The Old Democratic Party

The first post in this series is here.

I have a lot of respect for the NDP. They have been fighting against economic and political inequality for decades, a voice in the wilderness. Their approach is different than mine, but largely I feel that we are on the same side. So why am I a Green and not an NDPer?

The platform, tactics, and organization of the NDP reflect an industrial viewpoint, workers versus capitalists. To them, the most important thing is to weaken big business and strengthen John Q Public: the more secure and prosperous the working class becomes, the more government policy will reflect their interests. (Presumably, working class interests include complex and longterm problems like climate change.) So far so good. But they will alleviate inequality through economic growth, which is part of the problem--we need a zero-growth economy, or we will continue to expand and degrade more and more of our life support system. If we reduce our enormous inefficiency, we can provide a good life to everyone without selling out our future in the process.

The Green Party, on the other hand, is concerned with issues which affect rich and poor alike such as climate change, a stable economy, and an ethical foreign policy. We are cooperative rather than confrontational. I would like to dismember transnational corporations as much as anyone, but first I want to make sure that my children don't die from tainted food or water, out-of-control weather, or tropical disease.

I'm not a big fan of Jack Layton. He cooperated with Stephen Harper several times against the Liberals, which strengthened the Conservatives but didn't help the NDP much.

I hope that the NDP and Green Party can someday join forces. We have so much to offer each other. First we need to overcome egos in both parties, and that probably won't happen unless our infighting causes a Conservative majority next month.