About two years ago, I wrote a blog post explaining why we cancelled our subscription to The Globe and Mail. At the same time, I sent an email with a link to the post to Globe editor-in-chief John Stackhouse, suggesting that if he wanted to know why he had lost
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Politics and its Discontents: Linda McQuaig on Neo-Conservative Contempt
There are some columnists whose work I am loathe to miss. For example, over at the Globe, unlike some people I could name, Lawrence Martin writes with precision and integrity, never failing to take to task the endless abuses heaped upon the electorate by the Harper regime. At the Star,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Promoting Hatred In NYC Subways
It is hard to believe that a people that have been so dehumanized, disparaged and persecuted throughout much of history should think that this is acceptable. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: ‘I Am Not A Crook’
In words eerily echoing Richard Nixon’s famous “I’m not a crook” declaration, Globe and Mail plagiarist Margaret Wente truculently writes the following in her still extant column: I’m far from perfect. I make mistakes. But I’m not a serial plagiarist. What I often am is a target for people who
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Celebration of Literacy
Despite its rather lengthy history, yesterday was the first time my wife and I attended Toronto’s Word On the Street, a celebration of books, literacy, and the dispelling of ignorance. As a retired English teacher and keen observer of the political machinations that envelop our society, it was very heartening
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Word On The Street
Word on the street suggests that reading books in becoming obsolete. This Word on the Street, which we are heading off to attend, suggests otherwise. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Victory for Lucene Charles!
Lucene Charles, the St. Vincent native who has been battling deportation from Canada for some time now because of her failure to fill out the proper immigration papers years ago, has finally achieved victory. The decision in principle to allow her to stay has been made, a decision that will
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Sometimes It Is Hard Not To Feel Smug
Many years ago, the singer Mac Davis wrote and performed a satirical song entitled “It’s Hard To Be Humble,” about a man so impressed with himself that he has no insight whatsoever into what a buffoon he really is. I sometimes think of that song when I ponder the shenanigans
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: When Seniors Get Angry
You know you’re in trouble when seniors start booing you. Too bad we are still asleep at the switch in Canada when it comes to the unnecessary cuts in OAS that Harper is making: H/t ThinkProgress Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: More Harper Contempt for Transparency and Democracy
This story about Kevin Page’s relentless and noble ongoing attempts to extract information about the public service impact of government budget cuts from the secrecy-obsessed Harper regime appeared in today’s Star. Consequently, I couldn’t resist the impulse to send the story link to the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, the body
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Democratic Renewal
I just got back from my Algonquin trip, so just a very brief post. In skimming today’s Star, there is a very interesting piece by Bob Hepburn on efforts at democratic renewal in Canada to combat the ongoing Harper attack on citizen engagement and voter participation. Small seeds can yield
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Humbling Lesson About Critical Thinking
I am going to be offline for a few days as I join two of my fellow retirees on a trek to Algonquin Park, so I leave you with the following rather lengthy blog post: While I am always mindful of the vital importance of critical thinking, logic, and clear
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: How Romney Really Feels About the Non-Rich
A secret video from a Romney fundraiser reveals more about the presidential candidate than he probably wants people to know: The full story and additional video can be found here. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Fact Check on Tory Lies
I suspect that the Harper regime’s capacity for fear-mongering, character assassination and bald-faced lies, so much in evidence in previous smear campaigns against Stephen Dion and Michael Ignatief, will have a greater challenge in confronting Thomas Muclair: H/t Larry Hubich Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: If They Won’t Spend It, Perhaps We Should Tax It Back?
That is the question I am left with after reading this article in today’s Star on the over $500 billion (the article erroneously describes it as $526 million) corporate Canada is sitting on, in part thanks to generous tax cuts, rather than investing some of it and creating jobs. Recommend
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Voice of Sanity on Iran
Journalist and columnist Joe Klein offers some calm and sane commentary while others are clamoring for war against Iran: H/t Roger Ebert Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: An Avaaz Petition Against Harper’s World Statesman Award
I recently wrote two blog posts expressing my dismay over the naming of Stephen Harper as World Statesman of the Year by The Appeal of Conscience Foundation. An Avaaz petition, just started by a Canadian, is asking the foundation to reconsider granting this award and is available online; it lists
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Inconvenient Truths for the Corporate Sector
Given that recent reports have helped to puncture the myth of job-creation benefits arising from corporate tax cuts and corporate welfare, I was pleased to read Martin Regg Cohn’s article in this morning’s Star. Entitled NDP leverages vote results to pressure big business to create jobs, the article discusses the
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: From The Great Exporter Of Democracy
I guess free speech is something Republicans only value when they export their democratic principles. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Harper’s Conservatives: As Classless As Ever
Yesterday I wrote a brief post about the federal government’s decision to stop defending the export of asbestos from Quebec, not on the basis of morality, but political expediency, as the newly-elected Parti Quebecois stands opposed to it. A story in this morning’s Star reveals that, as ever, the Harper
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