Stronach's ideas
I'm going to distinguish myself from my hetero-male compatriots in Liblogs by not posting a picture of Belinda to go along with this story; I understand the urge to do so for them, as she is quite stunning, but her image need not grace every story ever written about her.
That being said, I'd like to hand out my second kudos of the day, to Belinda Stronach, for her ideas regarding the Liberal party. Honestly, it's good to see someone who one day aspires to be the leader of this party outlining some ideas. And it's important to look at it in this context - she does undoubtedly aspire to lead the Liberal Party in the future. Therefor, one has to wonder, why would she want to weaken the power of the party leader? Surely if she wanted to be leader, she would also want to be a powerful one.
Ah, but there's the rub - maybe she doesn't want to be a powerful leader. Maybe she is the type of principled politician people are always yearning for, willing to acquiesce power instead of give it? Very few people are that principled, and I'm not entirely sure Belinda is one of them - but points to her for making me believe, at least for the moment, that she is.
posted by Ryan Ringer @ 7/14/2006 07:22:00 p.m.
8 comments
8 Comments:
Well said manitoba liberal.
She's certainly come a long way from where she was in her old job (economic pie baker.) She's got some interesting ideas other than the cabinet and one-member-one-vote stuff: a party policy thinktank, online voting for rural riding candidates, and weekly web auctions on the Liberal website.
Some possible auction items:
1) Rights to the phrase "absoutely, fundamentally"
2) Joe Volpe
3) Jean Chretien's golf ball collection
I was also quite pleased when I read this in the newspaper today. It's actually a great and truly democratic idea. Since all the MP of a party represent the people who voted for them in their ridings, having the entire caucus elect the ministers would be an "extension" of the popular vote.
So I suppose Cabinet selection would be like a Papal Conclave, except a couple of dozen times over.
The caucus would assemble (would Senators get a vote in all matters, or just for the Government Leader in the Senate?), and then, one title at a time, vote on it. Presumably, multiple candidates would campaign for each job.
Amazes me how people are so negative about Belinda - just because the CPC got it started when she crossed the floor. If she were a man she wouldn't have gotten such a nasty response from Canadians.
It's great, whether you like her ideas or not, that she is getting the dialogue going.
She hasn't raped, pillaged, stollen, shot, etc., anyone and yet she is being constantly smeared.
Did you know that she gives her MP salary to good causes?
Why do we have to 'hate' just because the Conservatives say we should
Good for her - she's at least getting the ball rolling.
Electing MPs to the cabinet is quite simply a nutty idea. You want as much quality as possible around the cabinet table. (Granted, some present and former ministers are glaring exceptions to this rule!)
In short, for this reason -- not to mention regional balance, Belinda needs to sharpen her pencil and start again. Nice try though but still a tad too amateurish.
Ms. Stronach's ideas are welcome. She is a very talented and accomplished individual and I am glad that at least someone is talking about reforming the Liberal Party!
There can be no doubt that the one-member/one-vote system is one that must be adopted and her idea of the cabinet/shadow cabinet being elected by the caucus is one that is used by the Australian Labor Party.
I hardly think that the OM/OV system is a shoe-in. I prefer the old convention format.
Although the current method of delegate delegation needs to be revised, as will likely become evident after this convention, when all kinds of delegate spots are left vacant.
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