Comments on: BC NDP Convention Minus 2 Days: Improving Internal Party Democracy

By: Quimby

Quimby — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 02:02:55 +0000

It’s not the only solution but it is best solution.

By: Brenton

Brenton — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:47:52 +0000

We had the most preparation ever for on-the-ground organizing, E-day, etc, but our popular vote barely budged. And our volunteer base shrank (anecdotal). Voter identification and motivation can not be the only solution, big Q.

By: Quimby

Quimby — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:47:05 +0000

If one policy plank in an entire electoral platform was enough to alienate someone, then they are single issue wonks. However, the Axe the Tax also managed to keep many Liberal voters at home, also.

Much of your plan is based on the assumption that non-voters will vote NDP, but the facts do not back up your assumption. In fact those that didn’t vote always breakdown similar to those that did vote. This means that for every 1 NDP vote that stayed home, 1 Liberal and 1 green stayed home. Statistical analysis will always bear out this truth.

The best strategy is too keep track of everyone that does vote, as part of our GOTV on e-day. Then targeting serial voters and those most likely to vote. It takes less time and resources then trying to overcome voter apathy. It takes a very special politician to make that plan successful, and to my knowledge has never happened in Canada. As far as my memory serves me only twice as that happened, and in USA, with FDR and Obama. In Obama’s case turn out was only up slightly.

By: Stephen Elliott-Buckley

Stephen Elliott-Buckley — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:02:55 +0000

Exit polls do not account for prime NDP supporters who do not show up to vote because the Axe the Tax campaign alienated them.

Also, this is not “my” system for referral to council. I was quoting the constitution and commenting on even that doesn’t happen.

By: Quimby

Quimby — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:51:32 +0000

Stop your rhetoric about the Carbon Tax policy, it was a vote winner. Exits polls show that was one of the main reasons for such a historically high vote percentage, second best ever.

Also your system of referring everything back to council for approval would render the party unable to respond to issues in a expedited manner that is usually necessary. This will lead to the perception that we can’t get our act together and erode our support.

Your ideas have some merit, in utopia. But some realism is needed along with some pragmatism, otherwise we will be also rans forever