A broad approach, drawing people in to build our party

Published June 20, 2008

Hello everyone,

This article is meant insure some clarity, please take the time to read it. Keep an eye out for my article on Food Security tomorrow.

Building our party organization around the province is a vital task for our party, I don’t think anyone can deny this priority. Mr. Watson may suggest placing a concerted effort on building our organizational capacity isn’t a primary priority for me even though I’ve stated it is.

Having watched politics closely all my life I know full well how important an active and robust organization is needed to deliver the vote. I’m disappointed that Mr. Watson is trying to suggest that don’t understand this. I repeat today that building our organizational capacity is a vital priority of mine, but how can we build a party without drawing people into our organization and have them work for us? Especially the people that may not initially relate to Green values.

What I have been speaking about, the frontline approach, is a fully integrated leadership approach that starts at the grassroots and follows through completely to the top. Some of the ideas I have been talking about are possible ways to draw people into our party, ideas that show action, ideas that are more than just talk, it’s policy and philosophy in action. A leadership approach that shows a politician is willing to be directly involved in people’s lives and not just another fat cat talking in a suit. Many people have long grown tired of the politician or political entity who only shows up for support, money, or a vote. The frontline political approach commands respect as it shows one truly cares about how people live through involvement, not just pushing political ideology.

A wise man by the name of George Reid, leader of the Alberta Greens, once told me that his most important task is to get people working for him and the Green Party of Alberta. Having a political leader that is willing to literally roll up ones sleeves and actually participate in real life events to realize the visions of their party is a much more powerful force to draw people in than relying solely on traditional political activities.

By taking a few hours a week to volunteer ones time towards the application of Green values in real life is leading by example, showing people that this leader is willing to work hard just like all the rest of us, willing to work like the average Joan and Joe when needed, and by doing so we will be leading by example, not just talk. People are tired of just talk, regardless if the cause is a noble one like social justice and sustainability.

My leadership approach will be one filled with a broad array of activities complete with all of the obvious traditional activates, but people want more than that. People want a leader that is in touch with people on a broad array of issues, a leader that can as way through action, and has the understanding to literally take the lead and facilitate change. Ryan is suggesting that if we build it they will come, a representation of Green values. My approach is one of deeper meaning, more relatable to mainstream people, my approach is one of true leadership, I want the Greens to become known as the ‘Go To’ on many issues, not just environmental, the total package for sustainable living so to speak.

I’m glad Mr. Watson has his sights set on getting elected in the next election, so do I, my sights are set on positioning the Greens to eventually become the Government! A political movement that has never been seen before, one of frontline leadership, it is vital we the Greens demonstrate our efforts have an effect on people’s lives now through change and positive reinforcement. Preaching on Green values alone isn’t enough to push the Greens to the top, especially in the province of Nova Scotia, our province is in desperate need of true leadership and vision, not another limited representative entity. I feel we need to step out and take the lead, impacting lives and by doing so people will flock to our party giving us the many volunteers we need to build our party. We will do it the frontline way and work it all the way to the back.


Sincerely,

Barton J Cutten