Responding to this thread.
I think a good point is made here. It’s one thing to come out with a manifesto that defines what a ‘real’ New Democrat is, and quite another to work for the things that will help the people you hope will vote for you.
Environment is a good case in point. It’s fine to say we should cut back on the forestry, auto and oil industries. I wouldn’t even oppose that myself. But at the same time, a lot of people are asking, “well, what am I supposed to do then?” People depend on these. What’s the practical plan to keep people in house and home?
I’m not going to come out and say that Rob Ashton has all the answers here. I think that what he allows to be ‘the people’ (as defined as ‘workers’ in general, and ‘labour’ in particular) is too narrow. But at least he is in the right place, working for people who need support to keep food on the table.
It doesn’t feel to me that Avi Lewis considers this question to be as important, let alone more important, than the others. He feels like someone who believes the party should be ideologically ‘LEAP’ or whatever manifesto pure, no matter what it costs voters (or the party itself). It feels like political games – the sort of political game being played when someone asks “Is this what he’s promised to do or is this how you interpret what he’s saying?” rather than responding substantially to the point being made.
It’s not about being a ‘champagne socialist’ or anything like that. It’s about being what I might call a ‘soft socialist’, one who is more concerned about making sure people read theory and apply class analysis than they are about getting the work done to see people put in homes, people making a good living, and people having a proper say over their lives.
Like I say, I don’t know whether Rob Ashton is the answer here – I am genuinely undecided in this leadership race and may well decide ‘none of the above’. But he seems far more likely to prioritize people over politics or policy. And nobody who does not prioritize people will get my support.