www.ChrisLaBossiere.com

I spent the last 8 hours of my life having some of the best political and ideological discussion I have had for some time. Tonight I met the idealists who want dearly to start a new party and from virtually every perspective they shared, for good reason (they just don't seem to know how). I debated with the left-leaning big-government fanatic who tried to convince me that state-owned energy was the only way to bring their proper value to Albertans (nice but mostly naive concept). I also talked with "fiscal conservatives, and social progressives" who knew what they believed in, but couldn't explain why they weren't getting the government they deserved (place me here for now).

I loved all of the conversations, and the enthusiasm that it created for each of us. But my earliest conclusions of Reboot Alberta (albeit only after the first night of getting to know each other in a strictly social setting), is that this group is highly diverse (which is a good thing), BUT I have yet to see an emerging person, idea, value, ideal or messenger who can pull the rope, or herd the cats.

Now, to be 100% fair, tomorrow has a robust list of discussion topics to be vetted, selected, then debated by the participants, so I can see a day of great discussion. What I am hoping to also see, are the natural leaders in the room begin to assert their solutions or proposed solutions on the group, so people can decide if there is a movement to join or repel.

It will be fun to watch, and I don't have an investment or interest right now in any particular outcome. BUT I do hope that someone or some idea rises out of the group, clearly defined so we can all see it, and then using democratic methods, the group decides if it's something worth getting behind. Partly because a part of me wants that change, but also because I want to see if the alternative is any better than what we have today. I am yet to be convinced.