I agree, the current state of the NDP is trash and they need to re-think what they are as a party.
Maybe i'm misreading your post but if your take is that they need a more moderate and "balanced" approach (aka be like the Liberals) to attract voters, then that's where I disagree. Look at how well that strategy worked out for Mulcair. And hell if that strategy does work what do we get? Another slightly to the left centrist party that does next to fuck all to address the issues our society faces. Inspiring.
I also like how this just ignores the history of the NDP which as been trending towards a more moderate and professionalized party apparatus for years. I think this trend has been to its detriment. I don't give a crap about winning elections, I want a party that organizes progressives and builds grassroots support for these ideals. They should focus on reaching out to people who would benefit from more progressive policies and work to explain how it is actually in their interest to support them.
The Liberals do not lead in social change, they just follow where public opinion happens to be which thankfully is trending less conservative. They're not conservative but they are not leaders either. Marijuana, gay marriage, 50/50 gender balance in cabinet? They did these things only when most of the population already supported them, not when they were the right things to do but still faced heavier societal backlash. The NDP should be leading these types of causes and pushing the Liberals, or whoever is in charge, to do better. I want an energized and driven leftist group that calls out the hypocrisy of the two major players, not another party filled with career politicians just looking to get votes and make some money for themselves and their buddies.
Then what you're supporting is more of a think tank than a political party. You can't make positive changes wagging your finger at the sidelines. Mulcair lost not because he was moderate or being safe, but he was an uninspiring politician, a remnant from the political past. An indication that the NDP hasn't changed with the times.
You say the liberals are merely following social trends? THATS THE JOB OF POLITICIANS! Publish or perish they say in science. If you can't adjust your game plan then get out of the way for someone who can. The NDP as i see it hasn't changed much since i was in university. They're for the environment and labour laws. Nothing has changed with them. They have shown no ability to even appear that they are listening to voters. That's why they have been relegated to the protest vote. But they're not even good enough for that, the Greens have that status now.
What the NDP needs to do, believe it or not, is to support the liberals and counter the conservatives at every opportunity. This does two things, it clearly defines them as a viable opposition to the conservatives and it allows them to play with the big boys, and it signals to current liberal voters that their vote and support would be carried on under an NDP banner.
Bill Morneau proposing hanging the tax laws? Good. Hold a joint conference pointing out that the conservatives are just in it for the rich. You don't have, say you're in complete agreement. But broadcast that you're a viable opposition to the conservatives.
Instead you get an inept and vapid presence on the hill from the NDP as they don't want to have the optics of supporting the liberals. Even though they support the policy.
The NDP has to drastically change their game plan. What why're doing is worse than what Mulcair was doing.
Our society in North America will never accept anything resembling socialism. Bob Rae won an election and faced such stiff propaganda and obstruction that people preferred to vote in a drug dealer with no platform.
In the US, the most progressive socialists are getting death threats and racist billboard advertisement.
We are trending toward the US in our own way where the only two choices are a far right and a centrist quasi left party that gives you the illusion that anything will change in any meaningful way.
Capitalism, "but mah taxes" and "fuck you got mine" are too ingrained in this country that we will never significantly deviate from this.
We are better than the US but not enough to make any real change.
Not many people want equality when they're happy where they're at and they want to stay that way, while the billionaire shitlords own the media and spread bullshit.
The NDP is tanking because more people care to preserve their socioeconomic status rather than improve everyone as a whole (including themselves).
Until someone solves crab mentality we are going nowhere.
aye. completely agree. But the way the NDP approaches their politics turns people off. They have to figure out what that is else they're toast.
Also, their comms strategy is the worse. Worse than the liberals and that's saying a lot!