To the people of Chiapas, Mexico, and of the World . . .

The struggle here up north and there down south are one and the same. Ya Basta!

The Story of the Flood (or Canada: drowning in an ocean of neoliberalism)

Three and a half years ago, a flood swept the land. It reduced the old corrupt conservative Power to a hundredth of their previous strength. The greatest defeat in our history. It didn't rain, but poured. Droplets of candidates from the Atlantic, to the Arctic, to the Pacific, from party that called itself "Liberal".

Now this party, legend has it, was once, in the times of our mothers and fathers, not perfect, no not in anyway, but yet one that walked and talked with the people. In their time, they implemented such policies as national health care, a pension plan, and aid for those whose jobs were taken away. Yes. It was not so long ago that they were fighting for sovereignty against the economic onslaught, benignly known as the "Free Trade Agreement", of our behemoth neighbour to the south.

A month before this devastating flood, a book was written whose colour was red. Many held up this book, and swore by its sacred writings. They promised to abolish the hated Goods and Services Tax, and to return the nation to the people.

Well. What then became of those red droplets and their red book? Of the men and women who called themselves Liberals?

Well they became the Power, in the flood. And the Power? It corrupted as power often does. These red droplets were not the liberals of old. No, they were definitely a new kind of liberal. For as the Power, they stole billions from the pockets of the poorest of the people. They hacked out what was left of the government's heart and served it to the bankers on a platter. They cut the budget deficit, quicker and harsher than anyone before. Far faster even than the prior government, the ones who called themselves conservative.

Just a month ago there was another flood. Important, though not as big as before. This time the waters rose in a place known as Manitoba. Turned it into a lake.

Some weeks later the Power called an election under their newly written rules. This would happen in forty days and forty nights minus four. The new Liberals produced another book in their hands, and once again its colour was red. Soothsayers with degrees from ivory towers looked into their crystal balls and predicted another red flood. A victory for neoliberalism. So we shall see.

A week ago I looked towards the East, in the direction of the home of the hope of the Canadian left: Alexa McDonough, leader of the NDP. There I saw a rainbow. I wonder if its promise will hold?

One of these days the red rains of neoliberalism will cause a flood and wipe out all of us who cannot afford a personal yacht.

We are still here. And still above water. Though if these floods keep occurring we are really going to have to make headway on our ark.

Vale, Health (or what's left after the budget cuts), and remember that the 301 people to be elected on June second are only that: people.

Waiting and watching for floods.

From the Plains of southeast Goshen, Agitator Aaron, PAX

ps: Style borrowed from Subcommandante Marcos of the EZLN (blue colour unintended). Fighting for liberty, justice, democracy, and land in Chiapas, Mexico. Viva Zapata! Viva los Zapatistas!

pps: latest poll has Liberals (centrist) 41%, Conservatives (right wing) 19%, Reform (right wing and western) 16%, NDP (left wing) 11%, and Bloc Quebecois (Quebec nationalist) 10%. Prediction: slim Liberal majority (160 seats out of 301).

ppps: (*added aug 24*) Liberals squeaked by with 155 out of 301 seats. NDP made a regional breakthrough winning over 20% in Atlantic Canada, took the majority of seats in Nova Scotia, and more than doubled their seats.

pppps: (*added aug 24*) Funny, and I thought blue was the colour of water, not red.