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Here we are into Day Three of Campaign 2005, and the New Democratic Party would appear to have grabbed hold of the political agenda, as they have set about to determine the tone for the provincial campaign that will decide on who will form the next provincial government.
As hecklers have dogged Campbell at every one of his campaign stops, a sense of palpable anger — verging on rage — permeates the air whenever Gordon Campbell opens his mouth to lie to the people of British Columbia. Meanwhile, the experience of NDP premier-in-waiting, Carole James, is quite different, one where at each stop she is met by enthusiastic campaign well-wishers, shouts of support, and a heartfelt belief that, once again, British Columbia will soon be a province where everyone matters.
As promised in an earlier posting, VanRamblings will attempt to keep you up-to-date on Campaign 2005 by directing you to published story links reflecting on the current provincial election. So, let’s get started …
- Campbell Misled Public on NDP Finances: In a story published on The Tyee website, co-author of Liberalized and regular Tyee columnist Will McMartin makes the case that “far from inheriting a fiscal disaster from the NDP, (Gordon) Campbell and his party were given a provincial treasury brimming with cash. But the voting public was led to think very much otherwise.”
- Want To Reach Young Voters? Try Cellphones: Mark Hume, writing in the Globe and Mail, introduces “Get Your Vote On, a non-partisan group that is trying to ignite the power of young voters like never before.”
- Election sports number of firsts: Here’s Gordon McIntyre’s April 20th story in The Province newspaper.
- Left Turn: Ran into Gary Cristall at last Sunday’s COPE AGM, as he reminded VanRamblings that left turn is once again active and in the struggle to remind the electorate about just what we’re fighting for.
- Campbell calls rural B.C. heartland, but some see it as ‘hurt land’: Dirk Meissner, in a Canadian Press story quotes UBC political scientist Richard Johnston on the pain many rural B.C. communities have endured under a Gordon Campbell government, “The proportionate impact of any kind of service cut back, particularly where it’s kind of concrete — court houses and that sort of stuff — is going to weigh more heavily in small places than in a place like Vancouver … the government is going to be in trouble in some parts of the so-called heartland, there’s no question about that …”
In the fight to defeat Gordon Campbell, the efforts of every one of us are required. Which means more than sitting on your duff waiting to cast your ballot on May 17th. The NDP campaigns need your volunteer support to canvass ridings, stuff envelopes, mainstreet with the candidate in your riding, work on communications and fundraising, answer the phones, offer IT support and website management, co-ordinate events, host coffee klatches, distribute signs, and much, much more. Rest assured, your local NDP campaign office will greet you with open arms.
VanRamblings leaves you with this thought, offered by pioneering cultural anthropologist and social historian Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
