I had the pleasure of attending the final event at UNBC's political week, which was called What Conservatives (and everyone else) Gets Wrong. Politicly-minded students Micah Green of the UNBC Conservatives and Mackenzie Kerr of the UNBC Greens were the main organizers.
Representatives from the Greens, Liberals, NDP and Conservatives were asked to share what they think their party gets wrong. Each representative shared quite honestly and I could tell that they had spent quite a bit of time thinking about what their party gets wrong. This was so refreshing, because so often in our public discourse we argue for our tribe, our worldview, and don't think critically about what we get wrong.
I will share two points each person felt their party(ies) gets wrong:
Charles Scott speaking about right-of centre parties:
1. the conservative's faith in social stability leading to social mobility doesn't take into account that people are products of their heritage.
2. current B.C. Liberal vision is perfect for a campaign in the 1980s.
Tracy Calagharos on the federal Liberals:
1. she gamely admitted that she thinks the federal Liberals are a party waiting for people to die before it can be renewed because it is so rooted in old school politics.
2. their sanctimonious attitude of believing they are the natural governing party of Canada.
Jillian Merrick on the Green Party:
1. thinking everyone would agree if only they were smarter.
2. at risk of being an urban party
Trent Derrick on the NDP:
1. leaves little room for individuals
2. its secularism is a disappointing drift from its foundations in Christianity.
The ability to think critically about our own worldview is desperately needed, especially in a multicultural, secular society like ours and each of the speakers did a good job. I applaud each of the speakers, as they each obviously cared about their party's impact on the world around them.
You can access a video of this event at UNBC Conservatives Facebook page and I encourage you to watch it. Your next coffee with friends, and possibly even your foes, will be enlivened and encouraging, especially if you bring some humility to the table, like these brave speakers did.
