I'm not going to read too much into this FRESH development, but from a purely feisty perspective, Boris Wrzesnewskyj maybe the start of exactly what is needed:
Wrzesnewskyj said 2013 is a critical opportunity for the party to show it is ready to represent Canadian values and the ideals that led it to become one of the most successful parties in the history of democracy.
He noted that it was the Liberals that pushed forward the idea of multiculturalism, a just society, and peacekeeping, but that success brought its own problems.
“Success attracts people, and often very capable people, with wrong motivations,” he said. “We’ll see over the next two years whether we can jettison that group, because they are like an anchor.”
Wrzesnewskyj blames that group for the party’s declining election returns and a legacy that dampens its future prospects. And it is a future he is optimistic about.
“I haven’t given up on the Liberal Party. There is no other party in Western democracy such as ours. They are all parties of the right or left,” he said.
“The Liberal Party is not a party of ideology—it’s a reflection of Canadian history, of accommodation.”
While other parties are guided by ideology, the Liberals are, at their best, guided by ideals, said Wrzesnewskyj.
“That’s why it would be such a shame to lose the Liberal Party of Canada as a consequence of being highjacked by a so-called party establishment.”
I'm not sure the party has been "hijacked" as much as it's inability to appeal and inspire has left it largely impotent on the ground level. After years of failing to bring in new blood and let it blossom, hardly surprising we are largely left with same old as alternatives, really a byproduct of marginal infusion, due to lack of inspiration and motivation.
I'm not endorsing Wrzesnewskyj necessarily, but I appreciate the reform mentality, we need voices that actually do step on toes, that are prepared to blast the status quo, don't mind being controversial Things may actually be getting interesting in Liberal land.... thankfully in my view.
4 comments:
I totally agree with Borys. With that said, I do not believe that the election results were low enough to initiate a purge of the same old, same old. As it stands, membership is divided on so many issues, and this acts like a cancer. I hate to say it, but it will be after the next election (where results will even be lower) that enough rats will leave the sinking ship, thus enabling it to be rebuilt. Naturally, there can be various game changers over the next 4 years (Harper goes kaboom, New NDP leader goes kaboom, etc) that could shoot them back up. I'm not holding my breath.
I like where Borys is going with this - I think his passion is what's needed right now.
I've been reading a lot of posts on LPC member blogs and I confess that I do not share the same urgency for change. Now, that is not to say that I don't think change isn't necessary: it's critical. Moreover, it's the only reason I joined on May 3 after working my ass off for an incumbent that barely lost the night before to a turncoat Con.
I think I'll put in my two cents here and there, continue with regional and EDA meetings, focus on the MB provincial campaign and prepare for the biannual convention in January of next year. At that time, I'd like to see some steps being taken at reform/change/progress/renewal/whatever. There are lots of good ideas and I'd like us to explore them all. I believe that will be telling of whether or not the party ACTUALLY wants to move into a new direction. The titanic isn't going to do 90 degrees in an instant and I don't expect the LPC to do so either.
Like I said, Borys is right on the money and hopefully he can be a grassroots catalyst to push the conversation to exploring new ideas. Until the door is closed on shaking things up (like at the biannual convention if it's a stale and fruitless exercise that stalls real conversation) I'll wait it out and continue to work on the ground.
What did he lose by..26 votes!!....that is really too bad.
Wrzesnewskyj raises a number of interesting points, and I'm happy someone's throwing them out there.
So, he's thinking of a run at the leadership. Interesting. How's his French? ;)
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