North Vancouver NDP activists with our candidate, Justine Bell. (photo by Eli Mallin)

Here’s a simple argument for voting NDP in this election:

1. You should vote for the party that would best promote justice.
2. In this election, the NDP is the party that would best promote justice.
3. Therefore, you should vote NDP. (from 1 and 2)

The argument is formally valid. Why accept premise 2? Perhaps because:

4. If all plausible theories of justice converge on a single prescription, we have sufficient reason to accept that prescription as a requirement of justice.
5. All plausible theories of justice imply that expanding the Canadian welfare state dramatically is a top priority.
6. Justice requires that expanding the Canadian welfare state dramatically should be given top priority. (from 4 and 5)
7. Only the NDP has made credible commitments to expanding the Canadian welfare state dramatically.
8. Only the NDP has made credible commitments to do what justice requires. (from 6 and 7)
9. Therefore, you should vote NDP. (from 1 and 8)

Put that on a bumper sticker.