Went to the NDP Leadership Convention from Friday Morning to Sunday morning. With over 4,000 delegates, it was more than double the size of the last leadership election that elected Layton.
First heard of Nathan Cullen when I watched the initial NDP Leadership debate and was blown away by his charisma, his humour, his ease, his dedication, his commitment and his fresh new ideas. Here was man for our time.
The media with their heads stuck in the past talked only to NDPers who, like them, could only see the past. These were the same people who did not see the orange crush until it almost tsunamied them.
That media often didn't mention Nathan and when they did it was as 'a dark horse'. But he was no dark horse. He is the shining light at the end of the tunnel. He is the way to the future.
The last two Members of Parliament left standing were Nathan Cullen and Thomas Mulcair. Two of the last three on the ballot were futurists. It would have been a total disaster if Brian Topp would have won. Someone with no TV personality (essential to win national election), no seat in the commons and who never ran for any public office...
What is really significant is that Nathan had a shoe string budget but people just kept donating. People believe in him. People trust him.
Mulcair, Topp, Nash and Dewar have their electoral campaign crew close to Toronto. Nathan's crew is in Northern BC. What the others spend to bring in 20 workers, Nathan could only bring in 1. That makes his showing even more remarkable.
There were some delegates who were fanatically following an individual and who would not even consider any one else. But the vast majority of people were extremely thoughtful and worried about each choice. We knew this was an important decision.
Mulcair was my second choice, and in retrospect, perhaps it is better for the NDP that he came first.
It was unfortunate that the computer system got hacked. But this should be a lesson for all future elections. The idea of one person one vote is true democracy and we have to cooperate to develop an electronic voting system that all Canadians can use with confidence.
The NDP gave out free T shirts that said "I am the Layton Legacy" on the front and "Je suis la relève de Jack"on the back. Everything took longer than expected and amenities were few and far between. It was very hot even with the air conditioning. There should have been water freely distributed. Another lesson learned.
But like the Liberals, there is a disconnect between the establishment and the grass roots. Change is always challenging but exciting.
The calibre of candidates was truly impressive. This is one hell of a political party.
Watch out Harper. Here we come.
Showing posts with label NDP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NDP. Show all posts
Sunday, 25 March 2012
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
NDP, Gay, Collaboration, Home
Thoughts from today's Toronto Star
A4 CHANTEL HEBERT
Chantel wrote, "A split opposition has become the gift that keeps giving to the Conservatives." How right she is!
Only a united left can defeat a united right. Only Nathan Cullen among the NDP leadership candidates seems to understand this.
If you agree with this, and even if you are not an NDP supporter, you could join the National NDP and vote for Cullen in the leadership election.
Then we would have to find someone among the Liberals who is more concerned with the country than party power games and join together to support that person.
A8 GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCES IN PUBLICLY FUNDED SCHOOLS
"mindful of Catholic sensitivities, alternative names were left open to negotiation"
This is outrageous. By doing this, the Ontario Provincial Government is saying that there is something wrong in being gay. That it is something to be ashamed of and that is why euphemisms would be acceptable.
I say it is not Catholic 'sensibilities', but 'superstitions' and 'stupidities'. There is nothing sensible about any type of anti-gay prejudice. Nothing.
A10 THE NEW WORKPLACE
``The new workplace more about `we` than `me` ``
A very interesting article that talks about an open concept work environment filled with collaboration and interaction, instead of the closed concept cubicle office.
I think this reflects an important change that is occurring in the general population, although political leaders are being very slow to recognize it.
The `me first` and `watching out for #1` and `greed is good` approaches are what has got us into the financial mess we are all in now.
Even if we cannot articulate it (although the Occupy movement is helping), deep down we know that unbridled capitalism is not good for us. We know that unbridled anything is not good for us.
The time has come to rethink how we want our country to run and how we want our society to look.
GT4 A KNOWN ADDRESS
"This is my first actual place with my own kitchen and bathroom." Tracy Estwick, 49 years old.
This is such an incredibly important tiny, teeny, weeny first step. All shelters, no matter what their good intentions, just make matters worse. Every morning when people are thrown out out onto the street after a night of dormitory, sometimes on the floor, sleeping, they are reminded that in society's eyes they are utterly useless. Heterosexual couples can`t be together. Often they must go to separate buildings. Families with children are split up.
These people have 'no known address'.
And with no known address, you can't get a job. Can't vote. You are a nobody. A nothing.
What we really need are apartment buildings filled with studio apartments for single people and some 1 or 2 bedroom apartments for families.
We must give these people a known address. We must give them the opportunity to live with dignity and opportunity. They are not charity cases. They are our social responsibility.
A4 CHANTEL HEBERT
Chantel wrote, "A split opposition has become the gift that keeps giving to the Conservatives." How right she is!
Only a united left can defeat a united right. Only Nathan Cullen among the NDP leadership candidates seems to understand this.
If you agree with this, and even if you are not an NDP supporter, you could join the National NDP and vote for Cullen in the leadership election.
Then we would have to find someone among the Liberals who is more concerned with the country than party power games and join together to support that person.
A8 GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCES IN PUBLICLY FUNDED SCHOOLS
"mindful of Catholic sensitivities, alternative names were left open to negotiation"
This is outrageous. By doing this, the Ontario Provincial Government is saying that there is something wrong in being gay. That it is something to be ashamed of and that is why euphemisms would be acceptable.
I say it is not Catholic 'sensibilities', but 'superstitions' and 'stupidities'. There is nothing sensible about any type of anti-gay prejudice. Nothing.
A10 THE NEW WORKPLACE
``The new workplace more about `we` than `me` ``
A very interesting article that talks about an open concept work environment filled with collaboration and interaction, instead of the closed concept cubicle office.
I think this reflects an important change that is occurring in the general population, although political leaders are being very slow to recognize it.
The `me first` and `watching out for #1` and `greed is good` approaches are what has got us into the financial mess we are all in now.
Even if we cannot articulate it (although the Occupy movement is helping), deep down we know that unbridled capitalism is not good for us. We know that unbridled anything is not good for us.
The time has come to rethink how we want our country to run and how we want our society to look.
GT4 A KNOWN ADDRESS
"This is my first actual place with my own kitchen and bathroom." Tracy Estwick, 49 years old.
This is such an incredibly important tiny, teeny, weeny first step. All shelters, no matter what their good intentions, just make matters worse. Every morning when people are thrown out out onto the street after a night of dormitory, sometimes on the floor, sleeping, they are reminded that in society's eyes they are utterly useless. Heterosexual couples can`t be together. Often they must go to separate buildings. Families with children are split up.
These people have 'no known address'.
And with no known address, you can't get a job. Can't vote. You are a nobody. A nothing.
What we really need are apartment buildings filled with studio apartments for single people and some 1 or 2 bedroom apartments for families.
We must give these people a known address. We must give them the opportunity to live with dignity and opportunity. They are not charity cases. They are our social responsibility.
Friday, 5 August 2011
Provincial Election, here we go again
It's been a long time since I've had an NDP sign on my lawn. Not since Harris and Harper.
The Liberal provincial candidate for Halton is an excellent choice. Would love to support her. But I think I will vote NDP even though I don't know who the candidate is.
Hudak is bloody frightening. Why can't the Consevatives, provincially and federally, get normal humane leaders. Why are they all greedy, anti female, anti science men who blame poverty on the poor.
It's a strange analysis that concludes that if there were no poor people, there would be no poverty. Poverty is caused by lazy poor people, they claim.
Somehow, they do not see poverty and repeated world economic melt downs being related to greed. Especially the greed of the super rich who control the media that feed us our daily dose of garbage.
In this area of Oakville, the NDP don't have much chance, but this part of Oakville is part of the greater Halton riding, where there is much more diversity and hence some hope.
So on Aug 5 at 2:35 pm, my plan is to vote NDP. Time will tell.
The Liberal provincial candidate for Halton is an excellent choice. Would love to support her. But I think I will vote NDP even though I don't know who the candidate is.
Hudak is bloody frightening. Why can't the Consevatives, provincially and federally, get normal humane leaders. Why are they all greedy, anti female, anti science men who blame poverty on the poor.
It's a strange analysis that concludes that if there were no poor people, there would be no poverty. Poverty is caused by lazy poor people, they claim.
Somehow, they do not see poverty and repeated world economic melt downs being related to greed. Especially the greed of the super rich who control the media that feed us our daily dose of garbage.
In this area of Oakville, the NDP don't have much chance, but this part of Oakville is part of the greater Halton riding, where there is much more diversity and hence some hope.
So on Aug 5 at 2:35 pm, my plan is to vote NDP. Time will tell.
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