Comments on: BC NDP Convention Minus 1 Day: Defining Ourselves as a Party

By: Quimby

Quimby — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:38:00 +0000

Not willing to answer questions, this is what I meant about transparency. You seem to believe in, “Do as I say, not as I do”

You want to be a VP in my party that demands better communication, transparency and democracy. Yet, you will not put these criteria on yourself.

How will you communicate your ideas to voters in a manner that will be heard, not in an echo chamber?

What objective proof do you have for your assertions?

So far, I have seen none.

By: Stephen Elliott-Buckley

Stephen Elliott-Buckley — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:38:41 +0000

Thanks for sharing your opinions, Quimby. We seem to be talking past each other now.

By: Quimby

Quimby — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:56:19 +0000

#1- The reality of the social movements place as a special interest has very little bearing on the manner in which it will be spun in the media and by those opposing us. The perception will be that we are pandering to alot of special interest groups.

How do you plan to sell this to voters? Your long winded answer here will have lost 75% of them after the first sentence.

#2- I requested objective proof. Are donations down year over year, election cycle over election cycle. You can even use Real $ vs Nominal. Were volunteer hours down province wide?

I know that the campaign that I was working on had more e-day volunteers then we could put to use.

I don’t disagree with your sentiment, but you need to find a better way to sell it.

By: Stephen Elliott-Buckley

Stephen Elliott-Buckley — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:06:02 +0000

I’m not sure how you think I’m not transparent.

People’s truths are their personal experiences with the party, positive and negative.

The phrase “special interests” is so loaded. It is used to suggest that minority groups are trying to take over the agenda that affects the majority, and that it’s not legitimate.

The BC NDP’s policies promote the interests of the poorest 95% of British Columbians, those not favoured by the Liberals’ policies. The thousands of people and groups working for progressive social change are, represent and work with the vast majority of the province: people who work, people who access social services.

The majority population of the province cannot be called a special interest.

The people who economically benefit from Liberal policies far more fit the definition of special interest groups than everyone the BC NDP works for.

Proof of alienation? Yes, from the dozens of people I’ve talked to in the last 6 months about voting, funding and volunteering, as well as what they saw in their constituencies trying to get out the vote and run riding executives.

By: Quimby

Quimby — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:50:21 +0000

So much for your coveted transparency, I guess it doesn’t apply to you.

By: Quimby

Quimby — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:48:46 +0000

“We need to speak our truths to each other.”

What does that mean? What “truths”?
Sounds like an echo chamber to me.

“The party can be the electoral wing of the progressive social movement that already exists in BC.”

So, we need to pander to the special interests more?

“…reverse the tide of alienation that showed up in members defunding the party, not volunteering on the election campaign and in a disturbingly large number of cases not even showing up to vote.”

Do you have an objective proof of this fact?