You know, a long time ago both here in Canada and down in America where most of you all live, left-of-centre parties had almost unassailable majorities in the legislative body of their nations. I should probably rephrase that. They had majorities, and they were even capable of using those majorities to impose their will on their respective nations, regardless of the screaming and tantrums of their opponents.
Interestingly, it happened at about the same time for both nations. The Great Depression and immediate aftermath of the Second World War, and then again in the 1960's during the birth of the peace movements in our respective nations. We even shared a centre-left majority for part of the 1990's, though how long it stayed that way was a matter of some debate for both our countries.
A lot of great things were done then, and now that the Democrats, all of them, have taken a beating in the polls during the last election, it seems like an opportune time to reflect on our roots and what made us command the respect and votes of the people for so long, and in such a dominant fashion all across both nations.
The key was in our principles. American Democrats, Canadian New Democrats. All of us fought and won national elections based on our willingness to stand up for the people who were being left behind by the Right. We were the people who introduced universal health care, who demanded that unemployment insurance and pensions be indexed to inflation.
It had always been Democrats on both sides of the border who have protected the rights of workers, ensuring that trade agreements were written to make sure that not only would trade be free, but it would be fair to the citizens that they were sent to represent. Environmental protections would never have been put into law if it hadn't been for our past progressive leaders.
But somewhere on this journey, we lost our way. When did the Democrats last stand up as a united party and say this far, and no further? We've seen so many recent successes be turned into failures because Congressional Democrats have failed to stand by the principles they ALL claim to support and stand by. Democrats had an opportunity with the Bush Tax Cuts to draw a line, to show who fought for who, and for whatever reason you choose to believe, they let the opportunity slip away at the highest levels.
For those of you who research my party, you know that its easy for me to criticize. My party has never formed the federal government in Canada. We have, however, had the numbers needed to pass legislation even without a legislative majority of our members. We passed the laws we wanted, the laws we knew our country needed, because New Democrats remembered who sent them to Ottawa and what principles they were being sent to advocate for.
We're all despondant over the last election, we all thought that the legislative majorities Democrats had would give us an opportunity to truly govern and lead, the way that Democrats used to lead. And I understand that wielding power means you must be careful with it. But I ask those who would say to compromise, what point is keeping power, if one is too afraid to use it?
To my progressive brothers and sisters, take heart that you still have the ability to change minds, change hearts and fix your nation. Its tempting to give up on the Democrats and the President, but now is when they need us most. We need to be there, at the side of every moderate and conservative Democrat, and remind them of the principles they swore to defend when they became members of our party and elected representatives of our party. Stay strong, stay united, and stay in solidarity with each other. This spell in the minority WILL end, but it will only do so once Democrats fight for their principles with the same zeal that Republicans fight with their lies.