There has been a lot of talk lately about restricting politicians' powers through such measures as term limits and eliminating their local newsletters.
Often politicians' newsletters are targeted as being taxpayer-subsidized propaganda that favours incumbents and presents only their point of view.
However, at one time, not that long ago, having an elected member of government talking directly to the public and bypassing the media through such newsletters was unheard of.
The practice of sending out such newsletters originated with Agnes Macphail when she found the media of her time blocking news of her accomplishments from the public.
Born in Grey County, Ontario in 1890, Macphail began her career as a school teacher.
Having grown up on a farm, and being very aware of the problems facing those involved in agriculture, she became active in politics.
Her original involvement was with the United Farmers of Ontario, but her participation was limited due to the fact that at the time, women had neither the vote, nor the right to run for political office.
In 1919 the law was changed, and in 1921 Macphail was elected in the first federal election in which women had the right to vote.
Despite this achievement, many women still found it very difficult to enter into politics.
Macphail herself remained the sole elected woman in Parliament for most of her 19 years in that role.
She sat as an independent as well, so she did not have the support of a caucus of party faithful surrounding her when she stood up to speak in Parliament.
Still, she refused to become isolated, and used her strength of character to push forward many important reforms in the areas of old-age pensions, prison reforms and women's issues.
She did this despite being patronized by her fellow politicians, ignored in the media, and forced to face the strong prejudices of the society of her time.
Which begs the question: how could she have accomplished all of those reforms if her political life had been restricted to two terms?
Her political accomplishments were not limited to the federal level of government, but continued at the provincial level as well.
She was one of two women to be first elected to the Ontario Legislative Assembly in 1943.
One of her most lasting contributions in that role was the championing of legislation mandating equal pay for equal work in 1951, which represented eight years of effort.
After failing to win re-election, Macphail was barely able to support herself through her journalism and public speaking.
To assist her financially, and to provide her with a place to continue her valuable political work, she was to be appointed to the senate, but died at age 63 before being able to accept the role.
This year, please think about how current calls for political "reforms" will impact the ability of current and future politicians to achieve social justice as Macphail did in her lifetime.
Real democracy is in great danger of being seriously handicapped if these "reforms" are allowed to take place.