john ralston saul
TRANSCRIPT
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...