The "Leap Manifesto", or "One Step Forwad, Two Steps Back"

[The Intransigent Faction]

A group of movements in Canada has recently put forward something they're calling the "Leap Manifesto", calling for such things as: a move toward getting all of the country's electricity from clean and renewable sources, a universal basic annual income, full implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and in one example of a reform couched in more "radical-sounding" language, "democratic participation of workers themselves" in implementing a clean energy sector.

These proposals and their endorsement by various organizations, including unions, Black Lives Matter Toronto, and First Nations activist groups are being met with a mixed response from the Social Democratic NDP, which is in the process of choosing a new leader. At least one provincial NDP leader has described the manifesto as "tone-deaf".

Here is the manifesto in full: https://leapmanifesto.org/en/the-leap-manifesto/#manifesto-content

What are your thoughts, RevLeft? I don't think this can be ignored by the left in Canada, but if anything it needs to be pushed further, or instead of a leap it will remain "One step forward, two steps back."

[GiantMonkeyMan]

I had a glimpse through the website and I was reminded a lot of the economist/journalist Paul Mason who has on occasion put forward similar views regarding co-operatives and utilising existing political structures to transform the economy and energy sectors and perhaps aspects of the likes of Yanis Varoufakis as well. Obviously it's far more focused on the ecological questions but it's part of a growing trend on the broad left. Asking revolutionary questions but giving reformist answers, maybe.

The traditional left has obviously failed to offer a convincing alternative to neoliberalism and the old socialist left hasn't got the relevant propaganda and structures to take advantage of the changing landscape but this trend in the new left, specifically focused on ecology and increasing democracy in communities, is in some ways entirely positive and in some ways a step back, as you suggest, by not taking that final revolutionary step in analysis - that neoliberalism was a direct response to the failures of reformism. I wonder if they've considered what these democratic community institutions would actually look like, would they be subordinate to the government and effectively operate as a part of the state but with 'green/progressive' ideals or would they be operate independently and develop a potential for conflict.

It definitely can't be ignored and all movements of this nature should be engaged with by revolutionary leftists both to further analyse the movement and also to develop relationships on the ground with like minded individuals who have thus far been in the political wasteland looking for something that appeals to them.

[blake 3:17]

I signed on to it shortly after it was issued. Much of the opposition to it within the NDP has been couched in workerist terms. I think of it more as a relatively decent minimum program.