With the economy seeming to recover, with a job gain of 27000 in August, some may think that Ignatieff's best opportunity at such a narrative has disappeared, that Ignatieff capitalized too late on this window of opportunity.
This is not the case. If the economy is recovering, Ignatieff can stress all the more the need to supervise this recovery, to ensure that we emerge from this recession with a stronger economy, a fairer economy and a greener economy.
Ignatieff can also point out that the Tories will be perfectly willing to let the economy follow the same path it did prior to this downturn, once the economy has fully recovered. Furthermore, he can attack the Conservatives with the OECD's recent conclusion that Canada will be the Western industrialized country that will have the slowest and longest recovery.:
Perfect material for an attack ad.
If Ignatieff took on Dion's motto in the last election of a "Richer, Fairer and Greener Canada" and changed it to be "A Stronger, Fairer, and Greener Economy", I believe it would inspire people. People really do care about an issue this time around, and it's the economy. If the campaign is based around this portfolio and the Conservatives failure at managing it, people will listen. All sorts of people that didn't vote last time. The young for example, who care about a green economy quite a lot.
Essentially, this strategy entails going where the Conservatives cannot go, and attacking them for they have gone, on the issue that people care most about. If you make them feel you will improve the economy, improve their lives and the environment, they'll vote you in. What's more, this time around you have the money to tell them about it. Recommend this Post at Progressive Bloggers If you liked this post, please vote for my blog at Canadian Blogosphere
I wouldn't do anything that "sounds" (literally) like the previous election campaign, even in rhythm. Bad, bad idea.
ReplyDeleteBut the concept you've outlined is good. My only caveat is its too dreamy.
This election has to be a referendum on Harper. Anything else is foolish. The last campaign should have been a referendum on Harper, but the Liberals squandered that line of discussion before it ever began.
Yes, you must have a platform (well, except Harper, who somehow gets a pass fromt the media), but it should be "part" of the campaign, not the thrust of the campaign.
The real message is this: "It is time for Harper to go" with constant examples of how Canada has lost ground under his government.
I agree that it's a referendum on Harper. These are some things we can point out Harper has done wrong, especially our slow recovery rate. And we need an alternative to propose when we attack Harper.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course don't make it sound like the last election, but there would be similarities in some of the principles. These after all are all things Harper has failed to deliver.
I think we need to examine the things that harper has very nearly destoyed while we weren't looking and reaffirm that these things are in fact what defines Canada -- equality, a clear separation of any church and state, a place on the world stage, respect for our environment, a celebration of learning and the search of knowledge, tolerance and celebration of other cultures and lifestyles, compassion and cooperation for nations struggling abroad and an affirmation of our continuing suport of the UN policies, continuing support and strengthening of our healthcare and social safety nets, the right to be judged as individual before a court and not become a "category" for a manditory sentencing. It is about the OPPOSITE of Harper, instead everything being "dont", we will DO.
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