With the provincial elections behind us for another four years and Adrian Dix having taken full responsibility for a failed campaign his mea-culpa’s are not misplaced.
After all the bragging on Christy Clark’s part about the “economy” is music to the ears of a working population far more interested in the exploits of the Canucks, I find it hard to believe that Dix did not point out that an economy for elites - corporations - is not necessarily beneficial for the working population where wages have been stagnant or in decline for several years now.
Also, at the NDP caucus convention in Montreal last April it was debated to eliminate the word “socialist” from the constitution. I don’t know what the outcome was but can’t help wondering if, instead of eliminating the word, the party decided to abandon socialist principles instead. With as foremost socialist principle a more egalitarian society.
And on a kinder note; Is it possible that Adrian had second thoughts about assuming the leadership of a B.C. economy he undoubtedly knows more about than we do? Where deficit and unemployment are all supposedly to be fixed by the marvels of liquified natural gas - read “fracking.” Come to think of it, sounds a bit like what happens when trying to put all one’s eggs in one basket.
Was he perhaps thinking ahead, wondering what legacy we’re going to leave our kids and not being prepared to take that awful responsibility and the possible future repercussions ?
As it stands we can only guess and some clarification of policy objectives, especially the direction the party intends to take, is over-due. As a long-time NDP supporter, I think I’ll go, sit on the fence for awhile.
Peter van Iersel
Fruitvale