My centre-left viewpoint and what the liberal parties around the globe can do better.

We knew it was coming. It was all too predictable. Any centrist worth their weight in salt was paying attention to all sides of this three-ring circus and the signs were there.

We weren’t surprised in the slightest. It was evident that 2024 would be a significant win for former president and current president-elect of the United States Donald Trump.

And it was, as he won both the electoral and popular vote (at the time of writing Michigan, Arizona, Nevada, and Alaska still were not final, but he was leading in all four).

It’s time that Democrats in the US, Liberals in Canada, and all other so-called “liberal” parties around the globe pay attention to what people really want: an end to the seemingly never-ending parade of nonsense being thrown their way.

I’ve written about this before (check out It’s Your Fault) as the populist movements continue to grow in numbers, strength, and stature as the common sense majority of centre right and centre left free thinkers have had enough.

There is only so much hypocrisy, double standards, elitism, and outright lies that people can take before they take a stand – either at the polls or on the streets (the former is the best course every time).

There are so, so many leftists, centre leftists, and straight up centrists who have moved right in recent years throughout the United States, Canada, and in Europe.

Why is this happening?

There is a more expansive explanation in the aforementioned It’s Your Fault, or here is a brief synopsis.

These are not necessarily entirely my personal opinions (though some definitely are), but this is what I’ve gleaned from reading, listening, and watching both sides of the spectrum the last few years.

When the Democrats in the US and Liberals in Canada are constantly using identity politics (and policies such as DEI) to divide people and garner votes without concern of the real-life consequences, common sense people from the left and centre move right.

When they’re allowing hypersexualized materials in schools to inappropriate age groups and pretending to care about women’s rights unless it goes against Pride community rights, common sense people from the left and centre move right.

When they’re giving illegal immigrants and refugees more money and resources than legal immigrants, naturalized and born citizens, common sense people from the left and centre move right.

When they pretend to care about everyone living peacefully together, but then give special attention and promote the agendas of special interest groups with disregard for other special interest groups and the majority of the population, common sense people from the left and centre move right.

When they call anyone who disagrees with them or questions their policies a bunch of bigots and racists and homophobes, common sense people from the left and centre move right.

When any type of masculinity is considered “toxic” because you don’t like someone or their opinions, common sense people from the left and centre move right.

The truth is that the conservative side of the coin in many cases is embracing people from all walks of life with the ideas of freedom of speech, freedom of thought, diversity of thought, coupled with fixing the economy, lowering taxes, and creating a better standard of living.

There are huge populations of gay men and women who are being embraced by the right as people who just want to love and marry who they want without fear of persecution.

There are huge populations of married people from a variety of cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds being embraced by the right as they have shared conservative values based on family, church, and country.

These are the messages I was hearing for the past two years from a variety of sources as more and more former left-leaning and centrist independent voters in the U.S. began sharing their thoughts and ideas.

These people felt betrayed by the Democrats in the U.S. and indeed many in Canada feel betrayed by the Liberals.

Even staunch leftists like The Young Turks (particularly co-host Ana Kasparian) were espousing warnings to the Democratic Party that their tactics – and the tactics of their mainstream media supporters – were only pushing more votes the other way.

Comedian and standout talk show host Bill Maher, a proud liberal who assuredly cast a vote for Kamala Harris, was constantly warning the Democrats and liberals around the globe about the need to pull the reigns back on some of their extreme ideas and policies.

Anyone paying attention to both right and left leaning independent news casts and commentators had a good idea which way the cookie was going to crumble.

What can Canadian politicians learn from this?

If I’m the Conservatives, I’m full steam ahead with the same platforms and ideas (Canadianized of course) as the Republicans south of the border.

Challenge the Liberals nonsensical, divisive policies and behaviours with the opposite. Bring up the DEI policies, bring up the identity politics, the cost of living exacerbated by the Liberals extensive overspending since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took office, and the list goes on.

Now, if I’m the Liberals and I want to ensure a competitive election – even a win – in the next couple of years, I’m doing an about face.

Liberals need to come back to the centre from the edge of madness and extremism. Liberals need to remember their true liberal foundation and values. Liberals need to remind everyone they actually can lead and not fall victim to the follies of special interest groups and lobbyists.

They need to start by giving Trudeau the boot – along with anyone who shares his ridiculous views and ideas – and then start recruiting more common sense, centre left candidates who are willing to work hard for everyone in the country, not just the people they deem “acceptable.”

Trudeau is so divisive, there are legitimate claims that his decisions, words and actions in the recent India affair have caused the clashes taking place in Brampton between Sikh’s and Hindus.

It’s time for governments around the globe to get back to being in the centre (or close to it) of the political spectrum as that will represent the needs of all the world’s citizens.

The U.S. issued that decree with yesterday’s election. Canada will get its chance next year. The Liberals can better their chances by making some common sense decisions right now.

If they don’t, the continuation of populist governments being voted in around the world will continue.