A slightly shorter version of this piece written with Jordan Himelfarb appeared here in The Toronto Star. It’s just possible that 2014 will be seen as the year that taxes made a comeback in Canada. Not so long ago Stéphane Dion tried to put a green “tax shift” on the
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Accidental Deliberations: Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. – Thomas Walkom discusses why politicians have thus far failed to take any meaningful action on climate change. But it’s also worth noting that the question of whether voters are pushing for change may not be the only determining factor in government decision-making. Most
Continue readingAlex's Blog: Austerity and Trickle Down Meanness
Alex Himelfarb, former clerk of the Privy Council, was interviewed by Adam Kahane. POSSIBLE CANADAS ON BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES In this excerpt of Adam Kahane’s interview published here in the Globe and Mail I focus on austerity and trickle down meanness. What keeps you up at night? Himelfarb: The number
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Collective Bargaining and the Eurozone Crisis
Since the beginning of the Eurozone crisis in 2008, most attention has been focused on the recurring and persistent struggles against ‘austerity’. Austerity, in this sense, refers to the politics of cutting public spending – primarily in the areas of social programs like unemployment benefits, disability benefits, ‘public goods’ such
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Austerity policies and trade unionism: A glance at Portugal ~ Global Labour Column
Austerity policies and trade unionism: A glance at Portugal ~ Global Labour Column. By Elisio Estanque and Hermes Augusto Costa Wage labour played and continues to play a central role in Western industrial societies, not just on the economic plane but above all as a vital support for social cohesion
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On managerial lapses
Shorter Tony Clement: I believe there’s an art to managing public money. And that’s why I see no problem whatsoever with budgets which are works of fiction.
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Revealed: how the wealth gap holds back economic growth | Business | The Guardian
Revealed: how the wealth gap holds back economic growth | Business | The Guardian. The west’s leading economic thinktank on Tuesday dismissed the concept of trickle-down economics as it found that the UK economy would have been more than 20% bigger had the gap between rich and poor not widened
Continue readingArt Threat: Activist pasts, austere presents, queered futures: An interview with Emily Davidson
“Imagine a new relationship to every aspect of everything.” “Capitalism has fallen; Art must be redefined.” “You get to pick your gender when you come of age, but feel free to change your mind.” “Living together is still hard; Art makes it better.” These missives from the Inner City Artists’
Continue readingPolitical Eh-conomy: A review of Naomi Klein’s This Changes Everything
I have another piece up at Ricochet: a review of Naomi Klein’s big book on climate change, This Changes Everything. It’s friendly but critical, looking at what the book’s themes of austerity, the local and extractivism mean for how we build politics against climate change. I’ve included it in full below… Naomi
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – Dennis Raphael and Toba Bryant write about the devastating health effects of income inequality in Canada: Imagine the response, from industry, government and the public, if a plane was crashing every day. If there were something that killed as many people in a
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: The Eurozone’s ‘New Austerity Model’ » CounterPunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names
The Eurozone’s ‘New Austerity Model’ » CounterPunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names. by Jack Rasmus In the coming weeks and months, as the Eurozone economy weakens still further, it is likely that debates and splits within the Eurozone capitalist elites will continue to intensify. The Eurozone economy has never
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Paul Krugman discusses the U.S.’ multi-decade pattern of income stagnation. David MacDonald and Kayle Hatt study the price we’ve paid to suit the Cons’ political purposes, while Kristin Rushowy reports on two new calls for a genuine child care system. And Andrew
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – Jenny Uechi and Warren Bell expose Canada’s embarrassing place as the only government participating in a climate-denial group pushing for a dirty war against the planet. But despite the Harper Cons’ worst efforts, there’s some good news on the climate front – as
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Renzi seeks to avert labour battlefield – English – ANSA.it
Renzi seeks to avert labour battlefield – English – ANSA.it. Rome, November 7 – Italian Premier Matteo Renzi on Friday reiterated a warning against letting labour-reform issues become a “terrain of conflict”. “I’ve made this appeal in the last few days and I’ll make it again,” he said at
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Unions incensed after ‘surreal’ meeting – English – ANSA.it
Unions incensed after ‘surreal’ meeting – English – ANSA.it. (ANSA) – Rome, October 27 – The leaders of Italy’s four main labor union federations were incensed Monday after a meeting with government ministers, ostensibly to discuss the government’s proposed 2015 budget, turned out to be what they said was a
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: CGIL rally: 1 million, plus 1,000 police, and PD MPs – English – ANSA.it
CGIL rally: 1 million, plus 1,000 police, and PD MPs – English – ANSA.it. (ANSA) – Rome, October 24 – As many as one million people, one thousand police officers, and a small number of dissident members of the governing Democratic Party (PD) are expected at a major rally called
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Morning Star :: Swedish government reveals progressive budget
Morning Star :: Swedish government reveals progressive budget. Filed under: Austerity Tagged: Austerity, Europe, social democracy, Sweden
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Will The Juncker Commission Continue To Entrench Neoliberal Policies?
Will The Juncker Commission Continue To Entrench Neoliberal Policies?. A few days ago, the designated European Commission finally showed its true colours: It wants to make sure that its economic policy recommendations become enforceable. Deregulation of rent setting systems, adjusting the retirement age to account for life expectancy and increased
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Mark Blyth: The Return Of Class Politics In The UK
Mark Blyth: The Return Of Class Politics In The UK. For David Cameron, cutting spending in a highly unequal society works because it doesn’t affect those who matter to him. This used to be called class politics. The prime minister’s speech at the lord mayor’s banquet last year was notable in part
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Thomas Frank reviews Zephyr Teachout’s Corruption in America, and finds there’s even more reason to worry about gross wealth buying power than we could identify before: We think of all the laws passed over the years to restrict money in politics —
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