Roots, not stars

Murray Dobbin has started an interesting discussion as how much room there is for improvement in the development of a meaning-oriented progressive community. But while noting there's still a long way left to go, one has to like the philosophy being followed by the main voice for that movement, as the NDP looks to build on its developing strength in Quebec:

Questionné à savoir si une seconde victoire en sol québécois ne passerait pas plutôt par la présentation d'un autre candidat vedette, le chef néo-démocrate a réitéré sa position selon laquelle il cherchait avant tout des personnes connues et impliquées localement.

"On ne cherche pas des vedettes, on cherche des racines, a-t-il lancé. Ça prend du temps, changer les choses."

Or roughly translated:

Asked whether a second Quebec victory will only happen with another star candidate, the NDP leader reiterated that above all he's looking for candidates who are known and respected locally.

"We're not looking for stars, we're looking for roots," he said. "It takes time to change things."

Not that it hurts matters to have a few big names in the mix - and the NDP did better in that department in 2008 than it had in decades.

But the longer-term outlook of a party is bound to be based primarily on its deeper connections to the broader public rather than on the presence of a few stars within its ranks. And hopefully the NDP's development of roots in Quebec and across the country will bear fruit in the form of a more engaged and involved movement to boost both the party and its progressive ideals across the country.

(h/t to Pundits' Guide.)