The $20,000 The $20,000 LectureLecture

My (imaginary) interview My (imaginary) interview with John Ralston Saulwith John Ralston Saul

Let me introduce Mr. Saul

How would you sum up your theory in the UNCONSCIOUS CIVILIZATION?

“We are free to do as we are told”

unconsciousunconscious

Analogy of Plato’s cave Analogy of Plato’s cave

What is the citizen?What is the citizen?

How do we create the citizen?How do we create the citizen? What rights does the citizen What rights does the citizen

have?have? Who bestows rights upon the Who bestows rights upon the

citizen?citizen?

What is government?What is government?

““The most powerful force The most powerful force possessed by the individual possessed by the individual citizen is her own citizen is her own government.”government.”

Why do people hate their Why do people hate their government?government?

MediaMedia DisinterestDisinterest

Question: who owns the Question: who owns the mediamedia

Then why do we elect who Then why do we elect who we do?we do?

Social ContextSocial Context

Canada needs to understand its Canada needs to understand its history – the origins of history – the origins of corporatismcorporatism

CorporatismCorporatism

Nietzsche: God is dead. WILLNietzsche: God is dead. WILL

Ubermensch – Hitler/Mussolini Ubermensch – Hitler/Mussolini – origins of corporatism– origins of corporatism

1.1.ObedienceObedience

2.2.ObedienceObedience

Today’s government is FASCIST

•Lobbyists•Privatize services

Primary obligation of the people is to the corporation

Social context 2Social context 2

Globalization is dead.Globalization is dead. Lasted 30 yearsLasted 30 years Market idolatryMarket idolatry Rise of nationalism againRise of nationalism again

Social context 3. Social context 3. AboriginalsAboriginals

Lack of discourseLack of discourse ViolenceViolence

IdeologyIdeology

““The most powerful force The most powerful force possessed by the individual possessed by the individual citizen is her own citizen is her own government”government”

Gov’t todayGov’t today

Shared disinterestShared disinterest People’s gov’t People’s gov’t

Citizen – Citizen – legitimate legitimate positionposition

Citizens will act and BE the Citizens will act and BE the gov’tgov’t

If you don’t act, others willIf you don’t act, others will

4 legitimate positions in a 4 legitimate positions in a societysociety

1. God; god(s)1. God; god(s) 2. a king/queen2. a king/queen 3. groups3. groups 4. individual citizens acting 4. individual citizens acting

as a wholeas a whole

The citizenThe citizen

VOID (Nietzsche’s ABYSS)VOID (Nietzsche’s ABYSS) This void will be filled This void will be filled By whom?By whom? For what purpose?For what purpose?

THE UNCONSCIOUS THE UNCONSCIOUS CIVILIZATIONCIVILIZATION

What is individualism?What is individualism? Individualism means to live in Individualism means to live in

societysociety We exist in society, we are We exist in society, we are

more than one, more than more than one, more than familyfamily

2. Citizenry: self interest 2. Citizenry: self interest creates disinterestcreates disinterest

Barrier to good governanceBarrier to good governance Short term thinkingShort term thinking

3. Filling the VOID3. Filling the VOIDcorporatism is creating a corporatism is creating a

conforming societyconforming society Who do people vote for?Who do people vote for? Do we obey a superior even if Do we obey a superior even if

the order is unjust?the order is unjust? If so, why do we blindly obey?If so, why do we blindly obey? Nuremburg Trials; are we any Nuremburg Trials; are we any

different?different?

anti-anti-smokingsmoking

LOBBY LOBBY GROUPSGROUPS

gay rights

environmental animal

rights

4. Fear4. Fear

Trials, official inquiriesTrials, official inquiries Gov’t obsession with secrets. Gov’t obsession with secrets.

Why?Why? What prevents citizens from What prevents citizens from

actingacting

Fear – the rise of Fear – the rise of nationalismnationalism

Rwanda (1 million killed?)Rwanda (1 million killed?) The Congo (4.7 million?)The Congo (4.7 million?) Somalia (without a gov’t Somalia (without a gov’t

since 1991)since 1991) Canadian attitude? Who Canadian attitude? Who

cares?cares?

Congo – murder by cell Congo – murder by cell phonephone

ColtanColtan Barrick GoldBarrick Gold

RwandaRwanda

Hotel RwandaHotel Rwanda Few natural resourcesFew natural resources

South AfricaSouth Africa

Mitsubishi/XstrataMitsubishi/Xstrata Ferrochrome – used in Ferrochrome – used in

stainless steelstainless steel

The point, according to The point, according to Saul?Saul?

Africa doesn’t care about Africa doesn’t care about globalizationglobalization

Neither does Latin AmericaNeither does Latin America

5. The role of government 5. The role of government todaytoday

Should gov’t reduce its role in Should gov’t reduce its role in society?society?

Privatize? Outsource? On the Privatize? Outsource? On the riserise

6. Canada is based on 6. Canada is based on egalitarianism, not equalityegalitarianism, not equality

What is justice?What is justice? Surplus in Canada (shoes, Surplus in Canada (shoes,

food, everything)food, everything) ECONOMICS discourse is NOT ECONOMICS discourse is NOT

workingworking

7. GLOBALIZATION is dead7. GLOBALIZATION is dead

Marx/Marxism is DEADMarx/Marxism is DEAD The economy does not The economy does not

determine a society’s determine a society’s civilizationcivilization

ECONOMICS doesn’t workECONOMICS doesn’t work Q: What does?Q: What does?

Human dignity (South Africa)Human dignity (South Africa) Egalitarianism (Confucius)Egalitarianism (Confucius)

8. Canada is a METIS nation8. Canada is a METIS nation

We all have Aboriginal rootsWe all have Aboriginal roots Laws, communicationLaws, communication Canada is a peaceful nation – Canada is a peaceful nation –

cooperative spirit cooperative spirit

PLAN 1. Volunteer PLAN 1. Volunteer

In local politics (school In local politics (school councils, trustees)councils, trustees)

Plan 2. Public educationPlan 2. Public education

Where citizenship occursWhere citizenship occurs Counteract CORPORATISMCounteract CORPORATISM THE CORPORATIONTHE CORPORATION Especially in universitiesEspecially in universities

Plan 3. Give women Plan 3. Give women leadership roles (especially leadership roles (especially

in law and medicine)in law and medicine) Wollstonecraft & property Wollstonecraft & property

rightsrights Grads are mostly womenGrads are mostly women

Plan 4. Agency – young Plan 4. Agency – young peoplepeople

People have the power, not People have the power, not lobbyistslobbyists

1970’s – political apathy1970’s – political apathy 1980’s – creation of NGO’s1980’s – creation of NGO’s NOW – NGO’s – but there’s no NOW – NGO’s – but there’s no

power or influencepower or influence

Plan 5. create international Plan 5. create international cartelscartels

EconomicsEconomics FAIR prices not LOWEST FAIR prices not LOWEST

pricesprices

Plan 6. decision making Plan 6. decision making and local resourcesand local resources

The Arctic – alternate energy The Arctic – alternate energy formsforms

Health care – wellness; not Health care – wellness; not sicknesssickness

Plan 7. Language – Plan 7. Language – uninhibited free speechuninhibited free speech

Dangerous when gov’t tells Dangerous when gov’t tells people they can’t say certain people they can’t say certain thingsthings

Plan 8. Aboriginal CulturePlan 8. Aboriginal Culture

ANIMISM – everything is oneANIMISM – everything is one We’re out of control nowWe’re out of control now All people in Canada tied to All people in Canada tied to

Aboriginal cultureAboriginal culture

How do we save civilization?How do we save civilization?

When Aboriginals play a When Aboriginals play a central role in Canadacentral role in Canada

Place Aboriginal at CORE of Place Aboriginal at CORE of LAWLAW

Plan 9. Create the GNHPlan 9. Create the GNHGross National Happiness Gross National Happiness

PartyParty What is happiness?What is happiness? Confucius? – dutyConfucius? – duty Rousseau, Locke – life, liberty Rousseau, Locke – life, liberty

and the pursuit of happinessand the pursuit of happiness

Today – Disneyworld; Today – Disneyworld; WalmartWalmart

Thank you, Mr. Saul. And Thank you, Mr. Saul. And now we will take questions now we will take questions

from the audience...from the audience...