By Alan Mercer

I know things are looking bleak. It would be great if we could find some way to feel more positive and active as we are buried under the weight of a growing police state where politicians don’t even think of listening to anyone and we’re talking constantly on the Internet to a handful of people we’re not really interacting with. And we’re supposed to be afraid. All the time, yes, we’re meant to be afraid–of talking–of telling the truth. We’re just being herded along and all of these policies are being dumped on top of us, and it doesn’t seem like we’re allowed to object.

I think it’s worth bringing up this idea of making use of public meetings of different kinds in order to bring up important questions that are appropriate for the meeting. This has been done famously by “We Are Change” and there are chapters of this in Canada. But I’m not talking about doing this in an organized way where we end up being led down the garden path–as usual–and censored by some party or group about what we can talk about, or be in complete agreement. We should be as independent as possible. We don’t need a “group”.

I’m not talking about confrontation, and it’s not so much for the sake of a camera or posting on the Internet. It’s for the sake of those who are hearing you ask the questions and who might end up talking to you and meeting with you. There are officials, politicians, panelists, guest speakers and audience members who may be very interested in the questions you ask and the reaction of the person answering.

There are many possible forums. Usually these events are local. I’m not just thinking of elections. I’ve been involved in elections, and there is a good and bad side to those things. Sometimes there is a question and answer session at the end of a candidates’ debate. If you go to enough public meetings, you might decide to run for office yourself if it suits you. In any case, asking a politician a question in front of an audience is probably better than doing it in private, because it’s an opportunity to open the minds of those who are listening. Especially if you keep your cool and make some sense.

But my proposal is basically that maybe we should find a friend or two if possible, attend a meeting, for example, the local “conservation authority” or the municipal council meeting, do some research and bring our own questions and leaflets for handing out. Other examples are a local lecture on vaccines, a council meeting on fluoride, or a book signing, or a media event of some kind if you can get access to that. As far as Agenda 21-related meetings, you could try to avoid giving your signature or approval to anything, and if you’re going to go with a friend, then split up and sit separately. There are YouTube videos available (on my site also I think) about how to counter Delphi methods.

The point of it all is to raise awareness among other members of the public like ourselves and possibly influence officials of different kinds also–elected or appointed–or media people even (if that’s possible).

If you want to suggest some event as an example, please go ahead and add something in the comments. And if you have an actual event, and you want to find others to attend with you, you can try giving some contact info like your email (but not too much personal info). If you’re mentioning an event, please provide a link to the event to prove it’s real. (Mainly I’m thinking of Canada). Also you might have your own questions written out already that you want to share.

Anyway, this isn’t a new idea really of course. But I think there are certain things we need to learn to talk about in public that haven’t been said, and it might have an impact if others hear it. It’s just that I think that we Canadians have a lot of good qualities, so I just don’t think we should give up on each other.

And let’s not wait for political parties to agree with you about something, because they won’t. They’re in a collectivist delusion of following the leader and they’re not allowed to think and talk freely. It’s time to move on from putting false hopes in elections, parties and organized groups. Getting yourself elected to a local position might make a difference if you want to do that. Voting in a general election probably won’t. It’s easier to not vote at all, because the signal of voting for an idealistic party might not be clear enough for anyone, especially if the party is all over the map about issues that are important to you. On the other hand, an idealistic candidate of some of these small parties might deserve other kinds of support, especially if he/she speaks up and says what’s in their heart. That would make a difference if they did that. Speaking up and asking questions at all sorts of events (not just during elections) could make much more of a difference than voting.