Frustration with the Ebb of Progress

I sit on the left side of the political spectrum, generally speaking. Lately it has hard not to be pessimistic (not that there are many times when I'm optimistic). We'll keep things mostly to narrower topics though the consistent failures of the Trump White House and actions of the Trudeau government are draining.

I should say this isn't exclusively about Doug Ford either. With the unpopularity of the Wynne government this sort of outcome was highly likely. What I find most galling is the simple stupidity of this government. I don't mean that the leadership is stupid, I mean that the policies are. I want to talk more about policies than politics for this piece and how it feels like the left is painted into a corner on so many topics.

This week I was watching a panel discussion on Ontario's climate change 'plan'. Basically the plan of the current provincial government is to scrap the cap-and-trade system and fight the federal government's right to impose a carbon tax. In its place will be nothing. It's a terrible policy, but it's damn popular broadly speaking. Even I, a person who believes we should make interventions to halt climate change had to admit I was pleased when the cost of gasoline went down, to my shame. However, it was a crystalizing moment when I realized it just feels like the collective left is fighting an uphill battle in policy.

Climate change will need policies that will hurt society broadly to prevent worse injury later. Increasing the price of gas discourages excess driving, or at least the development of more fuel efficient, or electric vehicles. But, it's unpopular. The right-wing around the world can even accept that climate change exists and simply refuse to do anything about it and the electorate doesn't care.

Many elements of our system of elections and government is undemocratic. Reforms could be introduced to greatly improve representation at city councils, provincial legislatures, and the House of Commons. These ideas are laughed out of the room when people bother to stop yawning.

Laws that infringe on civil liberties can generally be passed with impunity. Bill C-51 was reviled for the potential it opened for abuse. It was a major election issue in places like Downtown Toronto. The Liberals broke their promise on the main aspects that brought issues, but now that the bad Conservatives are out of office... no fuss.

Our cites, all our cities, need to radically change policy to end sprawl and incrementally improve their density for their fiscal and environmental sustainability. Not to mention, housing affordability. Even modest proposals to densify certain communities is met with tenacious resistance, so much so that most politicians fear to address it.

Transit projects have either been nickle and dimed or become boondoggles to win suburban votes. People are committed to their cars and efforts to improve transportation that isn't more highway lanes and asphalt meet stiff resistance.

The sex education curriculum is rolling back two decades because a vocal minority is afraid of sex and bought lies told about it. I presume a silent majority doesn't care, or finds the birds and the bees "icky".

On any number of criminal justice issues the overwhelming tide of the population wants more cops, harsher sentences, profiling and executions. It hardly matters that experts say this often makes the situation worse, or that resources are better spent elsewhere.

Speaking of spending, good luck on having a conversation about raising taxes of any kind to better serve the public good.

Perhaps to end on a doozy: First Nations and Indigenous issues are consistently dismissed. Their rights, their existence and respect for their communities is routinely overruled for the benefit of the state or the majority. If you talk to Canadians about indigenous issues that answer I've heard far too often is that "they have it too good as it is." 

Conservatism has its roots in preserving the status quo. The left is traditionally a reforming element in society. Pushing change is always difficult. Cobbling together coalitions to push for uncertain change against a known present is never going to be automatic. However over the last week I keep thinking of a line from the HBO series The Newsroom. The character Will McAvoy asks a liberal pundit, "If the left is so smart how come you lose so goddamn always?" The right can become more radical and odious while the left can only seem to cobble together the most minor of victories.

I do not expect to be on the winning side continuously. The pendulum swings, ideas come and go, parties win and lose. Perhaps it's my perspective, but the swing to the right is scary given its radical element at present. We quite literally have white supremacists in the public discourse. Sigh. How is the left not able to win these fights overwhelmingly?