Submitted by: Canadian Group of Liberal International
ExComm notes that:
Polling results from Pew, Gallup, the Centre for the Future of Democracy at the University of Cambridge and other sources show increasing public dissatisfaction with democratic institutions and mainstream political parties in most democratic countries.
Lack of fairness is seen in both economics and politics, including persistent failures to address needs of ordinary people in incomes, purchasing power and economic and social opportunities, and inadequate support for public education at all levels.
The documentation by academic experts of rising inequality shows cumulative gains in returns to capital over labour incomes, and declines in progressive taxation.
Powerful interests are seen as the constituencies that attract government policy attention, while ordinary citizens have little more than the chance to put an X on a ballot in periodic elections.
Ordinary people see choice deficits, ideas deficits and a citizenship deficits in today’s liberal democracies. These have resulted in the rise of populism, political disengagement and polarisation.
ExComm calls for
Liberal International to consider constituting an Economic Justice Committee or reframing the existing working priorities of existing Committees to:
