Commentary
In a world where recovery from a pandemic is struggling, guarantees are significantly lacking. It was at the crossing of fingers that global leaders adopted economic and health measures to curb the spread of COVID and stop the collapse. Each country has its own hurdles to recovery, including Canada.
As important federal elections are underway, leaders need to clarify their claims and avoid the temptation to make promises that they do not want to keep. “Use now and pay later” may be a political belief, but there are other, more effective ways to lead the country to prosperity. By prioritizing principles over policies, leaders can neglect their promises and over-offer by frankly facing the uncertainties of our time.
First principle thinking
The first principle is an independent basic proposition or assumption. It has been endorsed by some of the greatest people in history, from Aristotle to Thomas Aquinas. The first principle of their natural law states that “good should be done, pursued, and evil should be avoided.”
It’s about practicality as much as philosophy. Elon Musk, an adopter of first-principles thinking, has revolutionized the space, energy, and automotive sectors. It’s hard to discuss such a huge success across multiple complex industries. From creating the first mass-produced electric car to getting it into orbit with a SpaceX rocket, Mask went against the laws of success and production. The man may be a provable genius, but his obsession with first-principles thinking is certainly part of the equation.
First principles are the basis of both the United States Constitution and Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedom. They are broadly defined and open to interpretation, but emphasize the checks and balance of democracy. Policies are subject to changes in public opinion and Black Swan events, but first principles are sufficient to survive the toughest global catastrophe, while being agile enough to pivot and adapt. Provides sound and sound basic ethical guidelines.
They are the principles on which leadership is subordinate. When politicians fail to fulfill their promises, it often happens, but is blamed for hypocrisy and dishonesty. This is partly due to excessive reliance on policy initiatives rather than a framework of principles. Leadership is far more showmanship than politician spirit, and ideals are obedience to impulses, a sign of our time. Too often, leadership shrugs or quivers from voters rather than enthusiasm.
In 2015, Justin Trudeau campaigned on the promise of electoral reform, saying, “We promise to ensure that 2015 will be the last federal election under the first-past-the-middle constituency system.” ..
By 2018, Trudeau had neglected that promise. Many Canadians were angry that they had betrayed the promises of major campaigns, not necessarily about the electoral reform itself. This is the result of failing to fulfill the promise of securing the election. First principles, on the other hand, allow some flexibility and various means to achieve the same goal.
Practice of first principles
The Charter of Rights and Freedom is often quoted by civil liberty groups, but rarely by politicians. Politicians tend to circumvent this basic document in order to achieve their own political objectives.
An example of the first principle that all political parties should adopt is to maximize support and adherence to the Charter, which outlines the basic principles for keeping Canada a free and democratic country. It suppresses political party ambitions and transcends political parties while adhering to the basic principles of national governance.
In fact, adhering to the Charter means ending pandemic restrictions as soon as possible, while giving maximum freedom to all citizens who act within the scope of the law.
Living under the blockage has adversely affected the spirit of the people. One is that people are beginning to believe that the role of government is to meet all needs. This free trade for security results in a nanny state where independent thoughts and actions are considered unnecessary or even undesirable. Fear is a great weapon for dictators, and Canadian leadership should refrain from using it. It can certainly result in short-term compliance, but ultimately creates an obedient society that cannot care for itself.
A strong defense of basic freedom is a hallmark of true democratic leadership, which each hopeful prime minister must agree to. It will be the prime minister who decides the tone and direction of the country. By accepting maximum freedom as a first principle, Canada can become one of the first countries to prosper as the recovery progresses and the pandemic recedes.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Ryan Moffatt is a Vancouver-based journalist.