The other day I wrote a post about the Harper regime’s ongoing efforts and measures designed to thwart government transparency; the Prime Minister’s abuse of power is most flagrant in his suppression of the voice of science, thereby effectively denying information vital if citizens are to have any hope of
Continue readingAuthor: Lorne
Politics and its Discontents: What People Want From Leaders
Part of the neoconservative agenda, I suspect, is based on encouraging everyone to see life as a zero-sum game, where the world is a place in which there are only winners and losers; the implicit message is that if we are smart, we will be the winners at the expense
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Unpaid Internships
I wrote a brief post the other day on the proliferation of unpaid internships, whose ostensible purpose is to give young people experience in a field, open up networking opportunities, and possibly lead to gainful employment in the not-too-distant future. Unfortunately, the chasm between the ideal and the reality is
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Police Workout Video
No need to join a gym, I guess, when police have so many on-the-job-workout opportunities. Raymond Costain, afterwards. H/t trapdinawrpool Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Quasi-Police State In Our Midst
He who controls the media controls the minds of the public. – Noam Chomsky In some ways, it is very much reminiscent of what occurred during the time of the Soviet Union, when athletic or cultural figures would visit the West, always accompanied by ‘escorts’ whose ostensible purpose was to
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Heresy Alert!
Hmm, it seems someone from the Office Of Corporate Orthodoxy needs to have a chat with this fellow: H/t Daniel Tseghay Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Just Another Pretty Face
Those of a certain age will remember the much beloved 1970’s sitcom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Set in a television newsroom in Minneapolis, the series chronicled life both inside and outside the studio of its many and varied employees, who ranged from the gruff but ultimately lovable Lou Grant,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Unions Are To Blame For Impeding Consumer Access To Low Prices
At least Fox News believes that is true. H/t Media Matters Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The New Pope
The new Pope, the former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, has a very interesting past; I can’t help but wonder if our press will want to resurrect it. H/t Nickie Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Corporate Fantasy Fulfilled
While much has been written of late about the proliferation of precarious work and unpaid internships, the latter the perfect opportunity for employers to exploit the desperation of young people, it may come as a surprise to some that even The Atlantic is expecting the same from many of its
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Manning Doctrine: I Won’t Let My People Go
By now, those who follow such things will be aware that the Manning Networking Conference was held last weekend in Ottawa, during which the main message seemed to have been, if I may use the old cliche, “Loose lips sink ships.” Conservatives, apparently not content to censor the flow of
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Consequences Of Corruption And Venality
Although his is a painful story, I think we owe Tomas Young the respect he deserves by reading it. And while we read it, we might want to remember the corrupt, venal and craven politicians who are responsible for his fate. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Gated Democracy in Calgary
Last June, I wrote a series of posts about the lack of constituency representation I and many others were receiving from our local Conservative M.P. David Sweet, the catalyst being his obsequious though not unexpected uncritical acceptance of the budget Omnibus Bill C-38. As a consequence, we conducted demonstrations at
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Brief Reflection On Irony
Given the rather limited scope of the conservative mind, few, I have observed, seem in possession of anything remotely resembling a sense of the ironic. Sparked by Stephen Harper’s recent insensitive ‘condolences’ to the people of Venezuela on the passing of Hugo Chavez, I was pleased to see a letter
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: On Kettles and Teapots
With apologies, this timeworn metaphor was the only one that came to mind upon reading about this singular example of Church hypocrisy. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Pining For A Non-Existent Past
It occurs to me that perhaps the limited appeal of young Tim Hudak, the increasingly out-of-touch leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives, might be related to the retro mentality that periodically pops up in North America. You know, that nostalgic pining for a non-existent past where everyone lived harmoniously in
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Strange Economics of Stephan Harper
Even though he only has a Master’s degree in economics, our Prime Minister likes to present himself as an economist. And, like the myriad other untruths propagated by his regime, perhaps the biggest lie is that resource extraction, especially tarsands oil, is the most prudent activity around which the Canadian
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Some Thoughts on ‘Tea Party Tim’
I wish I could take credit for the title sobriquet describing Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak, but that distinction lies with Val Patrick of Hamilton whose letter, along with several others that appear in today’s Star, I am taking the liberty of reproducing below. Enjoy! Tea Party Tim Hudak
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Portrait of Ambition
While even I can reach my saturation point when it comes to tales of Senate fraud and corruption, I found this portrait of Senator Pam Wallin in today’s Toronto Star rather interesting. Apparently the former broadcaster is known for her political ambitions, having unseated and replaced Liberal Colin Kenney from
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Graphic Depiction of Unfettered Capitalism
The true believers in unfettered capitalism will not like this video: H/t Alex Himelfarb Recommend this Post
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