Interesting conversation going on over at Daveberta.ca.Justin (Archer, I presume) makes a cogent point in the comments:The question that I pose to you and any others who feel that the ALP is no longer worth saving is this: is there something better that you can start from scratch? Does the ALP, with its membership list, volunteer base, organizational memory, Official Opposition status and corresponding budget, 9 MLAs, constituency associations, etc. really have a net negative value? Because if it doesn't have a negative net value, than maybe it is wiser to salvage than to scrap.He goes on...Swann has initiated a renewal process already. If its the name that's the problem (and I think it is), lets change the name. Rather than throwing out the baby with the bath water, why not participate in the renewal process of an organization that admittedly has its warts, but in the end has a lot going for it too.Well, the debt doesn't help either.  And according to Dave Cournoyer, the debt is forcing the ALP to abandon their downtown Edmonton office, too, so the problem spreads.Still, Justin said something similar to this when we had dinner with Dr. Swann.  At the time, I was less certain of the answer.  I'm more certain now.Let's say you have a junker of a car.  It runs, but it needs work.  It's got wheels, tires, an engine, a gas tank, a transmission.  Let's say it has only a couple problems: it's heading for a cliff, and the power steering and brakes doesn't work.How happy are you at this point that the engine works properly?The ALP loses.  Again and again and again, it loses.  Unless it can change itself in ways that will make it win, all of the resources it has are negatives for people who want a vehicle of change, not a vehicle of protest.Yes, there is a renewal process going on.  And if I thought that the missing parts were close at hand, and all we had to do was install them and turn the sucker around, I'd be all for it.But the problem is not just the name.  I think the real missing part here is regular Albertans. Despite everyone's best intentions, even if you change the name right away, I don't see any reason to believe that regular Albertans are going to be interested in getting in, when it seems like so many of the current occupants are jumping out.