I've never liked the word 'progressive' because it's a classic case of loaded language: a way of speaking that assumes a disputed point in the words used. That's why I put the term in scare quotes whenever I use it. Because of all the loaded language, the self-described 'progressives' I'm talking about (who totally dominate the NDP and Green Parties) dismiss anyone who disagrees with their assumptions out of hand.

I was recently at a rally where Charlie Angus spoke and it was just assumed---totally without any discussion at all---that Bills C-2 and C-5 were evidence that Mark Carney's govt are total and complete sell-outs. That's just like the people I meet who would think they were grooviest, most compassionate, 'progressive' people possible---yet fight like Hell against any changes that would speed up the supply of new housing.

One of the people who spoke at that rally is an NDP Council member. I've talked to him about housing in the past. I asked him why the city's official plan has nothing in it about making sure that there's enough housing for everyone in the city and he flat out refused to consider this. He said it just isn't the city's job to think about housing. He also said that the only solution would be if the federal government paid for enough social housing to get everyone a home. That's flat-out insane as it would cost an astronomical amount of money and there's no way there would ever be enough public support for it. This is what happens if a political movement substitutes aspirations and process for actually getting the job done.

I suppose what I hope Carney will be is something of a Canadian Deng Xiaoping. He was famous for saying "I don't care if a cat is black or white as long as it catches mice".