In Doug Ford, Ontario’s Tories are facing a Trumpian moment of truth as they choose their next leader — and possibly our next populist premier.
We’ve seen it before, and it could happen all over again: Long before Donald Trump took the White House, Doug’s brother Rob Ford took city hall.
Each proved the power of populism, negativism, nihilism. One promised to “stop the gravy train” in Toronto, another pledged to “drain the swamp” in Washington.
Despite being children of wealth, they recast themselves as enemies of the elites. Thwarting social conventions — be it smoking crack or cavorting with porn stars — they remade themselves as social conservatives.
Ontario’s Tories are facing a Trumpian moment of truth as they choose their next leader
The only enduring antidote to right-wing populism and nihilism must be a progressive populism that proffers inspiration over frustration. Progressive populism must find its countervailing voice, Martin Regg Cohn writes.
No comments:
Post a Comment