By David McLaren
I suppose it was to be expected. The mainstream media (and some of the alternative media) made a big fuss about the NDP Convention and the vote that ousted Mr Mulcair. Here’s my take: it was a comment that aired on Bayshore radio stations last Monday. It’s my comment and should not be taken as the opinion of the entire Executive.
Democracy is a messy business. The recent New Democratic Party convention is proof of that. Party members dismissed their leader, Tom Mulcair, and are signalling a left turn with its so-called Leap Manifesto. The other parties and the mainstream media are having a field day … NDP stabs leader in the back … Party takes great leap backwards … NDP dooms itself to third party status.
Bollocks. ‘Democratic’ is the NDP’s middle name and the Dippers are having a democratic debate. I think that’s better than no debate, or debate that’s stiffly controlled, or even sunny ways that mask the machinations of majority government.
There’s no question the federal campaign was badly run. It blew a healthy lead in the polls and it lost Quebec. In its bid for power, it allowed power to slip through its fingers. Even worse, it turned a deafened ear to the very people it claimed to represent – the folks in Canada, and in this riding, who are being left out of the economy and shuffled to the margins.
Mr Mulcair took responsibility for the national campaign and now he’s gone. In his wake, expect the NDP to become more vocal about corporate control of our economy and the free trade deals that cement that control. Expect the Party to push for policies that allow people to live on the wages they earn; that protect our health care system; that invest in affordable child care, housing and post-secondary education.
New Democrats preach democratic renewal; and we practice it too.
I suppose it was to be expected. The mainstream media (and some of the alternative media) made a big fuss about the NDP Convention and the vote that ousted Mr Mulcair. Here’s my take: it was a comment that aired on Bayshore radio stations last Monday. It’s my comment and should not be taken as the opinion of the entire Executive.
Democracy is a messy business. The recent New Democratic Party convention is proof of that. Party members dismissed their leader, Tom Mulcair, and are signalling a left turn with its so-called Leap Manifesto. The other parties and the mainstream media are having a field day … NDP stabs leader in the back … Party takes great leap backwards … NDP dooms itself to third party status.
Bollocks. ‘Democratic’ is the NDP’s middle name and the Dippers are having a democratic debate. I think that’s better than no debate, or debate that’s stiffly controlled, or even sunny ways that mask the machinations of majority government.
There’s no question the federal campaign was badly run. It blew a healthy lead in the polls and it lost Quebec. In its bid for power, it allowed power to slip through its fingers. Even worse, it turned a deafened ear to the very people it claimed to represent – the folks in Canada, and in this riding, who are being left out of the economy and shuffled to the margins.
Mr Mulcair took responsibility for the national campaign and now he’s gone. In his wake, expect the NDP to become more vocal about corporate control of our economy and the free trade deals that cement that control. Expect the Party to push for policies that allow people to live on the wages they earn; that protect our health care system; that invest in affordable child care, housing and post-secondary education.
New Democrats preach democratic renewal; and we practice it too.