This weekend I'm heading to Washington D.C. to attend "The Rally to Restore Sanity" hosted by a comedian on the Comedy Network: Jon Stewart. This rally is getting some flak from some of my friends, and some of the democratic establishment, in the states as it is attracting a crowd of what they perceive to be likely democratic voters two days before a major US election, a crowd that could be out doing Get out the Vote for the Democratic Party.
I, obviously, think this rally is a good thing. This rally is an attempt to engage people who have given up on the process. It's an attempt to talk to people who aren't bigots or hippies, but people who just go about their day to day lives and don't see how 'politics' has any impact on them. These are the people who just elected Rob Ford in Toronto by staying home, and the people who elected Mayor #Nenshi in Calgary by going to vote.
Ultimately they may both be about to get their way. In Calgary they will hopefully see a mayor who will bring new people into the process, and act on progressive values. In Toronto, they will see a mayor who believes in the power of spending cuts to solve all problems, and can't be bothered to talk to us.
During the Guelph municipal campaign, I had a brief interaction with a supporter who disliked my use of the term leader, as they felt it made them a follower by default. I believe a core aspect of leadership is inspiring new leaders, and I hope that this Rally, mayor Nenshi, and any other progressives out there are starting to build stories that inspire a new generation of leadership in Canada. We need it.
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