Now would seem to be the moment for China’s star to shine. It has gained control of the coronavirus pandemic rapidly and effectively, and it is the only member of the G20 whose economy is expected to grow this year. At the same time, its major rival on the world
Continue readingAuthor: Bill Longstaff
Views from the Beltline: Kenney channels Notley
During the NDP’s brief sojourn as government of Alberta, it pursued a policy oft-referred to as “social license.” The idea was that if the province was to get investment in tar sands and pipelines, it would have to show sound environmental stewardship. This was undoubtedly part of the reason for
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Bolivia back on track
When Bolivians elected Evo Morales and his Movimiento al Socialismo (Mas) party in 2005, they may have elected the best president they have ever had. The country prospered, he instituted social programs that helped lift millions out of poverty, he included women, indigenous people and labor leaders in his cabinet,
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Jacinda’s victory—a win for decency
It gives one a warm feeling to see a brilliant, compassionate, progressive political leader succeed in a world that often seems committed to elevating the worst of the lot. The Anglosphere, for example, has seen a couple of buffoons elected to lead its two most important countries. But, gemlike amidst
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: I’d dump Barrett on climate change alone
When Senator Richard Blumenthall asked U.S. Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett the simple question “Do you believe that human beings have caused global warming?”you might think this highly-educated woman would simply have answered yes. The simple truth. But no, her actual answer was, “I don’t think I’m qualified to
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Mother Mushroom, blogging and freedom of speech
As I post pearls of wisdom on my blog, including righteous criticism about this country’s follies, I rarely stop to think how fortunate I am to be able to do so freely and fearlessly. How fortunate I am to be doing it in this country. Every once in a while
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: The green wave swallows Exxon
I have read so many articles about banks and investment firms high-tailing it away from oil recently, I hardly pay attention when another crops up in the news. Nonetheless, I admit I almost fell off my chair when I read that the Dow Jones Industrial Average had dumped ExxonMobil. The
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: U.S. democracy corrupted by U.S. constitution
In 2016, most Americans voted for Hillary Clinton. They got President Donald Trump. Republicans represent fewer citizens than Democrats, yet they have controlled the Senate for more than half of this century. Senators supporting Bret Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court represented only 44 per cent of Americans, less than those
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: The pecten transitions
All those years ago when I earned my keep in the oil patch, I was fortunate to toil for Shell Canada. I was paid well, enjoyed generous benefits and excellent training opportunities, progressed successfully and made lifetime friends. Furthermore, I always felt I worked for a responsible company, including environmentally.
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Democracy embarrassed
As a committed democrat, I would dearly love to be able to convince doubters of democracy’s superiority by pointing to its leaders. And in the past that has often been easy. Today, not so much. This came home to me the other day as I followed the speeches at the
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Scientific American chooses Biden
Sometimes you just have to take a stand. Enough is enough. Throughout its long history, the magazine Scientific American has kept to science and left politics to the politicians. No more. For the upcoming presidential election, for the first time in its history, it has endorsed a candidate. Needless to
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Where is the best whisky made? Alberta, of course
Alberta is the land of oil and gas, right? And of cowboys and rodeos. And mountains and skiing. No surprises there. But here’s a surprise. It’s also the land of the world’s greatest whisky. Or so says Jim Murray, he of the Whisky Bible. And Jim must be taken seriously.
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: U.S. image in the sewer
According to a 13-nation survey by the Pew Research Center, the reputation of the U.S. has hit a record low. Significantly, the survey covered key American allies and partners, including the UK, France, Germany, Canada and Japan. In no country except South Korea did a majority express a favourable view
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: UCP or NDP? Depends on your age … and gender
Some surprising results in an Angus Reid survey of Albertans this week. The UCP and the NDP are tied in voter support, each at 38 percent. This is quite a collapse for the UCP who won the election, only a year and a half ago, with 55 percent support. But
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Alberta and the plastics promise
In the 1967 film “The Graduate,” young Benjamin Braddock (played by Dustin Hoffman), fresh out of college, is taken aside by a middle-aged neighbour at a cocktail party and offered some advice about his future. The neighbour has one word of advice for him, just one word—“plastics.” It was good
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: We still need the U.S.
Reading The Guardian last week, two articles captured my attention. Set side by side were “A ‘tyrant-clown’ has destroyed my love affair with America” by Robert McCrum and “‘Chairman Xi’ seeks only to purge and subjugate. That is his weakness” by Simon Tisdall. In the first, McCrum talks about his
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Is Alberta “slipping into authoritarianism”?
Guy Smith, president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), sees a disturbing trend in the province. He suggests that, under the rule of Jason Kenney and his UCP, “We are “slipping into authoritarianism.” Mr. Smith and his union are miffed at the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act (Bill 1)
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Time to work less?
In times of economic crisis, an old but good idea to maintain employment is revived. COVID has brought just such a revival. With unemployment in the UK expected to rise rapidly in the coming months as the British furlough scheme winds down, a think tank has reported that a four-day
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: I’m with Kenney on this one
Our premier and I come at politics from such different angles, it always comes as a surprise to me when I find myself agreeing with him. But sometimes I do. And that’s the case with his offer to install the statue of John A. Macdonald that was toppled by vandals
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Most give their country a thumbs up on COVID
A recent Pew Research Center survey of 14 advanced countries indicated that most people (a median of 73 percent) believe their country has done a good job of dealing with the coronavirus. Only in the UK and the US did most feel their country had done a bad job. The
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