(Dis)Ordered Liberty

Notions for the New Year, Part I

One of the hopes I have for 2023 is to see fewer profanity laden Trudeau flags across Canada. 

I say this as the person who ran against Justin Trudeau in the last general election and someone who remains very critical of his record in government. But as I told my kids during that national campaign, Mr. Trudeau was my political opponent not my enemy. These flags and the hyper-aggressive rhetoric that often accompanies them are slowly normalizing rage and damaging our democracy. Since so many people that display the flags claim to be conservative, this might also be an appropriate time to tell them that these flags are the very antithesis of what it means to be conservative.

The proliferation of these types of political displays in recent years are a sign that we are slowly becoming desensitized to political stunts and aggressive rhetoric whether it comes from the left or right. In fact, the extremes appear to be playing off one another as they frame the debate around the motivations of political leaders. The extreme left claimed Stephen Harper was destroying Canada and the extreme right claims Justin Trudeau is a traitor. These radical positions may seem outlandish to the majority of Canadians, but unfortunately, extreme views get more amplification and often drown out more moderate views.

‘Stop Harper’ signs from a decade ago have become ‘F… Trudeau’ flags today. ‘Shut Down Canada’ blockades of rail and pipelines three years ago inspired the ‘Freedom Convoy’ blockades of borders and cities this year. The ‘cancel culture’ of the woke left is increasingly being met with the free speech puritanism of the populist right. One side will bemoan the actions of the other, yet they will replicate it and often up the ante in the process. The individuals involved - be they an earnest page or a frustrated trucker - believe their actions are noble because they get validation from the political tribe they are a part of. Increasingly, they don’t even hear an opposing viewpoint and polarization is leading their tribes to abandon attempts to persuade and change minds. It is far easier to just reinforce views and lock in the minds you already have.

There are many reasons for the rise in polarization in the last decade. One element is the influence from the American political scene, as political waves in the United States always ripple into Canada. Social media and their secretive algorithms are also a major culprit as they promote louder voices, harden positions and make political compromise nearly impossible. The pandemic has also caused deep strains on our society. It began with the fear, uncertainty and isolation of the first year of the pandemic and was followed by the frustration and division stemming from lockdown fatigue and vaccine mandates in the second. Globalization has also been unraveling all around us further widening the gulf between the rich and poor and inflaming urban-rural tensions in our country.

The causes of polarization are many and most are likely not going to change, but the real risk to our democracy stems from the growing complacency of the majority. Canadians seem to be getting used to this high level of polarization in our country. Too many people just shrug and ignore the rise in aggressive language, the social media pile-ons and the elimination of informed debate. This tone of division and mistrust is slowly becoming the new normal in politics.

This is why I believe it is the duty of elected officials to try and bridge these divides as much as possible. On the left and right, it is our duty to resist the pull towards the extremes and to try and focus the political debate on real issues and solutions. I also believe that this public duty is greater for conservative politicians because division and disorder run contrary to the foundational principles of modern conservatism.  

Conservatives believe deeply in fostering and protecting individual liberties. In fact, traditional conservatives view these natural rights as fundamental to a successful democracy and we believe that they must be safeguarded by the promotion of order, respect for tradition and a balanced approach to change. The philosophical origins of modern conservatism can be traced to the speeches, writing and political career of Edmund Burke. From his era as a Member of Parliament at the time of the American Revolution to the modern conservative parties found in democracies like Canada today, Burkean conservatism is built upon the concept of ‘ordered liberty’. Burke expressed it well in one of his best known speeches to his constituents:

“The distinguishing part of our Constitution is its liberty. To preserve that liberty inviolate seems the particular duty and proper trust of a member of the House of Commons. But the liberty, the only liberty, I mean is a liberty connected with order: that not only exists along with order and virtue, but which cannot exist at all without them. It inheres in good and steady government, as in its substance and vital principle.”

Ordered liberty imposes a positive obligation upon the individual to respect the liberties of others through their own good conduct. Individual liberty requires a cohesive society built upon cardinal virtues, the rule of law and a prudent approach to change to meet the needs of society. Ordered liberty does not lend itself to rash action, nor does it tolerate disorderly conduct. As Burke once said, “[r]age and frenzy will pull down more in half an hour, then prudence, deliberation and foresight can build up in a hundred years”. 

This is why the rage underlying the flags bothers me so much as an ordered liberty conservative and why I hope to see less of them in the new year. Rather than being the cri de coeur for freedom that people displaying the flags believe them to be, they are actually a slow erosion of it. I also hope that we see the moderate majority shake off its complacency and demand more serious debate to ensure we find solutions to address the real feelings of dislocation that are embodied in the flags and other symbols. The Harper signs and the Trudeau flags are the broken windows of political discourse and if we don’t start to fix them, the neighbourhood will continue to deteriorate.