Jared Wesley

@jaredwesley.ca

7789 Followers 1145 Following

#UAlberta political scientist | Black Faculty Collective | Lead: Common Ground (@cgroundpolitics.bsky.social) | jaredwesley.ca | drjaredwesley.substack.com | co-author: partyloyalty.ca

Academics have long lamented the decline of liberal democracy in Alberta and elsewhere. Experts debate the extent of the backsliding. Commentators warn about authoritarian drift. Many, myself included, blame far-right populists for the decline in civil discourse and the erosion of democratic norms. If polls are any indication, most Albertans tune it out. Democratic renewal is never at the top of their list of concerns. And the provincial government faces no sustained or widespread backlash from the public as they continue to remove checks and balances on their power. This is not because Albertans don’t care. Rather, it is because the conversation isn’t held in their language. It’s too abstract. And the volume and pace of democratic transgressions only increase in the meantime. Every day brings a new outrage, a new controversy, a new fight. This is part of a flood-the-zone strategy meant to disorient, distract, and discourage opponents and a weary public. When people get overwhelmed, they stop evaluating politics both piece by piece and from a broader perspective. In this context, it becomes harder to tell what’s normal and what's democratically dangerous. Many Albertans simply tune out of politics. Others turn to partisan cues to determine whether things are headed in the right direction. This presents a challenge to anyone dedicated to stalling the decline of liberal democracy in Alberta. If we want to cut through the noise, we need to start with simpler questions that take us back to the basics of democracy in this province. What are the core rules of the game, and are they being broken? Below is a simple rulebook that gives Albertans a clear way to judge what they’re seeing. It is based on the most foundational principles that underpin liberal democracy -- the line in the sand when it comes to distinguishing a healthy democracy from one that’s in danger. Rule #1: Everyone Plays by the Same Rules When those in power decide the rules app…
#whataboutism- when you don't have a good answer and change the subject by pointing fingers at someone or someone else
"The will of Albertans is not expressed by a single judge appointed by Justin Trudeau and never faces any kind of recall campaign, never faces any kind of election. That's what we are talking about is that in a lot of these cases: the people have told us through our consultation, through our elections, the kinds of things they want us to do, and then we go and do them, and then the court can override it. And again, most of the judges are appointed by Ottawa and not by us. An unelected judge is not synonymous with democracy. Democracy is when elected officials who have to face the electorate every four years get to make decisions. That's what democracy is."