Thread by @CerebroJD

I have some Thoughts on the issues around the "negativity" of the #ableg leftists, Alberta NDP supporters, and the Alberta NDP (ANDP) in general. Its clear that while these three groups (and subsections) are on the same side, they arent always on the same team (and thats ok)

Lets start with the ANDP as a party - or the "outrage machine" as its been occasionally nicknamed. Where does this come from? Its simple - the ANDP needs to connect with as many voters as possible, and it creates a situation like this:

Lets assume that there are ten issues: jobs, spending, covid19, LGBTQ+ issues, womens issues, policing, O&G/pipelines, agriculture, economy, environment. Lets also assume that 10% of the Alberta population cares about each one of these issues, and no other.

The ANDP needs to connect with each 10% as regularly and directly as possible, so that those stakeholders know that the ANDP is in their corner - so that translates to strong critical messaging of the UCP's performance on these issues, weekly/daily/whenever-the-UCP-screws-up.

In this case, thats potentially ten "reminders" on these negative messages per day, but a single person is only seeing one issue they care about, and nine they dont - i.e. they're exposed to 90% negativity about things they arent invested in: this makes the ANDP look "angry".

The same issue comes back on positive messaging - if the ANDP puts out 10 positive plans about how they'd do things better on those issues, a person might only see (or care to see) one issue that resonates, the rest is the ANDP "wasting time/effort".

How does this relate to the Alberta NDP supporters? As more people get connected via fb/twitter/etc, they're getting more exposed to the absolute firehose of political messaging that the ANDP is putting out, but they're getting exposed to the negativity too - and its a grind.

ANDP supporters will share the content that they're invested in, and negative stories/outrage creates a visceral "share" reaction that positive messages/policies/plans dont create. So the supporters are more likely to share the negative, not the positive.

This creates a very large, very emotionally charged bubble of sharing and support, in which its easy to get upset when others dont share the same investment/stake in the "cause" that you're aligned with.

A recent example: Coal mining in Alberta. There has been massive outrage across the political spectrum, and its easy to get frustrated when you see people signing petitions against mines that didnt share "your" #SafeSeptember school reopening messaging.

But heres the thing: it doesnt matter. Them finding a reason to get involved doesnt take away from my/your cause or issue. Supporting them in their newfound activism/engagement is absolutely essential to creating a diverse and cohesive movement of people on the same SIDE.

Which brings me to my next point: leftists. This might come as a shock to some, but the ANDP are not the socialist commies that the UCP makes them out to be - they are *barely* left of center on a good day, especially after the last 3 years of trying to poach moderate voters.

What does that mean? There is a LARGE group of aggressively left-leaning Albertans that are extremely critical of the medioctrity that the ANDP has become. Here is the thing tho: The ANDP are *all* the leftists have to work with, at this point. And the ANDP *listens* to Albertans

So when you see people being critical of the ANDP on their UBI stance, their pipeline position, their neoliberalish positions on economy and society - this is *OK*, because they're just Albertans that dont see their issue in one of the "ten things" that the ANDP is "angry" about.

They're looking for a party that reflects their values, just like you. And just like how the ANDP hasnt always represented my own values 100% (and still doesnt), I still support them, and offer critique and feedback so that my values have the opportunity to be reflected.

The ANDP have built entire mechanisms within the party, and a website for ALL Albertans to provide that feedback ( AlbertasFuture.ca ) - they are serious about consultation and getting it right for Albertans. If you're mad at the NDP for some reason, tell them.

My final thoughts are on "how" to get involved and get active: do it how YOU want, and dont concern yourself with how others are doing it. I'm personally part of half a dozen different recruitment/engagement/messaging projects, from municipal to federal levels.

Some folks tweet, some folks facebook, some folks are just email (or actual phone convo). Some share, some dont, some are afraid to put orange signs on their lawn. Some folks like socialist ideas but hate the ANDP (for now). This is ALL FINE.

Think of yourself as your own campaign manager - cultivate your own following, your own messaging, join the causes that resonate with you, and share the messaging you want to amplify. But understand that the people adjacent to you are managing THEIR platforms and followings too.

The values/causes/stakes will not always align. In fact, I'd say you're rarely going to find someone that checks all the same boxes you do. But thats why its a spectrum - and what we absolutely MUST have is this: SOLIDARITY.

I may not share identical issues with you, but I will support and amplify where I can/choose - and I want you to do the same with the messaging I share that resonates with you. We *can* be on the same side, even if we arent always on the same team.

This goes for the tweeters, the facebookers, the writers, the journos, the pundits, the podcasters, the radio hosts. Do I feel we can be critical of the messaging that others are sharing? Absolutely - feedback is essential for growth. But we each know what OUR audience wants.

Its ok to unfollow, or block, or choose not to engage (this one is difficult, but probably the most important). While disagreement can be frustrating, and in some cases, divisive - we can coexist on the political (and actvisim) spectrum, even seperated by a block or mute.

I also recognize that I approach many issues from a place of privilege, and I dont mean to diminish any frustrations or causes that people have taken-on - but to recognize that we *all* offer differing investment in issues provides an opportunity for objective SOLIDARITY.

All of this to say: the ANDP arent all anger, they're just trying to show all Albertans that they hear them, and advocate for them. The ANDP supporters share what resonates with them. The leftists want to see their values represented in government. We can be on the same side.