tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post8052108847746528156..comments2024-03-27T14:50:47.345-04:00Comments on <center>Sandwalk</center>: Liberal Party Policy Development WorkshopLarry Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05756598746605455848noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-59927398722916873072009-03-02T13:53:00.000-05:002009-03-02T13:53:00.000-05:00Take a lesson from our Southern neighbours and dis...Take a lesson from our Southern neighbours and display some frigging backbone and a vision for a change. Stop being the squishy middle between the NDP and the Tories. Articulate a few consistent beliefs and principles and then apply them. The Tories don't win because they try to please everyone, they win because they happily tell half of Canada to screw themselves while telling the other half that they'll fight for them and only them. <BR/><BR/>For a start, why not take a principled stance on the environment (including the Tar Sands), human rights, the war in Afghanistan or something. Heck, even file sharing (not sexy but anyone under 40 will be solidly behind it)! With economies being rocked there has to be something which will excite controversy and interest - why not follow California and propose pot legalization & taxation? An issue which can capture our imagination and get people fired up.<BR/><BR/>The problem the Liberals have, I think, is that any sort of clearly articulated vision and any firm stance means turning people away. Saying that the tar sands cannot continue like this means that some people will be turned off, even if it also means that it'll inspire many others. So the Libs say the tar sands are vital to our culture and way of life to cozy up to the Albertans while ignoring that climate change could ruin our culture & way of life, not to mention that Albertans will never vote Liberal while there's a Tory bigot on the ticket. You win nothing in Alberta while pissing off the rest of the country.<BR/><BR/>They can cynically decide on who they want (young/old, BC/prairie/central/maritime, etc.) and then take a stance on those issues or better yet find someone within the ranks who has somehow managed to survive politics with her integrity intact and the ability to speak persuasively. It's been known to happen.<BR/><BR/>Why not push for some sort of proportional representation? It would free them from trying to become Tory-lite and if presented well could excite people into voting.Adrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08694840174170043470noreply@blogger.com