In the wake of the financial crisis of 2007-2008 there was much talk from within and without the economics profession about what went wrong. Many on the outside of the profession viewed the crisis as the result of the slavish … Continue reading →
Continue readingTag: Canadian Politics
Canadian Soapbox: What the federal budget will say, and what it really means…cue Carlin
When Thursday rolls around Canadians will be finding out exactly what kind of government a minority of some 40% chose. We’re being told that the budget will focus on certain or themes. Of course they’ll positioned with nice flowery language, employing plenty of double speak, something politicians do very well. In
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: The Sin of Political Despair
In some people’s holy book, despair is a sin. I always figured that idea came from somebody who wasn’t quite done with you yet. Is Stephen Harper the Prime Minister of Despair? Is that his secret agenda, to get Canadians so despairing of their government that they become alienated, detached
Continue readingI can’t spell: the phonetic problem with homonyms
I can’t, and it has gotten worse. Sure I used to get my i’s and e’s backwards frequently but the difference between there and their or lose and loose almost never. It is now a pathological subterfuge on my part. … Continue reading →
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: A few words on Mulcair’s victory as NDP leader
As one of those who opted to vote for a range of “not-Mulcairs”, I can certainly empathize with those who might be disappointed that Tom Mulcair is now the official resident of Stornoway and the leader of the NDP. As something of a call for unity, I want to make
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Some more thoughts on Mulclair and the Convention in general
After a day and a night of digesting what I saw at the NDP Convention, some thoughts on what I saw and heard: – I’ve heard some say that Mulclair will charged as being an “opportunist” because he’s been associated with or had flirtations with other parties. As Susan Delacourt
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: And the Winner Is . . .
Well, I guess I won’t be turning in my laptop to make my living as a fortune teller. Contrary to my deliberately unconventional prediction, it was Thomas Mulcair who won the NDP leadership race yesterday. Congratulations, Mr. Mulcair. I wish you the best, and hope that your positive attributes (i.e.
Continue readingCanadian Soapbox: Mulclair is a winner, cue the attack ads
He won the battle, Thomas Mulcair is the new leader of the NDP. Now he needs to win the war of bringing his party together. I have no doubt that Conservative strategists are already burning the midnight oil, trying to come up with a plan of attack that will ensure the roughly
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Congratulations to Thomas Mulclair
I’ll have more to say later this weekend.. but I have only 1 plea/request to Mulclair’s handlers/advisers: When the next election’s leader debates happen, please please please don’t let him try to debate by having reading notes with him (even as a Liberal, it would be painful to watch). Otherwise,
Continue readingMulcair Wins. Who Looses?
It is official the NDP now has a former Liberal as the head of their party. Not so bad. The liberals have a former dipper as the head of their party. I think the looser in all of this is … Continue reading →
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Live At The NDP Convention
Jim Calder and I are hanging out here at the BLoggers War Room, observing the festivities and the voting here. It’s been an interesting experience – I can see both the advantages of online voting and one member one vote(and preferential balloting going along with it) – and the disadvantages.
Continue readingwmtc: ndp leadership vote: holding my breath, hoping not to hold my nose
I purposely haven’t blogged about the NDP leadership contest, as I don’t do party politics. But now we’re down to the very end, and I’m worried. A mere skim of the headlines at Progressive Bloggers is eye-opening – and nauseating. So many progressives want to see the party move even
Continue readingCanadian Soapbox: Need to raise taxes or cut services? Hit boomers…
I was born in 1966, and by some warped definition I am somehow included in the post-war baby boom. The baby boom is said to be the result of servicemen coming home after WWII and making up for lost time with their wives in an era that pre-dated birth control. My father however
Continue readingwmtc: bill c-10 wtf: watch and tell stephen harper what you think
Please watch this excellent video about Bill C-10. It’s only 4 minutes and incredibly informative and entertaining. I’m sorry I didn’t see this video before the bill was rubber-stamped in the Conservative-controlled Senate, but that’s what I get for staying away from social media. Even though the law has passed,
Continue reading350 or bust: Election Fraud in Canada?
On this Friday I’ll let Rick Mercer have the last word on the state of democracy in Canada:
Continue reading350 or bust: Obama: It’s Time To End Subsidies To Big Oil
In President Obama’s address last week, he made it clear that it’s time America ends the $4 billion in annual subsidies to oil companies that are earning historic profits, and invests in new technologies. Prime Minister Harper, are you listening? In 2009 PM Harper promised to end subsidies to big
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Maybe the Conservatives picked the wrong party/leader to attack with ads
A new poll is out – released last night from Environics. According to their numbers, the NDP is tied with the Conservatives for popular support: The survey by Environics Research Group provided to The Globe and Mail has the two parties at 30 per cent support among voters. That’s about
Continue readingwmtc: david suzuki fights back: he needs our help
If you have not already done so, please take a moment and send a letter to the Canadian Senate, calling on them to tone down their offensive rhetoric, and stop trying to marginalize and demonize Canadians who stand up for the future of the country (and the planet) by opposing
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Conservative attack ads already? A distraction attempt, I’d say.
Some folks in the media and elsewhere are saying the fact that the Conservatives chose to start running attack ads going after Liberal “still interim” leader Bob Rae means they view him as the de facto next permanent leader and the greater threat then the Opposition NDP’s new leader –
Continue reading350 or bust: The Harper Government’s “Friends With Benefits”
In September 2009, at the G20 summit, Prime Minister Stephen Harper joined world leaders in committing to end government handouts to climate polluters. But the Harper government is still paying Canadian taxpayer’s money to the richest corporations in the world, at the rate of $1.38 BILLION per YEAR, which works
Continue reading