I have never liked the left-right, straight line concept of a political spectrum. I prefer to think of a u-shaped curve that moves from progressive to reactionary, with extremes of both sides sharing similar ideas.
Leftism has been associated with socialism, communism, and anarchism. Because of that, the ruling class uses the term leftist to disparage anyone who wants improvements to the existing social order. It’s a way of painting people with other views as dangerous radicals.
Progressives favour social reforms, universal civil rights, equal access to healthcare and education, effectively regulated capitalism, and environmental protection. People who oppose those movements are the reactionaries. Most probably sit comfortably at their position on the spectrum.
Progressives can have different economic views. Some may support reformed capitalism; others may lean toward socialist policies. Most see a mixed economy as the best solution, believing that monopolies should be owned by the public, but in most circumstances, a truly competitive free enterprise system works best.
Leftism includes ideologies that challenge deregulated capitalism. Lefties may promote collective ownership of vital industries and call for redistribution of wealth. These people may regard progressives as too moderate.
Study the issues and by just about any measure, it will be difficult to find leftists in positions of political power in North America. Some folks label the NDP as leftist but that changed a rather long time ago.
In September 2024, the BBC identified Jagmeet Singh’s federal NDP as left-wing. Ironically, the British news service did his while reporting that Singh had withdrawn support for the Liberal Party, a move applauded by Trump sympathizer Pierre Poilievre, a man the ruling class wants to install as Prime Minister.
So where are the leftists in British Columbia politics?
Certainly not in the BC NDP. That party has moved far away from its historic roots.
Like John Horgan before him, Premier David Eby favours privatization by stealth at BC Hydro. The NDP subsidizes increased fossil fuel production, even at the cost of fine agricultural lands, clean air and water, and rising greenhouse gas emissions. As well, the NDP thinks large energy projects in BC ought not to be hindered by environmental assessments and just maybe carbon taxes are a bad idea, perhaps because they adversely affect the richest citizens and favour the poorest.
The Ontario NDP expelled disability and housing activist Sarah Jama from their Legislative caucus and refused to let her seek a nomination to stand again as an NDP candidate. Her sin? She called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the occupation of Palestinian lands. These are opinions that bother powerful groups in Canada.
Today we learned the NDP Government fired the elected Victoria School Board and handed control to Sherri Bell, a friend of the Government who is the Chair of BC Transit as well as Chair of Whitecliffe Canada, a foreign-owned private education company that plans to open schools in British Columbia and Ontario.
The issue is claimed to be the Victoria Board’s reluctance to invite police officers into public schools. The presence of police in educational facilities is controversial. Conservatives see that “law and order” issues are correct and politically advantageous, but groups that study the issue carefully often have a different view.
One of those groups is an organization that used to employ David Eby as Executive Director:
The BC Civil Liberties Association is opposed to the presence of School Liaison Officers or police in schools. Police in schools pose significant harms and rights violations for students and staff, particularly racialized and marginalized students living in heavily policed communities.
The BC Human Rights Commissioner has called for an immediate end to the School Liaison Officer (SLO) program, expressing concern for the impacts on Black, Indigenous, and other people of colour, as well as students with disabilities or experiencing mental health challenges, and 2SLGBTQI+ youth.
Readers may be familiar with Lord Acton’s statement that too much power tends to corrupt individuals. Aung San Suu Kyi had a more nuanced idea. It applies now to Premier Eby and it once applied to Premier Horgan.
It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.
in-sights.ca 