We are in the midst of the greatest economic crisis since the 1930s. Yet our one supposed left-wing party has not taken the opportunity to raise questions about the nature of our economic system and how it could be more democratic. Let's face it, the NDP is no longer even a social democratic party. It's a liberal party slightly to the left (on most issues) of the Liberal Party. No one at the top of the party has a vision or commitment to alternative economics, building an activist cadre, or building an oppositional common sense that is deep, intelligent, and widespread.
A party like that would use this opportunity to raise big questions about the economic system we live in. A party like that would use the moment to engage in widespread education of its membership on economics, sponsoring debates and educational events at the riding level to increase the capacity of the membership. But the NDP doesn't have much capacity to understand or grapple with the economic crisis at any level of the party, and doesn't even have the self-knowledge to know that it lacks this capacity. It's a bit of a lost cause.
Is the NDP in the way or on the way? The federal party has finally settled the debate with its ever-rightward drift, professionalization, and crass electoralism. The NDP is in the way. Which is all the worse for the rest of us.
What would you propose the NDP do?
I see SOME failings: an inability to see the crash coming or (to the extent they did see it) to grapple with the consequences of the coming crash. It was embarassing during the last federal campaign to hear all of the parties ridiculously claiming that budgets could and should be balanced, for example.
That said, I've also seen the NDP standing front-and-centre in some pretty tough fights - the recent back-to-work legilsation slapped on CUPE, expressing solidarity with steelworkers occupying plants facing closure.
What aren't they doing that you think they should be doing? Specifically.
What should the party be doing? Fighting.. tooth and nail, fang and claw, against a predatory monster (don't dare call it capitalism because capitalism is dead; this is neo-feudalism) which intends to turn all of us into slaves: serfs.
This Corvin Russell character is nothing but a jack-ass. I mean God-forbid that we should get more people elected and actually went on to form a goverment. Now heavens-to-betsy, we wouldn't want that. This is but another wanking intellectual type who could never get his hands dirty by actually seeking a nomination and actually winning a seat.