Wildrose Alliance, as Albertan as anyone else.

While the Wildrose Alliance had reached the poll nirvana I am realizing that plenty of commentors, bloggers and media types are confused about what the make up of the old Wildrose Alliance party and beliefs of the previous incarnations.

I would according to some be an old time Alliance type.  I have been involved with three incarnations of the party.

First, Alberta Social Credit in 1998.

Second, Alberta Alliance 2003-2006.

Third, Wildrose Alliance 2009.

My middle period of 1999-2003 I spent in Wales so I was in a different environment.

Now lets update where I come from and believe:

I consider myself a family man, I love my wife, I go to church on Sunday, I believe in Evolution and the Bible  and see both as relevant and important. I am training to become an academic historian and currently trying to do my masters degree and while working.

I am not a hard-line fiscal conservative or libertarian or even a social conservative.

I am more of the centre big tent type.

I believe in climate change but I am not convinced it is necessarily human influenced, and less so by the minute lately.  I do not believe cap and trade or destroying Alberta’s ability to use the Oil Sands is some how going to save the planet. I am on the other hand a believer in environmental stewardship and conservation which works on real solutions not wealth transfer.

I voted Liberal in the last provincial election because I wanted better opposition and less Tories. That was the first and last time I would do that but it was something I did for the sake of democracy not in the conviction of the Liberal policy.

I see the Wildrose Alliance as my fit. I think Danielle Smith’s views on social conservatives fit mine. I would say give them citizen initiatives and referendums and let them fight it out there rather than getting politicians to do it.

I firmly believe that there is nothing wrong with being a conservative who is socially compassionate. Our social programs are something important, we just need policy that allows for costs protection.  I do not believe in letting the poor grow poorer and not helping those who are unable to help themselves, and that includes all levels in between.

I have been out of work on a number of occasions, nearly homeless once many years ago.  I am a believer that the health care system needs reformation to bring costs in line but not at the expense of offering quality and access for everyone.  I have seen over bureaucratic socialized medicine at its worst and the effect of no health care accessibility on the lives of others and myself.   I have lived as a student at all levels.  I think post secondary education is critical and again should be affordable.  By the same token I have seen our country demand graduate degrees for things that used to be done well by people with little high school education and it makes me wonder why I need a PhD to “flip burgers” or conversely that my education would be worth about that same wage.

I believe in the reform tradition of direct democracy.  I think it is important to reform the way we vote but not at the expense of local representation.  And I do not believe MMP or STV or FTP or PR or anyother acronym is a cure all for voter participation.

I do not believe that social conservatives are loonies out to “destroy the world” any more than I think NDP voters are closet communists.

Those who consistently worked for the Wildrose Alliance party through the good and bad are decent people trying their best.  Some of them are good friends some are not.  I have not always been involved, being fired does that for you as well as the effects of losing an election.   Yet I still hoped for the party to do well.  I do not see myself as impediment to new people coming on board I just want good people.

I do disagree on some policy stances, yet I am not immediately put off because I believe there are enough checks and balances in the party to allow for each member to get a say in that policy.

That is me, I am an Alberta for the majority of my life and seem to see myself as relatively typical of the muddy middle voters that care more about the jingle in their jeans than the grand policy direction which politicos clamber for.  Bring me a change in mindset, in leadership and a willingness to be open and I am with you.

Tags: Alberta, policy, Politics, Wildrose Alliance