Posted by douglas (64.59.145.221) on August 17, 2001 at 15:57:26:
In Reply to: Re: One General Grassroots Election for National Chief posted by Nathan on August 17, 2001 at 09:53:51:
Nathan: But we're not talking about chiefs here, we're talking about people who for the most part don't get to meet people nationally, except what they might see on TV. I think Wapistan would have had a good chance of winning in the last AFN election simply because he was a recognisable figure in a region with a lot of potential votes (Ontario). Currently the AFN Candidates woo the BC region because there are a lot of little bands that all get a vote (Even if they only have 10 band members). Just as Alberta Oil backed Stockwell Day, if you try to move to a Grassroots election you'd just end up having lumber company candidates in the AFN election. It would be inevitable. How else could anyone travel around and meet all the "grassroots" people in Canada. I think you are far too idealistic about the whole. After all, wasn't Coon Come a "grassroots" candidate? Or at least he considered himself to be.
douglas