Earlier today I wrote a post congratulating The Toronto Star for its journalistic integrity and the crucial role it plays in helping to keep citizens informed of the important issues affecting our country. Columnist Thomas Walkom, who epitomizes that integrity, has written his analysis of the federal budget, reminding us
Continue readingAuthor: Lorne
Politics and its Discontents: Disappointing Reaction to OAS Changes
Yesterday, I was deeply disappointed while watching televised ‘person-in-the-street’ reactions to the changes in Old Age Security ensconced in the federal budget. One young person expressed his approval of the change, another said he never really expected a pension by the time he retires anyway, a middle-aged woman approved because
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Congratulations to The Toronto Star
Since jettisoning my subscription to The Globe and Mail, the self-proclaimed ‘newspaper of record,’ and replacing it with one to The Toronto Star, I have been consistently impressed with both the scope and breadth of the latter’s coverage, coverage that has resulted in many important investigations and changes. I was
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Another Poke At An Easy Target
A busy day ahead of me, so I have chosen the path of least resistance for my post today. Enjoy. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Seismic Activity Reported In Sutton Courtenay, Oxfordshire, England
In one of the best examples of doublespeak I have encountered in a long time, Ontario Finance Minister had this to say about wage freezes and bargaining rights yesterday: “Bargaining in good faith is not only the right choice to make, the Supreme Court of Canada requires it,” the finance
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Ontario Budget: Andrea Horwath’s Dilemma
Being the leader of an opposition party in Ontario just got a lot more difficult for one person yesterday. No, I’m not referring to young Tim (not ready for prime-time politics) Hudak, whose response to the Ontario’s austerity budget was both swift and predictable: “It fails to address the job
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Vic Has A Warning For All of Us
Our alleged Public Safety Minister, Vic Toews, issued the following warning today: Online hacker group Anonymous a threat to us all Maybe. Or perhaps it is a threat only to those who seem to have an unhealthy, intrusive, and/or pruient interest in our Internet lives. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Pleasures of Ford-Spotting
Were I a fully actualized human being, I would no doubt lead an exemplary life, the proud possessor of a heart filled with love for both friends and enemies. Alas, I am not such a person, and so I freely confess at the on-going delight and pleasure I take when
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Ontario’s Impending Austerity Budget
Reading my morning Star, I learned that there is wide-spread support among the public for austerity measures to reduce Ontario’s deficit. I suspect that there will be a particular appetite for the following: Hundreds of thousands of teachers, nurses and all other public employees face higher pension contributions or reduced
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Agitation At The Globe and Mail Continues
In the throes of some form of political delirium tremens since Thomas Mulcair’s election as leader of the NDP, the Globe and Mail has apparently lost its lexicographical grasp, describing three resignations from the party with the following hyperbole: Communications director joins NDP exodus under Mulcair Expect more of the
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Rob Ford Continues to Embarrass Himself
‘Mayoral ineptitude’ is probably only one of the many terms that could be used to characterize Toronto’s Chief magistrate, Rob Ford. Not only has he regularly demonstrated his unfitness for municipal leadership over his inflexible position on public transit (subways, subways, subways), but he continues to embarrass himself and demean
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Harper Inc. Continues To Deform Our National Ethos
While it is probably impossible to define the soul of a nation, one aspect of the Canadian psyche must surely be a generosity of spirit and a concern for the collective that is absent in many other nations. It is the relentless attack upon this very spirit, with the intention
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Globe and Mail Pronounces on the NDP
Well, I guess the rest of us can stop thinking, now that John Stackhouse and the lads over at the Globe and Mail have done it for us. NDP: still not a credible alternative reads the title of their editorial. Could it be that ‘the paper of record’ which consistently
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: From The Bottom Of The Swamp: Conservative Reaction to Mulcair’s Victory
Why does the Conservative Party’s classlessness never really surprise me? On Saturday, before Prime Minister Stephen Harper had a chance to congratulate the new leader of the Official Opposition, the Conservative party had already released a statement attacking the New Democrat. “Thomas Mulcair is an opportunist whose high-tax agenda, blind
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Rob Ford and Subways
While I know that the selection of Thomas Mulcair is the major topic of discussion today, I shall defer to those more knowledgeable than I and return to a topic of regional interest, but a topic that also, I think, sheds light on the right-wing mentality: Toronto’s Mayor Rob ford.
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Shelagh Gordon’s Influence Lives On
Shelagh Gordon, the woman recently profiled in The Star after her sudden death at the age of 55, continues to exert a pull on the thousands of readers who were touched by the story of a life so well-lived. The Star’s Catherine Porter has written a followup that deserves to
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Jack Layton vs. Stephen Harper
I’ve just spent about the last 45 minutes watching the tribute to Jack Layton at the NDP leadership convention. The heartfelt praise about Jack’s humanity, his real love of and interest in people, suggests a life well-lived, despite its tragic shortness. That got me thinking of what a tribute to
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Video Rebuke of Rob Ford
Thanks to sol chom for posting this. I couldn’t resist passing it on: Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Rick Salutin Today
While the CBC’s Peter Mansbridge may often pronounce ponderously and authoritatively on issues, there is another source of information that should, in many ways, be taken more seriously, says Rick Salutin in his column today. Well worth the read. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Consequences of Expressing An Opinion In HarperWorld
Just a brief post here. Apparently airport groundworkers in Toronto and Montreal are out on a wildcat strike as a result of three members expressing an opinion of Labour Minister Lisa Rait: Strikers accused Pearson airport security of heavy handedness after they said three of their fellow ground workers were
Continue reading