With the CUP gone...now what?

[afleitch]

A whole hoard of limbo independents? My own experiment in party formation, the Civic Alliance has also went down the great Atlasian toiletbowl it seems. Should a new party be created with stronger backing this time? The centre looks a little lonely, where or where can a moderate centre rightist libertarian-y democratic person like me go? Answers on a post card fellow limbo-ists

[afleitch]

I salute JF and True for trying to start a new centrist party.  I am interested in anything that John Ford wants to do.  But I'm unsure whether this is the right style of vehicle that we need to get the job done.  Ultra-libertarians are rapidly tearing down our institutions of government and civil society.  Who is fighting these intrusions?   What Party is standing up for common values?  With the possible exception of the CD's, the answer is no one.  That must change.

I actually agree; we have spendocrats on one side and manic privatisers on the other. Why not start a (american spelling on purpose) Center Party? or a Moderate Party. Keep it on track and stop it veering either too far to the extremes?

[afleitch]

I salute JF and True for trying to start a new centrist party.  I am interested in anything that John Ford wants to do.  But I'm unsure whether this is the right style of vehicle that we need to get the job done.  Ultra-libertarians are rapidly tearing down our institutions of government and civil society.  Who is fighting these intrusions?   What Party is standing up for common values?  With the possible exception of the CD's, the answer is no one.  That must change.

I actually agree; we have spendocrats on one side and manic privatisers on the other. Why not start a (american spelling on purpose) Center Party? or a Moderate Party. Keep it on track and stop it veering either too far to the extremes?

One problem.  Where are the spendocrats?  I wish we had some spendocrats out there to balance out the manic privatisers

We have no spendocrats? But its FUN to have spendocrats

[afleitch]

I think the Mid-Wests move to privatise the public school system, not sure if privatise is the right word, perhaps abolish is the straw that broke the camels back for me. I may have libertarian leanings but I cannot see the public school system as being a tyranical by-product of the state. Cut it down and open it up to a voucher system, but you can't abolish the whole damn system!

[afleitch]

I'm up for joining a new middle ground party but after last time I dont believe I have the expertese needed to get one up and running. Then again perhaps it is better that Centrists are independents; it may help challenge the system come election time.

[afleitch]

I'm up for joining a new middle ground party but after last time I dont believe I have the expertese needed to get one up and running. Then again perhaps it is better that Centrists are independents; it may help challenge the system come election time.

It isn't just about having a Centrist Party, its about defining what Centrism is and what our values are.

I think there should be a desire not to indulge in ideology for ideologies sake. Some will be slightly to the left, others to the right. I think we need to redefine the role of the state, as you say not as something tyrannical that has to be mowed down or seen as a 'shibboleth' or as unreformable.

By the way, what is the Progressive Conservative platform out of interest?

[afleitch]

Maybe I should bring back the Civic Alliance afterall...rename it and rework it and see if she'll fly. But your Progressive Conservatives sounds a fine idea though