NDP can't rid itself of Marxism

Vincent J. Curtis

14 June 2019


Andrew Dreschel reports that NDP leader Andrea Horwath is “excited about building ‘resistance’ to the Ford government’s agenda.”  The rest of us ought to find her excitement disappointing and even alarming.

It comes as no surprise than an NDP leader would espouse a typically Marxian approach to politics.  And so long as they are far from power, that’s no real harm.  But this tedious aping of American style of politics also imports the worst of American politics.

Horwath is the leader of the “loyal opposition,’ not a resistance leader.  The duty of the opposition is to oppose, but the loyal part means that she recognizes the right of the government to govern.  “Resistance” involves a denial of the legitimate right of the government to govern.  Opposition means criticism and perhaps the offering of constructive alternatives.  “Resistance” means the encouragement of disorder.  Disorder for thee, but the New Order for me is what “resistance” by one side amounts to.

“Resistance” is a policy that can’t work if both sides engage in it.  If both sides regard each other as morally illegitimate without a right to govern despite an electoral mandate, there can’t be reasonable government or civil peace.

“Resistance” ultimately is a policy that is contrary to peaceful democracy.  But, of course, Marxism itself is contrary to democracy and believes in revolution.

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