I didn't vote for any of the so-called "vanguard" parties to the system last night, along with an all time record 49% percent of the potential "electorate" of "the system", and make no apologies for it. And despite the accusation that the low voter turnout MAY have favoured the Cons, on the surface of it. it MAY just as well have more likely, in my view, also potentially favoured the NDP and/or Greens, had they the political acumen, principle, courage, and insight to tap into it. (Lots of disaffected left and left-environmentalists out there, I can attest.)
Two things it appears from the results happened last night. First, the Liberals lost votes and seats to the Cons AND NDP, with the Cons getting the greater benefit from that not insignificant "wannabe conservative" wing of the Liberals that hated Dion-, who actually came on more left and progressive than the NDP for much of the campaign. It just didn't work for him because the history of the Liberal Party simply made it unbelievable, even though he himself MAY have been sincere. (And which drove his enemies into marking their X for the Conservatives clearly-, the real source of his gains, not us of the dis-affected.)
Which brings me to that typically intellectual skank, Rex Murphy, who despite the fact that I generally loathe him, made the most profound observations of the evening on CBC, I thought.
His observation being that he thoughT ALL of the status quo parties lacked credibility and sincerity throughout the entire election. He said, in words to the effect, here we are, the country and the "free world" moving into what is almost certainly destined to be the most severe crisis of capitalism since the last Great Depression, and it was like there was a gentlemen's agreement amongst all of them to simply ignore it. Not a one of the learned ladies or gentlemen would speak of this crisis of capitalism, its significance and the effect it is likely destined to have on "ordinary folks", to any serious analytical depth. They were simply absorbed in the "business" as usual, pragmatic and don't rock the boat gamesmanship of winning an election, on "the system's" terms.
Which is the central manifest observation one needs to make about ALL these so-called status quo "vanguard" parties, and is central to understanding the all time record 49% non-participation rate in the process. (Which didn't just happen for no good reason. And weeping and wailing about it, and getting all huffy and self-righteous, won't do a single iota of good.) It IS as if there is a "ladies and gentlemen's agreement" amongst them all to dumb down the debate and the process to a routine and ritualistic kind of politics, even in the face of the most severe global economic and political crisis of the last 50-60 years. Like Murphy observed, there is no fire and brimstone of depth of analysis and conviction amongst a one of them. They are play acting, every goddamn "party" out there.
No wonder there is so much apparent "apathy". And I'm not really sure that it is apathy at all. In fact, I'm damn sure that is only how it seems on the surface of it, especially to the "true believers" still genuflecting at the Alter of What Passes For Democracy.
Finally, I'm not convinced anymore of the value of the "party" system. I think it is as it manifests itself, a reflection of the class system within capitalism,in a time and place where even the working class still "largely" continues to buy into ruling class ideas. (And certainly the NDP, fundamentally, has made its compromises and deals with these "ruling class ideas.")
But, that said, if there is a vanguard party out there that wants my vote, and/or seriously expects me to vote for it, as Murphy spoke of, it better evidence a whole lot more fire and brimstone depth of analysis and understanding, and preparedness to ACT against the system than I've observed from any of them, including the NDP and Greens. The triteness political pablum of all the parties to capitalism I've heard before. And I ain't going there to dine no more.
And I know there is that sentiment out there to give the NDP, even the Greens a chance federally. They'd be better than the Cons. To which I would only observe that the proof of that pudding is in how they have behaved politically throughout the Neocon period of the last 30 years, since the 70s at least. With the rise of neo-liberal economics and neocon politics, the NDP everywhere, provincially, themselves moved increasingly "right" until they became indistinguishable from the Liberals, and are clearly, from the behaviour of their leaders, even Layton, testing the waters to merge in one form or another with the Liberals. I remember the budget and job cuts the NDP helped carry through and make "palatable", in an environment of fear, here in BC. I remember the times they broke strikes and ordered workers back to work... For whom? The employers. ...and worked through the NDP union leadership to undermine strikes and limit their demands to non-political, non-power threatening nickles and dimes. Until it scarcely today even resembles remotely the Party of Woodrow and Douglas. It has itself been "neoconized" So I am unconvinced that "in power", with their history of moving right the closer they get to power, they would behave that much differently from the Cons or the Libs. (Consider as well the role Labour has played in Britain and Germany, for but two examples amongst many, over the Neocon period-, to where they too effectively champion socialism for the banks and the wealthy, and laissez-faire capitalism for the working class. As for the Greens, they don't even attempt to hide their pro-capitalism bias and contempt for the working class, here or in Europe. They have simply put on some green-face.)
That, at least, is how I see it. And I ain't gonna waste my time on this status quo process anymore. Folks, certainly working class folks, need to make better use of their time and money resources, than wasting either upon any one of these slackards and opportunists.
Eat your hearts out. I'll vote when and if I'm good and ready, and only then. Cry in your own beer.
49% didn't even bother. That makes us "non-participants" the largest single block in the entire goddamn ruling class controlled process. We are not giving this bullshit, so-called "democratic process" legitimacy with our participation in it.
Coyote
Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 12:19 pm 
