impact of young at campaigns of politcal parties

http://bcblue.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/weed-activists-will-help-put-rae-in-as-liberal-leader/

Red flags went off in my head as soon as I saw the number of 25-and-unders being reported as Liberal convention attendees:

“With about 1,000 delegates here at the Liberal biennial convention being under the age of 25, a youth movement is certainly evident.” (see here)

This is normally a feel-good story as everyone likes the idea of young people getting involved in politics but one of the dangers of reducing the fees so dramatically, is it opens the door for special interest groups to manipulate party policies.

As a party official, I watched Belinda Stronach’s youth delegates at the Conservative 2005 convention in Montreal nearly take control of the executive administration and leave some policy time-bombs which would have handcuffed Stephen Harper to the point of impotency and potentially blown up the newly formed party.

So when the Liberal Party passed their pro-weed resolution with a 77% majority and I saw who was celebrating (see earlier post), then watched as Bob Rae flip-flopped on his support for dope (see here), it confirmed in my mind who will be a major force behind Rae becoming the permanent leader all set up by their new voting rules (see here).

With about 1,000 delegates here at the Liberal biennial convention being under the age of 25, a youth movement is certainly evident. But that hasn’t come without a cost.

Exactly how much? Two hundred dollars. At least that’s how much each Young Liberal has been asked to fork out to attend the three-day convention in which the party’s future is being decided. This is less than regular delegates, and most Young Liberals are excited about being here. But more than one wishes the price was a little less steep.

“I’m glad I paid to be here, because I think it’s worth it,” said Michael d’Amours, a Young Liberal from Montreal. “But other parties have lower prices and I think it’s a good idea to lower it.

“If you’re not sure about the other party that asks for $50 and the Liberal Party that wants $200, you’re more going to go to the $50 just to see and chances are you might like it and you won’t know what happens here.”

Liberals agreed Saturday night to allow people to join their party as "supporters," a move interim leader Bob Rae implored delegates to take.

He said it would be a "historic" change for the party and, after some debate, the proposal got the two-thirds support it needed to pass.

Rae said creating the supporter category, which will allow Canadians to take part in future leadership votes without paying a membership fee, will help break down walls between the Liberal party and citizens.

"It's an extraordinary opportunity for this party," he said.

The proposal was made by the Liberals' national board in its "Roadmap to Renewal" plan for rebuilding the party and it required an amendment to the constitution.

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D - like I said, I want an advocacy group, a lobby, without close ties to any 1 party. Not that it matters- all the parties support pro-Boomer platforms. None use a Marxist "class consciousness" but with a generational aspect. None will say no to the loudly crying Boomer baby throwing a tantrum at being denied desert after the buffet.

Regarding Bob Rae, I will NEVER vote for him, EVER. He was the first politician I ever voted for. I voted for a party platform that evaporated and then got reversed. The damage he did to my entire work/fiscal life from the get-go cannot be under-estimated. It is no exaggeration to say I remain destitute to this day more due solely to this man's actions in office than any other single actor.
NEVER.
I'm pretty sure Rae in charge of the federal Liberals ensures a vast gap in potential voters of age 40 and above that have post-secondary eduction.