Last evening I wrote a brief post on how the Harper regime is exploiting the tragedy in Gaza for political gain. Anon responded with the following: It is worse than no shame. It is disgusting. Over 630 people have died, including 30 Israelis and over 600 Palestinians, mostly non combatants
Continue readingTag: harper contempt for democracy
Politics and its Discontents: Harper’s Reign Of Terror – Part 2
Yesterday I wrote a post on the war being conducted by Stephen Harper and his cadre against dissent in Canada. Specifically, the Prime Minister is diverting CRA resources and taxpayer monies to investigate those non-profits not on board with his agenda. Environmental groups have been especially hard hit. Today comes
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: On Harper’s Reign of Terror
Last week, Owen wrote a post he entitled Corrupting Civil Society, a reflection on the Harper war on non-profits that stand in opposition to any of his regime’s agenda. I recommend reading it for a good overview of the situation. In yesterday’s Star, three letters articulated three excellent perspectives on
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Not So Hard To Understand
This morning’s Star reports the fact that Canada’s sesquicentennial in 2017 is eliciting something less than enthusiasm from the majority of Canadians living outside of Alberta: Albertans are far more excited than other Canadians about the looming 150th birthday of the country in 2017, a new poll has found. A
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: On Federal Byelections
It is commonly held that Stephen Harper chose June 30 for the four recent byelections in the anticipation that turnout would be low. Even the advance polls, which were set for Friday and Saturday of what for many would be a long weekend, offered little motivation for the winter-weary to
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Long Reach Of Partisan Politics
h/t Montreal Simon In Ontario, we noticed the long federal reach of divisive partisan politics during our recent election. Joe Oliver, our alleged finance minister, interposed his views, lamenting the fiscal state of Ontario that, according to him, is bringing down the rest of Canada. Of course, the disingenuous Uncle
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Thomas Walkom Misses The Mark
One of the reasons I subscribe to The Toronto Star is the quality of its columnists. Tim Harper, Martin Regg Cohn, Thomas Walkom, Heather Mallick, etc. rarely disappoint. However, no one is perfect, and today’s column by Walkom is not up to his usual critical standards. Entitled Conservatives’ downfall could
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: On Harper’s Unhealthy Interest in Us
Even though we are away, I arose early enough to peruse The Toronto Star, and offer the following as additional evidence of its readers’ perspicacity: Re: Harper nominates next privacy watchdog, May 29 Keep an eye on our spies, Editorial June 1I applaud the Star for taking a robust stand
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: On The Madness of ‘King’ Stephen
Whenever I need evidence that politically aware and engaged citizens are not an endangered species, I turn to the letters section of The Toronto Star. Here are two from yesterday and one from today that amply demonstrate resistance to the kind of group-think so much beloved of the extreme right:
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Contempt Of The Electorate?
Tom, a friend of mine, posted the following on Facebook yesterday: Kind of tired of all the polemical posturing in the latest election. However, can anyone provide one instance in history — at least, since the advent of the Industrial Revolution — where, corporate or business tax cuts, the basis
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Signs
While I have never been one to use the term fascist profligately, the creeping authoritarianism that has been the hallmark of the Harper regime gives pause for reconsideration. As the above graphic shows, and as any well-informed citizen knows, the cabal has been intent for many years on tearing down
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Who’s Afraid Of The Big Bad Electorate?
Some critical thinkers might conclude it is the Harper regime, given the curious date they have assigned for four federal byelections. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Why Is The Harper Regime Surveilling Us?
It’s a good question, but unfortunately and predictably, the government is providing us with no answers. As reported in today’s Star, The federal privacy watchdog’s concerns over electronic snooping are being met with silence from members of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s cabinet. Interim Privacy Commissioner Chantal Bernier directly appealed to
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Digital Peeping Toms: They Don’t Even Bother To Hide Anymore
That is certainly the conclusion I drew after reading this morning’s latest Star revelation about our overlords in Ottawa. Entitled Ottawa is ‘creeping’ your Facebook, the article by Alex Boutilier reveals yet more unwholesome intrusions into our privacy being conducted by the Harper regime. In a January report to Parliament,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Unfit To Govern
I have to admit that even though I am now in my sixties, I have never before witnessed the kind of behaviour on the part of a Canadian government as I have of the Harper regime. Contemptuous of opposing views, ready to vilify opponents at every turn, the regime has
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Well-Said
While I may write something of my own later today, the letters in this morning’s Star are both incisive and damning of the Harper regime’s penchant for insinuating itself into our lives by bribing telecoms and social media to turn over our private date at the rrate of $1 to
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: If You Value Your Privacy
Watch. Learn. Share freely. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Are We Feeling Any Outrage Yet?
If we care a scintilla about privacy or any measure of aversion to government snooping into our private business, we damn well should be. As I wrote in yesterday’s post, the Harper regime and its complicit agencies, intoxicated with power, have been requesting (sans warrants) and receiving data on us
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Less Than Meets The Eye
Were average citizens given to much political reflection, they would realize that from start to finish, the ‘Fair’ Elections Act has been almost exclusively about both discouraging people from voting and suppressing the vote of those who do not fit the Conservative Party’s target ‘audience.’ Even in light of yesterday’s
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Sometimes, Clicking Your Heels Does Not Send You To Kansas
This thoughtful letter explains why: Re: Tory MP takes aim at elections watchdog, April 9 When it comes to fairness and objectivity, I have more faith in the former auditor general of Canada, Sheila Fraser, and in the current chief electoral officer, Marc Mayrand, than in Pierre Poilievre, the arrogant
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