tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077773.post6641238706027091579..comments2024-03-26T15:22:25.095-06:00Comments on The Earliad: Reimagining Politics Alberta Liberal Party StyleEarl J. Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07963936256606285358noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077773.post-29117797294497891102011-06-01T13:03:10.670-06:002011-06-01T13:03:10.670-06:00Looking into my admittedly cracked crystal ball, I...Looking into my admittedly cracked crystal ball, I don't see that the Libs will see much in the way of advantage with the new policy in terms of voter engagement. I do not see how the Liberals expect voters to come up with informed decisions without a pre-existing provincewide structure of information dissemination. What I mean is that the Liberals are stuck with the same problem with their internal election as with the provincial election: they just don't reach out to enough regions to appear on the political map against the Conservatives. Whether that is due to a lack of candidates, a lack of funds, a lack of drive, or whatever, this will always hold the Liberals back until they can solve the issue. Asking people to become informed by directing them to a website isn't nearly enough to engage voters, especially the block that are accustomed to voting Conservative.<br /><br />That's the downside, but the upside is really good, even if the Liberals chose to hide it on page 11 of the NewLiberal publication. Every voter who decides that they want to have their say in the Liberal internal election, whether they vote in good conscience or they mark an X for A. Hitler or I.P. Freely, will have their name and vitals written into the Liberal database as part of their registration to vote. To quote Corey Hogan, "...the contact information is worth significantly more than $5 [the nominal Liberal sign-up fee]."<br /><br />Speaking personally, although I know I am not alone on this, it's this kind of thing that makes me avoid signing up for political parties other similar organizations that farm my personal data. By making this contact, I waive my right to privacy from that organization, and open a floodgate of junk mail and phone calls I do not want or need. I understand where the political parties consider contact information as one of their most valuable resources, but I don't trust any of them to handle that information with a sense of responsibility any more. If anything, it's like the GI's greedily searching for Private Ryan's dogtag in the Spielberg movie, it's like an abstract game where it's conveniently forgotten that each of the names belongs to someone very real. It's the commoditization of the voter."Whom Jeffs Destroy"noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077773.post-3793423482011984952011-05-31T10:55:57.018-06:002011-05-31T10:55:57.018-06:00I think this change is a bold but neccesary gamble...I think this change is a bold but neccesary gamble for the Alberta Grits, and that the potential gains far outweigh the possible risks.<br /><br />I'll level with you, as Alberta turns more and more into a one-party, snowy Cuba, I have pondered getting a PC membership. What stops me is that I don't know if I would vote for the moderate candidate I most want as premier (like Steady Eddie), or if I would strategically choose someone contentious like Ted Morton, who has a better chance of uniting the progressive vote.Stephen Fitzpatrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06377636491269666540noreply@blogger.com