Opening my Toronto Star this morning, I was delighted to learn that journalist and author Linda McQuaig, who has figured fairly prominently in many of my blog posts, will be seeking the NDP nomination in Toronto Centre, Bob Rae's former riding. A perpetual thorn in the side of unfettered capitalism, McQuaig has a fierce intelligence and the kind of critical-thinking skills an informed society needs.
An author of countless books and columns, the fact that her words matter is perhaps most acutely attested to by the fact that Lord Black of Crossharbour (aka Con(rad) Black), a man given to great bouts of verbosity generating much sound and fury that often signify little or nothing, once declaimed that she should be horsewhipped after she took on some of his more nefarious practices.
In today's debased public arena, where opinions that challenge the status quo are frequently ridiculed, shouted down or demonized by the hard right, Linda McQuaig is just the person to stand her ground and prevail against the assault on reason. Should she receive the nomination and win the byelection (for which Harper must set the date by January of 2014), I have every confidence that she will prove a worthy and articulate adversary of the Harper cabal in the House of Commons.
If I lived in Toronto, I would vote for her.
ReplyDeleteAs would I, Dan.
DeleteThat's so exciting! I've been following her for years.
ReplyDeleteI have read almost all of her books, Marie, and have heard her speak locally twice. I'm a big fan, and she is really quite a gracious lady.
DeleteWith Christia Freedland also running, the campaign could be very interesting, Lorne. They are both highly intelligent women.
ReplyDeleteIt will be quite a contest between the Liberals and the NDP in that riding, Owen. While Freedland also brings much to the political arena, my hope is that the NDP under McQauig will take the byelection.
DeleteReminiscent of the contest between Peggy Nash and Gerald Kennedy in the last election which the former won.
ReplyDeleteOn the one hand, this is what politics should be: two excellent candidates who appear to want to be in politics for the right reasons. On the other hand though, if the NDP and the Liberals keep splitting each other's votes by running excellent candidates like these in the same ridings, the Cons/cons will definitely win at least some of these ridings by coming up the centre.
The Harper Party supporters will not vote for any other party, no matter what Harper does or does not do.
An excellent point, Anon, and I share your concerns. Unfortunately, current political egos are such that the thirst for power will trump the public good and prevent any cooperation between the Liberals and the NDP in 2015. Beyond that date, who knows?
DeleteI understand she lived for quite a while in U.S. Harper and cronies will use the same tactics against her as they did against Ignatieff - "she is just visiting". The good part is that Ignatieff was not much of politician but Linda McQuaig may outsmart Harper tactics.
ReplyDeleteI assume it is Freeland you are referring to here, LeDaro. She has spent the last decade in the U.S., I believe. You're right of course about the predictable kind of tactics the Harperites will use to discredit her. As for McQuaig, I'm sure that their anti-socialist rhetoric will be in high gear.
DeleteI love Linda McQuaig and I hope she wins the seat. That said, I hope the NDP brass never stop her voice. She has more knowledge of what's wrong with our present economical system in her pinky than any of the backroom policy makers who think reducing ATM fees and credit card interest are top of the list priorities.
ReplyDeleteI read an article online, Beijing, expressing the same concern you raise here. It had to do with her views about much higher taxation rates for those making over $300,000 and whether the party would permit the airing of such a 'controversial' position (controversial only to a party that has redefined itself as a middle-of-the-road entity). If anything, McQuaig strikes me as a fiercely independent voice who will not allow herself to be micromanaged; our poltiical landscape, in my view, needs more people like her to invigorate public debate about where, as a country, we are headed.
DeleteLinda, I am an immense fan of you, ever since only in early on in 2003 when I read your book 'Behind Closed Doors', I was captivated and intrigued by your book's cover and title and utterly floored by your wealth of information.
ReplyDeleteFrom then on, I only share with others about your name and brilliant writing abilities, about the truth of our Canadian Establishment and tax system designed by the country's Elite and what it all means for us destitute and homeless, especially in Toronto and East of the province.
I can only pray and aspire to be you and revered as yourself in my next life, as I thrive on the catharsis of writing too. For now, I resume to try and collect all of your books, Cheers and God's speed to you!