NDP policy convention this weekend...

[Cheese]

The NDP are meeting in Quebec City to discuss changes in policy...some thoughts are:

First and foremost, Canada would immediately withdraw from Afghanistan. (But before that, a bunch of Dippers were yesterday forced to withdraw wording in a resolution that referred to Canadian troops propping up "a U.S. puppet government of human-rights abusers, drug traffickers and warlords ... and ... acting like terrorists, destroying communities, killing and maiming innocent people.")

Every riding would elect two MPs -- a man and a woman -- to ensure gender equality in parliament, and the country would be declared a republic, in part because "Queen Elizabeth II was not born nor has ever lived in Canada."

Development would be frozen until further notice; there would never be another post office closure.

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So would any of these revisions change your voting mind?

[White Doors]

Hey! I'm suprised, I agree with the republic one!
what a bunch of ......

[Azure]

The NDP are good for one thing in the HOC......comic relief...

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by White Doors

Hey! I'm suprised, I agree with the republic one!
what a bunch of ......

Bunch of what?

[White Doors]

Dippers

[CaptainCrunch]

I'll say it, what a load of stuff . . . and for a political party thats supposed to be a serious alternative, I would expect more then the usual name calling, idiotic rants that they originally attached to the Afghanistan statement. Whether you believe its true or not, its incredibly inflammitory and stupid.

Calling our NATO mission an illegal occupation is a joke since the government elect of Afghanistan asked for the international force thatsnow in place

Brazenly stating that your going to immediately walk away from all of our trade agreements. I always knew that the NDP lived on a trade union cloud, but I'm stunned (not?) that they don't care about the economic earthquake that this would cause.

The Petroleum company nationalization is something straight out of communism, and we know how well that works. And whats our budget going to be like with the NDP taking over all of these services

The man and woman thing is stupid, it would only be proper if woman couldn't run for parlimentary positions, but gender equalization isn't something thats really needed in this company. Earth to Layton, the 50's wants thier ideas back.

People can say all that they want about the Conservatives and thier platforms, and the fringe members of the Conservative party, but they're nothing compared to some of the social ######s running under the NDP banner. What a useless and outdated party, I wouldn't mourn thier passing

[Clarkey]

Wow talk about extremism. This is a scary party, good thing they don't have a chance at ever getting control of this country.

[nieuwy-89]

The best thing for conservatives in Canada is a strong NDP party. A weak NDP allows the Liberal Party to claim to the left, centre, and slightly right of centre, as they were able to do under the Chretien/Martin regime.

The NDP needs to focus on left of centre issues that have broad appeal - such as the environment, labour, and democratic reform. Debating about gender equity, how evil the US is, and whether or not to ditch the monarchy is a step backwards for them as a legitimate political force at this point.

The Liberal party has no problem staking a left of centre position if it feels it can steal votes from the NDP. The new leader will be watching closely.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

Wow talk about extremism. This is a scary party, good thing they don't have a chance at ever getting control of this country.

You know Clarkey i thought the same thing...then I remembered that apathy in Ontario allowed the NDPs to gain control for 4 frightful years in the 90s. Bob Rae...ugh what a literal waste...and hes running for Liberal leader now? ROFLMAO!
With voter apathy still strong, and a number of areas in Canada who are strong advocates of the NDP they could sneak in if people continue to shun the polls or split the votes.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Cheese

You know Clarkey i thought the same thing...then I remembered that apathy in Ontario allowed the NDPs to gain control for 4 frightful years in the 90s. Bob Rae...ugh

Mike Harris still gets raked over the coals for trying to pull Ont. out of the mess Bob Rae threw them into. And he almost made it, until he retired and his party tried to buy the next election.

When will politicians learn that the electorate will accept tight spending when it is required? Ralph proved it here, Mike Harris did in Ont. The silent majority know not to spend beyond thier means, and they recognize and reward governments that understand that principle.

[octothorp]

It might be scary if it was anything more than a list of all suggestions by NDP party members nationally, none of which have as yet been adopted or even discussed as part of the actual party platform. Taking the conservative blogger highlights as indicative of the direction of the party is about as acurate as using the best of Rob Anders quotes as representative of conservative policy.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by octothorp

It might be scary if it was anything more than a list of all suggestions by NDP party members nationally, none of which have as yet been adopted or even discussed as part of the actual party platform. Taking the conservative blogger highlights as indicative of the direction of the party is about as acurate as using the best of Rob Anders quotes as representative of conservative policy.

True, but the fact that their leader hasn't come out and denounced these suggestions is quite disdurbing.

I could judt see it now if the same thing happened with the tories. There would be a HUGE out dry if a few members were holding a party and some of the suggestions were: abortion illegal, military force is a priority, no more health care, no more social assitance, no immigration.

If the leader of the tories didn't come out within minutes of the story breaking then the entire media group would be all over it.

[underGRADFlame]

If the NDP ran on a platform of turning Canada into a republic with a US style 3 tier system I would become NDP over night. But other than that theyre a bunch of loons. One woman one man, what kind of BS is that!!!

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

True, but the fact that their leader hasn't come out and denounced these suggestions is quite disdurbing.

I could judt see it now if the same thing happened with the tories. There would be a HUGE out dry if a few members were holding a party and some of the suggestions were: abortion illegal, military force is a priority, no more health care, no more social assitance, no immigration.

If the leader of the tories didn't come out within minutes of the story breaking then the entire media group would be all over it.

I don't find it disturbing. There hasn't been that big an outcry about it (one article in a not-very-respected newspaper and some conservative guy's blog), so that's hardly enough criticism to warrant Layton making a big deal about it and drawing further attention. If a conservative booster said something and nobody significant in the media batted an eyelash about it, I'm guessing Harper wouldn't spout off a big denial and draw unnecessary attention, either. I won't argue that the conservatives get more critism for things that they say, though.

[ernie]

I think the real reason it hasn't made any news is because if you looked at any parties grassroots proposals going into a convention where only a limited number of total things will be adopted you'd see the same outlandish things.

The other reason is that quite frankly no one cares about the NDP.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by ernie

The other reason is that quite frankly no one cares about the NDP.

In a minority government, the ought to care. The NDP can be the spoiler for any of the major parties


On the original posts main points:

I would love to see more women holding office in Canada. They make up slightly more than 50% of the population and have differing perspectives and experiences from men that could help find solutions for many things. But electing twice as many MPs would make the government way too big. I would rather just have it so the parties realize that a feminine perspective can be a strength and choose to find more women to run.

As for Afghanistan, I am not for immediately pulling out, but I am all for setting a time line with well defined goals, and an exit strategy. As long as armed troops are occupying the country, there can never be true democracy as people tend to vote for the people with the guns. The longer troops stay there, the more we are building a culture of occupation in Afghanistan. Nothing good can come from that. As things are right now, I do not see this conflict ending in an acceptable time frame.

All in all, although I don't agree with everything 100'%, I think the NDP has an important voice in this country, and place in federal policy making. I don't think I would care to have them running the whole show, but I'm glad they are there for some input.

[Devils'Advocate]

RE: No one cares...

Except those that have voted NDP in almost every election like myself. As you rightly admit, things that get written in these things at conventions are usually ridiculous no matter what the party.

(A) Bob Rae was premier during the years that Conservative Brian Mulroney single-handedly brought this country's economy down. It wasn't just in Ontario, the recession was across the whole country.
(B) Mike Harris left Ontario with a debt far massive than Rae ever came close to. The books are still an incredible mess, which is why my provincial taxes keep going up and up and up.

[JimmytheT]

If you looked very closely to the NDP pary's platform in the last federal election, it was basically advocating for an NEP II.

Layton has no qualms with putting a Trudeau hat on and ruining the Alberta economy for some false socialistic ideal.

Hasn't this party learned from the fall of communism around the world (I know they are a democratic socialist party); haven't they learned from New Zealand, Norway or Sweden?

And why is a party that's been around for over 50 years still called the New Democratic Party.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by JimmytheT

And why is a party that's been around for over 50 years still called the New Democratic Party.

Uh, because New is a reference to the New Party, which was the name used by the party in the interrum after the decision to move away from the CCF label. More or less the same reason that the Conservatives adopted the name Progressive Conservative after merging with the Progressive Party, and continued with that name long after the Progressives were completely forgotten.

[evman150]

First and foremost, Canada would immediately withdraw from Afghanistan.

Definitely agree.

In future, forget about Canadian peacekeeping missions anywhere -- the NDP "rejects the use of military intervention as a tool for peace."

I support dropping all "peacekeeping" as well.

While they are at it, the Dippers would get on the phone to George Bush to demand the U.S. withdraw from Iraq. Shivers in the White House.

Not our business. It is not the Canadian government's job to babysit our misbehaving southern neighbours.

Forget about arming customs guards and demanding passports at all Canada-U.S. crossing points.

Agree. The less guns the better off we are.

In the Utopian Canada of NDP grassroots, pot smoking and hookers would be legalized...

Definitely agree on both counts.

mandatory prison sentences would be outlawed

No. This is one policy I definitely disagree with.

and we'd all take to the streets every November in a special national "Day of Remembrance" for transsexuals.

Huh?

Every riding would elect two MPs -- a man and a woman -- to ensure gender equality in parliament...

I'm all for equality, but forced "equality" is not equality.

and the country would be declared a republic, in part because "Queen Elizabeth II was not born nor has ever lived in Canada."

No. I am vehemently against severing all ties to Britain.

"Total elimination of spin doctors, consultants and speech writers, so that all policy arises from a genuine concern for justice, and so that tax dollars are spent on programs instead of a manipulation of the masses."

Blah, blah, blah.