You decide. H/t Michael Nabert Meanwhile, Bruce Anderson wonders about the implications for our democracy in Mr. Harper’s pontifications on what women should and should not wear. Stephen Harper says covering your face is concealing, not expressing, a “Canadian” identity. He didn’t argue that it was a security threat. He
Continue readingTag: harper demagoguery
Politics and its Discontents: I Start To Worry
This is, I believe, the second time in recent weeks that I have agreed with Rex Murphy. You see my problem. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: About The "Harper Gestapo Act" And Other Prime Ministerial Fear Mongering
I would feel much more hopeful about October’s election if I believed this kind of critical thinking were common among our fellow citizens: Re: Tory rhetoric defies belief, Editorial March 12Re: Terror a diversionary tactic, Letter March 12 As a Canadian-born Jew I am offended at Public Safety Minister Steven
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Harper To Muslims: Prove You Are With Us
That certainly is the implication given the tone that Diane Ablonczy takes with National Council of Canadian Muslims executive director Ihsaan Gardee during hearings on Bill C-51. As you will see, however, the latter eloquently and quite effectively denounces the spirit of McCarthyism behind Ablonczy’s question: Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Philip Junop Has An Important Message
If we truly love our country, it is one we all should heed: Life in Canada has been good to me as I approach my 60th birthday. A loving and carefree childhood in scenic, small town Ontario, a good education that led to a steady, decent paying job and a
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Latest Example Of Tory Contempt For The Electorate
This is the ‘poll’ Conservative MP Lawrence Toet is sending out to his Winnipeg constituents: Federal NDP leader Tom Mulcair said on Wednesday the survey reflects a viewpoint pervasive in Conservative circles. “It’s the same approach as Stephen Harper. It’s the same approach as Vic Toews, you know: ‘You’re with
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Mary Walsh Shreds Stephen Harper
Really. Literally. But enquiring Conservative minds (if that is not a contradiction in terms) will want to know if she qualifies as a terrorist under Bill C-51: Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Rick Mercer On That Fear Thing
Our National Treasure nails it yet again: And for additional biting commentary, be sure to check out Alison’s latest at Creekside. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: On The Politics Of Fear
Regular readers of this blog will have noticed the relative frequency with which I provide links to and samples of Star readers’ letters. One of the obvious reasons is that they tend to have the same political sensibilities as all progressive bloggers, i.e., they are acutely aware of the ongoing
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: On Hatred And Fear
Those of us who follow Canadian federal politics with a critical eye and mind will likely glean nothing new from Carol Goar’s article in today’s Star, yet it is nonetheless comforting to know that the depredations and demagoguery of Stephen Harper et al. are not being lost on the national
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Ralph Nader On Harper’s Politics Of Fear
The following is a letter that the iconic American activist Ralph Nader has written to Stephen Harper regarding his ‘war on terror.’ Following the letter is a video of an interview Evan Solomon had with him. As you will see, there is little doubt that Nader views Harper’s exploitation of
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Diseased Leadership
Almost four years ago I wrote a post on failed leadership, using the Elizabethan notion of The Great Chain of Being as it pertained to the relationship between the governed and those who govern. In essence it postulated that if the leader was good, the nation would prosper, but if
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Don’t Canadians Deserve Better Than This?
Dear Demagogue (a.k.a. Stephen Harper) is out and about sowing his usual hateful divisiveness: Prime Minister Stephen Harper says “a lot” of Radio-Canada employees “hate” conservative values. Harper says those values that are loathed by many employees of CBC’s French-language network are the same ones that he says are supported
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Definitive Rejection Of Bill C-51
It is only human nature, I suppose, that when crisis strikes, our immediate reaction is that we would do almost anything to protect ourselves and our loved ones. When Pierre Trudeau invoked the War Measure Act in 1970 as a response to the FLQ crisis, the vast majority went along
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Timely Warning From Edward Snowden
But will anyone listen? Edward Snowden, the man wanted for leaking U.S. security documents in 2013 says Canadians should be “extraordinarily cautious” in reference to an anti-terror bill proposed by the Harper government. Snowden and journalist Glenn Greenwald spoke to a group of Toronto students Monday evening. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Herr Harper, Who Is Your Goebbels?
Having returned from our Cuban sojourn last evening, I have not yet had time to get caught up on the Canadian political scene, but this item by Heather Mallick deconstructing one of Herr Harper’s recent 24/Seven productions caught my eye. Its martial music, military imagery and depiction of Dear leader’s
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: About That Fear-Mongering, Mr. Harper
Thanks to Inse for this. He writes: Maybe to try and counteract the obviously upcoming increase in security measures and fear mongering by the usual suspects (and don’t forget to donate to the party funds!) Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: I Feel Better Already
….knowing that Mr. Harper’s fight against ISIS hasn’t distracted him from an even greater threat to all that is holy and good: Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Reassuring Legislation For Xenophobes and Bigots, A.K.A. The Harper Base
I don’t know who composes the names for government bills these days, but they are blatantly selective in their intended audiences. The latest proposed piece of Harper legislation leaves little doubt that its target audience is the red meat supporters of our current regime: the Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: As a Canadian, You Can’t help But Feel Proud Here
Let’s hope this kind of integrity and decency is enough to combat the fears that the Harper regime is trying to stoke after last week’s tragic events. Recommend this Post
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