Author: Brock

Brock has been a teacher, a ski-bum and, following an internship at the B.C. Legislature, a trade policy advisor for the provincial government. From 2008 to 2015 he ran a small-scale organic vegetable farm with his wife, Heather, serving on the municipal agricultural advisory committee in later years. He has now turned his attention to research and writing, focussing on democratic renewal, improving governance and other political and philosophic interests, with the goal of writing a book on democratic reform. He lives on Vancouver Island with his wife and son where he enjoys good conversation, epic movies and old books.

Day 6 (p. 109 to 124): Reading Tocqueville reminds us that we can forget the original reasons for particular laws, such as maintaining public order, which should lead us to refrain from taking fences down unless we know the reasons they were put up. Do we really want proportional representation?

Tocqueville analyzes the effect of having a constitution in America and how it is set up. Among other things, he is comparing this with the… Continue reading Day 6 (p. 109 to 124): Reading Tocqueville reminds us that we can forget the original reasons for particular laws, such as maintaining public order, which should lead us to refrain from taking fences down unless we know the reasons they were put up. Do we really want proportional representation?

PUBLISHED ON August 8, 2015March 3, 2017BY Brockin Responses to Democracy in America
Chesterton, Democracy in America, Liberal studies, Proportional representation, Tocqueville

Incubating Democracy

This letter first appeared in the August 7, 2015 edition of the Cowichan Valley Citizen. I am reading a book on the public spirit that… Continue reading Incubating Democracy

PUBLISHED ON August 7, 2015March 3, 2017BY Brockin Politics, Responses to Democracy in America
role of government, Tocqueville

Day 5 (p. 76 to 108): Tocqueville reminds us that using government superfluously may make society weaker, not stronger. Should local governments be funding solar panel subsidies and incubator farms or does it enfeeble the people?

Not only were the Americans free, according to Tocqueville, but the understanding was that individuals were in the best position to deal with matters concerning… Continue reading Day 5 (p. 76 to 108): Tocqueville reminds us that using government superfluously may make society weaker, not stronger. Should local governments be funding solar panel subsidies and incubator farms or does it enfeeble the people?

PUBLISHED ON August 7, 2015March 3, 2017BY Brockin Responses to Democracy in America

Day 4 (p. 61 to 76): On the importance of having meaningful ways for citizens to participate in governing themselves, with emphasis on the importance at the local level. Are municipal open houses enough? And, some thoughts on suffrage and whether society needs to fight wars in order to advance socially.

Tocqueville assesses the sovereignty of the American people. He notes it is clearer and more fully accepted there, “…it spreads freely, and arrives without impediment… Continue reading Day 4 (p. 61 to 76): On the importance of having meaningful ways for citizens to participate in governing themselves, with emphasis on the importance at the local level. Are municipal open houses enough? And, some thoughts on suffrage and whether society needs to fight wars in order to advance socially.

PUBLISHED ON August 7, 2015March 3, 2017BY Brockin Responses to Democracy in America

Alexis de Tocqueville

Day 3 (p. 39 to 60): Do we have room in society to innovate politically anymore? And, is too much equality a bad thing? That is, do we need a leisure class to create leaders?

“It seemed as if New England was a region given up to the dreams of fancy and the unrestrained experiments of innovators (p. 40)”. What… Continue reading Day 3 (p. 39 to 60): Do we have room in society to innovate politically anymore? And, is too much equality a bad thing? That is, do we need a leisure class to create leaders?

PUBLISHED ON August 6, 2015March 3, 2017BY Brockin Responses to Democracy in America
Democracy in America, Machiavelli, Peter Thiel, Plato, Tocqueville, Utopia

Alexis de Tocqueville

Day 2 (p. 19 to 39): Is the tree in the seed? That is, is a people trapped by its origins, such as the more racist American South? What would this mean for aboriginal relations in Canada?

Tocqueville takes time to describe the geography of America, its native inhabitants and the situation and characteristics of its early settlers. He claims that we… Continue reading Day 2 (p. 19 to 39): Is the tree in the seed? That is, is a people trapped by its origins, such as the more racist American South? What would this mean for aboriginal relations in Canada?

PUBLISHED ON August 5, 2015March 3, 2017BY Brockin Responses to Democracy in America
Darwin, Democracy in America, Puritanism, Rousseau, Tocqueville