I won’t claim to match Stephen Lautens’ collection of #MacKayTees. But I will add a couple to the mix. First, making using of a picture which fortuitously made its way around the Internets yesterday: And second, encapsulating conservatism in four small words:
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Politics, Re-Spun: Stop Listening to the Big Oil Spin!
Do the math. Please. For a great long time, I’ve been talking about how we must dump the oil, gas, fracking, tankers, pipelines, coal…all the carbon-based energy systems because of climate breakdown [aka climate change, aka global warming, aka the greenhouse effect]. We need to transform our society to a
Continue readingMelissa Fong: Overheard in Toronto – On #RobFord’s Critics
On #RobFord’s Critics: “You know why Rob Ford still wins and will keep on winning? All these people in the newspapers, writing blogs and rushing to criticize him are upper-middle […]
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: The Great Conservative Lie
Virtually all incidences of modern Conservatism – Canada and the US, federally, state/provincially and municipally, from politician to politician – has a consistent central theme. Campaign planks comes and go, but this is the frame of the Conservative movement. It is also a lie, known by all who say it
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: Fried Squirrels
It’s a crisp, foggy November Saturday morning in the south side of the city. Seventeen people sit in the large open area at the back end of an organic fair trade coffee shop run by a workers’ co-op inspired by the Mondragon movement in Spain. Meet-ups like this are quite
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: George Osborne’s Economic Policy: More Poverty, Worse Public Servies
Check out @chakrabortty’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/chakrabortty/status/409810696763760640 Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Austerity, Conservatism, neoliberalism
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: The Grand Old Tea Party | The Nation
The Grand Old Tea Party | The Nation. A Democratic president begins a new term in the White House. Two years later, America votes a cadre of aggressive conservatives into Congress, loaded for bear. At first the Republican establishment, thrilled to have the Democrats on the run, puts its
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Conservatism and the Crisis of the Republic
This is an extract from Cicero’s legal defense of Sestius, delivered in 56 BCE. Cicero is often considered to be the founding father of ‘republicanism’ but has influenced the likes of Edmund Burke and Friedrich von Hayek. In the speech, he articulates the conservative program for defending the republic against
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Tea Party Support Dwindles to Near-Record Low
http://www.gallup.com/poll/164648/tea-party-support-dwindles-near-record-low.aspx Filed under: conservatism Tagged: Conservatism, far-right, US Politics
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: A conservatism is spreading that the Tories can’t fathom | John Harris | Comment is free | The Guardian
A conservatism is spreading that the Tories can’t fathom | John Harris | Comment is free | The Guardian. A month or so ago, when the public’s opposition to any intervention in Syria was revealed, the stock explanation of their views was pretty simple – boiling down to Iraq, the unhinged premiership
Continue readingArt Threat: Conservative Christ illustrates America’s evil Jesus
The latest work by American artist Michael D’Antuono has once again drawn ire from US conservatives for pointing out the hypocrisy amongst their ranks. His latest work, The Conservative Christ, depicts Jesus with an AK-47 hoisted into their air, clutching tightly to a pot of gold, and sneering derisively at
Continue readingThe Ranting Canadian: Canada’s annual protest against women’s rights was…
Canada’s annual protest against women’s rights was held at Parliament Hill on May 9, 2013, drawing thousands of right-wing busybodies who can’t keep their authoritarianism in their pants. The name of the yearly “March For Life” is misleading, because most of the religious fanatics who attend these events are very
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: Did Earth Day Not Quite Do It For You This Year?
Some years, Earth Day clicks for people in a profound way. I’ve spoken to a few who were distinctly non-plussed with how things didn’t come together for them and their dreams this year. If you need some optimism for the rest of your week, check out this compendium. Pay attention
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: But They’re Not Alone. U.S. Politicians Overestimate Their Constituents Conservatism
Republicans and even Democrats have been found to think their constituents much more conservative than they are in fact. It’s no surprise, therefore, that they govern according to false perception and at odds with the public they purport to serve. Conducted by the University of California’s David Broockman and University
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: New Studies Confirm Conservatives are Fear-Driven
Sideshow Steve Harper understands the power of fear to distract and manipulate his supporters. He conjures up images of threats and dangers and watches his Conservative flock recoil in shock and terror. Two new studies confirm the brain differences between conservative and liberal minds. First, in the American Journal of
Continue readingThe Ranting Canadian: Any fool who still says “better dead than red” in…
Any fool who still says “better dead than red” in this day and age should have to prove it. Try both options and get back to us.
Continue readingAutonomy For All: One Liberalism Through the Ages
This was originally published at Open Left, I am republishing it here as a starting point to further updates on these topics and themes. – D. Last weekend Paul wrote: Moreover, by the 1870s, British liberals had become quite aware that their previous understanding of economic freedom was a hollow joke,
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: What Does Adbusters Ask of You in 2013?
From the people who suggested the modest idea of occupying Wall Street, Adbusters has sent out a new half dozen suggestions to fix the economic cancers of capitalism. Here’s my favourite, and it’s a little policy wonky:
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: Privatization Via Blackmail
If you want to see why there isn’t much of a real left wing in the USA, this graph of those seeking the White House in 2008 pretty much covers it. 2008 US presidential candidates show little actual left wing juice. If you want proof of how the neoliberal US
Continue readingCanada II: Political War on Words
I think that progressives need to wake up. You see, the conservatives have been at war with us for decades now. It isn’t simply that they prefer slightly different policies than us. They want to dismantle all of the positive work done over the last few generations and put in
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