Manifesto backed by prominent NDPers calls for overhaul of economy

[Keepitsimple]

There are always bumps in the road on the way to the PMship. It's not so much who's behind the Manifesto - and whether they represent a good chunk of the NDP view......it's more that the NDP will be beating a nuanced, tactical retreat. They don't want to alienate this very prominent group of "supporters" but they have to maintain that "moderate" posture. There should be some interesting questions coming Mulcair's way.

Link: http://globalnews.ca/news/2221312/manifesto-backed-by-prominent-ndpers-calls-for-overhaul-of-economy/

Edited September 15, 2015 by Keepitsimple

[Evening Star]

There was another thread on this about 15m ago. Was it deleted?

[Keepitsimple]

There was another thread on this about 15m ago. Was it deleted?

I think the moderator didn't like the tone - or the poster had second thoughts.

Edited September 15, 2015 by Keepitsimple

[Derek 2.0]

Well that's it for them among swing voters...........funny that it came out a day before the debates, I wonder if it was the Liberals or the Tories that sent to media.......some highlights:

leap from fossil fuel dependence to getting 100 per cent of its electricity from renewable resources – a feat it maintains is feasible within two decades.

adopting a new “iron law” of energy development: “If you wouldn’t want it in your backyard, then it doesn’t belong in anyone’s backyard,” to be applied equally to pipelines, fracking, increased oil tanker traffic and Canadian-owned mining projects abroad.

the manifesto envisions a transformation of the entire capitalist system into a Utopia in which the economy is “in balance with the earth’s limits,” jobs “are designed to systematically eliminate racial and gender inequality,” agriculture is “far more localized and ecologically based,” and low-carbon sectors of the economy, like caregiving, teaching, social work, the arts and public-interest media, flourish.

The signatories declare their belief in “energy democracy,” in which energy sources are collectively controlled by communities, rather than “profit-gouging” private companies.

They call for an end to “all corporate trade deals” that interfere with attempts to build local economies and regulate corporations.

My God (and I'm not religious), I thought they drummed out most of the radicals under Layton..........this is a clear example of how a political party snatches defeat from the jaws of victory.......

[cybercoma]

The radical idea that we should move away from the limited resource of fossil fuels.
The radical idea that we need to aim for sustainability.

The radical idea that energy resources and corporate trade deals should benefit local economies.

So extreme. So communist.

[Derek 2.0]

The radical idea that we should move away from the limited resource of fossil fuels.

The radical idea that we need to aim for sustainability.

The radical idea that energy resources and corporate trade deals should benefit local economies.

So extreme. So communist.

Then why isn't Mulcair campaigning on said manifesto, and why, under Layton, did the NDP attempt to shift to the center leaving kooks to the fringes?

You call me hyper-partisan, but don't realize that said manifesto just torpedoed the NDP campaign among moderates, orange liberals (orange Tories?) and the undecideds, anyone in a resources community, many trade unions that work in the energy sector etc........

Adrian Dix gave Clark a majority when he suggested he halt two pipeline projects here in BC.........this manifesto has put the NDP back into third place......

[cybercoma]

You're asking me to speculate on your wild assumptions. And why isn't Mulcair campaigning on the manifesto? Because it's not part of the platform. You want to know what Mulcair is going to do? It's in the campaign platform. Everything else is moot. Nobody's holding the Conservatives to pissing in people's coffee mugs as part of their party policy.

[Charles Anthony]

There was another thread on this about 15m ago. Was it deleted?

I think the moderator didn't like the tone - or the poster had second thoughts.

Neither.

The Opening Post was a poor attempt to stimulate a discussion. This OP is good enough.

[Peter F]

I see no need to walk anything back. That Niaomi Klien and a bunch of others - some of whom are prominent NDP supporters - issue a manifesto on How Things Should Work somehow CHAINS the NDP to implementation of that manifesto is bullshit.

But I do support the Manifesto.

[BubberMiley]

I think the bigger story is that the CPC and its supporters see any attempt to move away from a reliance on fossil fuels is radical.

[bush_cheney2004]

Mulcair was warned about the "tea party" wing of his caucus. Let's see how they try to walk it back from Klein's "manifesto".

(Better moderator ? "Tea bagger" is OK...but "commie" is not ?)

Thanks for the warning !

Edited September 15, 2015 by bush_cheney2004

[Derek 2.0]

Mulcair was warned about the "tea party" wing of his caucus. Let's see how they try to walk it back from Klein's "manifesto".

(Better moderator ?)

I think this manifesto furthers the calls by both Tories and the Liberals (hell maybe even the Greens) that NDP is nothing but a grouping of rent-seeker socialists.........it just ended a decades work of both Layton and Mulcair.

[bush_cheney2004]

I think this manifesto furthers the calls by both Tories and the Liberals (hell maybe even the Greens) that NDP is nothing but a grouping of rent-seeker socialists.........it just ended a decades work of both Layton and Mulcair.

I agree...it is a gift to the other parties. The NDP "tea party" wing couldn't help itself.

[Evening Star]

Nobody's holding the Conservatives to pissing in people's coffee mugs as part of their party policy.

Jerry Bance was at least an actual Tory candidate. None of these people are NDP candidates or part of the NDP caucus. I've actually only ever read critical things about the NDP from Naomi Klein. A few of them are important supporters - mainly the Lewises and the union leaders - and KIS at least makes some reasonable points about how this might put Mulcair in a delicate position tactically. Anyone who presents this as the NDP's platform or agenda is being either ignorant or manipulative, though.

[The_Squid]

This will have less impact on voter choice than the Christian social conservatives have with the CPC... except that this manifesto isn't nearly as extreme as banning all abortions and arresting doctors for murder... which is a prominent view among the social conservatives.

This won't turn swing voters... it will simply make people who are CPC partisans throw up their arms and scream about socialists and communists. (See: Derek 2.0)

edit: Given that these aren't even NDP candidates, the impact will be nil.

Edited September 15, 2015 by The_Squid

[Evening Star]

I think this manifesto furthers the calls by both Tories and the Liberals (hell maybe even the Greens) that NDP is nothing but a grouping of rent-seeker socialists......

If any of the parties' platforms does come at all close to this manifesto, it would be the Greens' (possibly the Communists').

[cybercoma]

I think this manifesto furthers the calls by both Tories and the Liberals (hell maybe even the Greens) that NDP is nothing but a grouping of rent-seeker socialists.........it just ended a decades work of both Layton and Mulcair.

I imagine to your hyper-partisan tory eyes that's the case. Yeah.

[Evening Star]

Many, if not most, of the signatories are entertainers. It seems like a real stretch to call Alanis Morrissette and Tegan and Sara prominent NDPers.

[cybercoma]

haha. I didn't read the link, but I was under the assumption from what Derek was saying that there were NDP MPs and candidates on this list.

[Evening Star]

haha. I didn't read the link, but I was under the assumption from what Derek was saying that there were NDP MPs and candidates on this list.

The framing of the article is misleading that way. You can see the manifesto here. There is no reference to the NDP anywhere. Even in the article, it is mentioned that members of other parties are also signatories. The Globe & Mail ran the same story under a rather different headline: Leap Manifesto contrasts NDP platform with call for economic reform.

[bush_cheney2004]

Hmmm...interesting list of "prominent" NDP members past and present. I guess using their celebrity has some downside !

http://ndp.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_celebrities_with_links_to_the_New_Democratic_Party_of_Canada

[Peter F]

No, Derek 2.0 is in the depths of the Bunker desperate for the event that will turn things around. Who knows? Maybe Stiener will launch the counter-attack?

Edited September 15, 2015 by Peter F

[Derek 2.0]

If any of the parties' platforms does come at all close to this manifesto, it would be the Greens' (possibly the Communists').

Perhaps, we'll see how Mulcair reacts now that its being repeated in the MSM.

[The_Squid]

haha. I didn't read the link, but I was under the assumption from what Derek was saying that there were NDP MPs and candidates on this list.

Me too... that's why I edited my post to say that since these aren't even NDP candidates the effect will be absolutely nil.

The social conservative example isn't even relevant since there is a large contingent of CPC MPs who actually are rabid social conservatives, not just a fringe support group outside the actual government. What a silly story.

The framing of the article is misleading that way. You can see the manifesto here. There is no reference to the NDP anywhere. Even in the article, it is mentioned that members of other parties are also signatories. The Globe & Mail ran the same story under a rather different headline: Leap Manifesto contrasts NDP platform with call for economic reform.

That was quite a leap that this media outlet made... and the hyper-partisans are screaming "COMMIE... COMMIE.." from the roof tops to warn the unsuspecting Canadian voters!

[Derek 2.0]

I imagine to your hyper-partisan tory eyes that's the case. Yeah.

Well that, and leaked NDP documents that state they have no idea how they'll pay for their promises......