Bookmarking this… this speaks directly to the core of the problems I have with the NDP.

Far too much energy and focus spent on messaging, and not enough on making concrete action to bring about what they want. I do believe in the benefit of good messaging, decorum and basic conversational respect to have a healthy discourse. However there’s a cult-like attitude in some echelons of the NDP that was offputting to me, when I’ve observed the whole “reading into the timing and wording of statements and noting presence or absence of particular subjects” the author wrote about.

Avi Lewis can’t change laws directly unless he has a seat in Parliament. But he can advocate for it, as I see him doing. I think he should also use the bit of organizing power the NDP does have, to do more than angle for more seats–the NDP should do things that have a real impact in people’s lives.

For example: They should help fundraise for small-scale non-profit solar and battery initiatives as a political party. They should call for rotating boycotts on oil companies and monopolies that gouge us. They can encourage folks to do one nice thing for their neighbour, or donate if they can to a foodbank. They should put their weight behind tenant union organizing and workplace organizing by physically showing up. Lots they can do.

I was really happy to hear Lewis say on multiple occasions that the NDP strategy should be low-level, community organising. Getting people to come out and make signs, knock on doors, and talk about policy is how the Left is built. Slactivism has hollowed us out, and it’s great to see some push back here.

rebuilding real political capacity takes time, resources, and members willing to do slow, unglamorous work offline. The question is what concrete structures actually get people from posting to participating?