Tonight I did some light reading and read a white paper published in 1969 and written by Pierre Elliot Trudeau and his Minister of “Indian Affairs” (Jean Chretien..remember “le petit gars de Shawinigan”?)
The White Paper proposed to abolish all legal documents that had previously existed, including (but not limited to) the Indian Act, and all existing treaties within Canada. It proposed to assimilate First Nations as an ethnic group equal to other Canadian citizens and ethnic groups which abound in great numbers. Canada is just as much a giant melting pot as the US.
The White Paper was met with widespread criticism and activism, causing the proposal to be officially withdrawn in 1970.
As I read this ill-fated paper I was thinking to myself how drastically Liberalism has changed in one generation even within the same bloodline. Say 40 years?
I’m not writing this to criticize or put down any one party or group, I’m just making an observation and if you read this and take it some other way or don’t like it, or oh my! get offended! …well too bad I guess. I don’t care one way or the other. I’m just thinking out loud as the saying goes.
Nowadays each cause or group’s common beliefs have to be enforced by the government and everyone made to fall in line in order for the members of that group to feel self worth. I guess what I’m seeing or perceiving is a massive swing to the left from CLASSICAL Liberalism to Modern Social Liberalism.
SOCIAL liberalism at its core is a political philosophy and variety of liberalism that endorses a regulated market economy and the expansion of civil and political rights. Under social liberalism, the common good is viewed as harmonious with the freedom of the individual.
Social liberal policies have been widely adopted in much of the world. Social liberal ideas and parties tend to be considered centrist or centre-left. (Feels way more left to me personally as of late)
A social liberal government is expected to address economic and social issues such as poverty, welfare, infrastructure, health care, education and the climate using government intervention whilst also emphasizing the rights and autonomy of the individual.
All this sounds great doesn’t it? Then why does it seem to have fascist undertones to me? It wreaks of subtle undertones of government control perhaps? To be clear, I’m really not sure. I can’t quite put my finger on it. There’s just something about too much government control (even if supposedly for the common good ) that doesn’t sit well with me. Maybe it’s just an instinct? Anyway just my own observations and thoughts in written form. Make of them what you will or wish.
This quote from Frank Herbert who wrote the Dune Sci-fi books rings of truth.
“Most civilization is based on cowardice. It’s so easy to civilize by teaching cowardice. You water down the standards which would lead to bravery. You restrain the will. You regulate the appetites. You fence in the horizons. You make a law for every movement. You deny the existence of chaos. You teach even the children to breathe slowly. You tame” – Frank Herbert
Peace, good will, and long life to all. All life matters, Everyone Counts or Nobody Counts
