The problem with basing a party’s rhetoric on theories which can be directly and obviously disproven by events beyond their control is that events happen. With that in mind, over to you, people whinging about the candidates for Finance Minister under an NDP government: The NDP Leader also announced that
Continue readingTag: canada 2015
Accidental Deliberations: On progressive evaluations
I’ll give Emmett MacFarlane the benefit of the doubt in having missed one of the NDP’s key promises while assessing the Libs’ attempt to mimic Kathleen Wynne’s campaigning on the title of “progressive” in the absence of any intention to follow up while on power. But leaving aside the utter
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, expanding on this post as to how we should be criticizing the politicians who are wilfully misleading the public about the future of Canada’s oil industry – and not the ones who are willing to keep living in reality once a campaign is on. And if Stephen Harper comes
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Vanessa Houlder reports on the OECD’s call for countries to make far more of an effort to ensure tax compliance among their wealthiest individuals. – Scott Gilmore discovers the abusiveness of the payday loan industry by accident due to a lender’s confusion
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – Roderick Benns interviews Chantelle Scott about the role a basic income could play in fostering business development: Scott says she would have preferred to have been able to take some business courses and learn more before jumping into opening a store – but
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On cooperative options
I’ve previously excoriated the Libs for the connection between their refusal to talk about cooperation with other parties and their complete lack of any idea what they supposedly stand for. And nothing in the campaign to date changes that analysis. By the same token, I’ll give credit where due to
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – David Cay Johnston observes that the U.S.’ extreme inequality goes far beyond money alone. And Jesse Myerson notes that a basic income can be supported based on principles held across the political spectrum, while making the case as to how it should
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material to start your week. – Crawford Kilian reviews Tom Mulcair’s Strength of Conviction and describes what we can expect out of an NDP federal government as a result: He seems likely to be a very pro-family PM, if only because his own family clearly shaped him that way.
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On fear merchants
Shorter Stephen Harper: It’s not paranoid fearmongering if somebody’s really out to get you. So here’s to four more years of a government who’s really out to get you.
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Richard Nisbett comments on the situational determinants of behaviour which are far too often mistaken for merit or accomplishment. Libby Kane points out how increasing inequality and the predictable social segregation which follows makes it harder for the lucky few to see
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. – Robin Sears discusses the hubris behind the Cons’ early election call, while Tim Naumetz notes that the extended campaign is just one more issue where the Cons are offside of the vast majority of the public. And the Guardian comments on the reasons
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Burning question
So apparently this week’s Macleans debate went ahead despite the exclusion of a party leader with seats in Parliament who wanted to be heard. Which raises the question: how is it that Elizabeth May didn’t refuse to participate, as she demands everybody else do when the shoe is on the
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Juxtaposition
ZOMG A CANDIDATE SAID UNFETTERED TARSANDS EXTRACTION WON’T GO ON FOREVER!!!! HERESY AGAINST OUR PETROLEUM OVERLORDS!!! THAT PARTY IS DOOMED!!! DOOMED I SEZ!!! Also, pay no attention to this guy: Justin Trudeau: The reason environmental groups in Canada and across the United States are so concerned about Canadian oil is
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – Christos Tsiolkas talks to Yanis Varoufakis about the Troika’s appalling contempt for Greek democracy. And Barbara Ehrenreich laments the fact that only well-off people are given any meaningful opportunity to speak about poverty and deprivation – though that should highlight the need for
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: And the verdict is…
Having set out my criteria for watching tonight’s leaders’ debate in today’s column, I’ll offer a quick rundown as to my evaluation. Justin Trudeau was by far the weakest of the lot in terms of both depth and flexibility of thought from the very beginning, answering Paul Wells’ question about
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, with my suggestions as to what viewers should watch for in tonight’s leaders’ debate – particularly in a campaign where we’ll have ample opportunity to see everything but interaction between party leaders. For further reading…– David Reevely describes the staging behind most of the campaign events we’ll see between
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Michael Leachman debunks the claim that progressive tax rates on the rich cause any problems from an economic development standpoint. And Daisy Srblin argues for a strong and unapologetic movement toward a fairer tax system: It is now up to the left
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On unforeseen consequences
In retrospect, we should have figured that when the Cons made submission to enhanced interrogation a requirement for entry into their campaign events, they were setting themselves up for this kind of audience reaction: But rest assured, if nobody’s happy to see Harper arrive or speak, there are plenty of
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – Michael Hiltzik discusses how corporate apologists are trying (but failing) to minimize the existence and importance of income inequality. Lawrence Martin notes that the rest of Canada’s economic indicators are similarly signalling that Conservative dogma is of absolutely no use in the real
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – Robert Reich describes how U.S. voters are rejecting the concept of a ruling class from both the left and the right – while noting that it’s vital to get the answer right as to which alternative is worth pursuing. And Owen Jones
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