Voting is a concept that many people just don’t understand anymore. At one time, it was regarded as an honour and privilege to vote. Now, most people regard it as a chore… A voluntary civic duty that they can partake in only if they feel like it. Ho…
Continue readingTag: election
Bill Given: Finally, a GREAT Question! I vent a little, be prepared.
I had a great question on Facebook and when I started a response it went from being a comment to a full-fledged note to finally this post. The issue is big enough that it deserves a full discussion and this is the kind of thing that hasn’t happened in …
Continue readingBill Given: Chamber of Commerce Survey Responses
Around election time a number of different organizations want to hear candidates views on specific issues. I previously posted my responses to a survey from the CFIB and you can see my responses (and all the other candidates in GP) to the Canadian Canc…
Continue readingBill Given: Eastlink Mayoral Interview
Eastlink is Grande Prairie’s local cable television provider. I went in to the studio for a short Q & A last week. Here’s the interview:
Check Eastlink’s Youtube channel for interviews with the other candidates.
Continue readingAustralia Decides 2010 (Finally) – My Predictions for the Next 3 Years
After weeks of indecision following the closest-race-in-Australian-electoral-history (probably?), Australia finally has a government. On 21 August, every Australian went to the polls (because they were illiberally forced to by their rights-denying government) to vote for the new government. Prior to the campaign, Labor leader and incumbent Prime Minister Julia Gillard enjoyed considerable support and was […]
Continue readingbastard.logic: (Long) Guns and Butter, Meet Fox News North
by matttbastard Over at his humble pad, Progressive Bloggers head honcho Scott Tribe warns NDP leader Jack Layton that his party may face electoral consequences if his maddeningly milquetoast stance on Canada’s Long Gun Registry leads to its repeal: Rather then … Continue reading →
Pop The Stack: Ibbitson Gets Some of it Right and Some of it Wrong
I have to respond to the Globe and Mail’s article today by John Ibbitson “Parliament takes another step toward being a true arm of government”. It has a lots of good facts, a couple good points and a few misleading and incorrect conclusions. Friday’s accord on releasing Afghan detainee documents… marks the rise of Parliament as a genuine […]
Pop The Stack: Time to Come Together Around Democratic Reform
Today I’m going to tell you my vision for creating a national discussion about Democratic Reform. If you’re a regular reader of PopTheStack you know that one of the things I’m really passionate about is fixing our democracy in Canada. There are lots of things wrong with the way that voices of Canadians are heard, […]
bastard.logic: Cameron Tories Quietly Castigate Single Mothers: J.K. Rowling Brings Teh Pwn
by matttbastard A kinder, gentler Conservative Party (UK)? That’s certainly the image Conservative leader David Cameron has been desperate to project ever since he took the reigns of the so-called ’nasty party’. But Harry Potter impresario (and single parent) J.K. Rowling isn’t buying the … Continue reading →
Pop The Stack: The Next GG Should be Elected
News today that Prime Minister Stephen Harper is looking for a new Governor General. A number of names have already been suggested for possible replacements. I won’t speculate but my guess is we won’t get another former CBC employee. But I’d like to suggest to the Prime Minister that he think creatively about this choice. […]
Pop The Stack: Liberals Need to Stand Out and Stand Up
Gordon Gibson has a nice piece today in the Globe and Mail today on how the Liberals can differentiate themselves in the next election and help the country with a big problem at the same time. It turns out, Gordon agrees with me, that Electoral Reform is the safest and most exciting issue for the […]
bastard.logic: Irony is Dead, Redux
by matttbastard Education reformers were out in full force at this past Sunday’s Perry-Palin rally in Texas (I truly heart Moran Country). (Also, TEH NUGE!!!1one Ain’t no party like a Tea Party partaaaay.) h/t Adam Serwer Photo: Bryan Fotographer, Houston Press Recommend this … Continue reading →
Pop The Stack: Today, we stand for democracy.
Throughout our land today, we raise our voices for democracy. We march in peaceful protest to send a message to you who claim to lead us, be you blue, red or orange. The message: This shall not stand. We raise our voices today to remind you that you serve at our leisure, not your own, […]
Pop The Stack: Liberals stand out like a raisin in a raisin muffin.
Its clear that the with the prorogation of parliament the Conservative party has wasted most of its ‘benefit of the doubt’ support that was keeping it ahead of the Liberals. A new poll shows the two parties are neck in neck in national support. Just as clearly, this statistical tie has not come about because […]
Thus Prate the Pundit » Social Critique: Vote Swapping Breaks Democracy
I’ve always thought the concept of vote-swapping was problematic. Not only is it flawed in its own right but treating it as an acceptable strategy is like snuggling up to the idea that one party can function as a spoiler and that somehow, certain parties are entitled to votes. This
Continue reading