Canada's quiet revolution by Gordon Chong Toronto Star

Canada's quiet revolution
The Toronto Star
Dion's win is latest symbol of bottom-up politics, says Gordon Chong
December 21, 2006

There is a rudimentary, imprecisely articulated, but increasingly focused revolution occurring in this country.

"It has been reflected in national events over the past few years and most recently by the Liberal leadership race that reveals the dissatisfaction with previous institutional arrangements and accommodations, as well as the hierarchies and internal mechanisms of the country's political parties.

More than 20 years ago, when I was more involved in party and riding politics, I detected a nascent dissatisfaction with central control from party headquarters, which issued directives to the great unwashed in the hinterlands of Ontario, often without any prior consultation or advance warning. Back then, North York and Scarborough qualified as part of the Ontario hinterland.

The resentment toward backroom operatives having overwhelming influence over policy development and party positions has grown unabated over the last couple of decades.

...........SNIP"

http://www.thestar.com/article/163599

A more democratic order requires that the major decision-making power is supposed to be held in the collective body of the people, not in the hands of a few party bosses and lobbyists and such. Because parties generally have a difficult time letting the "great unwashed" into the halls of power, you get things like NAFTA or tax cuts for the top 1 percent.