The NDP has some great policies. And they’ve had great policies ever since the party was created. So why haven’t they won? Why now are they behind the CPC in the polls? I feel the following is the issue:
1.) Right wingers are more team oriented to their political party (IE, the CPC)
I think those who believe in a more individualistic society with less interventionist government are (ironically) more able to collectively get behind their team and donate and volunteer than are those on the left.
So even if the CPC does not exactly mirror an individual right-winger’s vision of what they want, they will put that aside and still get behind their team. Thus, donations and volunteering are higher. And this gives the right a huge advantage. It’s resulted in society incrementally moving right over the past forty years.
2.) Left wingers are less team oriented
By contrast, left wingers, who believe society should be a more community based collective endeavour rather than a non-interventionist individualistic endeavour, (ironically) sit back as individual arm-chair critics deriding their own team. They treat it as a product outside of themselves that needs a better shine to sell, rather than as a team-based movement toward a more just society. Thus, donations and support are low.
Until left wing people can get over that and instead support their team, there’s little hope of success. So, start by joining the NDP and supporting them. That’s the ticket forward.
the NDP isn’t putting any sort of socialist reform on the table. They aren’t talking about redistribution and optimising the economy for continuing prosperity with redistribution and environmental sustainability. They don’t organize well and treat volunteers poorly. They let Trudeau scoop their long held positions on social justice while Mulcair wanted to talk about balanced budgets. Singh has done little to reform the party. Otherwise…great job on squeezing a few concessions out of the LPC. Even if they stick, they’ll be under permanent attack until they’re in as bad shape as the rest of Canada’s antiquated social programs.
@johnefrancis well we could lead a grass roots revolt and take back the party by electing candidates that won’t be puppets.
Poorly funded social programs.
You seem to have missed my point. I recommend watching the following documentary (it’s a 4-part documentary, with each part being an hour long):
The Century of the Self
Its focus is primarily Britain and the US, but the underlying message holds true here as well. Ultimately, that message is that without the backing of the people, left wing movements will not succeed. And thinking of it as a “movement” rather than as a “product” is key. You’re treating the NDP as a product to be sold (IE, what’s being put “on the table” is not enough for you to buy). That’s the wrong approach, in my opinion. That viewpoint (of politics being a product to appeal to the public) has led to society slowly but surely moving ever more right.