I recently wrote a brief post on young Mr. Hudak’s simple-minded and dysfunctional ‘vision’ for returning Ontario to its former industrial glory: gut the unions, a policy which, if ever enacted, would be disastrous for the men and women who currently enjoy workplace benefits, decent wages, and protection from arbitrary
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Politics and its Discontents: On Austerity and Hippos
I often think that governments, especially our current federal one, hold the people they ‘serve’ in absolute contempt, regarding us as little more than Pavlovian creatures who will respond in a predictable and desired way if we are given just the right stimulus. Tell us the economic apocalypse is fast
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: On Harper Ideology and Young Hudak’s ‘Vision’
Two reading recommendations for Monday morning: The Star has a good editorial suggesting that the Harper government’s efforts to find a buyer for the Experimental Lakes Area in Kenora is just a sham, an empty public relations exercise. As the editorial points out, the reseach facility has been making key
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: My Name Is Tim – Hear Me Roar
To what I suspect is the surprise of few, young Tim Hudak, to whom I have made the occasional reference in this blog, continues to underwhelm as the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party. His latest ‘policy’, perhaps hatched at the supper table with wife Deborah, to make Ontario more
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Canada Day? Really?
In my non-virtual life, I like to think that I am a reasonably pleasant fellow who enjoys the small pleasures life has to offer, has a decent sense of humour, and can see the good as well as the bad of this world. I sometimes fear, however, that in my
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Trans-Pacific Partnership: Harper To Surrender More Of Our Sovereignty To Corporations
As has already been reported, the price of admission for Canada’s entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations is the acceptance of everything thus far negotiated. Although all of the talks are secret, with corporations but not citizens privy to its contents, this much is known: the TPP enhances corporate rights
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: More Political Responses From The Toronto District School Board
While the goings-on at the TDSB may seem only a matter of regional concern, in my view the implications extend well beyond any geographic boundaries, evidence as they are not only of system-wide cronyism but also the inevitable corruption and lassitude that bedevils organizations or institutions of any size or
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Damn That Democratic Iconography
A story in today’s Star reports that the Harper regime is cutting the budget for guided tours, ensuring some 20,000 fewer visitors will actually get a peek inside the majestic buildings housing the seat of Canada’s national government. The cynic residing within me suggests that our overlords think it prudent
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Why Peace Of Mind Eludes Me
Conventional wisdom says that as we get older, we become more introspective, philosophical and mellow. This story and the following video are just two examples of why that tranquility has thus far eluded me. H/t RKD Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Two ‘Politicians’ Speak
Now frequently the new last refuge of the scoundrel, the passive voice is very popular with politicians far and wide, even if they don’t hold elected office. In response to a comprehensive report by retired judge John Morden on the police brutality and abuses of Charter Rights committed during the
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Oops, We Didn’t Mean It
The reversal of the Rosseau Muskoka’s decision to extort take 50% of its masseuses’ tips, owing to the backlash sparked by The Star’s earlier report, is but one of many reasons I am a proud subscriber to Canada’s most widely-read newspaper. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Enablers Of The G20 Abuses: The Police Services Board
The following is a brief excerpt from a comprehensive report by retired judge John Morden on the police brutality and abuses of Charter Rights committed during the June 2010 G20 Summit in Toronto. In it, he addresses the failure of the Toronto Police Services Board, headed by Alok Mukherjee: “The
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: People, Unfiltered By Governments And Their Enablers
A friend of mine sent a video along the other day. Another friend had the following comment: Perhaps a silly response, but tired of Nations being painted as evil when it is not the people but the clowns like Harper, McGuinty and others that purport to reflect values that certainly
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Digital Exercise
With all of the finger-pointing ensuing from the Star’s latest installment on the Toronto District School Board’s questionable relationship with Jimmy Hazel and his Maintenance and Construction Skilled Trades Council, I think it is safe to infer that all involved parties have truly entered the digital age. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Stating The Obvious
I suspect this report ranks right up there with headlines such as Expect A Hotter Than Usual Summer. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: What "Flexibility" Really Means
Reading the print version of the story I posted a link to yesterday regarding young Tim Hudak’s latest attempt at formulating policy (a.k.a. union busting) got me thinking once more about how politicians misuse and debase language. In what I guess in his world passes for bold and innovative thinking,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: What The Closure of The Experimental Lakes Area Really Means
To learn the truly tragic dimensions of this Harper maneuver to silence yet another dissenting scientific voice, please check out this article by Michael Harris. After reading it, I think you will likely agree that the health of Canadians is pretty low on the list of Dear Leader’s priorities. Recommend
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Young Tim’s Latest Attempt At Policy-Making
Because, I guess, young Master Hudak believes in work-place democracy. Can the workhouses be far behind? Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Realities Of The Child Soldier
I suppose I might feel differently about Omar Khadr if I hadn’t read a particular book, A Long Way Gone, by Ishmael Beah. It provided indelible insights into both the realities of the child soldier’s world and the possibilities of redemption and rehabilitation. It should be read by everyone who
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Marriott Hotel To Staff: We Need Your Tips To Stay Competetive
Absolute, complete, and utter trash. Recommend this Post
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