I've been debating whether to join a political party or not for some time now. My problem is finding a political party that fits my views. I have already eliminated the Liberals, Conservatives, and the Bloc based on astounding political differences, so I'm left with the debate over whether to join the NDP or not...
I have sympathized with the NDP for a while, and was hoping they could make gains, and perhaps form a coalition with the Liberals last elections (yeah, an NDP victory hasn't been possible since the 80s). Okay, they made some gains, but I was kinda expecting more, like a return to their height in the 80s. I mean, when you're running against Paul Martin and Stephen Harper, that's easier than running unopposed. But I digress.
The NDP is Canada's newest major party. They date back to the CCF in the 30s, which with J. S. Woodsworth, would stand up for some true socialist principles. In the 60s they became the NDP, and with Tommy Douglas, fathered our healthcare system. Hooray for public healthcare!
However, it seems to me that they have moved to the right since then, and haven't came up with any real new ideas since healthcare, and that was around 40 years ago.
Manitoba is NDP country. Gary Doer (NDP) is in office, and polls show him as the most popular premier in the country. Yet, I'm not a big fan. I feel like he is starting to turn his back on true NDP principles. It's getting to hard to keep the tuition freeze these days.
My biggest worry is that the NDP will move farther to the right, and go the way of Labour in the UK. I don't want "third way," I want a party that will stand up for universal healthcare, for low tuition, for oil nationalization, against foreign imperialism, and different from the Conservatives and Liberals. I don't want to wind up supporting the other Liberal Party.
Or I could join one of the minor parties, like Marxist-Leninist or Communist...
Basically, my problem is that all of the major parties are too far right for me. So I'm still debating whether to bite the bullet and join the NDP, remain independant, or start looking around in minor parties...
so...antone have an advice or anything?
