Thread by @sunnshiiny

I have to laugh because there is no alternative.

Many NDP supporters are criticizing Jagmeet Singh because he’s commenting on the American Rittenhouse verdict, but not on the BC floods or Wet'suwet'en arrests of protesters and journalists.

The situation is not funny. But laughing is all I have left.

So deluded about their leader, NDP supporters are suffering a bit of cognitive dissonance because Singh is avoiding major issues in our own nation and fostering emotional angst of injustice over state side events.

They’re struggling to understand why the leader they trust is appealing to American racial injustice and a corrupt judicial system Trump & GOP created by installing corrupt and partisan judges.

Something that only tangentially impacts Canadians.

Meanwhile BC interior and lower mainland transportation infrastructure lays in ruins. Several people are displaced and food & essential supplies are dwindling. It’s a catastrophic disaster and Singh is otherwise focussed on American injustice. 🤔

His support base is concerned about Wet'suwet'en protesters and the heavy hand RCMP are wielding with elders and those opposed to a pipeline that has been approved.

So profound is their devotion to the issue, they don’t even realize they are seeking authoritarian intervention.

NDP supporters want Singh to push Horgan to intervene in law enforcement.

The government doesn’t intervene in law enforcement except through policy. It would be highly inappropriate for Horgan to direct the police to stop arresting protesters.

There’s this thing in Canada called SEPARATION OF POWERS. It means government doesn’t interfere in law enforcement. It just provides the boundaries (laws) in which law enforcement operates. When there are problems, the government can appeal to the court or create new legislation.

But they are forbidden from directing the police from carrying out any law enforcement activity.

Otherwise, Canada would be a police state.

The completely confused belief that politicians can personally intervene in police behaviour is concerning.

Politicians directly intervening in law enforcement has never been allowed in Canada.

So where is this belief coming from? How have NDP supporters adopted authoritarian beliefs about governance?

NDP rhetoric repeated ad nauseam by Jagmeet Singh and his caucus members.

But also progressive left pundits, reporters and commentators.

While I warned the radical left rhetoric was as bad as the far right, many dismissed that as hyperbolic commentary.

However, the demands from the progressive left reveal many have already been indoctrinated with authoritarian ideas.

Expecting politicians to intervene.

They’ve been conditioned to accept authoritarianism.

There are clear distinctions between democracy and authoritarianism.

The independence of law enforcement is one of them.

This shift in expectation is troubling information.

It’s not just the far right developing an affinity for authoritarian methods. It is also the progressive left.

We can petition parliament to change the legislation, but to demand politicians interfere in law enforcement is beyond democratic principles. It’s authoritarian in principle.

And yet most Canadians are ignoring this shift in belief and values.

They don’t even notice the difference. Many just assume that the left stands for social justice, equality and personal freedom.

But there are as many examples of totalitarian & authoritarian regimes using socialist ideals as there are those who espouse far right ideals.

Extremism is toxic regardless of the source of its ideological base beliefs.

But this is what tribalism does. You’re more likely to overlook questionable behaviour of your own tribe. Rationalization of authoritarianism is a slippery slope.

There is legitimate authority & there is authoritarianism. Same root word, totally different concepts. One is democratic. One is NOT.

We DO NOT elect politicians in Canada to direct the police.

Legitimate authority is elected to shape the legislation used by law enforcement.

The reason this is such a danger and clarion call to pay attention is the arrest and holding of two journalists.

While there are first hand accounts of indigenous protesters, two journalists documenting the laws being enforced have been arrested and detained.

Arresting journalists and preventing them from documenting events is also an indicator of a police state. Interference with journalists documenting events like Wet'suwet'en is a clear indicator there is a deepening problem within the RCMP and the BC court system.

Well established democracies don’t arrest or prosecute journalists when they are working. But there are plenty of examples of authoritarian and totalitarian governments who do. cpj.org/reports/2020/1…

This event is doubly disturbing because the BC courts have already ruled in July 2021 that journalists are not to be interfered with when working during protests.

And yet 2 journalists were arrested and have been detained.
cbc.ca/news/canada/br…

Since the police operate at arms length to elected officials, why is this happening? How can RCMP be arresting journalists especially after the courts have ordered they are not to be arrested?

It means we have RCMP who are acting outside the boundaries of the law & the courts.

It means we have someone external to government demanding injunctions be upheld and protestors be removed.

The RCMP were militarized during Harper’s years in office. He urged the RCMP top leaders to redefine the ultimate purpose of law enforcement from keeping the peace.

He encouraged the RCMP to adopt a new mandate. Protecting infrastructure and corporate profits. And they did in 2014 and now have all the militarization equipment as rewards for their loyalty.

It’s industry directing RCMP law enforcement of injunctions.

This should send shivers down your spine.

There are two issues at play here. One is the NDP support base normalizing authoritarianism.

The other issue is the RCMP exhibiting authoritarianism on behalf of…?

Who are the RCMP removing protesters and journalists on behalf of?

That answer is fairly easy to obtain. CGL pipeline. Owned by KKR and AIMco. Henry Kravis (buddies with Trump & his cabal) and Jason Kenney, the control freak decision maker behind every AB govt (& AIMco) decision.

That’s who is heartless enough to do this during a catastrophe.