With the 2008 federal election behind us, many pundits (myself included) are being faced with reality that the election did not turn out as we projected. Having under-estimated the projected level of support for the Conservatives and over-estimated the projected level of support for the NDP and Greens; and with the NDP only gaining about 1% in the popular vote and the Green vote utterly collapsing by more than 1/3 between the last polls and election day, it seems that many progressives have been made to feel sorry for themselves.
As such, the triumph of the Harper Conservatives over the ‘progressive’ forces in this country has been a common theme explored ad nausium by the mainstream media.
This notion is both interesting and straightforward. Indeed the only problem with this post-election theme is that it’s completely unsupported by the facts.
If anything, this election should be noted as being exemplary of exactly the opposite.
This election, if nothing else, was a stentorian vindication of the long-term trend witnessed in Canada since the 1974 general election AWAY from liberalism and conservatism and toward progressivism.
A while back, I pointed out the long-term trend in Canadian popular support away from the neo-liberal/neo-conservative, ultra-capitalist parties (of which, I took to include Liberals, the Conservatives, PCs, Alliance, Reform Party, Social Credit, Ralliement créditiste, Confederation of Regions, and other small third parties) and toward the more moderate and/or progressive capitalist parties (which I took to include the NDP, Bloc, Greens, Communist Party, CAP, CPC-ML and other small third parties). I am pleased to say that not only has this trend continued, but that it has also continued in every region of the country without exception.
In 2008, in every region of Canada without exception — West, Ontario, Québec, Atlantic & North — the combined ultra-capitalist parties (Liberal and Conservative) decreased in popular support. Meanwhile, in every region of Canada, the combined more moderate or progressive parties increased their popular level of support.
The public’s appetite for laissez faire capitalism and vicious cuts to social spending as instituted by the Conservatives of today and the Liberals of yesteryear is clearly declining. The only question is, how much longer can these two warring factions of the capitalist class continue to operate as separate parties before they are forced to ‘unite the right’ once again amidst the rising tide of public opinion against their policies.
And that is something that the mainstream capitalist media or their conservative apologists just won’t let you contemplate.
The return of the right-wing liberals
Published 10 December, 2008 Canadian Politics , Canadian Politics (domestic) , current events , Ignatieff , Liberal Party , News, Commentary & Op/Ed , politics , Progressive , Socialism 5 CommentsCharlie Smith of Straight.com has an absolutely fantastic piece on Michael Ignatieff. This piece is definitely worth the read for any progressive who still foolishly thinks that the Liberals under Ignatieff have more in common with the NDP, Bloc and Greens than they do with the radical right wing Tories of Stephen Harper.
From Straight.com:
Triumph of business Liberals: Michael Ignatieff will lead the party
“I believe I have the judgement, the character, the values and the experience to lead at a very difficult time in the life of our country.”
This is what Bob Rae says on the front page of his Web site for his now-defunct Liberal leadership campaign.
I’m left wondering if Michael Ignatieff, the Liberals’ chosen successor to Stephane Dion, has the judgement, character, values, and experience to lead Canada at a particularly difficult time in its history.
Let’s look at the record.
When it comes to judgement, Ignatieff supported the Bush administration’s attack on Iraq even though there was no United Nations approval.
As far as his character goes, some Canadians were no doubt very troubled by a lengthy profile of Ignatieff written in 2006 by the Globe and Mail’s Michael Valpy. There were shocking revelations about how Ignatieff treated his younger brother while both attented the elite Upper Canada College as teenagers.
Ignatieff’s ruthlessness, which was on display in the Valpy profile, suggests that Prime Minister Stephen Harper finally has some competition in this department.
As for Ignatieff’s values, I’ve been bothered by his rather one-sided view of the war in the Balkans in 1999. It’s a viewpoint he seems to share with the CBC’s Carole Off but which has been challenged by retired Canadian Major-General Lewis MacKenzie, former B.C. NDP candidate Rollie Keith, University of Pennsylvania professor emeritus Edward Herman, and Osgoode Hall law professor Michael Mandel.
Honest commentators who can look back with the benefit of hindsight know that the Serbs slaughtered Bosnian Muslims at Srebernica in 1995.
But they also know that the creation of Kosovo was based on fraudulent claims of genocide perpetrated by the Kosovo Liberation Army four years later. Ignatieff helped build his reputation as a human-rights advocate in part on the basis of these now-discredited claims.
Unfortunately, the Canadian media are too ignorant about this issue to call him on this point.
As for experience, Ignatieff was out of the country for 29 years, which leaves me wondering if he’s ready to serve on the average city council in this country, let alone occupy 24 Sussex Drive as the prime minister.
This week’s coronation of Ignatieff is a triumph of business Liberals like John Manley who always wanted Canada to be on friendlier terms with the United States.
I’m guessing that those in Vancouver who will applaud Ignatieff’s rise to federal Liberal leader are likely some of same people who apologized to former U.S. ambassador Paul Celucci in writing for Canada’s refusal to join the coalition of the willing in Iraq.
Don’t be surprised if some on the left wing of the Liberal party decide that now is the time to rip up their membership cards and join the NDP.