The future of the NDP by Buzz Hargrove.

[HeresyLives]

In case you didn't see it.

http://www.nationalpost.com/todays-paper/story.html?id=2465951&p=1

[CHIMO]

1. Right On

The future of the NDP

The NDP staggers from election to election, becoming less relevant each time. Why? Because, I suggest, it has become less associated with the ideas that appealed to its base from the beginning, and less successful at selling them to the electorate at large.

A rare example of showing creative leadership to make the most of the political opportunity was shown by all three opposition leaders, including Layton. Just weeks after the 2008 election, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty tabled an incredibly inept economic update that essentially denied the existence of the financial and economic crisis that Canadians could see unfolding around them. Layton, Stephane Dion and Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe seized the opportunity and proposed a coalition government involving all three parties that would seriously address the coming recession. In fact, the CAW had proposed this very idea way back in 2004, after the Liberals' minority victory. We argued it made sense for progressives from all three parties -- Liberals, NDP and Bloc -- to work co-operatively to advance progressive policies. Unfortunately, Governor-General Michaelle Jean gave Flaherty and Harper a second chance by proroguing parliament, and the coalition didn't last. But the basic idea of building bridges across party lines to promote ideas of common interest is valid, and is practised regularly in other multi-party democracies. Layton, Dion and Duceppe were on the right track.

Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/todays-paper/story.html?id=2465951&p=1#ixzz0dIc0pnda

[HeresyLives]

2. Well, there is no reason for a coalition.

Scared the bejesus out of Harper, and for that alone it was worth it, but otherwise we don't need one.

[glarius]

3. Jack Layton is mainly interested in acquiring power for himself

no matter what it costs the country, IMO. He was responsible for Harper getting power, in the first place...and that can not be denied. I have voted for the NDP in the past, but I now believe we are just watering down the progressive vote by splitting between the Liberals and NDP.

[glarius]

5. I have mostly voted Liberal but did vote NDP too.

Just wanted to be clear.

[CHIMO]

6. The Article

Was not about Jack Layton. It was about defeating Harper.
Please read the article.

[glarius]

7. I don't care......my point is that Jack Layton is power hungry...I wanted to make that point. n/t

[Spazito]

4. Layton has betrayed the grass-root of the NDP...

by selling it's 'principles' to the highest bidder, and that seems to be to the CRAP, for political expediency. The NDP needs to get rid of him and choose a leader who will hold true to those principles, if they don't Layton will take them down the rabbit hole even further, imo.

[BolivarianHero]

8. Thank you for voting Liberal....

Paul Martin is a good friend to the Ton Ton Macoutes.

[HeresyLives]

9. Paul Martin isn't in politics.

And as you well know, there are only 2 parties to choose from.