Kevin Galasinao

Mrs. Lipinski

Philosophy 216

January 2013

How Two Political Platforms Protect and Promote the Common Good

Introduction

The common good is the benefit of the community. It is the welfare of the whole community, as the proper object of a just law, and is distinguished from individual good, which looks only to the good of a single person. According to the passage on pages 354 and 355 of the philosophy textbook In Search of the Good, the primary role of the government is to promote and protect the common good because it helps control many evils of the world like poverty, war, and genocide. The government also demonstrates many virtues such as self-sacrifice, courage, and order. St Augustine thinks this way because to him, the ideal society is found in genuine community, not so much in institutions. The city of God was what people are looking for when they dream of real communities, of communities that support and nourish them. For him such a community was a community with God. What holds this community together is common love and worship. In this community alone will one find justice and peace. And it is the community that is led by a government.

Governments these days, including western governments like Canada’s, have undergone a major shift. Its link to ethics has become less immediate. In Canada, politics is first of all directed to the public order and safety and the protection of freedom. This does not necessarily make politics indifferent to ethics. Governments do raise ethical questions but always in the context of the public order. In other words, politics today is not about ethics and morality, but about the public order and the protection of legal rights and freedoms. The ethical question is not the first question when politicians debate the issues of the day. Yet, since politics is the power to act together for the good of all, it is ethical. Constitutional governments work by means of the representatives of the citizens. The representatives speak on behalf of the citizens he or she represents. Also, these representatives include political parties like the Green Party of Canada and the Canada Action Party. The political platforms of these parties protect and promote the common good. The common good is the benefit of the community.

The Green Party of Canada

The Green Party of Canada is a Canadian federal political party that was founded in 1983 with 10,000–12,000. It has been led by Elizabeth May since August 26, 2006. The Greens, which members of the Green Party are called, advance a broad multi-issue political platform that reflects its core values of ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy and non-violence. Its platform protects and

promotes the common good because it consists of a smart economy, strong communities, true democracy, budget, and vision green. I will discuss the first three ideas.

A Smart Economy

The first idea of the Green Party’s platform is a smart economy. To the Green Party, a smart economy is a green economy. It turns old-industry blue-collar jobs into new-industry green-collar jobs. It focuses on value-added production and generates green products that will be in demand in tomorrow’s markets.

Also, a smart economy is efficient. It relies on non-polluting systems and energy sources. It ends waste. It reuses and recycles. Through closed-loop systems it is massively more efficient. That efficiency will bring greater competitiveness and prosperity to the entire Canadian economy.

Finally, a smart economy is not based on hype. It is real people building real things. It lives within its means. It’s stated that the first step is to get out of this recession without a crippling debt and deficit. The Green Party has a plan to get Canada out of deficit.

The Green Party claims that smart economies start with:

-Green jobs. Create thousands of jobs through investment in renewable energy, expanding passenger rail and modernizing freight, retrofitting thousands of buildings to high standards for energy efficiency.

-Smart economic stimulus. Expand access to employment insurance for those who paid into it, while protecting the pensions of retired Canadians. Reduce EI and CPP contributions for businesses.

-Making global trade fair. Reform, revise and rethink our trade agreements. Trade is a part of a sustainable future only when it is fair for all.

-Healthy industry. The Green Party wants a healthy agriculture sector, with support for those who wish to transition to organic farming. They also want a healthy fishery, with an end to devastating draggers. And they also want a sustainable forest industry with more emphasis on value added, and less raw log or unprocessed pulp export. More jobs for more people making real things.

-Cutting wasteful subsidies. End the failed strategy of throwing good money after bad in corporate bail-outs for big business, and subsidies to nuclear and fossil fuels.

-Getting the prices right. Get the prices right for long-term sustainability. Avoid structural deficits. Implement a revenue-neutral carbon pricing architecture to modernize our economy. Build a “Made in Canada” Green economy.

Strong Communities

The Green Party believes a community is defined by more than geography. It is people living together, taking care of each other, having time for each other.

To the Green Party, communities that work take work. They want transportation systems that get you from here to there, quickly, efficiently, and safely, water works that ensure clean and healthy water. All the things that make us love where we live. Things we have and hold in common: playing grounds, bike paths, green spaces, community gardens, decent housing, strong schools, and a public health care system that addresses all aspects of our well-being.

The Green Party wants to improve the quality of life by addressing the work-home balance. They want a more humane life with time for what really matters. Making a living should never impede having a life.

Strong communities mean creating opportunities for young Canadians. Young people build community, both where they live and where they connect through the Internet in virtual communities. Energized youth are part of a real green future.

The growing numbers of older Canadians are active and engaged. They have made a major contribution to this country, and they want to keep contributing. They should be able to continue to have the lifestyle they want, living with dignity and independence.

The Green Party states that strong communities start with:

-Help for married couples and families.

-Fixing the tax system. Lower income taxes and introduce full income splitting to reduce the tax burden on married couples and families.

-Sharing the load. More people working fewer hours. For those who want to, make it easier to telecommute or work from home. The Green Party wants share jobs; flex hours, flexible child care with access for all, early childhood education, and more workplace child care spaces. They also want support for those who stay home to raise their children and support for those who need to get back to work while their kids are still young.

-Help for local governments. The Green Party wants sustainable long-term funding support for municipalities to repair decades-old crumbling infrastructure. Build for the future. Create more of the common amenities all communities need for recreation, transportation, water works and arts and culture.

-Respecting and supporting our elders. The Green Party wants to ensure secure pensions and provide programmes that address health – both physical and mental – and ensure dignity by stopping elder abuse and respecting living wills.

True Democracy

The Green Party believes that Canadian democracy is in trouble. Power is increasingly centralized. Individual MPs – the voices of Canadians in Parliament – are becoming more and more irrelevant. Question Period is a daily showcase for behaviour we would not tolerate from our children. The Green Party believes that it’s time to restore true democracy and put the power where it belongs – in the hands of Canadians.

True democracy means making every vote count. More than votes, it means engaging and debating respectfully. It means working together to find a cooperative and positive way forward. As Canadians, we take pride in a global reputation for civility and cooperation. Our instincts run to generosity and compassion. Let’s embrace that.

While Canada reduces waste in its economy and industry, it should also stop wasting votes. The Green Party wants to move to a fairer electoral system that reflects the true will of voters.

True democracy also means true global leadership. In the past, other nations in our global village looked to Canada for leadership – in peace keeping and peacemaking, in disarmament, and in environmental sustainability. The Green Party believes that its time for Canada to step up and once again play the leadership role it has forsaken in recent years.

The Green Party believes that true democracy starts with:

-Reforming our voting system. Hold a national discussion on the health of our democracy, addressing the growing and undemocratic power of the Prime Minister’s Office and exploring the options for a more meaningful electoral system. Considering the risks of “first past the post” and vote on whether it should be replaced; considering proportional representation.

-Access to information. Seek true solutions to the increasing corporate control in Canadian journalism. Whatever is “dumbed down” must be “smartened up.”

-Ensuring that citizenship is equal. Social justice and equity are cornerstones of democracy. Canadian democracy is more secure when human rights are respected – starting with the First Nations and indigenous peoples of this continent, Turtle Island (North America). They believe that Canada must move forward in implementing the spirit of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

-Global action on global problems. Strengthening and enforcing decisions made in the 2010 climate negotiations (COP16) to bring in the urgent and aggressive measures required globally to avoid catastrophic climate impacts and adjust and adapt to impacts we can no longer avoid.

-Contributing to a peaceful solution in Afghanistan. Refocus the Canadian mission in Afghanistan to poverty alleviation and development, strengthening governance and civil society institutions, and supporting the training and development of the Afghan military and police force, particularly in the area of upholding and protecting human rights.

-Making poverty history. Meet Canada’s commitments and push other nations to meet theirs in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

The Canada Action Party

The Canadian Action Party is, above all, a pro-Canadian party that was founded in 1997. It has been led by Christopher Porter since 2010. It promotes Canadian nationalism, monetary and electoral reform, and opposes neoliberal globalization and free trade agreements. Its platform promotes and protects the

common good because it consists of the five pillars which are monetary control, sovereignty, civil and human rights, parliamentary reform, and environment. I will discuss the third, fourth, and fifth idea.

Civil and Human Rights

"Those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither." – Benjamin Franklin

According to the Canada Action Party, it is Canada’s civil liberties and human rights, preserved in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that set Canada apart from many countries around the world. Among the freedoms preserved in the charter:

•Freedom of conscience and religion

•Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication

•Freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association

And legal rights such as:

•Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental Justice.

•Everyone has the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure.

•Everyone has the right not to be arbitrarily detained or imprisoned.

•Everyone has the right on arrest or detention ◦(a) to be informed promptly of the reasons therefor;

◦(b) to retain and instruct counsel without delay and to be informed of that right; and

◦(c) to have the validity of the detention determined by way of habeas corpus and to be released if detention is not lawful.

These are just a few of the rights and freedoms that Canada has protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and freedoms.

However, many of these rights and freedoms have been eroded in the name of security and public safety. The Canadian Action Party believes that the biggest threat to security and public safety would be relinquishing the rights and freedoms we have protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. They believe that Canada’s rights and freedoms must be protected.

The Campaign of the CAP

The Canadian Action party reminds Canadian citizens that many of Canada’s troops have fought and died for our country to protect and preserve the rights and freedoms they enjoy today. Sometimes the biggest threat to Canada’s security and freedoms may not be opposing armies, but provisions and laws that undermine Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms in the name of safety and security. They remind

Canadian citizens not be influenced by the climate of fear being created by many public servants who seek to undermine liberties of Canadians for security. There is little to justify the loss of people’s liberties. The loss of liberty is the biggest threat a free society has and it is the people’s liberties that keep us free from tyranny. Canada must protect the people’s liberties, rights, and freedoms. Canadians must protect these liberties and the sovereignty of our nation. The changes needed to bring Canada to a state of complete interactive democracy, for the people, by the people.

Parliamentary Reform

The CAP believes in direct democracy. So they believe that full accountability, accessibility, and representation are essential elements of a democratic system of government. To the party, the current system and practice of government in Canada serves Canadians very poorly. The practice and experience of most political parties in Canada is of internal tyranny. There is a desire among CAP members that a method of operation in CAP/PAC be created to prevent sabotage, takeover, and tyranny. Therefore, the legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee and the Organization Committee will examine and consider policies of direct democracy including a Swiss style referendum system to govern CAP and Canada, and to make recommendations on the wording of a policy to be put to the CAP/PAC membership for vote by referendum.

In order to make democracy work, the Canadian Action Party fully supports the need to introduce more open participatory democracy. There are several proposals open for discussion. They believe that there are occasions when Canadians ought to be called on to assist in choosing the right plan for Canada. Referendum is one of those options. They are open to discussion on this subject.

On the issue of transparency, the CAP believes that secrecy is the breeding ground of power abuse and corruption and is the modus operandi of the forces operating Canada and the world. Therefore, The CAP commits to complete openness as a fundamental principle to democracy and to a complete absence of secrecy in the party and in governance of the country.

On the issue of parliamentary reform, the CAP notes that Canadians have expressed great dissatisfaction with the way parliament works today. And they are insulted with the behaviour of MP's during Question Period and don't like to see the party whip used to make MP's follow party line. They understand and agree.

The CAP would change the rules for question period-in part, limiting the number of days ministers spend in Question period; make all votes in the Commons, except those clearly defined as votes of no confidence, "free votes" where MPs could vote according to their conscience and the wishes of their constituents; change the rules for Question Period. They believe that the principle of Question Period is good and ministers should be accountable for their actions. But they believe that to have them all there five days a week, like a row of sitting ducks in a shooting gallery, is an incalculable waste of time.

Instead, the CAP would adopt some variation of the British system under which ministers are questioned in rotation. Advance notice of the questions would be given, but supplementary questions on the same subject would be allowed. Two days a week the Prime Minister would answer questions of either a general or urgent nature. Not only would a change along these lines bring improved decorum to

the House, it would multiply the hours ministers have available to learn their departments and make the decisions that might otherwise be left in abeyance.

The CAP would give Members of Parliament a real function in the legislative process. They would actually have MPs in all party committees draft legislation for submission to Parliament. This would be a sharp departure from the present practice where nearly all legislation is written by public servants, approved by cabinet and rammed through parliament with the help of the government whip. The advantage of giving MPs a greater role is that most legislation would then be nonpartisan, the product of the best minds from all the parties. It would allow MPs to more clearly express the wishes of their constituents, and it would make MPs "somebodies" instead of nobodies.

As the "first past of the post" method of electing members of parliament does not result in a House which truly reflects the views of the electorate, the Canadian CAP is committed to the principle of proportional representation which would result in a Commons more in tune with the real wishes of voters.

One of the CAP’s reform policies has already been addressed. Specifically that is with regard to drastically reducing the amount of money corporations could contribute to a party, so their money wouldn't play such a dominant role in election campaigns. They would require television and radio stations to provide limited amounts of free advertising to all parties as a public service.

One further concern of the CAP is the lack of any popular control of government between elections. The party whips are so pervasive that voter's wishes are often ignored. Consequently, they are committed to citizen's initiatives and referendum based on the Swiss model. They are convinced that if such a system had been placed it is likely that we would have been spared the Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA and the Goods and Services Tax.

•Electronic Voting Machines

Ban Electronic Voting Machines Petition

The Canadian Action Party deems it as unacceptable the use of any and all electronic voting machines and will execute as soon as possible the implementation of an online petition across Canada by the CAP Executive. On the cessation of polling, CAP shall have the number of names delivered to Mr. Marc Mayrand, Chief Electoral Officer of Canada.

•Elected Senate (Jury Senate)

Canadian Action Party sees the need to reform the Senate. They see it as a very important vehicle for second thought before legislation is passed. They have reviewed various ideas on senate reform and believe that the 'Jury Senate' is by far the best proposal for real democracy to function.

Elected Senate in Detail

From the 1930s to the end of the 20th century, senate reform has periodically appeared in the platform of some political parties. The only reform that took place, however, was that when the Liberals were in power they appointed Liberal senators and when the Tories were in power they appointed Tory senators. A handful of Independents were rare exceptions. More recently the Reform Party (Alliance) has been pushing the Triple E Senate - elected, equal and effective. But this American idea wouldn't fly in Canada.

Canada doesn't have 50 states; it has ten provinces and three territories of vastly different size and population.

There is no way that British Columbia, Ontario and Québec would settle for the same number of seats as Prince Edward Island. Other ideas have included giving the power to appoint senators to provincial governments. But this was perceived as potentially fractious and self-serving on the part of the provinces. The search remained for an elected senate which would not have the wide-ranging power of the U.S. Senate but would still act as a genuine check on a House of Commons dominated and dictated to and by the government party whip at the whim of an all-powerful prime minister.

The "Jury" Senate

Originally the brainchild of the Canadian businessman and politician, Frank Stronach, the concept of a jury senate is novel and meets the test of providing both fundamental reform and a workable system. It would provide both the "sober second thought" that has been the present Senate's principal rationale for continued existence, in the face of pressure to abolish it altogether, and a real populist counter-balance to the near absolute power of Canada's prime ministers - greater, proportionally, than the president of the United States.

The original plan for the "jury" senate called for one senator to be elected for each two electoral districts for a total of 150. The Canadian Action Party has opted instead for one senator for each three electoral districts (approximate) for a total of 101. There are two reasons for the change.

The first reason is practical housekeeping. The present Senate Chamber will accommodate 101 whereas it is too small for 150. Even more compelling is the fact that under the following proposal 101 is ample to balance the power of the Commons while 150 might be too overpowering and dominant. With a 101 total the initial distribution would be something like this. Newfoundland 2, Prince Edward Island 1, Nova Scotia 4, New Brunswick 4, Québec 25, Ontario 34, Manitoba 5, Saskatchewan 5, Alberta 9, British Columbia 11 and the three Northern Territories 1. In order to keep provincial representation in round numbers some senate constituencies would be slightly more or slightly less than the Commons constituencies. This would not interfere in any way with the smooth operation of the system.

The second reason is that the House of Commons would be elected as it is now on a partisan basis. The "jury" senate, on the other hand would be non-partisan and vote as individuals. The Chief Electoral Officer would choose candidates for the "jury" senate from the permanent list of electors by computer random selection. Twenty or twenty-five names would be drawn and they would be asked to indicate whether or not they would like to stand for election. Those that replied in the affirmative would be asked to submit a two-page summary of their background experience and reasons why they would like to serve in public office, together with a photograph. The Chief Electoral Officer would have the information transcribed in standard form and mail it to each qualified elector in the senatorial district at public expense. This would eliminate the need for campaigning in the traditional way, putting up signs and buying advertising, which would be prohibited, so that there would be a level playing field between candidates and they would be beholden to no one except the taxpayers at large.

The Environment

Water, air and soil are the basis to sustain all life forms. The CAP will not sacrifice any of these for the sake of greed or the pursuit of profit. They believe that all policies must be respectful of the environment. They believe that people must always strive to create an atmosphere where people can live in a healthy manner. Also, people must encourage responsible decisions and penalize decisions, which are detrimental to the environment. Our food, water, air and soil are the basis to sustain all life forms. People cannot afford to sacrifice one for the sake of greed or pursuit of profit. Additionally, they support the family farm, organic foods, sustainable, responsible agriculture, fisheries, and forests. And they support the Kyoto Protocol and water as a human right as well.

Environmental Concerns

The CAP believes that we must reduce the use of fossil fuels to meet the Kyoto Accord. In order to achieve this goal we shall adopt a similar energy strategy to Europe, which includes: 1) energy conservation; 2) renewable energy such as wind, solar, hydroelectric and geothermal; 3) use cleanest available fossil fuel in the most efficient way possible. In particular, we shall review the development of the Alberta tar sand's and its contribution towards global warming. In situations involving resource extraction we shall seek alternatives that provide jobs and prosperity without damaging wildlife habitat or contributing to CO2 emissions.

To meet our transportation needs we shall establish the manufacture of a hybrid Canadian made car, promote car sharing, fuel efficiency, public transit, rail, and urban planning for pedestrians and bicycles, within cities and outlying urban areas.

The Canadian Action Party acknowledges the extremely high priority, that environmental concerns demand and would provide financial assistance in research, development and application of all progressive measures necessary to meet the objectives of sustainability. Another high priority would be garbage reduction. The Canadian Action Party would develop environmental standards for waste and packaging reduction, while helping to fund all Canadian cities willing to accept new non-polluting technology to end the dumping in landfill sites so the action could become only a distant memory.

Conclusion

Canada has changed. We used to put ethics first. We used to be a great country. It was a country where Americans would flee to if life in the United States became unpalatable. It had no nuclear weapons and no huge military-industrial complex. It had universal health care, funding for the arts, and a good record on the environment. But now, Canada has changed for the worse. We put our goals first, even if it harms others.

Look at our support for Israel, pulling out of Kyoto so we can dig up the Alberta tar sands in an orgy of environmental degradation, carrying out the largest mass arrests of demonstrators in Canadian history at 2010’s G-8 and G-20 meetings, rounding up more than 1,000 people, sending undercover police into indigenous communities and activist groups and handing out stiff prison terms to dissenters, and the XL pipeline, a pipeline system that will transport synthetic crude oil and diluted bitumen ("dilbit") from the Athabasca oil sands region in northeastern Alberta, Canada to multiple destinations in the United States,

even if it means the destruction of people’s property and people being evicted, environmental risks, and health problems.

Canada is being ruined by Stephen Harper and his Conservative Party, and certain corporations. The decay of Canada illustrates two things. Corporate power is global, and resistance to it cannot be restricted by national boundaries.

We need to change for the better; that includes voting for better parties like the Green Party or the Canada Action Party. A Canada with the Green Party would be one where it consists of a smart economy, strong communities, and true democracy. A Canada with the Canada Action Party would be one where civil and human rights are changed, and the environment is protected. If either of the parties were the current party of Canada, they could make the nation protect and promote the common good. As a result, Canada could be a great country once again.

Works Cited

In Search of the Good, Student Text, Copyright Concacan, Inc., 2004; Second Edition 2005. All rights reserved.

The Green Party of Canada Fund, Chief Agent for the Green Party of Canada. "Welcome." Green Party of Canada. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2013.

Sally Patterson Braun. "Canadian Action Party." Canadian Action Party. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2013.

Gaius Publius. "What Happened to Canada? (Ans: Corporate Power Is Global)." AMERICAblog Elections RSS. N.p., 2 May 2012. Web. 20 Jan. 2013.

"Keystone Pipeline." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Jan. 2013. Web. 20 Jan. 2013.