Talk:Jim Harris (politician)

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[edit] politician vs. political candidate

I have changed his opening paragraph from reading that was was a politician, to saying that he was a former political candidate, since he has never actually held elected office (or even an appointed political position. Dowew 17:34, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

The term politician “... includes people who hold decision making positions in government, and people who seek those positions ...” As both past leader of a political party that ran election campaigns, and as a candidate himself, Jim Harris is certainly a politician since he has been “seek[ing] those positions”. —GrantNeufeld 06:58, 2 October 2006 (UTC)

I still maintain that the term politican is more for those who actually hold positions of power (in Canada this would mean MP's Senators, Members of Provincial Legislatures, Members of Municipal Government). The label "politician" is way too general to be used for every wacko who has ever run for an elected position...Does someone who runs unsucessfully for Class President in elementary school quality as a politician ? By this definition Karl Rove is a politician even though he has never been elected to anything. It is much more clear to describe Rove as a "political advisor" or a "political analyst" than "politician" although I admit Rove does apear to hold significant power within the Bush administration. I guess that is the tricky thing about labels, they don't always work. Think of this, is anyone who ever goes in front of a movie camera be labeled an actor ? Perhaps, but if that person only ever apeared as an extra in a Zombie flick and then went on to invent the wheel they would be much better described as an "inventor" than an "actor". Speaking of actors, in political science terms, someone who influenced policy or holds decision making position is more often described as a "political actor" than a politician.

For now, I am going to change this to read "Jim Harris is a Canadian author, environmentalist, political activist, and former political candidate" Dowew 06:46, 18 November 2006 (UTC)

Looking at Wikipedia's own definition of "politician" (definition), Harris clearly qualifies. "Political activist" refers more specifically to someone who tries to influence politicians or social policy through political action or organization in ways generally outside party politics, such as through issue advocacy or interest-group organization, rather than as a party candidate or national party leader. Although Harris has not successfully won office in a general election, he repeatedly won seriously contested elections for party leadership and was registered as such with Elections Canada. Being successfully elected to office is not a prerequisite for being termed a politician - note, for example, "politician" is used in wiki to describe Pat Buchanan, who has likewise never been elected, or even chosen as party leader. "Former political candidate" may also be incorrect; although not currently party leader, he may well run as a candidate in future elections; outside of an election period, there are no candidates. The term "politician" is perfectly appropriate and I have restored it. It also matches the name of the page. Hanfuzzy 6:17, 7 March 2007 (EST)