How to improve our own democracy

While we need to find the strength to resist Trump’s bullying, we also need to find the time to improve our own democracy — to make it truly egalitarian, designed to care for all Canadians and to discourage the rich from simply buying the country as Elon Musk bought the United States.

For the long term, we need to treat our students not as future consumers and workers, but as the future owner-managers of a functional, responsive democracy.

Students should learn civics and history from Grade 1 to grad school, so that they understand Canada not as “the greatest country in the world” but as a responsibility that they inherit from their first vote.

We should also teach students digital literacy and critical thinking, and the unwelcome idea that some people regard them as prey, to be exploited and impoverished.

Most importantly, we need citizens who recognize that they flourish in democracy and suffer under fascism — and who, despite its burdens, choose democracy. 🟨