The world's press has taken a shine to a proposal in the Swedish Parliament to create a "man tax" in response to violence against women. Recently World Net Daily, Reuters, and the London Daily Telegraph published articles on the proposal, including some strong propaganda in favor from former Left Party leader Gudran Schyman.
Although the proposal has been covered by the press in Sweden, reaction is generally unfavorable and the story behind it has not reached the rest of the world. We need to take the discussion seriously because of all the damage that extremist left feminist politics has caused. The real story behind the 'man tax' is an internal power struggle in a dying political party.
The Left Party is a Cold War remnant that has not shifted completely into the new world order. Gudran Schyman skillfully handled a balancing act between old socialism and acceptance of its somewhat more modern derivative, social democracy, after the fall of the Soviet Empire. Social democracy allows some private ownership and controlled capitalism and is largely defined by an open, multi-party political system. Sweden is also a member state in the European Union and is currently making a slow transition to a more open, market-driven economy.
After Schyman was forced to resign over irregularities in her handling of government compensation, the leadership position went to avowed communist Lars Ohly, whose historical ties to world communism and foreign dictators is so controversial that it may threaten to split the party or lead to his resignation. In 2000, he was asked whether he would prefer Bill Clinton or Fidel Castro to lead the country and he answered Castro. In a recent defensive debate on Swedish television, he stated that one of his strongest interests is the defense of Cuba against the U.S.; a comment that was sure to draw interest in a faction of the party.
In the background, Gudran Schyman has expressed interest in returning to a party leadership position in an as yet nonexistent new feminist party. The Left Party has already lost membership to the equally leftist Environmental Party that formed only a few years ago. The Left Party does contain a significant feminist faction and was certainly seen as a feminist party before Ohly took over. He is the first man to lead the party for many years. What had become very vocal dissatisfaction over automatic rejection of male candidates in the past may have played a significant role the choice of Lars Ohly as the new leader.
It may be that Gudran Schyman will eventually express undying loyalty to the Left Party if the threat of a new split becomes too real. Her desire to return to leadership might just as well be played out within the party if Ohly is forced out. But whatever the future holds for Schyman and Ohly, the rest of us need to put the proposal for a "man tax" in its proper perspective. It is part of an internal battle for control of an outmoded, extremist, political party in which its few remaining members are being asked which they hate the most; the USA or all men everywhere.
Roger F. Gay