This Ain't No Party?

"This Ain't No Party, This Ain't No Disco, This Ain't No Foolin Around"

David Byrne (Talking Heads) - Life During Wartime

So if you've been reading along you know that for this election I'm primarily focused on getting rid of Stephen Harper but if you are Canadian and a voter you also know that getting rid of Harper is not, in and of itself, a long term solution. However I have an idea that might present a long term solution.

I believe that the people of Canada have a certain set of values, a list of things that are important to us - but despite the promises thrown out during elections, despite Federally (or Provincially) commissioned studies, despite the promises made during throne speeches, or responses to throne speeches we never seem to get very far with most of them. On the contrary, if we make progress in one area it is usually to the detriment of another. Politicians will, if they can, use any progress as a wedge, dividing interest groups against one another.

I also think that Canada has plenty of political parties, everyone it seems wants to start their own party but these parties end up further dividing the electorate and prevent national consensus. The left is especially bad for this - 67% of Canada voted to the left of Stephen Harper in the last election yet he's the Prime Minister. It is also true that only 1% of Canadians belong to any political party. Given that I think it is safe to say that most Canadians are not much interested in yet another political party.

So, what I would like to propose is an un-party. This would not be a political party, it would not field Candidates, it would not have conventions rather it would be a coalition and a watchdog.

WTF am I talking about you ask? Let me explain, or at least try:

The "No Party" would monitor the parties in Parliament. It would rate their performance but not based on promises, speeches or rhetoric. Their platform and what they said during an election would not contribute to their rating. The rating would be based on how they voted and what legislation they introduced in Parliament. Only those parties that managed to get at least one seat in Parliament would be considered.

The "No Party" would not be a single issue group but a group formed around core Canadian values and principles. Parties would be rated on arts and culture, the environment, education, Canadian sovereignty, resource management, civil/human rights and equality, peace and international relations, health care, poverty and social welfare, the economy, labour/work issues, aboriginal issues, immigration issues and agriculture.

The "No Party" would then endorse the party whose track record on these issues was the best - sending donations, volunteers and voters to the party that had done its job in representing the people of Canada.

This is only a rough draft - my initial thoughts on the matter. But if you think it's a good idea get in touch and after the election is over a discussion on not forming another party can begin in earnest.