5 tips
Babble on.
Chris Taylor has five tips for what he calls "The Recalcitrant Left" in Canada. They're worth reading, and if you happen to lean to the political left, well worth following.
But don't trust me on this - go read them yourself. Here's why:
Seriously, guys. I am not going to agree with 99% of the stuff you put forward anyway, but if you can get past this stuff, I guarantee your electoral prospects will improve dramatically. And as entertaining as it is for us conservatives right now, an ineffectual left is a bad thing for the nation.
What he said.
Babble off.
posted by Babbling Brooks @ 11:41 a.m.
7 comments
7 Comments:
Thanks for the link! To be truthful, Tony Blair's already shown them how to revitalise a left-of-centre party, but nobody in Dipper-Land is buying.
No payment is required, Pete. You will have to log in and provide a valid e-mail address, though.
And as far as your first paragraph goes... a lot of Conservatives voted PC or Alliance long before those two parties re-merged and had a shot at governing. We know what it is like to vote for people and policies that appear to be in the political wilderness.
My point is not about voting strategically -- it is about having your own leadership identify and showcase presently-governing leaders. You will notice I did not mention Tommy Douglas in there because yes, he was a premier, and yes, he got his policies implemented nationwide. Love it or hate it, the guy was a winner.
Ed Broadbent and Stephen Lewis, however, are on the opposite side of the balance sheet. Name a key plank from one of their election platforms that is presently in force nationwide. See the difference?
Sorry, I meant to say "You will notice I did not lump Tommy Douglas in there with the other two because yes, he was a premier, and yes, he got his policies implemented nationwide."
I sure did mention him, but I was careful to direct the "loser" label at the other two fellas.
With all due respect to my good pal Mr. Talyor, I will respond when there is an equally broad set of five tips for those of the right and their respective loonie relationship to the truth. Start with "Randian Objectivism is evidence of only a syndrom and of little use to political discourse. Avoid such moonbattery in future" and "Use of the words liberal and left only for targets for blame is vacuous. A positive statement of principle might be helpful for the conservative cause every now and then."
What has amazed me about the comments here and at Staples' place is that the lefties think Taylor's just slagging them. They just didn't get the point at all.
Chris is giving them a brief glimpse into how the other side sees them. He's pointing out that while those of us on the right might oppose lefty policies, we will take the discussions more seriously when they don't start with "Busharper!" Some things are conversation stoppers.
And Alan, on that note, I'd look forward to your list if you took the time to do it as seriously as Chris has. Given your dismissive throwaway line here, I'm not holding my breath.
I'll back Alan's "Randian syndrome" line... Sometimes excessive Objectivism is one giant conversation-stopper, too.
Nothing against the philosophy per se, but sometimes the whole "minimal government intervention" line devolves into something along the lines of "you're not the boss of me!"
Which is fine in some things, but wholly unrealistic in others. Nobody likes the government screwing around in private affairs, but there are going to be some areas where it is wholly necessary and justified.
Chris,
Brooks sometimes forgets. We lefties know how others see us. We've had 20 years since Manning set off this wave and have heard and heard. But handsome is always only as handsome does and, unfortunately, each of the right and left polish the mantlepiece brass as each deems fit. Your complaints are fair. My point is only that each also have to admit their respective limitations, too. I would not like to list the wrongs of others until I had my own wrongs catalogued as well.
XOXO
Alan
GX40
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