The public's faith in government has increased dramatically since the September 11th attacks -- giving new sustenance to those who believe that there is a common good that overrides the desires and wants of individuals and corporations.

The crucial role of government in the aftermath of the tragedy in New York and Washington is a reminder of what social democrats have always known -- rumours of the demise of the public sector were highly premature.

The immediate response to the tragedy fell to police, fire and emergency response departments. The Mayor of New York City and the Governor of New York State helped mobilize broader resources. A number of American federal departments sprang into action -- the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the FBI, the National Guard, the Department of Defence, the State Department, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Coast Guard, Justice, Customs and INS and a host of others. A new government department was created, the Office of Homeland Defence. Government funded agencies like the Centers for Disease Control took center stage as the possibility of germ warfare was mooted. Cries went up for the federal government to take over air security, and legislators started drafting dozens of bills on everything from defence to financial regulation.

The airlines sought government protection and assistance. Laid off workers looked for government aid, cities and states sought federal funding. Thoughts of privatizing social security faded as the stock market fell through the floor. It seems so perfectly obvious-- there are some things that only citizens, acting together, through their government, can do. The private sector had little role to play. For the first few days after the attacks business and entertainment seemed, so...crass, so...irrelevant.

Of course things will slowly return to normal. Life and business will go on. Government will continue to play a leading role. Maybe, just maybe, the people who believe that the best government is no government will feel a bit chagrined.

The articles on this site will not argue for more government or big government but they will argue that government plays a vital role in Canadian life. The public good, as defined by citizens and enacted by elected representatives, must prevail. The wishes of citizens as expressed through democratic institutions take precedence over the needs and desires of corporations. Individual rights do not supercede the duty of a nation to provide for the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

These are cornerstones of social democratic thought. What sets new social democratic thinking apart, though, is more emphasis on ends and less on means. Goverments should formulate and direct public policy but government does not have to deliver every public service. There are times when the private sector is the more appropriate delivery mechanism. Governments should regulate but not stifle free markets. Markets, where freely set prices indicate the relative importance we place on goods, services and commodities, are often better at deciding the allocation of scarce government resources. People, acting freely in a market system, can often make better choices about their future than rigid bureaucracies. Sometimes governments should harness the energy and creativity in the private sector through strategic partnerships.

Progressive Policy Canada will provide an outline of what modern Canadian social democratic policy could look like. Although this site has no formal links to the NDP, you'll notice a number of articles on internal democracy and reform of the party. Party democracy will be a major topic of this site because if a party can't change itself, it can't change the country.

Please browse through all of the articles and come back often but don't expect uniformity. There is no new social democratic orthodoxy but there is an openness to new approaches and innovative ideas, so we encourage comments and submissions.
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