Pollister Nick Nanos opines in the G&M that perhaps Canada is a ‘joyless democracy’ and points to the fundamental disconnect between the economic numbers hurled at Canadians and the anxiety we feel about the future. He continues by wondering if there is a fundamental disconnect between democratic sentiment and parliamentary
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Accidental Deliberations: Wednesday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – Polly Toynbee and David Walker write about the brutal social consequences of a decade of austerity in the UK. – Andrew Jackson reviews James Crotty’s Keynes Against Capitalism with a strong emphasis on Keynes’ recognition of the need for a democratically-planned economy. –
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: On the need for politics #nlpoli
Politics [is] the art of pursuing common interests through …active listening, advocacy, public persuasion, compromise and negotiation. Bob Rae William Ford Coaker,the father of the Commission The people from Newfoundland and Labrador quoted in the Globe and Mail on Friday described the problem facing the province today. We are not
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: Ten things to know about subsidized rental housing in Alberta
In anticipation of next week’s Alberta budget, I’ve written a ‘top 10’ overview of subsidized rental housing in the province. Points raised in the blog post in include the following: -On a per capita basis, Alberta has far fewer subsidized housing units than the rest of Canada. -In 2017, BC’s
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Degeneration, Collapse, and Rebirth
What we are facing is systemic degeneration: ecologically, culturally, spiritually, intellectually, psychologically, socially, and biologically in terms of degenerating health and shortening life spans. This is the slow-motion collapse of a civilization. What is needed is not to self-medicate or mask the symptoms, or to manage the symptoms of degeneration,
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: Bernie Won Iowa Popular Vote
Here’s Mayor Pete’s opinion on getting the most votes: “At risk of sounding a little simplistic, one thing I believe is that in an American Presidential election, the person who gets the most votes ought to be the person who wins.” #CNNTownHall #PeteforAmerica pic.twitter.com/L2KCeyqMDO — Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) March 11,
Continue readingThe EU Declares War
I apologize for the alarmist headline. The European Union hasn’t actually declared war, more a case of having recognized a war, a shadow war. Vera Jourova, Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency, claims Russia and China are engaging in a “digital war” with fake news and
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: Transactivism in a Nutshell – Douglas Murray
This is what it looks like to take a stand for decency, transparency and democratic values in society. Douglas Murray offers his services to defend one of his intellectual foes, because her safety and freedom are being placed in jeopardy by violent males (see trans activists). “To Todd’s
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: The beginning of the end?
As my ever decreasing small cadre of regular readers will know I no longer write here on a regular basis having become so disillusioned with world wide ‘democracy’ that I have little positive to say. Here in Canada it has not yet reached the depth of disillusionment that appears to
Continue readingIs the Democratic World Losing India?
India has been a jewel in the crown of democracy ever since it achieved independence in 1947. Despite mass poverty, religious and caste violence, insurgencies, separatism in Jammu and Kashmir, and feuds with its neighbours, it has remained democratic with respect for civil liberties, an active supreme court and a
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: Lawrence Lessig – On The Tribal Problem of American Democracy.
Lessig speaks to the notion that the media divide in American culture lies near the root of many of the countries problems when it comes to their democratic process. “What is the role of education in a democracy? Must the electorate be informed? What happens when we are operating
Continue readingThings Are Good: It’s Time to Topple the Voting System
Modern democracy is under a lot of scrutiny this century as we’ve seen increased corruption by established political parties and a manipulation of bureaucratic processes to benefit the elite. The rise populism is a reaction to a perception that the electoral system isn’t reflecting the people, the system isn’t actually
Continue readingDemocracy or Putinism?
Vladimir Putin has been quoted as saying that the collapse of the Soviet Union was the “greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century.” Whether or not his words have been interpreted correctly is a matter of dispute; nonetheless, his compatriots apparently agree with the sentiment. According to a recent survey by
Continue readingIn-Sights: Democratic delusion
“Politics has become so expensive that it takes a lot of money even to be defeated.” Even with contribution limits, generous as they are, government remains biased toward serving interests of prosperous citizens…
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: Is it all about the $$$?
Regular readers, all two or three of you, will know that I have had little to say here at Democracy Under Fire during the recent election period, the manure being spread was simply too deep for this old fellow to wade through. Now that the BS is gradually subsiding I
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: Behind Chile’s political crisis
More than one million people marched in Santiago on October 26 to protest the Government’s security response to Chile’s current political crisis and to demand structural economic reforms to reduce inequality and increase social services. In this post I analyze these grievances from a quantitative perspective and explore what it
Continue readingThings Are Good: Canadians: Go Vote!
vote! People in Hong Kong are currently in the streets fighting for a small amount of democracy, and similar struggles exist around the world. In too many places the concept of democracy is under attack and if you live in a country in which democracy is strong it still requires
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Best Way To Effect Change
H/t Michael De Adder Should you need further encouragement, read the columns by Martin Regg Cohn and Susan Delacourt. Says Cohn: Decide for yourself who to vote for but whatever your decision, do not persuade yourself that your vote doesn’t matter. Nothing is more corrosive than cynicism at a time
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: Minority Coalition Parliaments
As one of the ‘leaders’ trying to become our next prime minister shows his true colours by spouting lies and false information I urge those of you who have yet to vote to be very careful what you wish for, or more correctly who you vote for. I will not
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: No change in the weather? No change in we. #nlpoli
The problem we have is not a lack of options and opportunities to sort out the government finances ourselves. The problem facing Newfoundland and Labrador is that the leading people of the province, not just the politicians but all the leading people, don’t have the stomach for making the kinds
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