Liberalism - The Retreat of the Elites

David Cameron from Britain gave his “Big Society” speech this week, in which he concluded, “Of course there is not one lever you can simply pull to create a big society.  We should not be naïve enough to think that simply if government rolls back and does less, then miraculously society will spring up and do more.  The truth is we need a government that helps to build a big society.”What the British PM described was liberalism.  As a leader of the Conservative Party that’s quite a mouthful, which became even more profound when he stated he was seeking a more “liberal” nation.  There’s hope in such language because he takes the best from all parties – at least for now.But what do we do in this country when a large part of the citizenry says, “no thanks?”  Or when our elites says they are busy elsewhere?  The gap between the rich and poor in Canada is widening again, yet many within our elite establishment no more sense their passion in Canada.  Of course there are numerous exceptions, but the rule still applies.  The pursuit of capitalism at all costs is again on the upswing, despite the recent economic downturn and the skepticism inherent within average citizens towards the pursuit of money to the detriment of all else.The middle class struggles, while the wealthiest among us gain even more control of the nation’s economy.  We all know it’s true, but to mention it is to risk being branded as a "typical left-winger.”  That’s how it is in Canada at present; challenge the status quo and risk being labeled.  Corporate ownership and wealth lies in a few hands, and most of the money acquired is not invested here in Canada but in options and luxuries elsewhere.  To an alarming degree, the privileged classes have made themselves independent not only of our crumbling cities or struggling farmers, but of public services in general.  Politics has become something of a partisan sport as opposed to honest debate within communities about how we provide the best services to all.  In far too many ways, they have removed themselves from common life and therefore from those “common” solutions that can only strengthen this country from the ground up.During this country’s greatest decades, the wealthy invested back into their home communities in ways that built and progressed.  In part, it was due to the reality that a good portion of their riches were generated by the industrial or manufacturing bases.  Much of what Canada became was due not only to their money but their ingenuity, how they applied themselves to the great social dynamics of communities and how they led the way to a better future.  Many would grimace at the admission, but what they accomplished was remarkably “liberal.”Their modern counterparts, however, have more ties to international culture, it’s wealth, investments and information – something that makes them indifferent to some of Canada’s greatest challenges.  No one denies them their wealth; it’s their attention and gift for self-organization that we require at present.Ironically, Conrad Black, for all his opulence and cosmopolitanism, is a throwback to those times not to long in the past.  He’s brilliant, as a businessman, writer, observer, or just in conversation.  He possesses the tools that could actually assist our national decline, if he could just get past himself and his legal problems.  How did he occupy his time in confinement?  He taught English, helped inmates with their resumes, wrote a book and helped others achieve their high school diplomas.  Say what you like, but that is impressive, and I’m impressed, despite our obvious differences in outlook.What Black did in his intrusive predicament was likely the most liberal thing he has undertaken, and he did it with aplomb.  But where are his counterparts, his contemporaries?  They will complain at these words but they possess nagging doubts.  They have the cosmopolitanism of the favoured elite, but it is largely uninformed by the practice of citizenship.  Instead of supporting pubic services, they denounce the governments that provide them.  Rather than assisting public schools, the have their names engraved on private dormitories and school classrooms.  They have private security, gated communities, and their future is bright while public pensions are at risk.Again, this is not to slam their good fortune, though they’ll never accept that.  But just as we need all the citizenry to start rowing in the same direction, so we need those whose lives are largely lived and expanded elsewhere to re-engage in this country, in the public life of this country, and bring their gifts to the table, as we bring ours to the public space.  They are too important to be wasted; trouble is, right now they are too isolated to be of much service.  Good liberalism can’t permit it.  They, too, are citizens and their place should be among us.  Their considerable gifts can assist us, but their distractions aggravate us.  A good liberalism woos them back to their place of origin and asks again their service to this great country.  If Britain seeks a “big” country, what we seek is something grander.  It will take all citizens to achieve that vision and a good liberalism can’t accept excuses.  We have a big country already; we require a people to be great once more.