Is this why the NDP lost?

> the party has also had a history of alienating leftist voices

I haven’t been involved enough with the party over the years to have alienated any leftists. Quite the contrary, it has seems to me to be the ultra leftists who have been alienating the rest. And these are, in my mind, people with a very deep conviction to some very shallow ideas.

To be clear: I have no issue with leftism in general or socialism in particular. Otherwise I would indeed be a Liberal, and not someone who puts up a sign should we happen to have a candidate with their name on one.

But I have no real patience with socialism and leftism that is preformative rather than substantive. Socialism that demands you say the right thing but not actually put anything into practice. Socialism that isn’t even deep enough to ask *why* anyone would be socialist (other than just, you know, being ‘anti-capitalist’).

We’re supposed to be in this to make people’s lives better. To recognize and support their hopes and aspirations. To help people have a good and meaningful life based on strong community and social values. To help them raise their voices when they are oppressed and to stand in solidarity when they have the means to do so.

I saw none of that in the campaign, and frankly, none of that over the last ten years or so. It has been performance socialism and a logic of fight fight fight. I have no idea who I will support for leadership or even whether I’ll be interested in the NDP going forward. My future will be with a party that is working to make things better, whoever they happen to be.