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I've got a question that I think relates to this. So, let's say I am a member of the NDP (which I am), and I wanted to contact "the Party Establishment". Who would I be trying to contact? And how could I contact them?
Look into a mirror, say "Waffle!" three times and then they will come to you.
Right. The composition of the Party Establishment is shifting.
On the other hand, it has a compostion that transcends changes in leadership. And there is no one in particular to contact. Its too amorphous for that.
And bearing in mind that the way people used the term "party establishment" during the leadership race was wrong headed from one end to the other. What they really meant was 'the elites with access to the party machinery at the moment'. And that was yesterday.
But the party establishement is not yesterday. It's still pretty much the same. And itt includes those people now leaving their roles with direct and immediate access to the party machinery.
And the NDP are still the most fiscally responsible party when in government according to the official record.
If you want massive indebtedness, environmental and energy policies dictated to you from corporate board rooms in America, and old world colonial-extractive economies, then by all means don't vote NDP. It's a free country as they say.
So, you can't really name any names?
I could start naming names. What is the point of that?
You asked who you would call. Even not taken too literally, since this is outside of the formal structure [albeit, while overlapping] it comes down to individual contact. If you know someone, or someone who knows someone, you can call them and express whatever.
If you dont know anyone to call, you can find someone the gold old fashioned way by starting to ask around. But why would you do that? Because there is a formal structure, and while not exactly straightforawrd, it is yours to tap at will. And expressing instead through someone who has links to, or is inside, is at best just a shortcut.
If to make it concrete you are wondering what 'kind' of person could be seen as a member of the establishment- you can toss out names for an opinion. But I dont really know what the point of that would be either.
I'll give you one example that I'm comfortable with which might help illustrate.
Me.
I'm not. And never was, or likely ever will be.
And it isnt because I'm not well known. Lots of unknowns are part of the establishment.
I was an NSNDP insider- in that little happened I didnt know about. And thats a common route to being 'absorbed' into the establishement. But in my case, I'm too blunt. I never went public with anything. I never even spilled the beans within the party on the inner machinations- even tho that was more or less my right. And I always went along and helped implement despite strong disagreements.
But thats not enough. If you are deemed a pain in the ass you can always have people you can call up and talk to if you want. But the minute you step back, unlike members of the establishment, you will never again be voluntarily included. [If you have a thick skin you can insist, but very few bother...]
Okay, I guess what I mean it, people often talk about "the Party Establishment", but it's never clear to me exactly who the'ye talking about. Would, for example, the Federal Council qualify?
Most of them, no.
There are a number of bona fide establishment members on the Council- though more likely on Exec or a working committee. And coming to Council would not put you in there, or even close.
Okay, then how do you become a part of the establishment?
Work hard on elections. [There are paid positions if you have the flexibility away from a job.] Start working at the provincial/federal level.
Its not different than any other voluntary organization. People make themselves useful, share enough of the basic general world view, and stick with it. You get included in more and more.
Bite your tongue after saying your piece when you severely disagree.
Okay, that makes sense, I guess.