On Being Liberal

I realize that my blog is screamingly Liberal, Libertarian, and about as Left as you can go. I fully acknowledge this, and make no pretensions to being neutral as far as politics are concerned. I am confident that I have very good reasons for my beliefs, and when I talk about politics, it's not simply a statement of belief, but rather a slightly editorialized analysis of the facts that I have spent the better part of my life poring over. Social theory is pretty much what I'm all about, and politics, when you boil it down, is really just social theory. So, while everyone is entitled to their political opinion, I think it's fair to say that people who have taken the time to research human psychology and social theory should be taken a little more seriously when talking about politics than people who have not.

I have of course heard the argument that Psychology and Sociology are “soft sciences”, and as such do not tell us anything concrete about how the real world works, but to be blunt, this is usually said by people who have never studied either, and thus have no idea what they're talking about. The social sciences, like any field in science, develop hypotheses based on observations, and then refines these hypotheses over time by conducting tests and gathering real, quantifiable data. While it is difficult to peer inside the human mind with perfect accuracy, we can understand a great deal about what motivates us, what makes us happy, what promotes our well-being in the long term, and these are not trivial questions. These are the type of questions we should be asking if we really care about improving the society we live in, and we should hold politicians accountable when they don't bother to ask these questions, or fail to listen when science provides them with answers. The solutions that are offered by the social sciences do, in fact, provide measurable positive results when applied to the real world, and so allowing ideology to trump sociology is, to me, both unforgivable and irresponsible.

Liberalism is, to me, simply associated with a higher level of scientific literacy, and a better familiarity with the facts. Facts matter - this is just the way the universe works. The world cares little for what we want, but ideology still plays a large role in politics – we vote for the person who makes us feel better, or says the things we want to hear, or who agrees with our opinions. Instead of examining the issues, the facts that surround them, and the interpretation of the facts that shape the platforms of each party, many voters just vote the same way they always have, assuming that their party will get its facts straight. This is, sadly, not always the case. I would go so far as to say it is not even often the case. An extreme example is the Tea Party in the US, which repeatedly uses talking points that are just factually incorrect. They just make things up out of thin air sometimes, because they know that their voter base will not bother to check facts. While this is not quite as pronounced in other countries, it does happen all the time, and if the public made an effort to be better informed, these parties would quickly be out of business. When one jettisons ideology, what one is left with is utilitarianism. What works and what doesn't become the driving questions, and as far as I'm concerned, this is all that politics should concern itself with. Full stop.

It might help at this point to define our terms. Saying 'left' and 'right' can mean different things to different people, so let's clarify exactly what I mean. While there are certain policies that have been claimed by both sides of the political spectrum over the decades, it is nonetheless fair to say that certain policies have been characteristic of each side of the political spectrum in general. As I've mentioned, the left is known for being socially liberal, exemplified by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's famous quote: “The state has no business in the bedrooms of the nation.” The right, in contrast, often feels compelled to use the machinery of government to impose social mores. The left, typically, believes in the utility of social institutions, and will fund them as such. The right typically does neither, assuming that the market will fill whatever functions that society requires of it. The left sees social spending as an investment, one that will pay large future dividends. The right tends to ridicule such expenditures as wastes of taxpayer money, and promotes austerity as 'financial responsibility'. The left is focused on the priorities of the lower and middle classes and of individuals, while the right consistently demonstrates how it favors the rich, and the well-being of businesses over the well-being of individuals. None of these statements should be controversial – they are based on the sorts of bills that left and right parties try to pass and on the actions that their politicians take when elected – but it's amazing how confused these issues can become, given how often politicians will say one thing and then do another. To be fair, this happens across the political spectrum, and while I tend to agree more with the platforms put forth by the left, greater accountability would be something that could benefit every political party on Earth. In the end, they have to be judged by what they do, not what they say, and then held accountable if they do something irresponsible.

Now, I think it's worth stepping back and taking a look at the social policies from either end of the political spectrum over the past fifty years, and simply analyzing how well these have played out respectively. Since many of these policies are interrelated, for simplicity I'll divide them into two broader categories: Social Mores, and Social Investment. No ideology, just the facts, what works and what doesn't.

1. Social Mores: There are several areas where social norms have been debated hotly between the right and left, but the top two are most likely sex and drug use. In areas with more liberal policies toward sex, that allow certain forms of prostitution, access to pornography, and so forth, the cases of rape and sexually transmitted disease tend to decrease, and do so dramatically when paired with comprehensive sexual education. In contrast, the more conservative policies that restrict the sex trade simply tend to drive it underground, and where sex education is stigmatized, teenage pregnancies and disease both skyrocket, because people are just too ill-equipped to protect themselves. Abstinence is simply an unrealistic expectation to have of a highly sexually motivated species like our own, and when it is forcibly imposed due to some antiquated cultural stigma, the results are unsurprisingly disappointing. The Drug War also proves how disastrous it is to try and dictate private behaviour – people generally do what they want to do, and trying to force them to act a certain way only breeds resentment, while wasting a lot of money in the process. In areas that have treated drug use as a public health issue, favoring education and prevention over criminalization, rates of abuse have decreased, while governments have saved millions of dollars in tax revenue. In places where the sale of soft drugs like marijuana is taxable, the government actually sees a huge boom in tax income, that can be invested in any number of beneficial social programs. I think, in terms of social mores, the practical advantages of the liberal position should be obvious. On the right many people seem to vote for restrictive policies because they feel it's the "right thing to do", but ironically, these sort of policies lead to even more unnecessary suffering. 

2. Social Investment: In countries that invest in education, the result, shockingly, is a better educated population. This, in turn, has allowed these countries to pull ahead economically, as their citizens can compete globally for jobs on the cutting edge, and often bring that experience back to their home countries later in life, where they reinvest this knowledge. The same “butterfly effect” has been demonstrated with other social programs as well, with dollars invested generating huge returns down the line. Well-managed government programs have demonstrated their effectiveness in managing public health, stimulating small business growth, reducing poverty, and any number of other areas. Conversely, when such national institutions are privatized, the result is equally consistent – corporations, driven by the bottom line, are motivated to cut corners, and as such the quality of such services decreases, often dramatically. Competition, which is supposed to facilitate quality control in the free market, does not work when large corporations are given monopolistic control and a captive market. “Trickle-down”, a theory from the right, in which society helps subsidize the rich so that they may “create jobs”, is now largely proven to be nonsense. In the real world, quite the opposite proves true; investment in the individual, such as a strong minimum wage and strong social support for those who are struggling, creates a stable base for the economy. Workers with more stability and income tend to spend more, which fuels new and existing businesses, allowing business owners and the more wealthy to flourish as well. As it happens, the economy works better when fueled from the bottom up than the top down. Austerity measures, when enforced, choke off this flow of capital through the economy, and for a policy that has so often been put forth, is remarkably ineffective. This is not theory – this is just what happens, and the data shows this very clearly.

This, in a nutshell, is the liberal position, at least as I see it. It's not that we are dogmatic in our beliefs (at least not for the most part), they simply make the most sense, given the available information. The key difference, I think, is the ability on the left to change opinion based on new information. While this ability is not exclusive to the left by any means, I have noticed that it is weighted quite heavily in that direction. I suppose in writing this, my goal is to appeal to those on the right that carry this trait, and who simply vote the way they do out of habit. I would ask you to expose yourself to the facts, and simply be objective about what works, what doesn't, and which policies actually offer the most realistic hope for a better future.  

Playing IS Learning

 Kids are naturally very enthusiastic learners. During the first few years of life, they are constantly exploring, testing their environments, and absorbing information faster than at any other time in their lives. Then, tragically, something happens to change all that. I believe that that something is what we colloquially refer to as “the educational system”.

 The system commonly used in most of the world today - that is, formalized and structured learning in a uniform classroom environment - is accepted in many places as “the right way”, but...is it? If so many young people can be turned off subjects or school entirely by the time they finish high school, then maybe we should fundamentally re-examine the way we approach education. In some places they have, and the results might surprise you.

 Alternative schools that do not follow the traditional model have started popping up in a lot of places. These schools often allow a much more flexible exploration of the material, and learning strategies that are more tailored to each student. Most of us figure out pretty quickly in life that we're all different, but bizarrely it is only recently that we are starting to apply this common knowledge toward how we educate our children. Learning styles and strengths can vary widely from child to child, and so it stands to reason that a one-size-fits-all approach to education will not allow each child to maximize their potential. Alternative schools give the students the freedom to follow their own interests, facilitating and guiding them as they do so. They also provide a wide array of learning materials, so that visual, auditory and “read-and write” learners can all benefit.

 The successful outcomes in these schools demonstrate that alternative approaches can work, and even in some cases surpass expectation. I believe the reason for this is really quite simple: a student only learns as much as their attention span will allow, and the more interesting a class is, the more of the material they will retain, and the more they will be motivated to learn. Successful people in every field are, after all, the ones that have a passion for what they do, and it is this passion that drove them to learn everything they could about that field in the first place. The successful educator is therefore one who can double as an entertainer, and spark a student's curiosity. This curiosity, once it is ignited, will burn within them, and motivate them to learn more on their own than they can ever be coerced into learning otherwise. Just look at how quickly kids master video games, and the endless hours they devote to them – it's because they're fun, and the kids are interested. Now, think about how kids behave when forced into an activity that they have no interest in – lethargic, inattentive, and generally disengaged. Which do you honestly think is a better way to learn?

 To me, playing and learning are virtually the same thing. I'm a lifelong gamer, and so I have a fair bit of experience on this subject. For myself and my friends, there is nothing more intriguing than to learn the rules of a new game, and then, over time, achieve mastery of that game. I remember being told when I was young that games are for kids, a waste of time, and that they “rot your brain”. It seems, however, that my hobby has been vindicated by science. Studies have consistently demonstrated that gaming can sharpen key cognitive skills, including attention allocation, spatial resolution in visual processing, and mental rotation abilities. Many skills can be trained in a relatively short period, and these are skills that can be essential in a number of fields, particularly those predicted to be important in the next century, like science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

 Furthermore, I believe that these benefits can be extended into other areas, by carefully crafting activities designed to both educate and entertain. While we do have certain material to cover as teachers, there is very little that says exactly how we have to teach it. Textbooks are only a guideline, and it is up to us to engage students creatively. I certainly try to do so in the English classroom, and the results are encouraging. Having participated in both “by-the-book” lessons and having personally conducted hundreds of classes centred around “learning activities”, and I can attest that the differences are fairly obvious and dramatic. The most obvious is that the students fall asleep a lot less in the activity-centred lessons, and I'm of the opinion that students generally learn more when they're conscious. I know, it's a bit of a stretch. Secondly, they are for the most part trying to learn, actively striving for understanding, and it's hard to argue that this could ever be a bad thing. While sometimes designing lessons that stimulate students interest may divert from the designated textbook material, maintaining interest should be considered the more important priority in language learning. It is after all a huge undertaking to learn a language, and without enough motivation, there is little likelihood that any worthwhile progress can be made. If “learning exhaustion” sets in, you can teach textbook lessons until you're blue in the face, but it will be a wasted effort.

 Games need not be just games. They can (and do) have real educational value; that's the whole point. Using activities and stimulating material is simply the best way to trick ourselves into learning without ever realizing we are doing so. By making a puzzle out of a learning point, and forcing students to figure it out for themselves, we make this knowledge a prize to be won, and once they see it this way, they will not likely forget it. Perhaps the idea that games may help educate more effectively than simply giving people information straight out is counter-intuitive to some. However, our sometimes quirky human psychology does play a major role in how we learn, and we cannot ignore it if we hope to teach effectively. Teaching and psychology (particularly child psychology) have a great deal of overlap, and the teachers of the future may just benefit from being part teacher, part psychologist, and part gamer. I believe that only by tying the three together can we reach as many children as possible, as often as possible, and have both teachers and students enjoy the experience.  

The Masculine, The Feminine, and The In-Between

  A deep part of who we are, how we define ourselves, is defined by our gender. Gender is sometimes synonymous with our sex, either male or female, but it is also defined by how we see ourselves, how we feel, and in this sense there are many more than two options. The number of genders varies in various languages from 2 to 20, a reflection of the fact that there are many of us who do not define ourselves in black and white terms. Even a cursory study of human sexuality will reveal that we as a species simply do not experience gender exclusively in this way, and when we try to define it as such, it should be obvious that we miss a large part of the picture. Studying psychology and sociology has made it very clear to me that rather than a dichotomy, our gender identities exist on a continuum, and while there are some who see themselves as existing on one end of this continuum or the other, a great many of us fall somewhere in between. I have of course known my share of those who define themselves as exclusively heterosexual, but I have also known many others that do not: typically “straight” people who occasionally enjoy experimentation or even relationships with the same gender, fluid bisexuals, those who have exclusively same-sex relationships, transgendered, transsexual, people who have changed how they define themselves over time...the list goes on and on, with the types of relationships and gender definitions varying both from person to person and culture to culture. The idea of black-and-white gender identity is as antiquated as black-and-white television.

  Historically, in many western cultures, those individuals who did not fit into traditional gender roles have been shoe-horned into one, or marginalized, existing in somewhat isolated enclaves. This is partly to escape the gender stereotyping that habitually happens in society at large, and partly because of the human desire to be around those who understand us, and share in our experiences. Because of this, many societies have developed under the erroneous impression that “non-traditional” gender identities don't really exist (this is certainly a predominant mentality here in Japan), or that they represent only a tiny fraction of the population, who needn't be recognized. I can say with confidence that if one takes into account all non-traditional gender definitions, their percentage of the population rises well into double digits.

  Some societies, rather than ignore or persecute this portion of their population, have chosen to recognize and even appreciate them. A well-known example are the Fa'afafine of Polynesia, who are biologically male, but dress and behave in a manner considered typically female. They are considered a third gender, and suffer no societal stigma whatsoever. They often serve important roles within their families, helping take care of children and sharing in other household responsibilities. The existence of such cultures serve as a strong counter-argument to any who would claim that accepting sexual diversity is somehow corrosive to the fabric of society as whole.

  Western culture is now coming to terms with the reality of alternative gender identities, and has made great leaps over the past few decades, but there is still much to be done. Recognition is one thing, and this has certainly occurred at record pace, but full equality is the only way to ensure that everyone can fully contribute to society. Whenever it happens, equal rights enrich societies in countless ways, as we have seen first in the struggle for women's rights, and later in the struggle for racial equality. A balanced playing field ensures that societies can work together more cohesively, that time and resources aren't wasted on scapegoating and persecution, and that everyone has the same opportunities to improve both themselves and the community in which they live. Today, many forms of discrimination are still legal both in the West and in other parts of the world, and it is time to grow out of this pointless, wasteful and distasteful habit.

  In my generation, I realize that I am largely preaching to the converted. Exposure to alternative genders in the media has washed away so much of the ignorance that used to exist, it really has changed the way we think. So much of the prejudice that used to exist was simply due to many people not knowing anyone who defined themselves outside of stereotypical gender roles, but now, people recognize that they are our brothers, our sisters, our neighbours, our friends. They are part of our families. They are just like anyone else in all the ways that really matter. I am confident that we will discard these old prejudices just as we have discarded so many others, and be better for it. My own experiences tell me that parents are learning from their children in this instance, and that a broader definition of love is beginning to cross over generational lines. In some places, the vast majority already fully supports equality, and wonders why we bother quibbling over the issue when there are so many more important matters to deal with. I am confident that with a little hard work, this attitude can spread.

  Is this all part of the “gay agenda”? In a word, no. To call it that is to misunderstand it. This is a civil rights movement, no different than any other. Homosexuals (or any other gender minority, for that matter) do not have a plan to indoctrinate young people, or exert control over other people's lives – that's religion you're thinking of. For a long time the majority of people's prejudice against alternative gender identities sprang from religious doctrines, and where prejudice is still found today, it is reliably in places that are highly religious. Thankfully, there is a new wave of reason taking hold, even in places where there was previously little hope of independent, rational thought on such a topic. With increasingly free access to information, people can hear both sides of the argument, and make more informed decisions. They see beyond what they are told to believe, and use their own judgement, which, rather unsurprisingly to me, generally leads them toward basic human compassion and understanding. There will always be those who look to blame others for their problems, or to attack what they don't understand, but now the world can see this for the ugliness that it is, and for the suffering that it causes. As a species, we are growing, we are opening our eyes, and learning to see just how beautiful and diverse the world can be when you can see in more than just black and white.  

Our Generation's Cause

 By now, most of us recognize that our planet is facing environmental catastrophe in the coming century. It's not a pleasant thought, but at this point a vast majority of us have come to terms with this inconvenient truth, and those who deny it in the face of overwhelming scientific consensus seem increasingly out of touch with reality. The public now recognizes that those who do so typically do so either because they have personal, vested interests in fossil fuel use, or because they are paranoid conspiracy theorists who place little value in science. The time to argue the existence of climate change is done, and it is clearly time to act. My generation largely came to terms with this years ago; we have adopted this cause as our own, and now it is simply a matter of getting everyone else on board.

 Those of us who are now picking up the reigns of power from the Baby Boomers recognize that it will be up to us to clean up the mess that they have left us. This is not to say that it has been exclusively the fault of the previous generation that we are currently standing on a climatic knife edge – everyone has had a part to play since the time of the Industrial Revolution. However, the insatiable lust for economic growth that has driven the previous generation, and the willingness to sacrifice our long-term prosperity for their own short-term gains, has left deeper scars on the world than any other generation has ever inflicted. It will take a change in our thinking, and most likely a new generation at the helm, to undo many of the policies and practices that have lead us to this point. The entire system that has been engineered to bring us to this point is deeply flawed, and so we must be unafraid to question it on a fundamental level. Capitalism itself, which at its core is driven by consumption, teaches us that this is the only way to find fulfilment, but many now recognize how deeply flawed this mentality is, and how destructive its ramifications can be. Yes, a free market offers an explosion of choice that a Communist state cannot, and for this it has been celebrated for the past century, but we let this obscure our ability to see its flaws. As a result, they have run rampant, and today we are facing the hard consequences. Perhaps it is because of this that we are starting to recognize where improvements must be made, and we are mustering the nerve to make them, in spite of the challenges that this may pose.

 We need not grow our civilization at the expense of the environment...indeed, we can no longer afford to. This is at the core of what we are now learning, and as a result, technologies and social policies are emerging that look to stimulate growth in sustainable ways. Nature provides us with many solutions and alternatives, but only recently have we been driven to consider them. Now that we are, we are discovering that they do work in practice, and that if we can only wean ourselves from the poisoned teat of the oil industry, we will survive and flourish. In the end, our ability to do so boils down to 3 factors: resources, energy, and the political will to adapt quickly as better means of producing both are discovered. It is only the latter that we are currently lacking.

 As it happens, technology is increasingly able to make better use of the resources we have, with innovations announced every week. Scientists have developed innovative ways to extract resources from environments previously considered too hostile (including asteroids), make consumer goods more biodegradable, create valuable resources from what were previously considered waste materials, and process those wastes too toxic for recycling into inert and harmless by-products. There are technologies for high-efficiency water purification and desalination with a minimal energy cost, for farming vast amounts of produce indoors without the need to clear forests for farm land, and for producing animal protein synthetically, without the need for factory farming. If these were all widely implemented, all of humanity's basic needs could be accommodated, at a fraction of the economic and environmental costs that it would cost in today's terms.

 Perhaps it is energy however that is the more fundamental part of this equation, as all of our technology and innovation must have reliable and non-polluting energy sources if we are to have any hope of sustainability. A society can remake itself with clean and energy efficient homes and businesses, but if the power plants that fuel them spew toxins into the atmosphere, all this does little good. Luckily, science is advancing rapidly in this area as well. Today, the options are many and rapidly increasing in terms of how to draw energy from our environment, and most of these options become more efficient with each passing year. Enough sunlight falls on the surface of the Earth every hour to satisfy global energy needs for an entire year, and we are beginning to unlock this potential, but in addition there is wind, geo-thermal, biofuels, nuclear fission, and the holy grail, nuclear fusion. If we were to fashion region-specific energy plans with tailor-made combinations of these technologies, in tandem with legislation mandating energy-efficient consumer devices and energy-efficient manufacturing processes, our global energy woes would soon be over. While there is no single substitute in weaning ourselves from fossil fuels (yet), it does become possible with a more diverse approach, utilizing every innovation at hand. This way, if a certain strategy or technology becomes more advanced and desirable, a country need not completely overhaul a power grid to embrace this technology, but may instead merely shift the mix to include a higher proportion as time goes on. Eventually, fusion promises to supply humanity with near infinite power at minimal cost, but until then a diverse energy mix would be a wise strategy.

 Nuclear fission power has been demonized, but it is an option that we cannot afford to reject based on fear alone, if we hope to bridge the gap to the perfection of fusion. The media enjoys playing up the dangers of fission in order to gain publicity, but despite all the media attention given to incidents such as those at Chernobyl and Fukushima, there are far, far fewer deaths attributable to nuclear power than there are to coal and oil. Furthermore, the newest generation of reactors are orders of magnitude safer than those of thirty years ago, often running on entirely different nuclear fuels. Thorium reactors, for example, have a number of advantages over traditional uranium or plutonium-based reactors. They cannot be used to create weapons-grade material, they have zero chance of meltdown, and thorium is widely available. It is theorized that widespread conversion to thorium reactors would lead to complete energy independence in any country that did so. Nonetheless, they are merely one option in a broad palette of alternative options to fossil fuels, each of which should be explored fully.

 To do all this, of course, requires the aforementioned political will. In a perfect world, politicians would always have the interests of the public in mind, but unfortunately we don't live in that world. In many places, due to the influence of the marketplace and of lobby groups, politicians must think about their own bottom line if they want to win elections, and as such, corporate interests often trump public ones. This is simply unavoidable in a capitalist system, and so although maintaining a healthy society requires the ability to adapt to new technologies quickly, old systems are often left until they stagnate, because vested corporate interests fight any change that they cannot profit from. This simple fact sums up the essence of why corporate interests have no place in the public sphere, near essential services, or mixing with politics in general. Private profit, for them, will always come before the public good, and in an individual (which corporations insist they are), we would describe this as sociopathy. I wouldn't vote for a sociopath, I wouldn't want one talking in the ear of any politician I do vote for, and I certainly wouldn't want one making public policy. True progress is going to require striking out in new directions, not dwelling in the past, and it is my hope that the next generation will be the one capable of truly understanding that. If our political systems are stagnating, then we, the public, must become involved and force change, or risk watching as our societies collapse under the weight of their own decadence and complacency.  

 I don't want to sound like a downer - I'm truly hopeful that we can bring about change, but we must face the hard consequences of inaction if we are to be motivated to do so. We can't afford to rest on our laurels anymore in the Western world, and as the first generation to face a poorer economic outlook than the previous one, we should understand this. If we want prosperity, we have to fight for it, and recognize that true, long-term prosperity is synonymous with sustainability.  

Activism Made Easy

 For many years, when anyone uttered the words “grassroots activism”, one of the most common associations that sprang immediately to mind was that of the far-right, rabidly ideological and generally fact-impaired variety. The Tea Party is only the latest iteration of this. Lately though, this is thankfully changing. While perhaps there is a degree of political and sociological apathy among my typically left-leaning age cohort, I believe that the apathy we may have experienced in our youth is giving way to a rising concern among my peers about the future the previous generations are leaving us, and an increasing willingness to do something about it. We have sat witness to some very conservative governments winning office around the world over the past few decades, voted in predominantly by our elders, and have watched, feeling stunned and helpless, as they have enacted one terrible policy after another, eroding not only the rights and freedoms of the working class, but our environmental protections and the very integrity of the planet on which we live. As we have come of age, I believe many of us have come to realize that our legacy will have to be to undo this damage, and find wiser and more sustainable solutions to society's problems. This is, in fact, the very reason I chose to study sociology and psychology. We are finally learning what it means to be passionate about a cause, and are increasingly willing to fight passionately for a world that is more able to change, adapt, and grow as circumstances demand.

 In a world that is changing more rapidly than at any time in human history, the ability to fluidly adapt is what we desperately need. If history can teach us anything at all, it is that if a society cannot learn to adapt, it ultimately stagnates and dies - the Romans are a perfect example. This century, we have seen conservative parties in many countries given ample opportunity to play their hand, and the evidence, when one bothers to look at it, is damning: austerity, cutting taxes on the rich, loosened environmental protection, cuts to education, harsh drug laws, privatization of social institutions and lax regulation of the marketplace have lead us to the edge of disaster. These sorts of policies have been tested in the field, so to speak, and there is no ambiguity in the data – they have failed, and miserably at that. Conversely, in places with more liberal governments, such as in much of Scandinavia and parts of Europe, we have tangible evidence of how societies can effect better and more innovative solutions. While occasionally counter-intuitive, policies based on studies of actual human nature (and not how we might wish ourselves to be) produce real results. Targeted economic stimulus, tax rates in favor of the working class, protection of important environmental resources, investment in education, approaching drug use as a health issue instead of a criminal matter, funding social institutions and regulating the marketplace are policies that produce results, in virtually every place they are tried. These are not the pipe dreams of a day-dreaming left, they are workable solutions to very real social problems, and deserve to be recognized as such by both voters and politicians. This is why advocacy is critical – it all boils down to getting the word out, and making our voices heard.

 To paraphrase Desmond Tutu, the price of a functional democracy is eternal vigilance, but to this I would add that we must also be eternally vocal, and active in demanding our rights. Creating a just society is never a finished task; it is always a work in progress, and even in the most prosperous societies on Earth there will always be room for improvement. So, if I can get any message across here, it would be this: get involved on some level - any level. The political machine, such as it is, is all we have. The only way to improve the system is from the inside – the right understands this, and they mobilize accordingly. The left is starting to see how effective this can be, and it's important to keep up this momentum. The Occupy movement was a good start – it shone light on many important issues – but camping out to prove a point is not enough. There are many ways to be involved, and while highly visible protests are one tactic, it's important to utilize as many tools as possible.

 On a day to day basis, politicians need to know what the public thinks. Politicians need to feel that they are accountable, to know that their constituents are watching them, and to feel tangible pressure when they try to enact shoddy or partisan legislation. Keep in mind the fact that when they first get elected, these people often have less experience in politics than you might think. Effectively crafting legislation based on well-sourced information is a skill-set that, clearly, a staggering number of elected officials lack, and therefore it is up to an informed citizenry to help steer them in the right direction. An imperfect system to be sure (one that we can hopefully improve on eventually by incorporating more of the scientific method into the legislative process) but for now, it is what it is. Petitions and letter-writing campaigns are effective in applying pressure to elected officials, and if everyone added the weight of their name to a few every week, it would make a difference, without any doubt. There are many organizations that dedicate themselves to just such a purpose, working to find the most important issues and applying the right pressure in the right place. I subscribe to several of these advocacy groups, and consider it a very valuable use of my spare time. I recommend you check a few of them out, if you haven't already.

• Avaaz.org is focused on social advocacy and human rights, and although only a few years old, its strategy of focusing on “tipping point moments” and using technology to remain light on its feet is proving quite effective. With many political, environmental and human rights wins under its belt, it's definitely worth supporting.
• SumOfUs.org unites worker, consumers and shareholders, and pushes for the rights of the individual against corporations. They work tirelessly to help ensure that the greatest injustices perpetuated by criminal corporations are brought to light, and that corporate interests do not infringe upon our rights or the integrity of the environment.
• Change.org is a household name, well known for fighting a variety of injustices around the world. Using the power of petitions to fight regional injustices wherever they may be found, over the years it has undoubtedly helped to make the world a better place for everyone.

 These are but a few of the organizations working to make the world a better place, and to improve the lives of people like you and I. Their passion helps to keep important causes moving forward, and helps to clear away the spin that often confuses such critical issues. More than most politicians, they have the interests of the people in mind, and as governments around the world become increasingly influenced by corporations and their money, it's vitally important to have such a counter-balancing force. The internet is a potentially powerful democratizing tool, but only if we actively make use of it as such. If we don't, it will eventually become just another venue for advertisement and propaganda.  

Everything I Need to Know, I Learned from Star Trek

 The renaissance of the Star Trek universe happened when I was young. The original series had its own cult following of course, but that was far before my time. In 1987, the franchise was revived and reinvented with the premiere of Star Trek: The Next Generation, or “TNG” as it ultimately became known. It gained a fiercely loyal following, and I was one of those fans from the very beginning. Already a science fiction fan by the time I was nine, I was enthralled by this new weekly glimpse into one possible future for our species. It was hopeful, imaginative, and inspiring, and I sat absolutely rapt for one hour every week, just drinking it in. For me and for many others like me, it demonstrated the best aspects of human nature – our bravery, our curiosity, our discipline, our selflessness – and gave us all a standard to aspire to. While some may scoff at the franchise, shrugging it off as “cowboys and Indians with lasers”, Gene Roddenberry had an undeniably unique vision, and this is part of the reason why it has endured so long, spawning 6 television series, 12 feature films, and a library of related literature. Roddenberry didn't want to just tell a story - he wanted to create a morality play and a far-reaching drama, in which the characters learned and grew as individuals while they set about exploring the universe. The more you watch, the more you notice that there is a distinct moral philosophy woven into this universe, and that it actually gets a lot of things right. The following are a few of the moral themes that are emphasized on a regular basis.

1. Force is always a last resort. Much like in the martial arts, it's always considered smart to be prepared for a fight, but relying on strength to win every battle makes you a bully. Self-defense, and the defense of those who cannot defend themselves, are the only real reasons to use force, and then only after negotiation has failed. In almost any conflict, there is some mutually beneficial option available if both parties are willing to work toward it, and finding this option should always be the first priority. However, if you do get into a fight, make sure that you win...and brains can often trump brawn.
2. The ends never justify the means. Too often a seemingly noble goal is used to excuse bad behavior, and this eternal dilemma became a recurring theme within the franchise. Ultimately, hard choices have to sometimes be made, but the lesson often illustrated was that we must live by our chosen morality, even when it is difficult, or when the immediate repercussions are not in our favor. We are, ultimately, judged by what we do, particularly in difficult situations, and setting a positive example is often much more powerful and beneficial in the long term than opting for a quick or convenient short-term solution. It's far too easy, once one starts down a shady path, to justify increasingly abhorrent acts in the name of some ideal, until finally, one becomes the very monster one set out to slay.
3. Knowledge is power. Not surprisingly, science plays a key role in Star Trek, as it does in any form of science fiction. What Star Trek does particularly well is illustrate how science is more than just a body of knowledge; it is, as Carl Sagan put it, a way of thinking, of rationally interrogating the world. Over and over, it is highlighted that the more knowledge one can obtain about a problem, the more easy it is to come up with a workable solution, and that the universe is understandable for those who are willing to ask the right questions. Star Trek envisioned a future in which superstition and ignorance have largely been banished, but where wonder and spirituality have plenty of room to exist. What kind of world might we create for ourselves if we could turn this vision into reality?
4. Money is less rewarding than experience, and achieving personal goals. Very little is said about money on Star Trek, and if you ask anyone who watches, I'm sure they'd tell you the franchise is that much better off without it. One of the most important aspects of the Star Trek universe, I believe, is that it offers a view of a future society that isn't primarily driven by money and greed. Instead of the cynical, capitalist view that profit is the only thing capable of motivating people, it recognizes that we do have nobler ambitions, and can find deeper satisfaction in life by organizing our social systems accordingly. When money is mentioned, it is often in order to illustrate how easily it can come between friends, families and societies. Is Star Trek socialist? It would appear so, but it also appears to offer a more positive vision than anything capitalism has delivered to date. Something to think about.
5. Unity comes through shared goals. “To seek out new life and new civilizations...” That was always the goal in the Star Trek universe, and it's one that has undoubtedly captured the hearts and minds of a generation. On the show, it helped to bind not just humanity but a divergent collection of species together, this common quest for the stars, and it turns out that reality isn't much different. We've seen it in our history, and we can see it in many places today – nothing unites people like the challenges of exploration, whether it be the exploration of new territory, or new ideas. Across the world, scientists from many countries, some former enemies, are increasingly united in the pursuit of science. We are starting to recognize that we can achieve much more together than we can apart, and space, the final frontier, is calling. Perhaps, as Roddenberry's vision suggests, this ultimate goal can be the one that finally unites our planet. After all, space is big enough for all of us.
6. The unknown shouldn't be feared. Yes, occasionally exploring the unknown would land our heroes in a difficult situation, but they never let that slow them down. In the end, exploration was always a challenge (it's supposed to be), but that's what made for such fun, exciting plot-lines, just as it often makes for unique and invaluable experiences in real life. Both on the show and in the real world, new knowledge and technologies are often discovered as a result of pushing our boundaries and comfort zones. The benefits of exploring the unknown far outweigh the costs, and this is one of the most important messages that was passed on to a generation of viewers. After all, two primal impulses constantly play tug-of-war for dominance in our psyche – our curiosity, and our fear – and of the two, I know which I would prefer to guide the future of our species.
7. It doesn't matter who you are, what you look like, or who you love. While many of the aliens on Star Trek looked suspiciously humanoid – most likely to cut the make-up artists a bit of slack – it always made a point of promoting the ideals of both equality and strength in diversity. The original series featured the first televised inter-racial kiss, and every incarnation thereafter has addressed issues of equality head-on. A common theme is that of the 'odd man out' saving the day, highlighting just how valuable it can be to have a diversity of backgrounds, abilities and viewpoints in virtually any situation. Unwaveringly, the shows held to the ideal that anyone can make a contribution, and that co-operation is possible between even the most unlikely of partners. After all, if even the Klingons and the Federation could make peace, then it must be possible for all of us here on Earth to come to some mutual understanding.
8. Sometimes rules have to be broken. While the Star Trek series focus on the command crews of military ships and bases, and while there is consequently a command structure to be followed, it is frequently acknowledged that no rule should be absolute. Often, it is highlighted just how important individual judgement can be in difficult situations, and that while rules can provide a good guideline for behavior, there are many grey areas that they cannot fully anticipate. In these situations, sometimes morality requires us to bend or even break the rules, and although making this sort of a determination can be difficult, it can be simplified somewhat by making a habit of considering such complicated moral questions. The 'right' answers, in both fiction and real life, are rarely black and white, and so the best leaders are portrayed as part-time philosophers, able to discern and weigh the finer moral dilemmas and shades of grey in every situation.
9. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. The common good is a key consideration in Star Trek. While individuality is important, it does not take priority over the needs of one's friends and co-workers, or the rest of society for that matter. When a choice is presented wherein an individual can benefit at the expense of others it is universally shunned, and when a sacrifice is needed for the greater good it is generally understood to be simply par for the course. Often, sacrifices are made for total strangers in need, and this is the sort of nobility that we could always stand to see more of. Valuing individuality should not come at a cost to the community that supports that individual, and yet today it often does. Recognizing that true strength lies in unity is a milestone that some individuals and societies have trouble reaching, but it never hurts to have a positive example broadcast on a weekly basis.

 As far as philosophies go, one would be hard pressed to do better. Star Trek is firmly grounded in simple common sense, and yet it in defining its moral framework it somehow matches or surpasses the many religious philosophies, in terms of pure humanity, humility and utilitarianism. With the specter of superstition removed, it becomes easy to craft a philosophy, using reason, that can be of the most benefit to the most people, and not one group to the exclusion of others. Awe and wonder at the awesome machinery of nature serve to fill the gap that superstition leaves in the human psyche, and we already know that nature holds enough wondrous complexity to challenge us indefinitely. Maybe, someday, as we move out and start to explore nearby stars, this outlook will start to make more sense to more people. In the meantime, some of us are already inspired to look up at night, and imagine a more hopeful future.  

Interview: The Game Plan for Public Policy in the Next Century

 I recently had the opportunity to ask some questions of an employee of the Canadian Federal Government, with the aim of better understanding how public policy is formed, how the politics of the day can influence it, and what issues an insider might consider critical. In the coming decades, we will desperately need not just sound but innovative policies to address our social woes and to manage a rapidly changing world. I hope to push the discourse on this forward in any way I can. While the questions and answers here relate to Canadian politics and policy, the underlying issues are relevant anywhere in the world.

Q: What areas of public policy have you worked with most directly?

 As a Canadian civil servant, I have worked mostly on international public policy. In particular, I have worked on security sector reform in Haiti, and Canada-U.S. environmental policy, especially related to trans-boundary water issues. Moreover, I worked on policy research and policy coordination within the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development. Prior to that, I worked for an MP, gaining exposure to a wide variety of public policy issues.

Q: How long have you worked with public policy? What trends have you seen in that time?

 If all the experiences above are counted, this amounts to 10 years. These experiences are rather disparate and may not be representative of the whole of “public policy”. Nonetheless, I can make a few observations:

1. The importance of effectively communicating on policy issues.
2. The increasing set of actors involved in areas of the spectrum of public policy.
3. The increasingly multidisciplinary nature of public policy.
4. The importance of reviewing public policies to keep them current.

Q: Are there particular policy decisions that stand out as either great failures or great successes?

 Among others, I'd say:

 Failure: The inability of the international community to devise an effective mechanism to address and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.

 Failure: The ongoing efforts to pursue policies of economic and financial austerity in contexts of depressed economics, like in the European Union.

 Success: The Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement, at least it is a potential success for now. This is an agreement between logging companies and environmental NGOs, that helps to prevent the logging of boreal forests. Essentially, the logging companies agree to avoid them, and the NGOs don't lead boycotts against these companies' products, and may even promote them.

 Success: The Montreal Protocol. The treaty designed to protect the ozone layer, which entered into force in 1989, the first universally ratified treaty in United Nations history.

Q: What do you believe are key factors in crafting sound public policy?

 An openness to evidence-based public policy. A cooperative disposition or nature.

Q: How important do you feel that science is to the creation of public policy?

 Science, which includes both the natural sciences and the social sciences, is fundamental to the creation and maintenance of sound public policies.

Q: In general, which party or parties do you feel typically draft policies that show positive real-world results when applied, and why?

 In this context, I take parties to mean Canadian political parties at the federal level. In that perspective, the only true contenders are the Conservatives and Liberals, as both have been in office. My personal feelings are that the Conservatives are too willing to take positions that are not based on actual evidence, but that may be politically popular instead. The Liberals seem to be more open to work with evidence and stake out positions more in keeping with this evidence.

Q: Which party or parties tend to be more open to non-partisan collaboration? To science? Which tend to be open to change if the facts dictate it necessary?

 To me, the Canadian federal experience of the past 5-10 demonstrates that the Liberals, NDP, Green Parties are more collaborative-minded. The Conservative Party has been much less open to collaboration. Up to a certain degree, however, this may represent the fact that they are in office. There may be fewer incentives to cooperate with others.

 As for science, it is difficult to say. One can support science in a variety of ways, so there can be a number of “right” answers. Education financing, especially through the provincial context, may be important. R&D financing can be another way of looking at this question, but this is also supported by the private sector. Different parties can have different positions on all these issues, and they can all affect their commitment to “science.”

 I think all parties (often as represented by the party leader) have changed their views in accordance with the evolution of facts. Sometimes, party leaders change their minds even if the facts don't change. So the question to ask is not so much a look back at which parties changed. The questions to ask may be: what made them change their minds? How did this evolution happen?

Q: Where do you see trends in public policy heading in the next ten to twenty years?

 I think that trends I mentioned earlier will continue to amplify.

Q: Can you provide a few suggestions of your own in terms of what policies you feel would have the most positive impact on Canadian society in the next ten years or so? What about for developing nations?

 Canada: An effective climate change policy by the federal government, specifically a carbon tax. A full review of Canadian citizenship. Free trade with Europe must now be applied. Keeping to the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. A national childcare service.

 Developing nations: Demanding that donors keep to the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. Keeping military budgets low. Promoting regionalism through free trade and other small international organizations.

Q: How do you feel developed nations can best bring developing nations up to higher standard of living and to a level of self-sufficiency, without sacrificing the environment?

 Self-sufficiency is not necessarily good. I think it may be a bit bad. The free market is still the best way to develop economically. However, the government must curb its excesses. The government should also develop innovative policy solutions to promote economic and social development. The Bolsa Familia, a social welfare program in Brazil, is one example that is showing widespread success. Free trade with neighbours and all those who are open to it.

Q: Is Capitalism, and its focus on GDP as an indicator of success, viable for the long term? Do you see any better alternatives or better indicators of success?

 I think capitalism can be viable for the long term, provided that governments curb its excesses. I agree that GDP is a limiting indicator of success. That said, people and governments can make choices to use other indicators. Life expectancy; Average level of educational achievement; National Happiness levels (Bhutan); Proportion of Millenium Development Goals. New indicators can be developed if there is a need.

Q: If you could make one recommendation to countries around the world, or change one set of policies tomorrow, what would it be?

 A global carbon tax, applicable evenly everywhere. I would do it today, not tomorrow.

Q: Finally, where do you see global society heading in the more distant future? What predictions might you make about the late 21^st century? How can we help to guarantee such long-term sustainability?

 In the absence of a deus ex machina, I think global warming will fundamentally change the biosphere for the worse (from humanity's point of view). So this century will, I expect, turn out to be a century of adaptation to the worst effects of climate change. In that sense, that “long-term sustainability” to which you refer is very far off.

 And to close, I'd like to add a few comments of my own:

 I completely agree that solidly evidence-based policy should be the obvious choice, as does every single person I have spoken to on the subject, but shockingly this is not always the case...in some places, it's not even often the case. Too often, ideology and financial interests weigh heavily in policy, and the result, we see legislation that ignores or cherry-picks evidence. This is a trend that we absolutely have to reverse, or any hope of a fair and just society vastly diminishes. Parties that shun evidence and science should be made to pay a penalty for this, and it is up to the voters to make sure that this happens.

 Similarly, the ability to collaborate should be a criteria that everyone evaluates at the voting booth, as it tends to produce governments that are much more flexible and able to craft well-rounded policies. This ability also correlates highly with the ability to empathize with others, and it is easy to note that the parties that are most uncooperative also tend to promote policies that benefit some while marginalizing others. It's been noted by any number of social scientists that inequality is one of the greatest threats to social stability in this century, and partisan politics only further exacerbates this problem.

 This may be my liberal (or some might say libertarian) bias speaking, but the fact that conservative political parties tend to be far less evidence-based is an elephant in the room that needs addressing. There is a long list of policies, some mentioned here, in which conservative positions have been consistently disproven, and yet continue to be dogmatically defended. Obviously, there is some disconnect here; a reluctance to admit error, misplaced party loyalty, or perhaps a little of both. Loyalty, however, should have nothing to do with politics. Policies are what matter. Only this realization, and the subsequent willingness to abandon a party when its policies start disconnecting from the facts, can save democracy. Informed voters, who turn away from politicians that promote such failed notions as austerity or the subsidization of fossil fuel companies, can and do make all the difference in democratic societies. If we wish to continue enjoying the many benefits of a representative government, then staying informed and involved is the price we have to pay. I actually consider it less a price than a privilege.

 Finally, it should be noted that GDP as a global measure of success, as I may have mentioned in previous blogs, is not a great measure at all. I don't even agree that it is sustainable in the long-term, because it excludes so much, especially pollution, which even a Carbon Tax would not entirely factor in. It also encourages the rampant consumption that sits at the core of our current environmental dilemma, pushing other developing countries to consume as the U.S. does (read: not sustainably) in order to let them compete economically. Societies are much more than just the marketplace, and I believe that we should have a set of indicators that more accurately reflects this. Many countries have broadened how they measure success, and the results are encouraging. Success in the realm of public policy, as I see it, lies in taking a hard look at the realities we face, and then in using unflinching honesty to answer those questions that confront us.