“I put 34 years into this firm, Howard, and now I can’t pay my insurance. You can’t eat an orange and then throw the peel away – a man is not a piece of fruit” – Willie Loman in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. In the play, Willy Loman
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Politics and its Discontents: The Voice of Labour Roars
Although those in the embrace of neo-liberalism would have us believe that unions and worker solidarity are but a quaint historical artifact, the size of yesterday’s rally in London, Ontario protesting the predatory practices of Catterpillar Inc. suggests otherwise. In response to the company’s attempt to halve the wages of
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: One Step Closer To The Totalitarian State: Chris Hedges On The National Defense Authorization Act
Although I have a somewhat jaundiced view of the intellectual capacity of many Americans, one who I consistently hold in high esteem is Chris Hedges. Please watch the following video in which he offers his objections to Obama’s enthusiasm for the National Defense Authorization Act, a law that allows for
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The G20 Beating of Adam Nobody: Toronto Constable Michael Adams and His Thuggish Colleagues
Despite the impotence of the SIU in pursuing criminal charges against the police thugs who beat Adam Nobody during the G20 Summit held in Toronto in June of 2010, The Globe and Mail reports today that upon the recommendation of an arm’s-length watchdog agency, the Office of the Independent Police
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: More Joy in Heaven
The above title, taken from both The Bible and the title of a Morley Callaghan novel, suggests the possibility of redemption. There was a report in yesterday’s Star amply demonstrating that potential. When 37-year-old Maxwell Beech was facing sentencing for gun and drug-related charges seven years ago, he expected the
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Another Politician’s Attempt To Suppress Democratic Participation
My previous blog entry dealt with attempts by Giorgio Mammoliti to discourage people from partaking in the democratic process in Toronto. Essentially concurrent with that outrageous behaviour is something equally untenable taking place in Mississauga; this time the villain of the piece is none other than the indefatigable icon of
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Why Don’t Politicians Like Democratic Participation?
Yesterday I opined on why democratic participation in our country is so muted, and offered two examples of what can be accomplished when people are willing to get involved. One of the obstacles to greater participation is surely the belief that we have little chance of making an impact because
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: If This Is The Best They’ve Got…
My daughter just sent me this link. After reading a few of the comments, I couldn’t help but remember Charlton Heston’s famous line from the original Planet of the Apes: “Look on the bright side: if this is the best they’ve got around here, in six months, we’ll be running
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Two Bright Spots For Democracy
I have to admit that on most days, I am darkly pessimistic about the efficacy of democracy. With a federal government whose members are but drones of a martinet Prime Minister, and a domestic populace that seems to be asleep, indifferent, easily manipulated, divided or defeatist the majority of time,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Linda McQuaig on Harper’s Anti-Labour Policies
Drawing comparisons between Republican animus toward labour and Harper government policies that permit the kind of outrageous corporate behaviour unfolding at Electro-Motive Canada, Linda McQuaig’s column in today’s Star warns us of what is ahead for workers in Canada. Two key excerpts provide the tone of her piece: Harper played
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Self-Serving Rhetoric From The Toronto Police
As one who strives to be a critical thinker, I am loathe to make absolutist or ill-informed statements and assertions, even as I admit to frequently falling short of the mark. Nonetheless, after the debacle of the G20 Summit of June 2010 held in Toronto, I find myself frequently dubious
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Star Reader’s Perspective On Caterpillar Inc.
I have been offline for the past several days, the reason for which I may write about later. For now, I am taking the liberty of reproducing the excellent lead letter appearing in the print edition of today’s Star in which the writer, Dr. Robert Bahlieda, offers some penetrating insights
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Will The Legendary Harper Vindictiveness Rear Its Head Again?
A report in today’s Globe suggests we could soon be seeing another instance of Harper bullying and intimidation tactics. Well-known for his intolerance of and disdain for dissent, and given his Natural Resources’ Minister’s recent musings about radicals having infiltrated the environmental opposition to the proposed Northern Gateway oil pipeline,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Bob Rae’s March toward Coronation
In a development that will likely surprise few, it seems that steps are being prepared to permit Bob Rae, the Liberal Party’s interim leader, to run for the permanent leadership. I have little doubt, despite his initial denial that he was seeking the position, that this was Rae’s plan all
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Harper To Strike Another Blow Against Democracy To Ease His Frustration
The other day I wrote a post about the dark lord’s frustration over the democratic expression of opposition to the Northern Gateway oilsands pipeline. It seems ‘dear leader’ felt that environmental groups appearing at hearings were in the sway of ‘foreign money’ out to hijack the hearings. It appears that
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Star’s Gloomy Assessment of Corporate Depradations
Today’s Star editorial offers a gloomy but apparently realistic assessment of the direction Canada’s manufacturing is headed in. Abetted by the federal and Ontario McGuinty provincial governments’ seeming indifference to the corporate depredations underway, the most recent occurring at Electro-Motive Canada, and unions that are hamstrung by the refusal of
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Sunday Insight From A Star Reader
I’m reproducing another insightful letter from a Star reader, this time from Edward Carson of Toronto, who writes about how ideology reigns supreme over reality in the Harper government: The Harper government’s “tough on crime” agenda through Bill C-10 is a policy and fiscal disaster in the making. A government
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Sad Case of Lucene Charles
Because she failed to complete the paperwork to achieve permanent residency status when she married a Canadian 15 years ago, St. Vincent native Lucene Charles, the mother of four children, three of whom were born in Canada, faces deportation. Please watch the following video and consider signing this petition to
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Being Stephen Harper Must Be Frustrating At Times
Were I a more compassionate and empathetic man, I suppose I could at times muster a modicum of sympathy for our dark lord, Stephen Harper. Why, you may ask – doesn’t he now enjoy a majority government that allows him to impose his will throughout our once fair land? Doesn’t
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Ottawa Police Chief (Do You Remember Tracy Bonds?) Appointed to Senate
Despite the CBC puff piece interview of Ottawa Police Chief Vern White on his appointment by the Harper government to the Senate, many will remember him as the chief presiding over infamous police prisoner abuse cases in Ottawa, especially the one involving Tracy Bonds. Given Stephen Harper’s diversionary crackdown-on-declining-crime-legislation, his
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