I was saddened to hear that former U.S. president Jimmy Carter has gone home to die. A statement from The Carter Center read “After a series of short hospital stays, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter today decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice
Continue readingAuthor: Bill Longstaff
Views from the Beltline: Alberta NDP health care plan—back to the beginning
The Alberta election campaign begins. The NDP kick it off with their policy on what will no doubt be their, if not the entire campaign’s, major focus—health care. Their proposed plan prompts feelings of déjà vu in those of us with long memories. The heart of their plan is Family
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: The cats have been herded
Perhaps the best example of the expression “like trying to herd cats” in Canadian politics is attempting to get all the premiers to agree with the federal government. On the other hand, when it comes to collectively disagreeing with the feds, they herd willingly and easily. So full credit to
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Population decline is a boon, not a bust
Great concern is being expressed about declining populations. Most recently we have read that even China, the most populous nation on Earth, now experiences a declining population, joining Japan, South Korea, Russia, Italy and others. More countries would be in their company if it wasn’t for immigration, including Canada. Our
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Finally—Democrats romance the working class
Early in the 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign, Donald Trump was the subject of much mockery. No way this buffoon could win said the pundits. Michael Moore, left-wing rabble-rouser and and film-maker, disagreed. To put it in his words, “This wretched, ignorant, dangerous part-time clown and full time sociopath is
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Reining in the reign of plastic
I was modestly surprised last week when my groceries were packed not in the usual plastic but in brown paper bags. The idea, of course, is to get away from single-use plastics. Not that my grocery bags were ever single-use. I took my bags back the next time I shopped
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Islam—is the fear justified?
When it comes to religion, I am not a believer nor am I a student of theology. I am but a mere observer, much more inclined to fact than faith. I don’t have a high regard for any religion but there are things about most that I appreciate. Buddhism, for
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: What about the atheists?
We hear a great deal about religious bigotry these days. Islamophobia so concerns the federal government that it recently appointed an anti-Islamophobia representative—Amira Elghawaby. (Ms. Elghawaby immediately got into hot water herself and had to apologize to Quebeckers for uncharitable remarks she had made about the good people of that
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Britain stumbles
Britain (and I suppose Canada) will soon celebrate a brand new king. Charles III will bring another new face to eleven centuries of English royalty. The nation, however, needs much more than a new face. It needs a new government. At least. Over two centuries this small nation built an
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Will Frances Widdowson get her job back?
Frances Widdowson was not Miss Popularity at Mount Royal University in Calgary. Over 6,000 people signed a petition calling for her firing. They wanted her gone. And gone she was. The tenured PhD was fired in 2021 after 13 years of teaching and shit disturbing. Her outrages against political correctness
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: The welfare state and the American dream
The American founding fathers had a vision of a roughly equal society. At least for white people—others didn’t count in either the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution. Equality was to be based on the economic asset that mattered most in those pre-industrial days—land. Even the poor would have a
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: ExxonMobil—good science and bad behaviour
Back in the dim past, society entered into a great debate about the health effects of cigarette smoking, a noxious habit I practiced myself for many years. There were always those who found the practice objectionable, some for reasons of hygiene (it was a dirty habit) and some for reasons
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Davos and me (and some Conservatives)
In 1971, German engineer and economist Klaus Schwab founded the World Economic Forum (WEF). The Forum is funded primarily by its corporate members—typically global corporations—with some public subsidies, and guided by a board of directors, of which Schwab is chairman. Its flagship event is its annual meeting in January in
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Why this Albertan doesn’t want the feds to “butt out”
Our quasi-separatist premier insists that her infamous Alberta Sovereignty Act was all about forcing Ottawa to “butt out” of areas that constitutionally belong to Alberta. She has however been somewhat vague about just what incursions she is exercised about. Whatever. I would prefer that our federal government keep butting into
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Rachel disappoints me
After Rachel Notley recently suggested Ottawa should trash its proposed “just transition” legislation, she was asked if her position might alienate her base. As someone who qualifies as a member of that base, having supported the NDP since before it was the NDP, my answer would be no, it won’t
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Constitutional ramblings
Constitutions are in the news these days. More perhaps in Alberta than the rest of the country because of Premier Danielle Smith’s separatist manifesto the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act. The Act has met harsh criticism from a range of interests, from the business community to First Nations.
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: First the U.S., now Israel
2015 was a good year. May brought the “Orange Chinook.” After 44 years of Conservative rule, the longest-serving provincial government in Canadian history, the NDP won a close-fought election. Then in October, Justin Trudeau and his Liberals defeated the Harper Conservatives to end a decade of Conservative rule. To quote
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Pierre is no ladies’ man
Angus Reid recently reported a survey of Canadians’ attitude towards our federal political leaders, and it was not good news for the Conservatives new head honcho Mr. Poilievre. While he should have gotten a bump following his convincing victory in the lengthy and well-publicized leadership race, it seems his nemesis
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: The noble Nobels
The collapse of the Soviet Union, the “Evil Empire,” was perhaps the most welcome event of the latter part of the 20th century. Almost three hundred million people freed from totalitarian rule in a historical moment, and peacefully at that. Tragically not all have remained free. Half of them are
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: England no longer a Christian nation
England is having its troubles these days. Economy in recession, a plague of strikes, living standards falling, highest inflation in 40 years, National Health Service on life support, millions can’t afford to heat their homes, government in disarray, and so it goes. One thing the English won’t be doing so
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