For whatever reason, I am one of those people with a deeply ingrained sense of fair play that recognizes we are more than simply individuals ‘doing our own thing’ in isolation and with no regard to others; I happily acknowledge that we are part of a larger agglomeration that we
Continue readingAuthor: Lorne
Politics and its Discontents: Another Reason To Be Cynical About The MSM
The implications of this are truly and deeply frightening. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Victory To Celebrate
I have expressed more than once in this blog my opinion that the Harper regime aims to make Canadians feel powerless and disenfranchised, thereby facilitating the government’s efforts to remake Canada in its own calloused corporatist image. Once in a while, however, a victory comes along to remind us that
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Making Political Hay
Well, you have to hand it to them. The Harper regime never forgoes an opportunity to exploit tragedy: In an interview airing on CBC’s Power & Politics on Friday, Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said “clearly the recent rash of gun crime in Toronto is connected to criminal gun
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Excessive Force Or Standard Police Operating Procedure?
You decide. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: ‘Sheriff’ Ford ‘Clarifies’ His Statements
I wonder if there is anyone within the Rob Ford administration with the courage to tell him to just keep his mouth shut for the sake of Toronto’s rapidly-waning reputation? Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: On The Harper Regime’s Lawlessness
Once again, Star readers come through with their perceptive indictments of the Harper regime’s contempt for both the rule of law and democracy: Re: Ottawa’s misrule of law, Opinion July 17 Professor Audrey Macklin’s piece on Ottawa’s disrespect for the law points to a culture of justice by vendetta and
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Sun: Demagoguery, Not Critical Thinking
As a contrast to my earlier post about the Star and critical thinking, take a look at this poll and readers’ comments about Omar Khadr from Sun readers. h/t Norm Spector Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Mainstream Media’s Silencing of Important Voices
Probably two of the most important voices challenging the status quo today are rarely if ever granted access to mainstream media anymore. Both highly respected, Pulitzer Prize winner and former New York Times journalist Chris Hedges, and Noam Chomsky, a towering intellect who has for decades been warning us of
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Critical Thinking From Star Readers
That I am a faithful subscriber to the Toronto Star is in large measure due to its strong cadre of journalists and the capacity of its letter-writers for critical thinking. Rarely the reactionary, carping and simplistic fare to be found in many newspapers, Star letters reflect a readership that is
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Moment of Sanity From Rachel Maddow
Were it not for Americans like Rachel Maddow, I would not be able to hold out even a glimmer of hope for the benighted nation: BTW, you need to click on ‘hide ad’ before the video will play. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: More Brilliance From Montreal Simon
Many thanks to Montreal Simon, who created this trenchant attack ad: Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Two Letters About Omar Khadr
Yesterday I wrote a post on the contempt for the rule of law evident in the Harper regime’s refusal to thus far repatriate Omar Khadr from Guantanimo. Following are two thoughtful letters on the topic from today’s Star I am taking the liberty of reproducing: I am disgusted at the
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Making Politics Out Of Tragedy
The terrible shooting in Toronto that saw two people killed and 24 injured elicited this response from Julian Fantino and Rob Nicholson. I have no words to express my feeling toward this craven exploitation of tragedy: Joint statement by ministers Julian Fantino and Rob Nicholson: Our Government was very saddened
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Contempt For Law Invites Contempt Of Harper Government
Despite its well-oiled propaganda machine spewing out rhetoric defending its ‘law-and-order-agenda’, the Harper regime is so awash in its contempt for the actual rule of law and its moral underpinnings as to fill any right-thinking person with nausea. While countless instances of this contempt abound, probably one of the most
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Exposing More Harper Lies
Those who believe the Harper propaganda that the changes to environmental oversight contained in Omnibus Bill C-38 are simply ‘housekeeping’ and ‘streamlining’ measures may find this notification from the National Energy Board of interest: As a result of the amendments to section 118, the Board no longer requires applicants for
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Embarrassing The Harper Government
The rhetoric about overpaid doctors notwithstanding, I suspect the public loves it as much as I do when the medical profession defends its principles and embarrasses Tory lap dogs in the process. As reported in today’s Star, although it is not something they are used to doing, doctors feel it
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: On Pipeline Safety
Given Calgary’s recent designation as the “greatest city in Canada” and the entire province enjoying sainthood status under the current Prime Minister, it is with some trepidation that I draw your attention to a story that could get me labelled as divisive and an environmental terrorist. In a column that
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Rick Salutin on Proportional Representation
The problem with parties is they don’t exist to represent the views of the public, or even sections of it, or even their own members. Maybe they once did, or maybe not. But now they exist to win elections. They’re “election-day organizations,” to quote political scientist Donald Savoie. They take
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: New Crime Discovered in Edmonton
Known in legal circles as politicius pontificus interruptus, Edmonton police are doing everything within their power to prevent this terrible crime from spreading and becoming a national scourge. Recommend this Post
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