Thread by @signsaresaying

As long as we can see that the political disruption in Canada is less about the mobilization of the radical right and more about the demobilization of the Centre, the sooner we can correct this mess.

And what is democracy but a method by which mistakes are corrected. #cdnpoli

*center ...wth☹️

The lack of a functioning center-right has allowed polarization of the liberal prog left.
And what is Canada but a big ole giant liberal-center-left success.
It’s obvious now why the right-biased media would engage in liberal bashing—and this is where we resist.

Here’s how the Libertarian Revolution disables democracy, as per Nancy MacLean: #cdnpoli

First, it would break down citizens’ expectations of government, and their habit in believing it offered them something of value in navigating their lives.
#mbpoli

Second, it would weaken the appeal of collective organization by inducing fracture among groups that had looked to government to solve their common problems. #cdnpoli #mbpoli

Third, it puts a vast pool of money into capitalist hands, enriching them, making them eager to lobby for further change, and fund advocacy groups leading the charge.#cdnpoli
[paraphrased from, Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America

But how do they just take over?

Of the three main ways that democracy is overtaken:
1) military
2)legally elected, then autocratic and/or religious reorganization
3)criminal white collar corporatists enabled by mafia
both 2)& 3) can be applied to #ConservativeProvinces #cdnpoli

The first step is the Power Grab. Once a majority has been secured:
Government reaches down to deny municipal govts the right to make their own policies on matters hitherto within their purview, not least local election rules.
#mbpoli #cdnpoli

State or provincial governments are easiest to take over as media attention is paid more to federal and local activities, and state/prov are less examined.

Contrary to common knowledge, libertarians actually prefer large, very strong state governments to secure minority rule.

The second step is to severely curtail voting rights for “undesirable” minority groups, usually through the introduction of redistricting and voter intimidation by limiting access to and number of voting polls.

The US bill mill - ALEC - is designed for these purposes. #cdnpoli

ALEC legislation is currently being tabled in MB by the #Pallister regime, as well as the Harper-Kenney construct the UCP in AB. No doubt the Ford regime is doing the same.
The third and final step is securing property rights supremacy eg. private sales of public lands. #cdnpoli

The ultimate goal is to achieve a veto-proof supermajority operating without majority support.

With six Conservative provinces each moving incrementally in this direction while we’re all focused on our survival, we’re faced w/some critical choices. Election or protest?
#cdnpoli