Book Review: Exporting Democracy

Hopefully a quick book review will help me get back into the swing of things after this unintentional Christmas hiatus.

Recently, I read the most recent publication by Canadian politician of note Bob Rae.  Despite the fact that this book was written by a Liberal party insider, it has surprisingly few references to the Harper government's failures.  Still, the several pages dedicated to why Harper sucks were quite tedious.

However, on the whole, I would say this book provides an interesting look at the ways Canada and other countries have tried and frequently failed to help democracy grow around the world.   Therefore, I give it my highest/lowest rank ever: 6/10.

Exporting Democracy, Bob Rae

What year defines Canada as a country?

The date of Confederation (1867) is generally considered to define the beginning of Canada, but this may not be completely fair.  On this date, the British Parliament passed the British North America Act which combined the colonial provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick in to the Dominion of Canada.  However, Canada already existed prior to this date, and full constitutional independence wouldn't be achieved for over a century, so its somewhat unclear that the date of Confederation is the date that should define Canada as a country.  Below are some other dates that could also be considered the definitive Canadian date:


1791:  The British controlled Quebec territory was divided into Upper Canada and Lower Canada in order to separate the jurisdictions of predominantly French speaking Lower Canada and predominantly English speaking Upper Canada.  This was the first creation of territories bearing the name "Canada."

1848:  In 1841, the territories of Upper and Lower Canada were combined into the United Province of Canada which led to a responsible government led by Louis LaFontaine in 1848.  This was the first government in Canada run directly by Canadians and had a degree of autonomy from the British government.

Louis LaFontaine: First Prime Minister of Canada?

1867:  Confederation.  As mentioned above, Confederation united the provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.  It also set up Canada's modern federal style of government and resulted in more autonomy for the elected Canadian government.

Fathers of Confederation: Not much in common with American founding fathers

1931:  The Statute of Westminster is passed by the British Parliament which reorganized the imperial system into the Commonwealth of Nations.  This granted legal independence to Canada and pretty much total legislative autonomy.  Under this definition of Canadian independence, the little known R. B. Bennett was the first Prime Minister of an independent Canada.

R.B. Bennett: First Prime Minster of Canada?

1982: Following the agreement of the British Parliament, the Constitution Act of 1982 modified the Canadian constitution so that the Canadian government could modify its constitution without requiring the agreement of the British Parliament.


So there are about 5 possible dates that could be described as the beginning of Canada.  While confederation isn't a bad date because it created the modern form of government and allowed significant autonomy, I think the most appropriate is either 1848 and Louis Fontaine's responsible government or 1931 and The Statute of Westminster.  I think the reasons these aren't generally considered is that, in 1848, no spectacular documents were drafted to allow for responsible government, and in 1931 Canada was already thought of as effectively independent, so legal independence didn't really seem like a big deal.  In conclusion: Canadian history is fascinating, I don't know why people think it isn't.

Ancient Sumerians Invented Time

Has anyone ever wondered why an hour is divided into 60 minutes and minutes are divided into 60 seconds?  Why not multiples of 10 or 100?  It turns out, 6000 years ago, when the ancient Sumerians were first quantifying time, they used a base 60 counting system.   That is, where our current numerical system is made up of 10 digits, theirs was made up of 60 digits, so it made perfect sense to divide an hour into 60 minutes.  It was like the metric system of the ancient world.

Pictured: ancient metric system (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexagesimal)

So if the ancient Sumerians are still affecting our society today through their numerical system, (as well as through their inventions of agriculture, writing, and cities), it makes me wonder what affect our current society might have on societies 6000 years from now.  My most optimistic guess would be space flight (although thats really more of a Soviet invention) and my least optimistic guess would be catastrophic climate change.

What affect do you think today's society will have on the world of the year 8000?  Post your ideas in the comments below.

Iqaluit Mayoral Bi-elections!

My home town of Iqaluit, Nunavut will be electing a new mayor on Tuesday.  Here's a story about it that CBC wrote up the other day: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2010/12/08/iqaluit-mayoral-forum.html

Iqaluit (Photo courtesy of Joyce Tannouri)

As a mayoral election in one of Canada's thirteen capital cities you would think it would get more media attention.  Although, on the other hand, as capital of its least populous territory, Canadians probably care less about this election than Americans care about who the mayor of the capital city of Guam will be.  Although, on the third hand, I don't believe Guam receives quite as much money from the central government as Nunavut does.  On the fourth hand, the mayorship of Iqaluit doesn't have much to do with that money.  I could go on like this all day.  Also: was everyone aware that people from Guam are called Guamanians?  I digress.

The important issues in this election seem to be mainly waste management, housing, and those posts that separate foot traffic from regular traffic.  Why can't they build sidewalks, people ask?  Also: why can't they get one of those sidewalk sized snowblower things to clear them with, people ask?  I'm not sure that these posts have really been discussed in the campaign, but I just find it ridiculous that a Canadian capital city can't install a few sidewalks.

Check in next week for the thrilling conclusion of "Iqaluit Mayoral Bi-elections!"

Rick Mercer Explains Canada

Here's an amusing clip in which Rick Mercer talk about Canada and Canadian government.



He's right about the answer to "who is Canada's head of State?" being a ridiculous one.

For more some interesting articles about the modern role of the British monarch in Canada, check out these articles at Filibuster Cartoons.  Also: there are cartoons there.

Political Satire: The Best of Both Comedy and Politics

To make amendments for my rant the other day, here is a video by American political satirist/comedian/singer/song writer Roy Zimmerman:


And check out some of his other songs:
Socialist
I'm a Moderate
Sing-a-long Second Amendment

Dear Environmentalists,

I'm an environmentalist in the sense that I believe we need to protect our ecosystems and institute measures to fight climate change.  I am not an environmentalist, however, in the sense that I don't hate every climate related proposal ever proposed.  What this article and countless others like it tell me is that the majority of "environmentalists" will fight for any cause they can think of a catchy slogan for.  "It makes our environment a commodity to be bought and sold" they say.  If they thought about it for more than several seconds they would realize that without cap and trade agreements like this, the environment is FREE for corporations to pollute.  No costs or anything.  No one who wishes to be taken seriously can simultaneously argue that a) corporations are only interested in money, and b) corporations will continue to pollute even if polluting incurs costs, and yet 90% of people who consider themselves environmentalists argue just that.  Its this kind of logic that really de-legitimizes the environmentalist movement.  There are too many problems out there to waste time fighting the solutions.