Just What Is Democracy?
A senior political strategist for the Conservative Party asked the question what is the problem with the nomination for a Conservative Candidate in your area?
The answer to that question requires a further explanation.
The Citizens of this region want to see the democratic system play out in this candidate selection and at this point, they don`t see that as happening.
It would nice if all five candidates were about to be judged on their merits, on their ability to get like minded people to support them by way of buying a membership in the party and therefore a vote for their favourite person .
It should be that way but it isn’t , and that, I remarked, is the reason why the Conservative Party might want to look at the sequence of events, before moving forward with process.
Gerald Caron, Todd Doherty, T.J. Grewal, Shari Green and Nick Federkiw should be judged in a democratic way in a nomination process.
If for example you felt that your ability would carry you to obtain enough votes to get you past the post , why then would you think that you needed something more than the other candidates had to propel you across the finish line? That is exactly what happened in the riding of Cariboo- Prince George.
When a group took over the directorship of the local riding association, putting their handpicked people in places of influence , they knew what they were setting out to accomplish. When news of the move became public , it not only angered the public but those other people who have supported the Conservatives , and so it should.
The Democratic system had been tainted , tainted to a point where the rank and file suddenly were wondering , just how does the Democratic system operate, that system that we like to suggest is the back bone of our society? Handpicked people with the ability to move their candidate to the top of the class without regard for those who subscribe to that Democratic process? Is that the way it is done?
Then there came a second instance, wherein one candidate, who it was widely accepted was obtaining more memberships and hence more votes than the others. By calling a snap nomination, it effectively takes T.J. Grewal out of the picture, because his member ship was one week too short to qualify.
A coincidence? Or a simple error that can be overcome by allowing an exception to the rule? Regardless, the process is further tainted and why would you wonder why.
Shari Green should be given an equal opportunity to display her abilities and in so doing, try and obtain as many votes as possible with a view of trying to win that nomination. That hasn`t been the case.
Todd Doherty`s sudden departure from the Canada Winter Games, at a point where his section of the Gmes was churning out just shy of 100% of his goal , again left a bad taste. There has been no explanation for his departure, beyond the knowledge that he was seeking the nomination for the riding and was that enough to sending him packing? Mayor Green had ample opportunity to show her wares during the dying days of her tenure as Mayor of Prince George, and did.
So when I am asked again just what is happening in the riding it will be simple to say that the Democratic process has not been, to this point, been seen to be a strong presence in the nomination process.
The residents of the region have a valid complaint when they talk about the system, a system that governments like to suggest is the corner stone of our country.
I`m Meisner and that’s one man’s opinion.
Comments
Very well stated Ben. Thank you. I hope it opens the eyes of a few people and also the Conservative party.
Well said Ben! I find it hard to believe that a politician with such a dismal track record and bottom scraping popularity could continue on to the next level. She needs to give her head a shake on that one!
Ethics. Cameron and Shari, could you please take a course in it. If you have you clearly missed the point.
Smart, clever, wise, and intelligent does NOT = unethical.
I have always voted Conservative. It’s time to become a member . One more vote to try and keep Shari Green from representing us. If she does get in I will be voting NDP for the first time in my life.
Maybe they aren’t ethical but it seems they are anal lytical. Isn’t this what Harper likes? ☻
People who want to join the Conservative party so that they can vote in the nomination had better get off their butts and do it right away as there is a cut off time. (not sure what it is) In any event we are once again faced with the daunting task of just complaining or getting off our collective ass’s and doing something,.
Our track record for doing nothing is pretty good,
Nicely written Ben. Please file a freedom of information request on a trip to Ottawa our city manger and mayor made not long ago. It did not show up on the mayors expense.
Since when was Harper and the (Reform) Conservatives interested in democracy?
It must feel like Harper’s birthday today with the Republican majority in the US House and Senate.
Did the mayor travel to Ottawa on time off? Or was she collecting her pay from the citizen of Prince George while in Ottawa? Needs to be looked at. I thought the mayors position is a full time job.
The inner workings of a political party -be they Liberals, Conservatives, NDP, Greens, Rhinos, whatever- have nothing to do with democracy. Democracy means you have the right to vote in Federal, Provincial and Municipal elections, nothing more, nothing less. The fact that we, as voters, seldom have decent candidates to vote for is a completely different issue.
That’s what Mike Duffy thought too axman.
As soon as they brought in voting to tow the party line democracy was dead. a Mla or Mp should be able to vote for what’s best for their riding without repercussions but they can’t anymore without fear of reprisal.
This is not the first time PC party executive side stepped the democratic process. They had a plan and could careless what party members think, its about winning at any cost. So will they change and allow TJ the opportunity don’t hold your breath and don’t expect the Federal wing to jump into this. There response will address membership clarification and not medial in local process, rules are rules LOL… and Cameron and Green just keep smiling.
It’s all corrupt right down to your local union.
Democracy start however niece I maybe at the grass roots. I may agree that party lines as they are now have killed much of the democracy we are told exists but we can change that without starting at the bottom and working to change things one candidate at a time.
This cannot happen at all if we allow the stupidity that happens in higher government to happen in a place where we can make a difference.
Here is our chance to send a message. You may control Ottawa for now but change is coming. We agree with the philosophy but not the party right now. We can’t do that if the people we send are only about themselves and playing every trick in the book.
If we do elect people like that we get a government like that.
So no thank you to dirty tricks locally or federally. So no, to the Shari gang.
Should be
Democracy starts however naive I might be…
Posted on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 @ 7:26 AM by 8
That’s what Mike Duffy thought too axman.
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Duffy allegedly broke the law. Apples and oranges.
Fair enough Axman. 6-8 weeks ago Shari Green was in Ottawa. I’d like to know if these trips are the business of our City. Jason Kenny and some others should be able to clarify what the purpose of this trip was.
Just think of Greens opening speech to get the nomination
I want you all to look at my track record as mayor of PG.. NOPE SCRATCH THAT
I want you all to look at my popularity amongst the voters of PG NOPE CANT SAY THAT
I want you to all look at how I lived up to my promises while mayor of PG
DAMN>> SCRATCH THAT TOO
Good evening everyone… SQUIRREL… points to sky.. walks of the stage PERFECT.. lol
Stillsmokin: Seems like Shari answers to no one but herself. Perhaps she is exactly what her handlers need in someone to run their agenda, whatever that may be.
The whole thing just stinks.
What a great day for those who favour the sensible side of the political spectrum. Harry and Barry have been rendered irrelevant in the US and JT has to answer for the Liberals apparent War on Women, here in Canada.
Have to hand it to the Liberals, they are breaking new ground on this one.
Smells god tous NDP’ers.
Cheers
Smells god tous NDP’ers.
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Smells god all NDP’ers? Huh?
What a happy group and its only wed, get out and vote people, enjoy the day and the opportunity its what our fathers, sons, daughters, mothers and other family members died to protect. Remembrance day has little meaning if we don’t truly express our graduated by exercising the right and ability to VOTE. Its a way of saying thank you with meaning on November 11th.
So the war that happened before women had the right to vote, has something to do with democracy? More like the thoughtless waste of young men’s lives, while cousins of royal birth stroked their egos, shook the combined conscience of all members of the British commonwealth to the core.
I am definitely not a Conservative voter, but I am aware of how strong the support for the Conservatives are in this region. If Shari does win the nomination, and is running for a position in Ottawa. All I ask is for the people in the riding to consider another candidate. For me, the person representing my riding is what matters most to me, and the party is second. Shari couldn’t run our city, and she displayed her arrogance throughout her term. I don’t want her to be the face of my region on the national stage, as I’m sure most of us can agree. Best of luck to ANY of the other candidates. If the pro-Shari group get their way this round, lets make sure they don’t get their way when it truly matters.
FYI – I believe the deadline to join the conservative party is November 20th. It also costs $15.
Sorry axman us NDP’ers lack some good eduation like the PC’s are dishing out at the present time.
Should of read'”smells good to us NDP’ers.
Cheers
Poor Jimmy, so lost.
Not sure what all the whining is about from you Harperites?
It wasn’t too long ago when Stephen sent his little lapdog in Pierre Poilierve to dismantle our elections act and the 25% of you brain dead that support the Harper Conservatives sat on your hands and said sweet F-all.
Now you all want to complain about democracy?
Seems par for the course tho…be all Conservative when it applies to everyone else but when those Conservatisms effect you then all of a sudden not so “Conservative” like!
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