I was in Ottawa last Friday, attending a daylong session of the Canadian Conference of the Arts designed to get arts and culture types better access to government. Ed Broadbent sat on a panel with three other MPs, discussing ways we ordinary plebes can get to government and maybe even influence policy on issues near and dear to our hearts.

Ed said: “The mechanics of the state retain incredible power within the globalized world, despite all mythology suggesting otherwise.”

Ed’s not one to blow smoke. Instead he was issuing a challenge of sorts to the street-fighters. Learn how government works and make it work for you.

Please discuss.