Imagine this:  a Parliament where civility is expected, cheap shots scorned, and respect is based on the power of ideas and the willingness to cooperate to achieve consensus; where decisions are not made on the basis of whether something is merely politically expedient and whether the people can be made to swallow it; where facts, reason, experience and values count for more than a party leader's opinion and the whips of party discipline.

How?  Read this … and dream!

I love the idea of having Canada collectively IMAGINE and DREAM about the kind of world we want, the kind of future we want -- and the kind of government we need to get there. 

Maybe it is time for such a citizen's forum to get us dreaming and thinking creatively and collaboratively again.  Something that is nation building and constructive with real and positive outcomes.

People say many Canadians don't vote because it is too difficult (vs. online or telephone voting).  But what if we don't vote because it is too easy?  That is, what if voting doesn't let us say all that we want to say, share what we need to share and impart what is ours to teach?

Maybe Canadians want to say and do more.  Maybe it is time there was a means for them to do this -- but in a way that matters. 

Love the idea of an appointed Senate (appointed by a distinguished council and not the PMO) saving Canadian democracy.  God knows we don't need a replication of the House, which is what straight up elections would give us.

There's something about elections that attracts a certain personality type and I'm not sure we need more of those.

Accountability can come in many forms -- not just elections (which can, if overdone, amount to a tyranny of the masses). 

So I'm glad to see someone thinking past (or thinking through) Harper's proposed Senate reform bills which are simply thinly veiled grabs at more power for the PMO and a capitulation to mob rules and more of the same partisan politics that Canadians are sick of.

Interesting.  That would certainly be one for the trumps if the senate proved to be an antidote to PM Harper's high-handed ways.  I like the idea of eliminating the PM from appointments to the senate.  Nothing's perfect, I suppose, but if the selection committee were given clear guidelines on a candidate's qualifications, it might just work.  Better than what we have now, anyway.