To back or not to back Jack

At rabble.ca, we usually let our readers and our writers speak for us. The people who work on rabble, paid and volunteer, have never before spoken out as a group. Of course, our choice of news articles and our partners reflect our view that another Canada and another world are possible. But on the eve of this federal election, we want you, our readers, to know where we stand.

Our decision then — 18 months ago — was enthusiastic and unanimous.

We are on the eve of another federal election and we have decided to endorse Jack Layton and the NDP again but this time, our endorsement follows discussion and some dissension. Some members of our staff — progressive people all — have had difficulty with parts of the NDP’s platform and with parts of the campaign.

One criticism was that the Party has not presented a platform which offers enough of an alternative choice in this campaign.

Another criticism was of the NDP’s position on crime — pandering to the false solution of law and order — and its plan to increase the military budget. It was also pointed out that many of our readers are to the left of the NDP and do not see their views fully reflected in the Party.

In the end, however, the majority of staff members agreed that the NDP is the best choice for progressive voters.

It’s well known to pollsters that — between elections — Canadians are closer to the NDP’s positions on most issues than they are to the other parties. The reasons why this doesn’t translate into more votes — and seats — at election time, are complex and arguable. We feel that if the NDP had run a better campaign, a bolder campaign, had presented a clearer alternative to the others there would have been more enthusiasm and more votes moving in their direction. (And what the hell are “working families” anyway?) But we part company with our comrades who mistakenly think that the corrupt, opportunist Liberals are an acceptable alternative to the ultra right Conservatives.

We remain hopeful that however weak their election platform, the NDP is the only party in English Canada that actually stands against the neo-liberal tide in Parliament and speaks up for the interests of the majority. And this time, every NDP seat will be of greater significance than ever. In 1984, Brian Mulroney, Progressive Conservative, said, “Give us four years and you won’t recognize this country!” Stephen Harper has been very shrewd and has made no such request of Canadians but many politics-watchers, who have followed Harper’s career over the years, would agree that he poses a much greater threat to Canada than Mulroney did.

As in 2004, at rabble.ca, we’ve tried to get as much information as possible to our readers about issues that were remarkably almost invisible in the corporate media: women, the environment, peace/the military, culture, gay and lesbian concerns, the worth of minority government — and more. We hope that you, our readers, using the information that wasn’t widely available elsewhere, will help to turn back what looks right now like a Tory tide and make sure that the NDP is well-represented in our next Parliament.

In solidarity,