The West is furious and the rage is still blazing hot. The internet is boiling over with secessionist sentiment while hastily organized meetings are packing halls. Western independence supporting websites are being formed, parties are being proposed and groups are starting speaking tours..The problem is, unless this anger is organized into something cohesive, it won’t be going anywhere..Anger always fades in time and unless it is harnessed early in order to turn it into something lasting, it is simply a wasted emotion..In looking at the political landscape in the West right now, I envision an anthill that has been stirred by a stick. Thousands of ants scurry in all directions in rage at the indignity inflicted upon the home they worked so hard to build. Eventually the ants calm down and rebuild their hill which remains as vulnerable to future attacks as it ever has been..In doing a short search of Facebook, I found more independence leaning groups than I could count. While most of these groups number in the thousands of supporters (as far as online support is concerned), they seem to be little more than repositories of anti-Trudeau memes and conspiracy theories. They are places where people can vent their rage to each other but they are not going anywhere.. AIP Facebook pagesPages and groups claiming to by the Alberta Independence Party (source: Facebook) .As far as independence minded political parties go in Alberta, they are either inactive or in turmoil. No less than three Facebook pages claim to speak for the Alberta Independence Party which appears to be fronting a new board and leader every few weeks or so. The Freedom Conservative Party, Alberta Advantage Party Alberta Reform Party all appear to be spinning their wheels..The “Wexit” gang is proposing forming yet another provincial party if Jason Kenney dares to refuse to embrace their list of demands (he won’t)..Meanwhile, “Wexit” held a well attended townhall meeting where the Canadian flag was hung upside down and under a pair of Alberta flags. Brilliant strategy right before Remembrance Day..I know, I know. The hanging of an upside down flag is the international symbol of distress. That tends to apply to countries undergoing a military coup however; not the re-election of a blackface-wearing imbecile. Stunts like that only make the group look like petulant children and will not draw the broader support that they need if they really want to go somewhere..Gathering 700 people into a capacity room on a Saturday night is impressive. Citizens are looking for a movement to join and support in the long run. I am sure that a great mailing list was compiled and some funds were raised. It has to be remembered though that there are 4.3 million Albertans out there and over half of them must be fully won over before independence becomes a reality. Right now the support is not even close.. MORGAN: Anger isn’t enough. Sovereigntists need organization.Wexit rally in Edmonton (source: Wexit Facebook group) .Building a lasting political movement takes years and it takes a lot of work. These are realities that many who are demanding independence don’t want to face. They are howling for a referendum tomorrow..Well, there are two problems with that. We won’t be holding one, and it wouldn’t even come close to winning. In fact, it’s doubtful that there will even be one on Equalization..The reality of building a political party is that much of it is tedious and tough..Look at the evolution of what finally became the United Conservative Party which formed government in Alberta this year..I got involved with the Alberta Alliance Party in 2002. At that time we had about 3000 members, a lone MLA in the legislature and perhaps a couple thousand dollars in the bank. We pounded the pavement, did flyer drops, and held sparsely attended town hall meetings throughout the province. We sat through long board meetings and painful policy conventions. We lost by-elections and lost our sole seat in the next general election..We suffered infighting and had our party split when the “Wildrose” group was formed. We finally came together in a merger and formed the “Wildrose Alliance Party” in 2008. That act of unity brought us new funding, new members and new energy which led to a by-election win along with some floor-crossers who built us a modest caucus..We then moved on to form official opposition, and nearly government. Then, we lost two-thirds of our caucus in the mass floor-crossing of December 2014, and the NDP came up the middle..If Jason Kenney had not started the ball rolling and gotten the Wildrose and Progressive Conservative Parties to merge, it is not impossible to imagine that we could have suffered under another four years of socialist government in Alberta..It took leadership, organization and unity in order to unseat the entrenched Notley government..If the independence movement wants to morph into something real and lasting they would be well served to study that recent chain of political events in Alberta history.. Trudeau on WE scandal: Case closed .The Freedom Conservative Party and the Alberta Independence Party are sitting on the wall, too afraid to ask anyone to dance..Yes. A new party can form government. It will take years though and it won’t be easy. Accept that and work from that basis..The other difficult thing to accomplish will be unity and leadership. There has to be one dominant and overwhelming group which will sweep aside the growing collection of fringe groups. This group has to be rational and has to have a solid plan. This group has to be willing and able to endure the years of dull meetings from which a lasting foundation can be built..I don’t see this group coming together in Alberta yet..Anger alone will make for some great rallies and meetings. Unless a leader emerges to form a solid base and plan from these gatherings, the anger will fade like a fart in the wind and nothing will change in the long run.
The West is furious and the rage is still blazing hot. The internet is boiling over with secessionist sentiment while hastily organized meetings are packing halls. Western independence supporting websites are being formed, parties are being proposed and groups are starting speaking tours..The problem is, unless this anger is organized into something cohesive, it won’t be going anywhere..Anger always fades in time and unless it is harnessed early in order to turn it into something lasting, it is simply a wasted emotion..In looking at the political landscape in the West right now, I envision an anthill that has been stirred by a stick. Thousands of ants scurry in all directions in rage at the indignity inflicted upon the home they worked so hard to build. Eventually the ants calm down and rebuild their hill which remains as vulnerable to future attacks as it ever has been..In doing a short search of Facebook, I found more independence leaning groups than I could count. While most of these groups number in the thousands of supporters (as far as online support is concerned), they seem to be little more than repositories of anti-Trudeau memes and conspiracy theories. They are places where people can vent their rage to each other but they are not going anywhere.. AIP Facebook pagesPages and groups claiming to by the Alberta Independence Party (source: Facebook) .As far as independence minded political parties go in Alberta, they are either inactive or in turmoil. No less than three Facebook pages claim to speak for the Alberta Independence Party which appears to be fronting a new board and leader every few weeks or so. The Freedom Conservative Party, Alberta Advantage Party Alberta Reform Party all appear to be spinning their wheels..The “Wexit” gang is proposing forming yet another provincial party if Jason Kenney dares to refuse to embrace their list of demands (he won’t)..Meanwhile, “Wexit” held a well attended townhall meeting where the Canadian flag was hung upside down and under a pair of Alberta flags. Brilliant strategy right before Remembrance Day..I know, I know. The hanging of an upside down flag is the international symbol of distress. That tends to apply to countries undergoing a military coup however; not the re-election of a blackface-wearing imbecile. Stunts like that only make the group look like petulant children and will not draw the broader support that they need if they really want to go somewhere..Gathering 700 people into a capacity room on a Saturday night is impressive. Citizens are looking for a movement to join and support in the long run. I am sure that a great mailing list was compiled and some funds were raised. It has to be remembered though that there are 4.3 million Albertans out there and over half of them must be fully won over before independence becomes a reality. Right now the support is not even close.. MORGAN: Anger isn’t enough. Sovereigntists need organization.Wexit rally in Edmonton (source: Wexit Facebook group) .Building a lasting political movement takes years and it takes a lot of work. These are realities that many who are demanding independence don’t want to face. They are howling for a referendum tomorrow..Well, there are two problems with that. We won’t be holding one, and it wouldn’t even come close to winning. In fact, it’s doubtful that there will even be one on Equalization..The reality of building a political party is that much of it is tedious and tough..Look at the evolution of what finally became the United Conservative Party which formed government in Alberta this year..I got involved with the Alberta Alliance Party in 2002. At that time we had about 3000 members, a lone MLA in the legislature and perhaps a couple thousand dollars in the bank. We pounded the pavement, did flyer drops, and held sparsely attended town hall meetings throughout the province. We sat through long board meetings and painful policy conventions. We lost by-elections and lost our sole seat in the next general election..We suffered infighting and had our party split when the “Wildrose” group was formed. We finally came together in a merger and formed the “Wildrose Alliance Party” in 2008. That act of unity brought us new funding, new members and new energy which led to a by-election win along with some floor-crossers who built us a modest caucus..We then moved on to form official opposition, and nearly government. Then, we lost two-thirds of our caucus in the mass floor-crossing of December 2014, and the NDP came up the middle..If Jason Kenney had not started the ball rolling and gotten the Wildrose and Progressive Conservative Parties to merge, it is not impossible to imagine that we could have suffered under another four years of socialist government in Alberta..It took leadership, organization and unity in order to unseat the entrenched Notley government..If the independence movement wants to morph into something real and lasting they would be well served to study that recent chain of political events in Alberta history.. Trudeau on WE scandal: Case closed .The Freedom Conservative Party and the Alberta Independence Party are sitting on the wall, too afraid to ask anyone to dance..Yes. A new party can form government. It will take years though and it won’t be easy. Accept that and work from that basis..The other difficult thing to accomplish will be unity and leadership. There has to be one dominant and overwhelming group which will sweep aside the growing collection of fringe groups. This group has to be rational and has to have a solid plan. This group has to be willing and able to endure the years of dull meetings from which a lasting foundation can be built..I don’t see this group coming together in Alberta yet..Anger alone will make for some great rallies and meetings. Unless a leader emerges to form a solid base and plan from these gatherings, the anger will fade like a fart in the wind and nothing will change in the long run.
