The Jersey Democratic Alliance

[Jason the Maverick]

Following on from the Party Politics thread, a simple question, what do people think of the JDA?

The three JDA members currently in the States are Deputies Geoff Southern, Judy Martin and Shona Pitman.

[Chief Minister]

No chance, they are a hopeless party.

[Jason the Maverick]

I know they have a face book group and to be frank I would have expected a few more members than just 35.  After all they are supposed to be a political party.

[Terminator 4]

Has anybody got a copy of the JDA manifesto?

[Jason the Maverick]

I saw the manifesto for the recent Constable elections, but I didn't think it was really that well thought out.  They talked about re-vamping Fort Regent, but the Fort has been a victim of changes with the Tourist industry and chucking money at won't make any difference.  Over all the Manifesto was more of wishful thinking then really looking at the bigger picture.

[David Rotherham]

The Facebook group has very little overlap with the Alliance itself. The JDA's own membership is a) confidential, b) in a different, and much larger, ballpark and c)  mostly drawn from different social groups to typical web 2.0 networkers.

The 2005 Manifesto is now effectively obsolete. All policies will be reviewed, and some modified or replaced for the 2008 Elections. Manifestoes always have to be written for, and, preferably, largely by the actual raft of candidates in the context of the situation in which they are standing. Alvin's was specifically his for the Constable's Election, and largely reflected his own concerns and priorities.

The Aims, that provide the principles that the Manifesto will be intended to embody and implement, can be found athttp://www.esnips.com/doc/fbd92506-d2ba-4e08-af45-84e368d3d84b/JDA_Aims

[Jason the Maverick]

I strongly disagree with 2.4 on Trade Unions.  I think they have been a nuisance in the past.  I remember when we were stuck in England because of a strike and I also think the union for JT has cost us money over all.

The JDA should be supporting the protection of all jobs not just the TGWU, who seem to demand pay increases at the tax payers expence all the friggin time.

I also think the JDA heavily relied on votes from the TGWU at the last elections but were very let down if I remember rightly.

This is probably one of the reasons people do not take the Party that seriously.

[David Rotherham]

Hello? We just hold that trade unions have an important role to play. Although I have doubts about a few individuals' private views, we do not collectively endorse the misuse of their position in an irresponsible and anti-social manner. Anyway, considering the dominance of the highly unionised banking sector in the Island, an anti-union party would be on an express ticket to nowhere.

[Jason the Maverick]

I am not saying an anti-union party, but I don't see why a party needs to go into alliance with any.  The TGWU is forever arguing with the States in any case, usually over pay and rights of workers.  So if the JDA get in are they just going to bend to all the TGWU's needs?

Banking Unions?  Maybe in the UK but I have not heard of any in Jersey.

Every finance place I have worked for in Jersey has never had a union!

[Terminator 4]

The Facebook group has very little overlap with the Alliance itself. The JDA's own membership is a) confidential, b) in a different, and much larger, ballpark and c)  mostly drawn from different social groups to typical web 2.0 networkers.

The 2005 Manifesto is now effectively obsolete. All policies will be reviewed, and some modified or replaced for the 2008 Elections. Manifestoes always have to be written for, and, preferably, largely by the actual raft of candidates in the context of the situation in which they are standing. Alvin's was specifically his for the Constable's Election, and largely reflected his own concerns and priorities.

The Aims, that provide the principles that the Manifesto will be intended to embody and implement, can be found athttp://www.esnips.com/doc/fbd92506-d2ba-4e08-af45-84e368d3d84b/JDA_Aims

Why is membership confidential?  The PDF is more of a mission statement but not a manifesto.

What will the JDA do in place of GST if they got in?

[Millennium Man]

I don't think the JDA have anything new to offer.

Most of the candidates that are already in Government have so far done nothing.

[Jason the Maverick]

I know only a few people have passed comment but are the JDA really that bad?

[Chief Minister]

Yes.

[Jason the Maverick]

But what is wrong with the party specifically?  Are they too left?

[Millennium Man]

They have no power and a minority with no power is worthless.