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 readingTag: Letters to the Editor
Politics and its Discontents: Well Said!
The other day I wrote a post critical of the ‘blame game’ being played by the NDP’s Andrea Horwath to excuse her lack of progress during the recent Ontario provincial election. In a similar vein, Star letter-writer Michael Foley of Toronto offers his excoriating assessment of her rationalization: Re: Liberal
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Sad Record Of Our Last Parliamentary Session
Star reader David Buckna, of Kelowna, B.C., offers a searing and accurate assessment of our latest session of Parliament: Federal MPs are back in their ridings for the summer, and will be out hitting the barbecue circuit. When I think back to the second session of the 41st Parliament (January
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Gay Pride: A Proviso
Yesterday I wrote about the considerable pride that we should all take in the progress we are making as a society, World Pride in Toronto being a sterling example. However, as Star letter-writer Blair Bigham of Toronto points out in today’s edition, there is still room for improvement: Political stripes
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: Vancouver Sun Letter
If anyone would like my two cents on the controversy surrounding Trinity Western University, its proposed law school, and its homophobic “Community Covenant,” please see the letters section of today’s Vancouver Sun. My letter appears at the very bottom, under the heading “Trinity’s gay policy anti-Christian.” Filed under: Education, Gay
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: It’s Not Either/Or
Those who have more than a passing acquaintance with federal politics are likely aware of the false premises and logical fallacies Stephen Harper and his wrecking crew regularly use to advance their mad agenda. There was, of course, the famous Vic Toews’ declaration about either standing with the government or
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: 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: Two Sentiments That Will Resonate With Many
Today’s Star brings two letters, one on despotic rule and the other on electoral reform, that many would find hard to argue against: Harper’s on a lonely road to political isolation, April 15 Aristotle once remarked that all forms of government — democracy, oligarchy, monarchy, tyranny — are inherently unstable,
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
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Wisdom From A 91-Year-Old
Don’t worry. This is not one of those bromides on how to live a long and happy life. It is, however, a realistic recipe for social cohesion and progress. The letter, from Joy Taylor of Scarborough, was published in today’s Toronto Star: Today I turned 91. My friends and I
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: More From Star Readers
Whenever I need a morale boost, I look to the letters’ section of The Toronto Star. There I find regular confirmation that progressive notions are far from dead in this country, despite the best efforts of the Harper regime: Re: Underemployment reshapes Canada’s job market, Opinion March 14 During the
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Another Informed Star Reader
Christine Penner Polle of Red Lake offers some observations that I suspect few but the most ardent ideologues would dispute: Re: Ottawa plans cuts to climate programs, March 12 Have we Canadians fallen down the rabbit hole? We are living in a Mad Hatter world where our federal government is
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Nice Compendium Of Recent Harper Offences Against Democracy
I am preparing to resume work on my flooring, so, in lieu of my own piece, I am posting a letter from the London Community News that offers some thoughts on the ‘Fair’ Elections Act and other Harper government misdeeds: Dear editor, Much noise has been made about what the
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: An Issue So Many Of Us Grapple With
This letter to the editor reflects an issue I think most of us in the progressive blogosphere struggle with, as do the folks at samara: Voter turnout is the key to federal change Eroding the fabric of the Canada we loveThe only way that we are going to get rid
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Economic Fact Check
Contrary to what our self-described economist Prime Minister would have us believe, the jobs that are being created in Canada today are but a pale echo of what once existed. Responding to a January report about the creation of 29,000 new jobs, Star readers have this to say: Jump in
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Fair Elections (A.K.A. Harper’s Contempt For Democracy) Act: Star Readers and Creekside Weigh In
It is always heartening to awake on a Monday morning, peruse the newspaper, and receive confirmation that concerns over the Harper Fair Elections Act are not the exclusive concern of the blogosphere. That being said, I strongly recommend that you visit Alison at Creekside to read her analysis of this
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Letter We Should Widely Share
Although he likely doesn’t articulate anything that progressive bloggers don’t already know, Star letter-writer Paul Kahnert of Markham neatly and succinctly addresses the real design behind tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. It deserves to be shared widely with those who may not be fully aware of some essential
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Something To Rejuvenate The Human Spirit
I suspect that as a lot of us get older, especially with the context that the years behind us provide, it is difficult not to submit to deep cynicism, even despair. Words that may sound fresh to some are ones that we have heard enough times before to interpret as
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: National Post Letter
Should any readers take a look inside today’s National Post, they might find a letter of mine defending Canada’s United Church and its boycott of goods from Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land. Click here to read my letter and scroll down to the heading “… or is it just?”
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