Letter to the Editor of the Victoria Times Colonist, 11 August 2001
In a recent editorial, this newspaper suggested the NDP needs to resist the agenda of the New Politics Initiative. Socialism should be rejected in favour of Tony Blair’s moderate program in Britain, we are told.
I fundamentally disagree.
The problems facing our people and our planet demand immediate attention. The route of the Alliance, Tories, and provincial and federal Liberals is the wrong path.
Supporters of both the NDP and Green parties need to re-evaluate their political allegiances and join the movement to redefine the electoral voice of progress.
It is no surprise that this newspaper rails against the NPI.
But using the USSR to prove the failure of socialism ignores dozens of examples of progressive goverance across the world.
Sweden. Germany. France. Denmark. Switzerland. New Zealand.
Places where proportional representation, mass mobilization, and trade unionism have won a better life for the citizenry. In our province, when the cutbacks come to fund the tax cut for the rich, the people must voice their opposition powerfully.
For the past decade, I believe the New Democratic Party led British Columbia down the proper path. But there are now 77 Liberals opposed by two NDP MLAs in the house. A fresh effort to fuse social movements with progressive policies is needed now like never before.
