metropolitan Toronto,

Community Economic Development Alternative to "Economic Globalization"

Cosmopolites supports an emphasis of local community economic development priorities that protect local cultures, and local ecosystems instead of "Economic Globalization".

"Economic Globalization" does not sufficiently safeguard the pursuit of the quality-of-life of citizen-participants.

Canada as a Model Progressive Society

Cosmopolites support the affirmation of a system of human rights, social justice and comprehensive environmental protections -- from Canada's forest and protecting Canada's oceans including fisheries, to also green space, clean air, and safe drinking water in Canadian cities -- toward the development of Canada as a model progressive society.

Re-appraising Economic Development Indices

Cosmopolites recognize that current market indicators of economic development, including the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and so-called "Leading Economic Indicators", are not sufficient to measure economic development, because these indicators ignore social and environmental costs. Cosmopolites endorse support for the use of a presented 'Quality of Life' (QLI) index, which can provide a socially ethical context to public policy considerations on economic development.

Rejuvenating Official Languages Policy

Cosmopolites support the replacing of the Official Languages Act, with a proposed 'Canadian Languages Act'. The Official Languages Act has undermined Canadian constitutional rights by being a source of institutionalized discrimination. The Official Languages Act has also dysfunctionally supported the regional alienation of western Canada.

Affirmation of Aboriginal Rights

Cosmopolites endorse support to replace the Indian Act, with an envisioned 'Canadian Aboriginal Constitutional Act', which respects Canadian aboriginal self-government in Canadian federalism. Cosmopolites support the corresponding recognition of aboriginal language rights and aboriginal treaty rights.

Pro-Active Internationalism

Cosmopolites support Canada having the sovereignty to be able to provide leadership and mediation support to vital international issues, which include poverty, famine, regional wars, and initiatives toward global peace. Canada as a sovereign nation should also pursue a fully independent foreign policy, which reflects Canadian values that include social justice.

Social Justice, the Quality-of-Living and "Fiscal Responsibility"

Cosmopolites recognize that it will always cost humanity more to ignore priorities of social justice, than to timely redress social justice. Yet, government in Canada continues to preside over the mounting broad costs of poverty, underemployment, crime, environmental degradation; institutionalized racism and other discriminations; and other on-going malaise and social injustice... partly, in the name of "budgetary management".

Such withholding of needed attention and other resources, has been done by the federal Liberal government, and other governments in Canada (while they have at the same time serviced the targets of vested-interests, has been both irresponsible and short-sighted.

The creation of a public sector that focuses on the pursuit of a high quality of survival of all people, and that is linked with environmental protection as vital feature to supporting a high quality-of-survival, is also vital to the represented covenant of government, in a democratic society. Man.. and Woman.. "..Does not Live by Bread Alone."

Cosmopolites recognize that there are concerns that extend well beyond the commercial priorities of the private sector. The activities of the private sector should not compromise the safeguarding of a moral covenant by government, to all people, via a public sector context which includes, but is not limited to, healthcare and public health, Higher Education, environment, housing, cultural industries, energy, and other areas.

Cosmopolites endorse the renewal and rejuvenation of a Canadian covenant to support the pursuit of a high quality of survival via a public sector milieu, which in turn can provide accountability, that is lacking in the private sector, to all people. In such a milieu representative government serves the diverse public. The compromising of the public sector in Canada to a prevailing private sector culture, is dysfunctionally leading to the de-evolution of Canada into a harsh "survival of the fittest society". Such a compromising of Canada, has undermined the healthy development of Canada as socially progressive and dynamic cosmopolitan society.

Democracy becomes comprised if government services private sector agendas, instead of the public sector agenda of the diverse public. Cosmopolites support a pro-active public policy agenda in support of facilitating the pursuit of a high quality-of-survival, by all Canadians.

Organization  ::  Get Involved  ::  Political Invitations  ::  Values-Based Politics  ::  Contact