independent public policy organization - Political Ezine

[lethbridge_east]

Another couple of names I thought of was:

Freedom Institute
or
Alberta Institute

[keaner]

What sort of opinions would you give? In line with a particular Party or more/less extreme? It's hard to decide to be part of something without knowing what it stands for.

[lethbridge_east]

I would describe it as a thinktank of conservatives. Not dedicated to one angle of conservative belief like economic or social conservatives. Like the New Republic but with an activist section as well.

To give you my background so you can see my point of view.

In 1992 I jumped on the PC Party bandwagon to vote in Ralph Klein. I had just returned to Canada from California and was appalled at the cowtowing that was going on in Canada towards Quebec at the time. To give you an example our local mall had a big thing you could sign which was going to be sent to Quebec asking them not to seperate. Then during the Charlottetown referendum I saw a lot of my beliefs being parrotted by Preston Manning.

They immediately converted me and after I entered University I took out my first Reform Membership.

In 1995 I was working for our University paper in Lethbridge as a writer. When I heard MP Ray Speaker (former Socred) give an impassioned speach on Quebec. After that meeting he and I talked a while. My Father in Law and he knew each other pretty well.

So he drove me home and convinced me to get a University society setup at the University. I decided that I would and in 1996 I also started to sit on the local riding board.

I then created the University Reform Club which I was president of for 96-97. During that period I worked with the Reform Youth President fairly closely and met Randy Thorsteinson at a meeting in the summer of 96.

During the fall I took on a job doing a political talkshow with a Liberal supporter like Crossfire. One of the shows I did in November we interviewed Randy. He was leading the Social Credit at the time and wanted to set up a Southern Alberta Regional director to find candidates for the Socreds. He and the Party President asked if I would do this in December.

So from December until February I worked to find four candidates for five ridings. Including myself.

So in Feb 1997 the socred candidate for Lethbridge East was me.....

It was a long and torrid month. I personally went broke trying to win the election but it was a good lesson for me in how politics worked and who you can trust.

After the election my Club wanted to support a new candidate for the upcoming federal elections as Ray Speaker was retiring. During that period we decided to offer a our own Candidate was talked out of it cause of one member of the Riding Counsel who personally came to us saying it would be a mistake. Little did we know he was the Campaign manager for one of the other candidates.

Now by this time i was Reform Club President, sitting on the Riding association council and then was asked to join the Reform Youth National Council.

With the build up to the fed election and feeling a bit bitter at the local reform people I was asked by Preston... not directly by letter. To help in the campaign in Ontario. I was burnt out so begged off.

After the provincial election and the rather nasty Machevellian tactics of one board member I dropped out of the Reform party.

I have not been back. I liked Day and I dont mind Harper but I am worried that Canada as a whole might be on the brink.

So what I am doing then is forming a policy think tank to one comment on the situation here in Canada, domestically, foreign events and provincial politics. If there is something like C-20 or Gun rights or something that we can get involved it I want it to happen.

I know Free Dominion has done that and I think this is an obvious extension for the site.

I think this policy group should be out offering comment on most of the major events of the day and getting in the public eye as much as possible so we can help to contribute openly to the society in which many of us live or were born into. I as a Canadian living abroad want to help create a reason for me to return other than just for family or love of country which I have. I want a country that is good and just, protects its interests but takes important positions with its friends and neighbours.

If this is Uniting the right, supporting one specific party or Provincialism would be determined by the group who want in. I would not every want to define what this group is cause I dont want a cult based on my personal opinion.

That is just boring.

Thanks for listening...

Jon Williams

[Trouble]

Great website lethbridge_east. Great concept as well.

I believe Connie and Entropy be considering the idea of a FD quarterly newlsetter, so this might fit right into the concept that they were likely needing more manpower on.

Very interesting.

[lethbridge_east]

Thanks Trouble.

I appreciate the support.

[lethbridge_east]

Here was an idea for the top banner.