In the ongoing debasement of democracy, Ontario’s Doug Ford is certainly playing his part. With his populist deck fully stacked, his latest effort to pander to the lowest common denominator has been dealt: no more driver’s licence plate renewals! This is wrong on a number of levels, but worst of
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Politics and its Discontents: History: An Update
As one who taught high school for 30 years, I have always believed in the power of education. It is the best and perhaps the only way to narrow the disparities that exist in society. In my experience, the truly. educated are rarely the ranters who seem to dominate media
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Shiny New Things
Despite our professed admiration for things that have withstood the test of time (heritage buildings, old literature and traditional values come to mind), it is undeniable that there is much allure to be found in the new as well. We marvel at innovative architecture, science and engineering, to name
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Keeping Up The Pressure
Fires are burning in the House of Ford (not the fashion mogul’s, but rather the corrupt and incompetent one that ‘rules’ our province). That increasing attention is being paid to the sometimes smoldering, sometimes white-hot combustions is attributable to citizen awareness, ceaseless probing by NDP leader Marit Stiles and her
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Ode To Democracy
A busy day ahead, so I shall let Theo Moudakis speak for me: Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: J’Accuse
The sad state of Ontario provincial politics should be evident to anyone who reads a newspaper or watches the news. Those who do should also look in the mirror to see if the following applies to them: Doug Ford has abandoned the people to put politicians first, Cohn, Nov. 19
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Smell Of Manure
Unless they have spent their entire lives within the confines of a city, I doubt there are many people unacquainted with the smell of manure. This pungent organic waste, while offensive to many, is instrumental in helping to ensure that the land growing our crops is sufficiently fertile to produce
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Readers React
I’m on a bit of a tight schedule today, so I cede to newspaper letter-writers their thoughts on Doug Ford’s tactics and values before his province-wide blink yesterday. Premier Ford’s decision to withdraw Bill 28, and go back to the bargaining table shows the kind of things that can happen
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Upon Awakening
It would be nice to think that the slumbering masses have awakened to a new understanding of government and its relationship to the people, but I abandoned magical thinking a long time ago. Nonetheless, occasionally our overlords overplay their hand, and people do get a glimpse behind the curtain. Such
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Brittlestar Understands
… what the Ford government is either too arrogant or too stupid to get: H/t Brittlestar I imagine only those who favour government by a cadre of contemptible clowns are content right now. Recommend this Post
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Something for Doug Ford to remember: Once in a while when you pull the cork from a bottle a genie pops out!
The Conservative movement’s vast army of online trolls has been strangely silent about the right of poorly paid Ontario education workers to negotiate a decent salary for themselves. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, encountering a stiff breeze (Photo: Premier of Ontario Photography/Flickr). Funny that, Conservatives being such lovers of Canadian rights
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: From The Land Of Make Believe
That would be Ontario, though I suppose, in truth, it is far more widespread: a rising number of deaths from Covid (this week was the worst since last May, despite three days missing from the weekly data) in the province. Nevertheless, our political overlords and their minions continue to do little
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Step Right Up
Here in Ontario, things are moving at a fast pace – if you happen to be a senior in a hospitable but have been deemed medically fit for discharge. This is thanks to the undebated passage of Bill 7, called the More Beds and Better Care Act. As with
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: This Is Gonna Hurt
I have a friend whose daughter recently started her career in healthcare as an occupational therapist in a facility where people are awaiting placements in LTCs, and already she is feeling burnt out. – burnt out over the fact that she cannot do her job properly in assessing people
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Devil In Ms. Jones
To those 57% who couldn’t rouse themselves to vote in the last Ontario election, please do not make sounds of outrage over the likelihood that Doug Ford will introduce more privatization into our healthcare system. You didn’t participate, so I really have little regard for your thoughts on the matter.
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Cogent Rebuttal To Privatized Healthcare
Here in Ontario, the newly re-elected Conservatives under Doug Ford are making oblique sounds about private health care as a way to help solve our hospital crises. While we do have private clinics, etc. in this province, it would seem that they are suggesting much more than that. One needn’t
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Hell No, I Won’t Go!
In the days of my youth, the above was an anthem of resistance, shouted in defiance of the American draft sending young men to fight and to die in Vietnam. As a Canadian, I watched from the sidelines but nonetheless admired them for their conviction and willingness to go to
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The CORE Of The Problem
As I continue to reflect upon the sad outcome of the recent Ontario provincial election, I find that the bulk of my disdain, my odium, my repugnance, is aimed not at the minority of voters who gave Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives another majority. Rather, it is toward the majority
Continue readingScott's Diatribes: Ontario Provincial Election Musings
Regarding the Ontario Election: I will not repeat everything verbatim that I said on Twitter, but I will say this to the Ontario Liberal Party. Get some serious policy rethink going before you pick a leader; specifically 1 member, 1 vote and allow all members to vote. Do away with
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