I regret that for the foreseeable future I will not be writing any commentary upon the state of our democracy on these pages due to personal family challenges that must be given a higher priority. This does not mean that I no longer have an ongoing and deep concern for
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The Comprehensive Democrat
When we think about democracy we tend to focus on politics and government. These are rightly at the centre of democratic dialogue as they are our overarching social institutions, but if we are to have a thoroughly democratic society, we cannot limit ourselves to government. We need to consider all
Continue readingThe State of Democracy
There is, it seems, a war against democracy. I hesitate to use the word “war” as it tends to suffer from overuse these days—war on drugs, war on terrorism, etc—but there are certainly powerful forces at work in the world that would like to see less democracy. The hostility arises
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Help, Barbarians at the Gate!!
I just realized that, from British Columbia’s eastern border, the barbarians are in control all the way to Quebec. Scheer and Kenney, Moe, Pallister and Ford. Two thousand miles of knuckle-draggin’ mouth breathers. We don’t need pipelines. We need a wall. Quebec, come in Quebec. — Public intellectual and McMaster
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: The Future of Democracy (repost)
This previously published bit from 2009 in which Steve May‘s seriesis highlighted perhaps shows how little things have changed in 10 years. Much of his series is focused upon “green” issues (and even more relevant now than previously) but the following is food for thought regarding where are we going
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. – Lana Payne highlights how the fight over carbon taxes fits into a broader framework of class warfare – and how the right’s climate nihilism needs to be met with solutions which will include workers in the benefits of an economic transition. – Elise
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: Lies & Spin (repost)
“In a political landscape where lies and spin is the norm we must thank and support those individuals who do not fall prey to this insidious trend, and condemn and publicly identify those who do.” The above quote from the following 2010 article is just as relevant today as it
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: Threats to Democracy (repost)
“An obstacle to democracy is that the value of its name often exceeds the principles of its practice.” From an old speech by former MP David Kilgore – In his speech, of which this is but a few small extracts, he was talking about democracy across the world but it
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: Low taxes are nothing to brag about
I’ve written an opinion piece that appears in today’s Regina Leader-Post. The piece argues that the Saskatchewan government shouldn’t brag about the province’s low-tax climate (which it recently did). Rather, I argue that taxes serve important functions. The link to the opinion piece is here.
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: Democracy Defined
This blog was started about a decade ago to highlight the lack of respect for our democratic conventions by the then second term Harper Regime and to highlight efforts to protect and enhance our system of governance. The change of federal leadership in 2015 gave me hope that the years
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Democracy on Trial – In the United Kingdom
The New York Times headline reads, “‘We’re in the Last Hour’: Democracy Itself Is on Trial in Brexit, Britons Say.” As I’m going through the article, over on LBC radio, London, callers are having their say on whether the UK needs electoral reform, an end to “first past the post.”
Continue readingPolitical Potshots: My Political Epiphany (Well Sort Of…)
Is it just me, or has Canadian politics become a perpetual outrage machine? It is one that I play into often, but for some reason it was started to weigh on me the last few days. I am so tired of this petty bickering with those who are irrelevant. The
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: A Broken System?
Recent events and reports have made it clear that our system of governance has some major flaws in it as it currently operates, whist efforts to improve the way we elect our representatives have failed it is becoming increasing obvious that those we do elect have very little power to
Continue readingThe Political Road Map: Adult Assembly Required: Justin Trudeau & SNC – Lavalin
If anyone can take anything from the past few weeks regarding Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the resignation of Jody Wilson-Raybould, it should be that sometimes even though you try something different, you get the same old turnout. That smile you give when the boss wants you to skirt the
Continue readingPolitical Potshots: Shawcross, And The Difficult Questions
It’s an unpopular opinion, but until I see any actual evidence or statements that show PMO interference in the SNC-Lavalin case, I feel it is much ado about nothing. Today, Judy Wilson-Raybould resigned from cabinet today.. She is still a member of the Liberal caucus. I have a few questions.
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: A Green Revolution?
In a recent interview on CTV Question Period Elizabeth May, the Green Party federal leadersaid that they had been getting an increased interest,and donations, in the party. Hardly a surprise as the choices otherwise are becoming increasingly hard to endorse, the Cons are IMHO so far off the wall both
Continue readingPolitical Potshots: The Long Con And The Overton Window
I have been thinking a lot lately about the Overton window. I am beginning to apply it to long term strategy being employed by Conservative thinkers/politicians in Canada, what I like to refer to as the long con. What is the Overton window? The Overton window is a concept developed
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: Ontario’s Downward Spiral
A not so slow downward spiral from our hard won support services here in Ontario is happening under the Ford regime, almost daily we see reports of this or that being cut or ‘reviewed’ (Ford speak for I’ve already made the decision but will let the public let of steam
Continue readingPolitical Potshots: The Death Of My Electoral Reform Idealism
Perhaps one of the most over-analyzed and oft-criticized campaign promises the Liberals broke from the 2015 campaign was the one on electoral reform – that the 2015 vote would be Canada’s last under first-past-the-post. I knew it was an empty promise from the moment it was spoken, and I would
Continue readingPolitical Potshots: Durham, We Need To Have A Talk About Erin
Dear people of Durham, we need to talk about Erin O’Toole. Your Minister of Parliament is becoming a national joke when it comes to Twitter. Times Erin O’Toole has directly tweeted about GM since the closure announcement? 16. A majority of those tweets were criticizing Justin Trudeau, 3 were criticizing
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