A New Focus

Earlier today, I quit the NDP.

Now, this has nothing to do with the NDP per se, but with politics, parties and government in general. I am most certainly not leaving to join the Liberals, the Conservatives, the Greens or any other party. These last few months I have utterly and profoundly lost all faith that working in government and via the state can affect any real positive changes in society. Indeed, I see that it can have the exact opposite effect.

Liberals lie to get in power and stay in power. Conservatives do the same. For all its good intentions, the NDP seem to have lost its direct active and cooperative heritage and is trying to play the other parties on their terms instead of its own. I think my frustration showed through quite obviously in my last post.

No, from now on I will concentrate only on non-governmental organizations, direct action and community organizations. I now honestly believe that the only way to affect change is at the personal, local level, between individuals who want to change and take control themselves, instead of taking orders from others or relying on their 'good intentions.'

Does that mean I am no longer a 'lefty' or 'progressive'? Of course I am. I still believe that every person has dignity and is free to do anything or live anyway, so long as it causes no harm or infringes on the freedom and dignity of anyone else. I will simply have a new and different focus, a focus that does not include using the state. I will look for solutions that do not require multi-billion dollar programs or circus debates in parliament, but that small, decentralized groups of like-minded people or groups of people can do. I will look for solutions that fight corporate power, not feed it.

What do these changes make me? A left libertarian. An anarchist. Whatever other label you wish. Apart from no longer accepting the state, I hold the same principles I always have. I merely wish to work for them in a different way. I'll still post my opinions on the politics of the day as I always have, but I certainly will not be partisan about it - I don't have a dog in that fight anymore.

I will leave it to my blogging friends to decide if that's something they can live with. I genuinely like and respect everyone as I always have, if that makes a difference.

I will leave it to Rob as to whether I will still be welcome in the Blogging Dippers.

Any questions?

Out with the Old, in with the New

First, a thanks to all those who e-mailed me and encouraged me to continue. That includes 'jeff' from the previous post. After a holiday break which saw me move into a new home, get sick (at the same time), unpack and still have a decent Christmas for the kids, I feel surprising ready to return to blogging

As you can see I have gone for a new look and a few changes. I am including links to some of my other intellectual passions beyond politics (but definitely related to them):

The Skeptics Society, of which I am a member, takes science and critical thinking to the extreme. As it should. Expect a lot of links to their sources and their data.

Question everything.

Make is the ultimate DIY magazine for hardware and software hackers. It can be seen as libertarian cooperation and anti-corporatist and ethics in action.

If you can't open it, you don't own it.

Skepticality is the official podcast of the Skeptics society and provides fantastic links, interviews and reviews of books related to science and to fight ignorance and pseudoscience.

People will believe anything. Why is that?

The James Randi Educational Foundation shows over and over how dangerous and silly some of these beliefs are. He debunks with humour and reason.

The $1 Million dollars remains unclaimed.

And perhaps strangely to some, I've begun to lean toward a left-libertarian view of things. Now, no worries, I'm no Jay Jardine, but guys like Kevin Carson and Larry Gambone have a refreshing take on voluntary association, mutualism and alternatives to both 'public' state-run and 'private' corporate-run services and solutions. Definitely worth a look. Also, it dovetails nicely with 'Make'

Thanks for the book, Ian.

Personally, I intend to blog beyond party politics and the left-right dichotomy we find ourselves in all the time. I will try to be more logical and reasonable in tone, with a healthy dose of snark when needed. And for those who are illogical and unreasonable, no quarter will be given. Oh, I'll be polite, but don't expect to have punches pulled.

And mostly I will go beyond partisanship. Though I remain a Dipper, I am none too fond of Jack Layton of late and I am more than willing to be critical of some of our policies and stances. I will be equally kind to the other parties should it ever happen that I ever agree with what they stand for.

So, anything happen while I was gone?