Beyond Left Vs. Right - is this the new political compass?

[suffianr]

Championing the idea of the New Progressives as the New Wave of political ideology, Paul Ray's New Political Compass takes a strong stand on the notion that the old school politics of Left Vs. Right simply isn't going to work for us anymore.

Judging from the possibility that the New Progressives may offer more than just an ideological transition from the relatively black & white definitions of old, I reckon that most liberal leftists might be drawn into this curious trend.

Read the article, and tell me what you think:

http://www.yesmagazine.org/22art/ray.htm

Cheers.

[redstar2000]

I don't know, suffianr. It seems to me that the "New Progressives" is just a kind umbrella term in which a lot of elements are thrown together without much regard to how much they really have in common.

If they were really cohesive, it would show. The actual results of American elections would turn up folks who were reflective of these elements...at least in some numbers.

I don't know of any politician on the national level who could be said to remotely reflect "New Progressive" thought. That's not to say there isn't one...just that I've never heard of one.

I do know that in America we are blessed/cursed with the notion that reality must constantly be "reinvented"...whether or not anything has really changed all that much. Going back to Max Shachtman's "Managerial Revolution" of the early 1940s, we are periodically told that "a whole new transformation" is upon us or about to happen. It sells books for sure...until next season's "revolution."

So...we'll see.

:cool:

[Conghaileach]

I have to admit that I didn't really follow the article. It seemed to me that he was referring to Democrats as the left. There was a complete omission of anything remotely socialist or communist in the article.

[Pete]

As soon as it called Clinton Centrist I realized where this article was going and that it was not dealing with Global Politics aby american ones. If Clinton is Centrist then the Conservatives in Canada are left of center andt he Liberals are full fledged Communists, the NDP is off the chart, and the CPC doesn't even exist it is so far out there!

[Uhuru na Umoja]

Quote: from CrazyPete on 3:58 pm on Feb. 23, 2003
As soon as it called Clinton Centrist I realized where this article was going and that it was not dealing with Global Politics aby american ones. If Clinton is Centrist then the Conservatives in Canada are left of center andt he Liberals are full fledged Communists, the NDP is off the chart, and the CPC doesn't even exist it is so far out there!

I completely agree. When Brian Mulroney and the Coservatives were elected it was explained in some US newspapers that although these were 'right-wing' Canadians, they were slightly left of the Democrats. And Canada remains more right wing than most of Europe.

[Pete]

The Liberals in Canada consider themselves left, yet inreality they are right of centre. The NDP stand now where the Liberals stood under Trudeau. A great man he was. Adopted the platform of the old CCF and used the name of Alexander Mackenzie's party to make the changes Canada needed. And he supported the Sandinista's along with other Leftist organizations/governments (pissing off 20 years worth of American presidents :biggrin:)

[Uhuru na Umoja]

Quote: from CrazyPete on 11:05 pm on Feb. 23, 2003
The Liberals in Canada consider themselves left, yet inreality they are right of centre. The NDP stand now where the Liberals stood under Trudeau. A great man he was. Adopted the platform of the old CCF and used the name of Alexander Mackenzie's party to make the changes Canada needed. And he supported the Sandinista's along with other Leftist organizations/governments (pissing off 20 years worth of American presidents :biggrin:)

Not to mention his wonderful (in)famous line: 'Just watch me'. I must agree with you, Trudeau deserves respect. However, although moving right the NDP remains a more truly left-wing part than New Labout in the UK. At least they haven't completely sold out yet, though they may.

[suffianr]

Great replies, people. Looks like I need to get updated on Canadian politics! :)

[Pete]

I also liked when he muttered 'fuck you' and didn't know that it was into the translator thing so everyone heard him. LOL.

suffianr, Trudeau was in power from 1969-1981, 1981-1984. Clark only lasted 4 months and he is back into politics HAHAHAH good look getting him in power again. The PC's where really fucked over by Mulroney. Poor Kim Campel, the first female PM and the first PM to lose their seat in an election! And now the liberals are divided, what is it, 3 ways? Oh Jean has a hold for another 11 months and then it all goes to hell between Manley, Copps and Martin.

[Uhuru na Umoja]

Still at least the fascist refrom/alliance party has imploded. As someone from the west coast they really scared me.

[Pete]

As someone from Ontario they scare the shit out of me! The only reason theliberals get in is becuase of all the vote splitting between the PC and the CA. It is really sad, since Ontario and Quebec basically rule the country. I hate that. THere should be a different balance. Maybe a representative system instead of a first past the post. My province is worth way the hell too much.