There are many reasons that can be adduced for the declining health of democracy: widespread disaffection from the political process; pervasive anger among citizens; the disproportionate influence of social media; economic inequality and inequity, widespread ignorance and mental laziness, scrambling endlessly to provide food and shelter for one’s family, etc.
Continue readingAuthor: Lorne
Politics and its Discontents: Shiny New Things
Despite our professed admiration for things that have withstood the test of time (heritage buildings, old literature and traditional values come to mind), it is undeniable that there is much allure to be found in the new as well. We marvel at innovative architecture, science and engineering, to name
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Such Elequence!
This took place at a school board meeting in Virginia. The rest is self-explanatory. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: I’m Getting Tired
The woes of the world are wearing me down. I therefore choose to change channels completely today and focus on comedy, one of the few escapes this world permits almost everyone. There are five comedians whose work I have revered for many years. At the top of the pantheon is
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: If You Are Of A Certain Age
… you will get this, the latest from Moudakis. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: About That Free Speech Thing
Increasingly, it seems that free speech and freedom of expression are contingent upon whether the powers that be approve of your views. Recent events surrounding the Israel-Gaza war underscore that reality. Close to home, Humber College has expressed ‘regret’ over a recent incident where a student was removed from campus for
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Repost: Sometimes, All You Can Do Is Feed The Birds
Let’s face it: life is grim these days, the Israeli-Hamas war but another reminder of our collective inhumanity, not just in the perpetration of evil acts of destruction but also in the very debate about whether a ceasefire in the killing of Gazans should be considered. with over 10,000 Palestinians
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Nearer My God To Thee
As the Benighted States of Amerika lurches ever-closer to a full-blown theocracy with the election of Mike Johnson as House Speaker, a timely reminder: be careful what you wish for: Amen. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Powerful Political Leadership
As the war between Israel and Gaza rages on, it is almost too painful to watch the devastation that the former is inflicting on the latter. I have always been steadfast in my view that criticism of Israel, which is clearly warranted in its ongoing retaliation for the horrible Hamas
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Two Seasonal Reminders
I guess we never really outgrow Halloween, especially when the auguries spell something scary for Doug Ford. And editorial cartoonists are certainly trying to put the fear of God into the premier: H/t Theo Moudakis Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Sunday Thought
With the NDP imploding under the weight of idealists and ideologues, and with some calling for the resignation of Marit Stiles, the following editorial cartoon seems to hit its target: The only possible victor emerging from this debacle, in my view, will be the Ontario Liberals, especially if they choose Bonnie
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Not A Team Player
I have never been much of a joiner. I never really participated in team sports, committees (unless I had no choice), or group endeavours. There is something about the passionate intensity of such pursuits that has always left me cold. And, of course, history teaches us a great deal
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Unpalatable Truth
The Israeli-Gaza war is heart-breaking, so much so that I find I cannot look at imagery of the dead on both sides. The Hamas attack on Israel was horrific, but so is the Israeli retaliation, clearly breaking international law by targeting civilians in Gaza. What is little known and
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: In All Humility
This is all we can really say: Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Real Thinking Requires Hard Work
I have thus far refrained from writing anything about the atrocities taking place in The Middle East. I have nothing constructive to add to the debate. However, I can’t help but make an observation and reproduce the thoughts of another writer, who I will get to in a moment. First,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Forgive And Forget? Never
There is a saying that, in many cases is a mere platitude: “Time heals all wounds.” Often said to the bereaved, it is meant to impart that there are better days ahead; things will get better. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Take, for example the destruction wrought
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Great Happiness!
I’ve been feeling pretty disgusted lately with our world, given our impending climate doom and the humanitarian crises and wars going on. Those pungent testaments to our profound failures as a species (from which not one of us can be excluded) make me angry, disgusted and sad. However, something
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Happy Thanksgiving
And let us give thanks that we do not live in the Benighted States of Amerika. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Hits Keep Coming
If the Doug Ford government has any credibility left (a big IF), it has taken yet another hit, thanks to a Star investigation. Uncovered is yet another example of the cronyism that should be anathema in any healthy democracy: the weighting of The Species at Risk Program Advisory Committee with Ford’s
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: No Friend To The Environment
Readers will know that Ontario premier Ford cares little for environmental matters. One remembers his rash act upon assuming power of enthusiastically tearing up 750 green energy contracts, costing Ontario taxpayers over $230 million. “I’m so proud of that,” Ford said of his decision. “I’m proud that we actually
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