I have joined the Wildrose Alliance.
This is uncharacteristic of me, as I am typically the stalwart defender of what is not to be (growing up a Liberal in Alberta you kind of have to be), but this time around, I’m making the decision based on a couple of factors.
- The Historical Context
- David Swann
- Danielle Smith
I have always considered myself to be somewhat of a pragmatist, so I think that the situation that has arisen in Alberta is one where we can see true pragmatism be realized in a productive sense. Alberta has never elected an old party to govern. Since I was in Montreal for the last PC leadership race (Dinning could’ve done it), and really would have rather disembowled myself than join the Tories, I didn’t have a chance to vote for the new Premier. In this case, I might. Democracy is an adaptive thing, and democracy in Alberta happens to require a membership card.
The ALP is unimpressive. I don’t like the performance of the party, and I don’t like how they treat new blood. Old guard Alberta Liberals in the mold of Old Labour in the UK are not my cup of tea, and the return of the party to these ideological roots is not something that I am impressed with. I liked the party under Taft, the party of Decore. I liked the party that appealed to the free market, liberal democratic, semi-populist ethic that defines the Albertan experience. This party, under Liberal (?) leader David Swann, is not what I believe is best for Alberta, nor what can defeat the destructive Tory regime.
Finally, I am bewitched by Danielle Smith. She is a free market enthusiast and holds social policy in the image of Gordon Campbell. I worry that a party under her could become a fringe-firestorm-flop like the ADQ in Quebec, but I think that she shows promise. The other option, Mr. Dyrholm, is clinging to a failed version of conservatism that presents no real difference to the ruling progressive conservatives. If the WRAP wants to cut into conservative support, but build the big and sensible tent it needs to govern in an Albertan ‘democracy’, it needs to elect Danielle Smith. She has the broad appeal to appeal to social conservatives (she endorsed Ted Morton – I almost left out the T, what a Freudian slip that would have been), fiscal conservatives, and libertarians. I personally think she has the ability to appeal to free market, small government Liberals such as myself. The party would do well to choose her.
If you are interested in joining the Wildrose Alliance, please visit here. I encourage you to sign up (you only have a couple more days) and cast your ballot for Danielle.
I’ve never been a member of a non Liberal political party in my life. Danielle Smith is someone, however, that I think can and should be premier (David Swann fits neither of those characteristics). I am happy to offer her my support, and my best wishes in the upcoming election. She’s got my vote.
If I was an Albertan, I might consider joining the WAP as well. I am also a disaffected Liberal currently stuck in limbo right now, so I’m glad you have the choice of joining an innovative new party.
As for the fear of the Wildrose Alliance under Smith fizzling out like Dumont’s ADQ, I personally don’t think you have to worry about that. Unlike Alberta, Quebec is not naturally inclined to conservatism the way Alberta is. Dumont’s 2007 breakthrough was more a one time protest vote, and now Quebec politics seem to have realigned back to the old Liberal-PQ swings.
Since a party currently needs about 10 seats to become the Official Opposition, it would be wise for the WAP to strategically target ridings they can win, and steadily build up support. Along the way, that strategy can be modified if there’s some major issue that comes along in Alberta that really galvanizes the population. I think at that point, the WAP might stand a chance at ousting the latest dynasty.
I’m considering joining the party at the moment, and I’m only a temporary resident of this province. Although I think my favourite part of Alberta is how easily it can be compared to Kazakhstan. 1. Floating on oil. 2. Failed democracy. 3. communist, or former communist neighbours…
Also, Naylor, I hope you didn’t mind I edited your post to actually include a link to join the WRAP.
Interesting. The core base of the WAP is the Reform Party. They are far far far right of Stelmach’s PCs on the social Conservative side. Fiscally, very much like the small government reformers.
The fact that you could be a Liberal who makes that very broad jump just shows how idealogy really does not have much to do with political allegiance.
Fascinating fact.
Lorraine, Danielle Smith is not to the right socially of the PCs. Quite the opposite. She’s a moderate, cut from the same cloth as Laurence Decore.
And the fact that you feel “small government reformers” are completely opposite from Liberals is the problem.
I, as a Liberal, am not a socialist. I do not want big government. I do not want the largess of bureaucracy. I want small government. I want government kept out of my fiscal life. I want government kept out of my social life.
I want it to be there to provide a safety net when things go awry, but I don’t want it tending to – or even caring about – what I do beyond that.
I am not comfortable with David Swann’s definition of Liberal. He seems to be at best a soft socialist.
Liberals like Matthew Naylor (and myself) are uncomfortable. We don’t want to fight the NDP for the left. We live in the middle. We see no strategic sense, and we don’t believe in what he’s selling.
Either:
A) Swann shapes up,
B) Swann quits, or
C) Many more Liberals will be finding a new home in the WAP.