Why?
Here’s something I posted on the Alberta NDP Member’s Facebook page. Just thought I’d post it here for anyone who’s interested.
I think now is as good a time as any to look back at the Alberta NDP’s election campaign and ask why things ended the way they did. Do Albertans really want a PC government? I think the clear answer to that question is no. Only one in five Albertans voted PC. Even the PCs admit that the province needs a change in government. Just look at their campaign slogan.
Given that the pre-election polls overwhelmingly showed that Albertans wanted change why didn’t they vote for it? Did they really reject the NDP’s platform? My theory is one of fear. People are afraid to vote for someone who they don’t know. I know I certainly wouldn’t have voted NDP if I didn’t know where they stood on the issues that are important to me. I think the problem with the NDP in Alberta is they’re too low profile. Mind you, I moved to Alberta from a province where the NDP actually forms the government every so often. Not long before the election I had a friend tell me that there was no NDP in Alberta. Of course he was mistaken, but as the campaign moved forward I could understand why he might have that impression. In my riding I didn’t spot a single lawn or window sign for my NDP candidate. This despite the fact that I requested one for my own lawn, and volunteered to help erect signs around the riding. I didn’t find a single piece of NDP campaign literature in my mailbox. (I did receive several mail outs from a certain Liberal MLA who wasn’t even running in my riding. lol) I also didn’t see a single NDP advertisement on TV or hear any ads on the radio. Why would people vote for a party that they know nothing about, and in some cases don’t even know it exists?
Of course members of this group know there is an NDP in Alberta, and so do any other Albertans who follow politics, but a majority of citizens don’t follow politics. Voter turnout makes that abundantly clear. The way I see it, the NDP has to work harder to get their message out to the people. Not just the people who already support the party, but to all Albertans. We need to convince Albertans that this is a party worth voting for. We need to put forward a message that the 59% of non voters can get behind. Something that they’ll want to go to the polls to vote for. We need to utilize all of our volunteers. (I volunteered to help out on the campaign, and was only contacted for one thing prior to the election. Something that I was not able to help out with. But I did say I would be willing to help with anything else.)
I guess I’m just rambling, but I joined this party because I believe in its policies and its message and I believe that it’s the only party that can get real results for the people. Before the election was called I was contacted by someone who was helping organize a neighbouring riding’s campaign. He said to me “We see the Calgary NDP scene as depressing, lacking any leadership or drive.” Looking back now, I have to say I agree with him. I’ve found myself extremely disappointed in the party the last couple of weeks. I know we can do better. We must do better.
P.S.: I promise to start posting a little more often. Ive been procrastinating too much lately.
Tags: Alberta, Alberta NDP, Calgary, campaign, change, election, election results, NDP
