The Canadian New Democratic Party: An Endorsement
I usually try to be coy about my partisan leanings to appear neutral as “Vote Sign Guy”, but at this point, I’m offering a full-throated endorsement of the federal NDP under Jagmeet Singh’s leadership, with a nod to Elizabeth May’s Green party. The NDP’s centreward turn under Mulcair seems to have reversed, and they now present a substantive progressive alternative to the purple status quo.
Throughout the campaign and in the debate last night, Singh was the only leader to repeatedly and proactively highlight the inherent problems of extreme wealth, and *specifically* refer to the poor. Trudeau and Scheer promise help for “average”, middle-class Canadians through job-creation and tax cuts respectively. While this might help employable people with means, it does nothing to address the growing gap between the richest and poorest, nor provide assistance specifically to those who need it most. A strong economy on paper means nothing if it does not improve the lives of everyone within it. National pharma and dental care alone would transform the lives of millions who struggle to afford (or forego entirely) necessary medical interventions. Lifting people out of poverty directly — not through market forces or other mysticism — would have broad, far-reaching benefits to Canadian society as a whole, far moreso than increased abstract economic activity.
How will we pay for such socialist fantasies? Tax the rich, and stop giving away free money to those who need it least. Canada’s income tax is graduated — income above certain thresholds being taxed at a moderately higher rate — but does not adequately consider the obscenely wealthy nor guard against tax havens and other cheating. What’s worse, a great deal of our tax dollars are directly gifted to the oil industry in the form of subsidies (effectively paying for more greenhouse gases). By ending corporate welfare and forcing the richest 1% to pay their fair share, we could easily afford these and other programs — erasing poverty and (hopefully) arresting environmental damage.
Both the NDP and Greens support this strategy — though as May admitted last night, the elite class have the resources to resist these measures. To me, this highlights the need for a strong and uncompromising stance — not a continuously-eroding “balanced” approach favoured by the Liberals. If we allow economic forces to dictate policy, the needs of capital will *always* trump those of the people and the planet. This is where I depart somewhat from the Canadian mainstream political parties: market solutions are not solutions. Capitalism is the problem, universal indebtedness is its instrument, and we will continue to be victims until we achieve fundamental systemic change.
That being said, this transition is only possible in a political-social environment already conducive to such a new world. This is why I still advocate voting even in a system so thoroughly corrupt: building a benign, prosocial post-capitalist world requires already-existing benign, prosocial norms and values. Electing governments who will elevate and empower people — even marginally — gives us greater latitude to fight for better. We cannot expect people to rise up when they are forced to work themselves to the bone. Popular support for cooperative, collective morality is impossible if everyone is embattled in ruthless competition under the manufactured scarcity of austerity. Better leads to better — worse leads to worse.
So, on October 21st (or in advance polling), please VOTE. No need to pre-register, just bring government-issued photo ID and a piece of mail showing your address (does not need to match your ID). The first-past-the-post electoral system sucks (both NDP and Green promise to change it — the Liberals lied about it) but it’s our only easy means of effecting change at present.
If you care about the real, human future — not some myth of infinite economic growth — please consider voting NDP. If you’re lucky enough to live in a riding with strong Green representation, maybe give them a shot. Neither are perfect by far, but it’s the best we can hope for the moment. Thanks for your time.
