[rad-green] The Dangers of Ignoring The NDP Base -- Sid Ryan
"Sid Shniad" (via rad-green Mailing List) <[email protected]> Tue, 10 Mar 2020 16:09:58 -0700
| Newsgroups | gmane.politics.communism.environmental |
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This is a multi-part message in MIME format... ------------=_1583881843-7785-101932 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="0000000000009d54ca05a0883878" --0000000000009d54ca05a0883878 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" *https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10163052082385573&id=788630572 <https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10163052082385573&id=788630572>* *Facebook March 9, 2020* *The Dangers of Ignoring The NDP Base* *by Sid Ryan* In stark contrast to city councils in the UK the city councils of Vancouver and Montreal have rejected the IHRA definition of anti Semitism. They were rightfully concerned about free speech and the criminalisation of legitimate criticism of Israel's illegal and cruel occupation of Palestine. Unfortunately for the left in Ontario the ONDP has completely capitulated to the pressure applied by the Israeli lobby and joined forces with the Tories to unanimously pass Bill 168 at second reading of the Bill. This past weekend March 7th the ONDP held its Provincial Council meeting and once again the party establishment covered themselves in shame by attempting to thwart an effort to debate the issue on the floor of the provincial council. On March 6th a group of activists submitted an emergency resolution to the committee established to review resolutions. The committee agreed the resolution was in order and met the definition of an 'emergency resolution'. The following day (March 7th) the resolution was introduced for debate when the party president Andrew McKenzie rose to voice an objection that the resolution was a violation of the ONDP Constitution. Incredulously the Chair agreed with McKenzie despite the fact the committee tasked with vetting resolutions agreed it was in order. The Chair was challenged and her decision was overturned . Debate commenced on the resolution with 3 or 4 speakers from either side. The last speaker was Janet Solberg an executive member of the ONDP and longtime Israeli lobbyist at NDP conventions. She informed the council that the ONDP would become a laughing stock if they opposed the IHRA definition of anti Semitism and further by approving the resolution the council would tie the hands of the ONDP at Queen's Park. This view was not supported by Joel Harden the lone MPP who spoke in favour of the resolution. The resolution was defeated with 77 opposed, 62 in favour and 22 abstentions. The Israeli lobby had scored another significant victory against the NDP base with the help of the NDP establishment. The debacle at the ONDP council followed the same pattern ordered by the establishment of the party when they prevented pro Palestinian resolutions from being debated at the federal NDP convention in Ottawa and the ONDP convention in Hamilton. This has now become a serious problem not only for the party but also the broader left within Canada and the Arab/Palestinian communities which are one of the fastest growing demographics in the country. Dozens of unions at the local, provincial and national level have adopted pro Palestinian resolutions but yet the NDP has foolishly thumbed their nose at their base and caved in to the efforts of the Israeli lobby. In contrast, south of the border Bernie Sanders is showing real leadership on Israel's racist policies towards the Palestinians to the howls of protest from AIPAC the US israeli lobbyist organisation. The time is fast approaching when the left in Canada has got to ask the question "why are we supporting a party that does not support the aspirations of the majority of voters on the left". Why do we continually have to battle the establishment of the party to adopt policies that are readily accepted by leftish political parties the world over. When have we ever heard the words "free university" fall from the lips of the NDP leadership or for that matter "tuition debt forgiveness". Why is it the party cannot bring themselves to deal in a serious way with the inequality that is rampant within the capitalist system by calling for serious tax policies on wealth, corporations and high income earners. It is disheartening to hear Democrats in the US sound more progressive than the party of the left in Canada. A few short years ago the progressive left in Quebec reached a point where they saw no party in that province who was representing their issues in a meaningful way and so, they went about forming Quebec Solidaire a new party that has gone on to achieve phenomenal success in that province. I remember during the disastrous Social Contract negotiations Bob Rae and other MPP's still around today told us we had to vote for the NDP because we had nowhere else to go. That's the same argument and sentiments the left in Quebec heard from the Parti Quebecois before they decided to form Quebec Solidaire. The NDP establishment are at the very same crossroads, they can carry on fighting their base on issues of human rights, indigenous rights. inequality and the environment/pipelines but they should not be surprised when a Solidarity Party emerges to champion the aspirations of the left. At that point it will be too late to save the soul of a party that is sleep walking itself into irrelevancy. -- --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Sid-l" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/sid-l/CACKppcw6qD9tYPi6LrZ%2Bn7kzYRe3fC4b%2BprXSybVLerO%3DiOiew%40mail.gmail.com. --0000000000009d54ca05a0883878 Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"fon= t-size:small"><b style=3D"color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href=3D"https://m.facebook.c= om/story.php?story_fbid=3D10163052082385573&id=3D788630572" target=3D"_= blank">https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3D10163052082385573&= id=3D788630572</a></b><br></div></div><div dir=3D"ltr"><div class=3D"gmail_= quote"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div style=3D"font-size:small"><font color=3D"#0000= 00"><b><br></b></font></div><div style=3D"font-size:small"><font color=3D"#= 000000"><b>Facebook=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 March 9, 2020</b></fo= nt></div><div style=3D"font-size:small"><font color=3D"#000000"><b><br></b>= </font></div><div style=3D"font-size:small"><p style=3D"margin:0px 0px 1em;= font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,system-ui,".SFNSText-Regular"= ,sans-serif;font-size:14px"><font color=3D"#000000"><b>The Dangers of Ignor= ing The NDP Base</b></font></p><p style=3D"margin:0px 0px 1em;font-family:s= ystem-ui,-apple-system,system-ui,".SFNSText-Regular",sans-serif;f= ont-size:14px"><b>by Sid Ryan</b></p><p style=3D"margin:0px 0px 1em;font-fa= mily:system-ui,-apple-system,system-ui,".SFNSText-Regular",sans-s= erif;font-size:14px"><font color=3D"#000000">In stark contrast to city coun= cils in the UK the city councils of Vancouver and Montreal have rejected th= e IHRA definition=C2=A0<span style=3D"display:inline;font-family:inherit">o= f anti Semitism. They were rightfully concerned about free speech and the c= riminalisation of legitimate criticism of Israel's illegal and cruel oc= cupation of Palestine.</span></font></p><div style=3D"display:inline;font-f= amily:system-ui,-apple-system,system-ui,".SFNSText-Regular",sans-= serif;font-size:14px"><font color=3D"#000000"><p style=3D"margin:0px 0px 1e= m;font-family:inherit">Unfortunately for the left in Ontario the ONDP has c= ompletely capitulated to the pressure applied by the Israeli lobby and join= ed forces with the Tories to unanimously pass Bill 168 at second reading of= the Bill.</p><p style=3D"margin:0px 0px 1em;font-family:inherit">This past= weekend March 7th the ONDP held its Provincial Council meeting and once ag= ain the party establishment covered themselves in shame by at<span class=3D= "gmail_default" style=3D"font-size:small">t</span>empting to thwart an effo= rt to debate the issue on the floor of the provincial council.</p><p style= =3D"margin:0px 0px 1em;font-family:inherit">On March 6th a group of activis= ts submitted an emergency resolution to the committee established to review= resolutions. The committee agreed the resolution was in order and met the = definition of an 'emergency resolution'. The following day (March 7= th) the resolution was introduced for debate when the party president Andre= w McKenzie rose to voice an objection that the resolution was a violation o= f the ONDP Constitution. Incredulously the Chair agreed with McKenzie despi= te the fact the committee tasked with vetting resolutions agreed it was in = order. The Chair was challenged and her decision was overturned . Debate co= mmenced on the resolution with 3 or 4 speakers from either side. The last s= peaker was Janet Solberg an executive member of the ONDP and longtime Israe= li lobbyist at NDP conventions. She informed the council that the ONDP woul= d become a laughing stock if they opposed the IHRA definition of anti Semit= ism and further by approving the resolution the council would tie the hands= of the ONDP at Queen's Park. This view was not supported by Joel Harde= n the lone MPP who spoke in favour of the resolution. The resolution was de= feated with 77 opposed, 62 in favour and 22 abstentions. The Israeli lobby = had scored another significant victory against the NDP base with the help o= f the NDP establishment.</p><p style=3D"margin:0px 0px 1em;font-family:inhe= rit">The debacle at the ONDP council followed the same pattern ordered by t= he establishment of the party when they prevented pro Palestinian resolutio= ns from being debated at the federal NDP convention in Ottawa and the ONDP = convention in Hamilton. This has now become a serious problem not only for = the party but also the broader left within Canada and the Arab/Palestinian = communities which are one of the fastest growing demographics in the countr= y. Dozens of unions at the local, provincial and national level have adopte= d pro Palestinian resolutions but yet the NDP has foolishly thumbed their n= ose at their base and caved in to the efforts of the Israeli lobby. In cont= rast, south of the border Bernie Sanders is showing real leadership on Isra= el's racist policies towards the Palestinians to the howls of protest f= rom AIPAC the US israeli lobbyist organisation.</p><p style=3D"margin:0px 0= px 1em;font-family:inherit">The time is fast approaching when the left in C= anada has got to ask the question "why are we supporting a party that = does not support the aspirations of the majority of voters on the left"= ;. Why do we continually have to battle the establishment of the party to a= dopt policies that are readily accepted by leftish political parties the wo= rld over. When have we ever heard the words "free university" fal= l from the lips of the NDP leadership or for that matter "tuition debt= forgiveness". Why is it the party cannot bring themselves to deal in = a serious way with the inequality that is rampant within the capitalist sys= tem by calling for serious tax policies on wealth, corporations and high in= come earners. It is disheartening to hear Democrats in the US sound more pr= ogressive than the party of the left in Canada.</p><p style=3D"margin:0px 0= px 1em;font-family:inherit">A few short years ago the progressive left in Q= uebec reached a point where they saw no party in that province who was repr= esenting their issues in a meaningful way and so, they went about forming Q= uebec Solidaire a new party that has gone on to achieve phenomenal success = in that province. I remember during the disastrous Social Contract negotiat= ions Bob Rae and other MPP's still around today told us we had to vote = for the NDP because we had nowhere else to go. That's the same argument= and sentiments the left in Quebec heard from the Parti Quebecois before th= ey decided to form Quebec Solidaire.</p><p style=3D"margin:0px 0px 1em;font= -family:inherit">The NDP establishment are at the very same crossroads, the= y can carry on fighting their base on issues of human rights, indigenous ri= ghts. inequality and the environment/pipelines but they should not be surpr= ised when a Solidarity Party emerges to champion the aspirations of the lef= t. At that point it will be too late to save the soul of a party that is sl= eep walking itself into irrelevancy.</p></font></div></div><div style=3D"fo= nt-size:small"><font color=3D"#000000"><br></font></div><div style=3D"font-= size:small"><br></div></div> </div></div> </div> <p></p> -- <br /> <br /> --- <br /> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups &= quot;Sid-l" group.<br /> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an e= mail to <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">sid-l+unsubsc= [email protected]</a>.<br /> To view this discussion on the web visit <a href=3D"https://groups.google.c= om/d/msgid/sid-l/CACKppcw6qD9tYPi6LrZ%2Bn7kzYRe3fC4b%2BprXSybVLerO%3DiOiew%= 40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=3Demail&utm_source=3Dfooter">https://groups.goo= gle.com/d/msgid/sid-l/CACKppcw6qD9tYPi6LrZ%2Bn7kzYRe3fC4b%2BprXSybVLerO%3Di= Oiew%40mail.gmail.com</a>.<br /> --0000000000009d54ca05a0883878-- ------------=_1583881843-7785-101932 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit --- To unsubscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> List help: <https://riseup.net/lists> ------------=_1583881843-7785-101932--