Saturday, November 30, 2013

Left Nationalism. Canadian Survival. And The Great Brainwash.




Fascism And Contemporary Canada. Part VIII 

 Left Nationalism. Canadian Survival. And The Great Brainwash.




 Written by Robin Mathews


Informed younger Canadians (under the age, say, of 50) are aware of the One Per Cent, are aware of “offshore” tax and banking havens hiding illicit funds in the trillions of dollars: free of taxes, and the law.  Younger Canadians are aware of Canada being made a Pollution Centre of Tar Sands and Fracked Gas operations, of economic ‘agreements’ built to hand foreign corporations power over Canadian legislation ... and Canada’s wealth. They are aware of losing, for instance, CN Rail, once a Crown Corporation, now U.S.-owned and headquartered in Texas which has added – by staged corruption –  the former B.C. Crown Corporation BC Rail.

Younger Canadians know that since (Lyin’) Brian Mulroney (1984-1993) Canada has increasingly signed over power to legislate for Canadians – signed it over to foreign (largely, so far) U.S. corporations that can sue (and do sue) the government of Canada for blocking “the right” of those corporations to make profit in Canada!

The old joke that Canada went from (British) colony to independent nation and back to being a (U.S.) colony is a bitter joke. 

No more perfect colonial puppet exists than Stephen Harper who has inherited the sell-out posture of Brian Mulroney and perfected it in the direction of greater sleaze, dishonesty, and sell-out. Brian Mulroney’s lies were usually undertaken to hide alleged shady dealing made for his own personal advantage.  Stephen Harper makes statements about his own dealings and government actions – in every direction - that turn out, repeatedly to be false.  In the matter of falsehood, you might say that for Stephen Harper it’s nothing personal - the sky’s the limit.

Many informed younger Canadians still glue themselves to U.S. experts, U.S. gurus, U.S. issues, U.S. personalities, U.S. trivia.  That is always what some colonials do – become hypnotized by the Imperial Centre. Many colonials disappear into a no-man’s-land which is neither Canada nor the U.S.A.  Colonials in their own country can never become imperials – no matter how hard they try – because their own country: raped, bled, and ridiculous is there all around them.

In our time the only way to prevent the increase of colonialism is a move to the Left.  There is no other direction available.  That means change for the good can only be effected by careful, precise, staged removal of corporate capitalist power over Canada and Canadians.  It means the end of – or the complete re-writing of - all economic agreements with other countries. 

In 1993 prime minister (1993-2003) Jean Chretien vowed he would leave the Canada/U.S. Free Trade Agreement unless “dumping” and “subsidy” were defined and “observed” in the FTA.  Just for instance (briefly) – U.S. branch plants in Canada often “subsidize” head office as a way of masking profit.  The branch plants ‘subsidize’ head office by “buying” from head office all kinds of ‘permissions’ and patent leases, etc. – which make them seem hardly profitable (fewer taxes for Canadian use). As well, the gigantic military research budget in the hands of private corporations in the U.S.A. gives them enormous research and development advantages over Canada well beyond weapons production. U.S. taxpayers subsidize those corporations in the trillions of dollars.  The U.S. refuses to discuss those (and dumping) advantages. That is so because they would be penalized richly and would owe Canada billions annually for what is called “unfair competition”.

Two years after his vow Chretien admitted defeat on the two points, and, incidentally, signed ratification of the enlarged North American Free Trade Agreement - “subsidy” and “dumping” were never defined (or mentioned again).

In China (briefly) “managed” currency rates provide gigantic subsidy to Chinese enterprise.  In addition so-called sovereign (state-owned) enterprises employing non-union workers earning slave-labour-imposed wages add gigantic subsidy to China-produced products. Neither fact is mentioned in the latest economic agreements inked (but not yet ratified) with China.

Decolonization of Canada means many, many things.  It means leaving ALL - or restructuring ALL - foreign economic agreements.  It means restructuring the Bank of Canada as a supplier of credit for Canadians and for chartered banks.  It means leaving NATO – a front for U.S. global military adventurism. It means a significant increase of Crown Corporations in Canada – the only major oil-producing nation in the world without a State-owned oil/energy corporation. If anything demonstrates Canada’s colonialism, it is that.

Between 1950 and the retreat of the Trudeau Liberals in the early 1980s, Left nationalism was slowly, slowly moving Canada towards independence. Not only were social insurance measures – medicare, pensions, union protections, and unemployment insurance created, but Canada was asserting some global independence. The NDP, for instance, was pushing hard to get Canada out of NATO.

The creation of PetroCanada gave Canada a watchdog in its own oilpatch (for the first time!). The viciously and unfairly aspersed National Energy Policy (approved of by 80% of Canadians – even in Alberta) was intended (a) to increase government revenues from fossil fuel exploitation in Canada, and (b) and to have Canadian enterprise and ordinary Canadians benefit from the Canadian resource. Alberta (fabulously rich in fossil fuels for the last fifty years) is, right now, in dangerous deficit and without a home-owned corporation, AND is among the lowest oil royalty structures (paid by foreign corporations) in the world.

Next to come in the early 1980s was a National Industrial Strategy, a way of re-industrializing Canada by using all its immense natural wealth with some general direction and purpose.  The U.S. felt alarm. It threatened. Then the retreat happened. Jean Chretien, minister of Energy, Mines, and Resources, went to New York to announce Canada was open for business.  Allan MacEachen, deputy prime minister, went to Washington to apologize and promise there would be no more independence moves.  Pierre Trudeau took a walk in the snow … and left politics. 

And then the U.S. ambassador in Ottawa, Paul Robinson, met (it was said, secretly) with “continentalist” interests to find a way to prevent Canada from ever again moving towards genuine independence. The instrument the group came up with was Free Trade.  Shortly after, Ronald Reagan called for “a new constitution for North America”, a Free Trade agreement.  The rest, as we say, is history ….

The result is that Canada has been moved Rightwards in its economy, political structure, and cultural integrity since at least the early 1980s, until today it may be called an incipient fascist state under the present Conservative government headed by Stephen Harper.

A fascist state, we remember, is one in which private corporations and governments work together to advance corporate interests by deregulation, privatization of public services, dramatic erasure of corporate taxes, destruction of unions and the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens.  The marriage of government and private corporations secretly (and then openly) employs police to prevent lawful assembly, free expression, and public meeting. The secret U.S. surveillance in Canada at the invitation of the Harper government during the G20 summit in 2010 and the gross misuse of police forces to terrify and brutalize freely assembling Canadians may be said to announce what is called here the incipient fascist state in Canada.

Anyone may take for granted that in a move Rightwards the main opposition forces will be subjected to attack, ridicule, disinformation, and harassment. In fact, the attacks reveal the obstacles to achieving a fascist state. In Canada – even in the ‘good days’ between 1945 and 1982 – attack was unrelenting upon the Left: socialism and social democracy.  And attack never ceased against Canadian nationalism (even, ironically, from the brainwashed Left).

The reasons for the attack on nationalism are simple.  Every liberation movement in the world begins with the real, visible oppression and injustice experienced by the population. Foreign/international theories of State reorganization come second. Liberation movements begin with the claim that “we, the people of this country” have the right to name our own leaders and to shape our own culture, economy and government.  Liberators make perfectly reasonable “nationalist” claims – which threaten foreign interests controlling, exploiting, “governing” and profiting from supremacy in the country. And so “nationalism” is attacked tirelessly.

Even in the U.S.A., in 1776, when U.S. Capitalism was seizing power from British Capitalism, the language of “we, the people” was used – though the extermination of the native Indian people continued unabated and the employment of Black people as slaves actually increased after 1776. The English conservative and famous dictionary maker and writer, Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) saw the contradiction.  “How is it”, he asked, “we hear the loudest yelps for liberty among the drivers of negroes.”

As in the more blatantly fascist states of Italy under Mussolini and Germany under Hitler nationalism in the U.S.A. was (and is) a drum beaten to support evil and repression.
It has continued until the U.S. use (especially) of global military oppression is undertaken under the hyper-nationalist (strangely) titled doctrine of “U.S. Exceptionalism” – which means the right of the U.S. to undertake any violation of human rights in order to maintain global supremacy. That doctrine was used early on to support the extermination of native peoples and the right to build a Capitalist economy on Black slavery.

The “nationalism” employed to oppress peoples should not be confused with the nationalism organically involved in every national liberation movement, empowering and directing the energies of liberation.

Canadian nationalism is almost more attacked than Socialism and Social Democracy in Canada. That is because nationalism is so potent a force in national liberation. Bafflingly, many (so-called) Left organizations in Canada join with U.S., Canadian, and global Capitalist interests to attack nationalism.  U.S. union headquarters, for instance, profitting handsomely from Canadian union dues, do not want independent (read “nationalist”) Canadian unions, and so fight the concept.

Trotskyist organizations in Canada – twisting Leon Trotsky’s ideas out of recognition – always attack Canadian nationalism as parochial, as supporting the ruling class, and as leading inevitably to fascism. Some “Trot” organizations in Canada have even been accused of being quietly managed by the CIA.

As well, many soft-hearted “internationalists”, preaching the noble concept of global humanity, join hard-hearted Capitalists to scorn nationalism as a (misnamed) parochial and selfish concept.

But Left nationalists are different from many other kinds of nationalists.  Left nationalists believe in the rights of other nations and their peoples.  At home, Left nationalists are wiling to empower Crown Corporations, labour unions, other labour organizations.  Left nationalists are willing to initiate programs of social care, to nationalize central activities in the economy (banks, energy enterprises, etc.) and to be open to possibilities of fuller socialism in the society. 

Left nationalists may not be complete socialists, but they are wide open to programs of social ownership of the means of production and control of the economy.  They are dramatically aware that unregulated Capitalism becomes Predator Capitalism and, finally, an intricate part of a brutal and repressive fascist state and system.

Canadian nationalism has been attacked at least as consistently as Left ideologies in Canada.  The attacks have ALWAYS been to prevent Canadians from taking decisions and acting independently in the interest of Canada and Canadians.  The U.S. government and U.S. capitalist interests have always attacked Canadian nationalism.  U.S. unionism – built into Canadian labour organizations – has fought Canadian nationalism.  Left political parties (including the NDP) have fought Canadian nationalism out of financial self-interest or because they believe “internationalist” rhetoric.

If Canada is to survive … and thrive as an independent, self-respecting nation, it will do so by the force of Left nationalism.  The Great Brainwash against socialism and nationalism will have to be overcome.

As the thinkers of the Waffle Movement in the NDP of the 1960s and 1970’s pointed out Canada cannot have a reasonable measure of socialism until it gains more independence, because every capitalist and external force in Canada fights against the development of socialism.  On the other hand, the country can’t have a significant degree of independence until it has enough socialism in place to hold off the capitalist forces sucking away Canadian independence.  The two must be brought together – as a building force.

The move to liberate Canada must be guided by a Left nationalist force.  That will be a force that is truly representative, that appeals to the care Canadians want taken of the environment and the whole population, the desire of Canadians for equality and justice (at home and abroad), their aspiration to have a well-developed and modern industrial and agricultural capacity, an effective educational system, and their simple desire to live in tranquil possession of their own lives and their country.

None of that is the case now with a Right, reactionary, incipient fascist government led by Stephen Harper in league with a Predator Capitalist system contemptuous of the Canadian people and their highest aspirations for the country. The answer to that suffocating force is a move to Left nationalism … and to a democratic political formation embodying the ideals of Left nationalism.



  Written By Robin  Mathews



___________________________________________________



 In my heart and mind, can`t you feel it, I can.....Harperism is over, so how do you feel about Justin Trudeau...

He will be prime minister of Canada and one can point to the last federal by-election results as proof of our mood...Canadians want different, we aren`t sure about what type of different we want....through the years we have seen many advertised prime contenders, smooth talking spit polished and well heeled runners, we`ve seen blowhards and blustering partisans come and go for decades...However..

Never before has a contender been able to make females swoon and our youth smile, even smart, aware of important issues electors, even those voters like Justin Trudeau..maybe we need Justin Trudeau for democracy renewed, who else can drive younger generations and the disenfranchised back to Canadian voting booths..

I`m NDP and I like Justin Trudeau......We don`t need a leader who thinks his path is a chosen right, Justin will bend with the breeze...He`s not a hardliner and the masses are the wind of change..

And that in my opinion is why he`ll win....Don`t look for logic to explain his popularity, with Justin Trudeau it doesn`t apply..


Can`t hold back gravity..

Grant G




The Straight Goods

Cheers Eyes Wide Open


13 comments:

Anonymous said...

We have known for years? Herr Harper is a Neo-Nazi from when, he was Policy Chief for his, Northern Foundation of 1989. There are books written on Harper's, very shady political past.

We know creep Campbell works for Hannibal Harper as does, Christy the clueless. No way, Christy is running this province because,she is clueless

Fadden of CSIS at that time, warned of China's huge inroads into Canada. BC was specifically mentioned because, Campbell the creep had already given, much of BC to Communist China. No matter how hard we tried to warn people, Harper is a snake in the grass, no-one listened.

Harper's FIPA deal with Communist China means? China will take Canada over for a minimum of 31 years. China also wants, the timber and mines on Vancouver Island. Was there not treed land thieved out of Vanc Island's ALR? Seems like Campbell's theft and corrupt sale of our BCR, and the priceless Real Estate that went with the BCR? Is that the timber, clueless Christy will give to Red China? There are 18 mine permits, also on Vanc Island.

China eyes BC forests spells, FIPA danger.
Dec 12/2012
www.desmogblog.com

Harper, his henchmen, Enridge the evil, Campbell, Christy's henchmen, are from the ninth ring of Dante's Inferno.

Anonymous said...

Robin Matthews has accurately assessed the colonial process in Canada over the last several decades.

As for Trudeau's PM possibilities you might be correct Grant. Although JT may be a suitable catalyst for encouraging the political interests of younger generations, it might not be enough. If he is successful I suspect he will campaign from the left and rule from the right.

Removing Harper and his odious ilk from power is the critical imperative.

Anonymous said...

Polls are showing that younger people support the NDP. Justin will just be controlled like a puppet from the same powers that have controlled the Liberal Party for decades. We won't get the government that his face tries to represent, he is an advertisement. He will be a disaster of the highest order. Don't let those by-elections offer proof of voter intentions in 2015.

Grant G said...

Sorry anon...The By-elections are/were a real result...All you have done is make a blanket statement.

Please offer proof of any of your statements..Poll results, voter intentions..inside data..

Like I said, I support the NDP, however, By-elections Trudeau`s Liberals crushed all.

Trudea will have a minority Government..

Minority Governments are where we need to br..

I accept links, articles and data..

I don`t except blanket personal thoughts...KIng blogger is the place for Trudeau bashing..

Good Day

Anonymous said...



In the by-elections the results were status quo. Yes there were races and Liberals benefitted from Con voters changing camps. Strongholds are difficult to change and if there was any Trudeaumania out there, then the NDP vote would have collapsed and it did not, we held our own in Montreal and increased our vote by 20% in TO. This tells me that the Liberals will be the next right wing party in Canada unless Harper turns things around. Trudeau has already signalled to the corp oil barons that he is now taking orders by going down to Washington to show support for Keystone XL pipeline.. With the Liberals shopping for all those right wing votes and donations, he will be favouring them when in government. Besides his using Jack Layton's name during victory in Bourassa shows me he is vindictive, immature and divisive. He hates the NDP with a passion. My prediction is that he will continue to make gaffes and not look so good in two years.

Anonymous said...

http://bydantan.blogspot.ca/2013/11/justin-trudeau-lies-about-jack-layton.html

something to share

Kreditanstalt said...

Put Harper out and don't let Trudeau back in...isn't it about time we discarded the "class warfare" stuff?

The real division is between the authoritarian nationalist socialism of the present system and a future in which real free market capitalism and individual liberty are allowed to flourish.

Fortunately, the whole preent-day social welfare system shebang is insolvent...so we'll just wait.

Grant G said...

Let me be clear...I`m a NDPer..

I will be voting for the big orange star..

I like Justin on a personal level.

I..stated Justin is not a deep thinker

Check out a comment I left at Ian Reids site/blog..


http://therealstory.ca/2013-11-28/bc-politics/movin-on-or-not


And here is my comment..

____________

Grant G says:
November 28, 2013 at 7:57 pm

Mr. Reid….Thank you for this article.

May I add a little something for you to ponder..

In my opinion, the by-elections showed us a couple of things…First off..

Canada no longer likes Stephen Harper and his Conservative party, Harper and the Cons are toxic and very distasteful..

Second…Canadians want a different Government, Trudeau, well he is popular and Mulcair is very smart..

Canadians want different, not sure what different they want, Trudeau is not deep, different yes, but not deep..

Big Orange Star party needs to figure out what our different offering is…

Maybe something real simple like…

“Why not the NDP”


Thanks Mr. Reid and..

Good Day

______________


Cheers



Anonymous said...

Predictions that don't focus entirely on oil are of no value. The 1930s didn't have 7 billion people and it had a presumption of infinite oil.

So don't bother making predictions until you look at this site

http://mazamascience.com/OilExport/

and its oil consumption numbers for the China and India dropdown selection on the left. Have a look at that black line's curve on the right. Understand what's what

Hugh said...

I'm trying to get my mind around this: CC says BC would be doing the world a favour by exporting LNG and getting China off coal.
Yet coal exports from BC appear to be increasing.

Anonymous said...

Snowy Standoff in New Brunswick as Anti-Fracking Protesters Fight for ‘Next Seven Generations’
By: MTJ
Tags: PROTESTS/REVOLUTION
A snowy standoff took place in New Brunswick between Canada's Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and anti-fracking protesters on Sunday as Elsipogtog community members and their allies continue the fight to protect their land from shale gas exploration.

Twitter users captured a lineup of "protectors" facing police along Highway 11 where energy company SWN Resources has trucks conducting seismic testing for shale gas.

http://rinf.com/alt-news/breaking-news/snowy-standoff-in-new-brunswick-as-anti-fracking-protesters-fight-for-next-seven-generations/

“They have tear gas, they have guns, we have nothing,” said protester Mary Okay. “They’re the ones that are blocking the road right now.” [...]

Some people accused the officers of acting like private security for the company. [...]

“I think it’s a disgrace,” said Nancy Strabach. “I think the community is standing up for the environment, and the police are protecting the company, and that’s not right.

War's Already Started said...

#ShutDownCanada: Anti-Fracking Actions Erupt
By: MTJ
Tags: CANADA PROTESTS/REVOLUTION
Anti-fracking activists across Canada have taken to the streets Monday, answering a rallying call by the Elsipogtog Mi’kmaq First Nation who have called for an Emergency Day of Action to protest assault on native lands and right to protest.

http://rinf.com/alt-news/breaking-news/shutdowncanada-anti-fracking-actions-erupt/

Live Feed Here: http://veetle.com/index.php/profile/1966487346

Anonymous said...

I wonder if the next special interest political party to pose as government will be a coalition?

As in the unprogressive conservatives and liberal in name only special interest political party government poseurs?

146 years later we are still voting for the same people who gave us the current sad state of affairs. Some may call that insanity.