51% of NDPers Say it’s Time for Carole James to Go

A new Angus Reid Strategies poll reveals some interesting facts about the state of discontent in this province. Support for the BC Liberals is in freefall. They’ve lost 12% since the election down to a pathetic 34%. The NDP is ahead in the polls for the first time since November 2008. This is not surprising given the overwhelming opposition to Campbell’s new harmonized sales tax. What is surprising is that the NDP has failed to gain anything from this; support for the party has remained stagnant at 42%. 59% believe it is time for new leaders in both parties. But perhaps the most telling number of all, 51% of NDP supporters believe it is time for a new leader.

Given the results of this poll, it is no surprise that the Take Back the Party campaign launched in Vancouver on July 7th is gaining momentum. The second meeting of this group elected a steering committee including notable names like Tim Luis (former COPE city councilor) and Fred Muzin (former president of the Hospital Employees Union). A meeting is set to launch the group in Victoria on August 20th. Speakers at this meeting will include Ben Isitt (two time mayoral candidate) and Dennis Pilon (UVIC Political Science Prof.).

Take Back the Party is aiming to bring more grassroots democracy into the party and bring the NDP back to their working class roots. The group has called for free tuition at all levels, free public transit and a dramatic increase in the minimum wage among other things. This movement should be welcomed by all those on the left in British Columbia. Poor and working people need a voice in BC politics. The NDP used to be that voice, but the shift to the right by the party leadership has left many of us speechless. Now the results of these policies are starting to sink in. Another electoral defeat has shown, that you don’t win anything by walking down the middle of the road. It’s time for the NDP to pick a side. The reality of capitalism in the 21st century is that there is no middle road. You are either with the working class or the employing class. You fight for the poor and disadvantaged or you maintain the rule of big business. We’ve run out of room to compromise and it seems the only people who haven’t realized that yet are leading the NDP.

takebacktheparty@gmail.com