Who’s your boss?

Yesterday, I enjoyed a long and stimulating conversation with Marc and Martin, the two founders of Civis4Reform. The meeting ended with a challenging question to be answered.

Who’s in charge of you?

During my conversation with Marc and Martin, the topic turned a question: how have the public authorities have been able to engage the public to obtain policy compliance from most citizens concerning the alleged threats of Climate Change and a global pandemic? Frequent fear messaging was certainly a prime ingredient, but the OBJECT of that fear had to be compelling enough to send whole segments of Canadian adults scurrying to their mothers to bury their faces in mom’s apron.

What scares you?

Snakes? Spiders? Parasites? Prison? A rapist? The Devil? A painful death? Losing your mind? Hell? Nuclear war? The government?

Who protects you?

Justin Trudeau? Your local MP or MPP or ward Councillor? God? Prayer? Your doctor? Big Brother? The police and fire departments? YOU as your own protector?

Marc, Martin and I agree on many things.

In particular, we acknowledge that the things that scare us and the things that can protect us are often difficult to distinguish and are usually unique to each individual. There is no single and universal answer to the above questions.

Yet, the fear of Climate Change and global pandemics have resulted in the growth of public institutions at an increasing rate.

The United Nations, for example, has infinitely more power today than it has when it was created in 1946 on the heels of WW2. The World Health Organization has recently been assuming more powers over the health institutions of national governments than anyone could have imagined just five years ago. What is the secret of their success? Is it a good thing or should we be concerned? Or afraid?!

I am afraid.

As my wife will tell you, my #1 fear has been that all of my life savings and assets will be taken from me. Becoming 100% dependent on others is my worst nightmare. Does this sound irrational? Or realistic?

A few years ago, the World Econonic Forum released an advertisement showing a smiling young man living after The Great Reset in the New Normal under the One World Order. Its slogan was: “You will own nothing and be happy”. You can imagine my reaction from someone whose father was a bomber in WW2.

Communism is not my idea of paradise.

In my experience, there are always strings attached whenever the government offers you a new “free” program. More rules and taxes, obviously. As I pointed out to Marc and Martin, the average Canadian family’s “breadwinner” remitted a total of 38% of annual earnings to all levels of government in 1961. Today, it's 53%. It’s no wonder that every family needs two income earners just to survive.

The story gets worse.

In a recent presentation by Jacques Boudreau, a retired Actuary from a major life insurance corporation, he revealed the desparate state of Canada’s finances. The total “unfunded liabilities” of our federal and provincial governments are $2.6 trillion dollars. “Unfunded” means that these debts will be paid by you, me, our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.… you get the picture.

Today, our politicians concern themselves with the sins of our forefathers regarding how they robbed and abused our Aboriginal ancestors. Will the politicians in the year 2100 be campaigning on the sins of our current political class for turning Canada into a nation of “debt slaves”. Will 75+% of the annual earnings of the average Canadian household be earmarked for servicing a debt that can never be discharged.

My fears have become my reality.

As a long time student of Economics, I have a good understanding of government fiscal and monetary matters. I have watched my purchasing power erode like beach sands being drawn relentlessly out to sea.

Maybe it was a mistake to learn this topic. Maybe there is truth in the saying “Ignorance is bliss”. Unfortunately for me, I can’t unsee what I have already seen nor unknow what I currently understand.

I sometimes feel like I am trapped inside a vast herd of cattle that is surrounded by armed cowboys on horseback and herding dogs who are all working hard to prevent anyone from escaping the herd. We are the “meat on the bones” that will ultimately feed a DEBT MONSTER that is growing fatter by the day.

I have felt increasingly helpless to defend and protect my person & property against the insidious harm and aggression that public officials have infused into everyday life. This helplessness comes from seeing no way from escaping the DEBT MONSTER’s insatiable appetite.

Helplessness can wear on you

Over time, knowing that there is no escaping the herd, one can find himself in the psychic jail of pessimism.

I have been in many meetings and discussions with people who talk about the problems from government overreach but offer no solutions. They strike me as “fiddlers on the Titanic” who continue to play while the great ship sinks below the frigid North Atlantic waters.

Once in a while, I glimpse a ray of optimistic light and this is why I continue to engage in conversations with men like Marc and Martin who, while facing enormous challenges, still possess optimism for a better future for Canada.

The “Who’s your boss” question

“Who is in charge of your life?” is the existential question that looms over the issue we are trying to address.

Are YOU totally in charge of YOUR life? Partially? 90%, 50%, 10%?

How much Personal Responsibility do you want to undertake regarding your ability to exercise Freedom of Informed Choice to direct your own destiny AND live with the consequences? My guess is that the answers I might receive from a broad public opinion survey would cover the full spectrum from zero to 100%.

The road not yet travelled.

I wrote Digital Direct Democracy, A Libertarian Antidote To Digital Communism to offer a new path to consider. Freedom of Informed Choice underpins the proposal for a new online digital platform called the Citizens’ Preferences Directory (CPD). It will enable every citizen to decide how much government he or she is willing to accept, or reject (within some practical limits, of course). The technology and know-how exist to design, build and deploy the CPD, but the awareness of this option has not yet reached the public at large. I hope to change this in the future.

FEAR is the most powerful public motivator

Marc didn’t like the image of “slavery” when I suggested it as the fear meme to rally citizens around the “Time for servious changes” flagpole. The “too much government” meme also failed to inspire the motivating image we seek.

Perhaps one of my readers can suggest a good idea.

We’re all ears.