My big idea for Power 2010: Encourage political parties

Today is the last day to submit ideas to the Power 2010 initiative. I would be very surprised if this one makes their Idea of the Day.

Power 2010 asks: Tell us your big idea: 

My response:

Encourage political parties to:

1. recruit and retain members

2. sort out policy issues in local, regional and national fora, and

3. refuse state-funding.

Power 2010 asks: Tell us why this change is important to you:

My response: The PoWEr Inquiry appeared to discount political parties as the only institutions capable of forming governments, and has been perpetuating the myth ever since that there are real alternatives.

(If you can find a positive suggestion about improving how our political parties function, please let me have the reference(s).)

Ooch!