Assorted content to start your week. – Cédric Durand and Razmig Keucheyan highlight the return of economic planning as a widely-recognized public policy option – while pointing out the need for our democratic systems to allow for public direction of the planning process. And Lauren Townsend writes about the importance
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Susan on the Soapbox: Cowboys and Politicians
It’s the last day of the Calgary Stampede. It’s also the last day for politicians to dress up as cowboys for one last photo-op before getting back to business of politics. The issue we have with this photo isn’t that these men aren’t real cowboys but that they’re not
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Mr Kenney’s Laundry List
In a manner befitting the serious business of governing, the Alberta UCP caucus celebrated the end of the spring session by jumping into the reflecting pool in front of the Legislature. Perhaps it was the strain of being held to account by the NDP Opposition for seven whole weeks
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Morning Links
This and that for your mid-week reading. – Rick Salutin discusses the needed rise of left-wing populism in the U.S.’ presidential campaign (and elsewhere). – Ed Finn highlights how policies designed around austerity and competition are designed to prevent people from cooperating toward the common good. And Erlend Kvitrud points
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: The minimum wage creates jobs—who knew?
With the election of conservative governments in Ontario and Alberta, progress on minimum wages in those provinces came to a screaming halt. In Ontario, the planned increase to $15 an hour was cancelled and capped at $14. In Alberta the minimum wage of $15 an hour was reduced to $13
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: The Race to the Bottom: US & China
It is a wonderful time to be alive. Our social sphere is a dividedly partisan uncharitable hot mess. Nothing gets done because the status quo recognizes that people working together have the capacity to radically alter society. Internecine conflict and partisan yelling matches are not an accident. They conveniently combust
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – Nick Hanauer discusses the futility of “educationism” which treats schools as the only factor in social outcomes without recognizing the importance of inequality and precarity in restricting opportunities for far too many children. And PressProgress points out that Brian Pallister’s Manitoba PCs –
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: $33USD/Hour To Match Wall St
If you’re working in a more just world, or if CEOs were less greedy, the minimum wage in the USA would be very different. People would be insulted by the $15 for Fairness push underway today, that would be about a 50% pay-cut.
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Stephen Maher writes that Michael Cooper’s choice to give voice to the Christchurch shooter’s manifesto represents a test of Andrew Scheer’s willingness to take action to match his words. And Scheer’s choice to quietly shuffle Cooper out of a single committee assignment
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – Joseph Stiglitz points out the need to move beyond neoliberalism and offers a useful policy framework to do so – though framing an alternative as “progressive capitalism” cedes far more ground than necessary in continuing to prioritize capital over social well-being. – The
Continue readingThings Are Good: How to Avoid and Economic Crisis while Addressing the Climate Crisis
The impacts of the climate crisis increase in reach and damage every year with more people feeling the consequences. People have finally woken up to the fact that we need to act now to curb more climate chaos, the problem is that economists might figure that out too. Properties built
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: Life Changes Only When We Say “Enough” Collectively – Winnipeg 1919
The working conditions we have today were born in struggle and paid for in blood. We don’t understand the sacrifices others made for us these days. Not completely our fault as the Powers that Be have employed several strategies against the working class, most notably, divide and conquer, to ensure
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – The Guardian offers a few expert perspectives on how to fix the U.S.’ broken economic system. And Hassan Yussuff writes that the centennial of the Winnipeg General Strike should remind us of the importance and power of mass political action. – Randy
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material to start your week. – Daniel Drenzer reviews Joseph Stiglitz’ People, Power and Profits, while noting the importance of pairing progressive policy ideas with a plan for implementation. And Laura Davison points out how Donald Trump’s massive tax losses which kept him from contributing to the U.S.’ public
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Lessons from the AFL and AOC
What if we’ve run out of time? What if there’s no time left for baby steps; for one step forward and two steps back? What if it’s time to go big or go home? Last weekend Ms Soapbox attended two events focused on our future. One was a convention hosted
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – Edward Kleinbard argues that citizens should be asking the question of whether markets actually serve society’s best interests – while pointing out the compelling evidence to suggest they don’t at the moment. And David Love writes about the increasing recognition among the exceedingly
Continue readingThings Are Good: A High Minimum Wage is Good for Everybody
Raising the minimum wage helps you no matter how much you earn. The next time the debate about whether or not your region of the world should raise wages you ought to argue for rating wages. The only downside of getting paid more is that…well, nothing really. Don’t believe the
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material to start your week. – Cory Booker rightly questions why corporations are hoarding the wealth created by the work of their employees. And Richard Reeves wonders why so many workers are left unable to find jobs with even remotely decent wages, particularly without signing over their lives in
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Is It Too Late For The Facts?
Where is Sgt Joe Friday when you need him? Sgt Friday is the detective from Dragnet known for saying, “Just the facts, ma’am” when he’s investigating a crime. Why are we talking about facts? Joe “Just the facts, ma’am” Friday Because Jason Kenney has yet to be sworn into office
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
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