The willingness of new governments to respect rights will determine whether those uprisings give birth to genuine democracy or simply spawn authoritarianism in new forms.
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Politics, Re-Spun: We don’t want your dirty gold: corporate donations and the university
The following is a piece written by contributor Kevin Harding and guest contributor Natalie Gan. The piece was written in 2010, but is being published on Politics Respun for the first time. The issue of controversial corporate donations to public universities is a live one, with the Munk School at
Continue readingChadwick's Blog & Commentary: Musings on public input
When I hear a call for a public meeting, my first thought is to ask why we need it. Is the issue something that absolutely needs more public input above and beyond what is already widely available? Public meetings require considerable … Continue reading →
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: Aaron Swartz, Intellectual Property and the Public Good
Should academic work be locked up like Disney[tm] artifacts? I’ve been quite inspired by this very good analysis of the context surrounding Aaron Swartz’s suicide. As news spread last week that digital rights activist Aaron Swartz had killed himself ahead of a federal trial on charges that he illegally downloaded
Continue readingChadwick's Blog & Commentary: Musings on representational democracy
Representational democracy, says Wikipedia, is “…founded on the principle of elected people representing a group of people, as opposed to direct democracy. All modern Western style democracies are various types of representative democracies…” And so is Canada, and by extension … Continue reading →
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: Quebec, Referendums, and Formulas for Secession
National unity is back in the news after the NDP tabled a private member’s bill yesterday, a bill that would repeal the Clarity Act and set the bar for Quebec sovereignty negotiations at a mere 50 percent plus one in a clearly worded referendum. We all know what that means.
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: “Common Causes” launches with actions in 25 Canadian cities, support for Idle No More
New social movement assembly launches to take on the Harper agenda by Council of Canadians | Jan. 28, 2013: OTTAWA – Community actions are being held in 25 cities across Canada today to step up the opposition to Stephen Harper’s agenda. Community members will gather as part of the launch of Common Causes, a new
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: They Are Not Of Us
An interesting essay from George Monbiot today on the grooming of oligarchs and why, even though they govern in our name, they don’t rule on our behalf. They rule as they were born and raised to rule. An excerpt. In the Origins of Totalitarianism, Hannah Arendt explains that the nobles
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On priorities
In addition to its eminently sensible proposal to give effect to the rights of indigenous Canadians, the NDP also introduced another bill yesterday – and one which looks to raise a few more questions. Lest there be any doubt, that question doesn’t have to do with whether Craig Scott’s bill
Continue readingRedBedHead: SWP: Crisis, Democracy & Renewal
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Continue readingRedBedHead: SWP: Crisis, Democracy & Renewal
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Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: Foundation Skills Assessment: Another Dirty Trick
By Rachel Goodine The FSAs, or Foundation Skills Assessment tests, administered annually in British Columbia since 2000 to students in grades 4 and 7, are once again under way. They began on January 14 and will continue until February 22, 2013. In the meantime, the debate is on. For many,
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: Throw National Post a Lifeline
I haven’t encountered a Kelly McParland article that I can say I agree with. His latest, about Elizabeth May’s attempt to subvert the stalemate in Parliament amongst the opposition parties, is missing the point. May isn’t just out to help the Green Party, which of course is a given, despite
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: President Barack Obama’s 2nd Inaugural Address: VIDEO
Barack Obama took the ceremonial oath of office on Monday for his second term as President of the Unites States. Throughout his historic Inaugural Address, Obama repudiated the right-wing agenda. He urged Americans to cooperate on immigration reform, poverty, climate change, gay rights, economic inequality & other progressive issues. To emphasize this call collective action,
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: President Barack Obama’s 2nd Inaugural Address: Full Text
Barack Obama took the ceremonial oath of office on Monday for his second term as President of the Unites States. Throughout his historic Inaugural Address, Obama repudiated the right-wing agenda. He urged Americans to cooperate on immigration reform, climate change, gay rights, economic inequality & other progressive issues. To emphasize this call collective action, Obama
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: How Millennials Can Improve Everyone’s Job Satisfaction
Quack. It’s 9am, do you know where your millennial employees are? No? No worries. It’s all good. They’re not factory chickens. People who study characteristics of different generations have some incredibly important things to say about how different groups work. Organizations, however, are typically run by older people with their
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Adbusters’ project to “take down Harper”: #SwaggerNoMore
by Adbusters | Jan 17, 2013 “The time has come for all of us to get involved.” He ditched the Kyoto Protocol, voted against Palestine, violated human rights, passed unconstitutional laws, changed the Indian Act illegally, passed several sneaky and sinister omnibus bills . . . he continues to destroy
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: Who’s Running BC?
It has been a month of amateurish politics starting with the government posting the auditor-general’s job. Then this week the government backed down several steps to keep from ejecting the well-respected A-G John Doyle from his chair with an attempt at saving face by changing the legislation surrounding his appointment.
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: What If We Treated Harper Like We Treated Haiti’s Aristide?
Supporters of former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide chant and display signs outside the courthouse in Port au Prince on Wednesday, Jan. 9. When they learned that the prosecutor, Lucmane Delille, had gone to Aristide’s home to question him, a river of tens if not hundreds of thousands of people marched
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