There are some poll results that get funnier the longer you look at them and consider the scenarios that could play out. A recent YouGov poll carried out in the UK is one such example.The idea of republicans actually getting rid of the monarchy only for the people to then elect Prince William
Continue readingTag: Republicans
Accidental Deliberations: On priorities
For all the commentary Marco Rubio has managed to generate with his threat that Republicans may hate Amazon more than the workers seeking to organize it, nothing reflects the warped priorities of his party (and their Canadian cousins) than this passage: It is no fault of Amazon’s workers if they
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material to start your week. – Paul Krugman notes that hostility toward basic public health protection such as masks represents a stark example of conservatives sacrificing human lives to identity politics – though it’s far from the first or the last one. And James Downie writes that the Republicans
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Afternoon Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – Melissa Healy reports on yet another dangerous variant of COVID-19 which is spreading in California. Nicky Phillips writes about the likelihood that the coronavirus will become endemic even once full vaccinations have been carried out. Jessica Elgot, Noel Sample and Nicola Davis report
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – Andrea Reimer examines the power dynamics at play in government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the limits of formal political power where it isn’t paired with knowledge and networks. And the Globe and Mail’s editorial board rightly questions the dubious math
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Afternoon Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Damian Carrington reports on Antonio Gutierres’ needed message that we can’t afford to keep waging war on our natural environment. And Bruce Campbell examines how Norway is far exceeding Canada’s track record when it comes to climate change policy. – Molly Taft
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. – Jesse McLaren offers a reminder that a COVID-19 vaccine isn’t a cure-all, as measures to help people through the pandemic (including paid sick days) remain a must. – Aris Roussinos writes about the UK’s “guilty men” responsible for a feckless response to a
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – David Macdonald examines (PDF) the continued pay gap which sees CEOs rake in more money the morning of the first day of work than their employees will earn all year. Canadians for Tax Fairness highlights how that signals the need to eliminate
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: Plague Update: SK Party’s Predictable Conservative Hypocrisy
One of my least favourite Sask Party cabinet ministers (for him closing STC Bus service) is in hot water after going to California during the pandemic. He’s legally required to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival in Palm Springs. Did Minister Hargraves self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in California?
Continue readingThe Maple Monarchists - Blog: Democracy Watch combines Good Intent with an oddly poor understanding of the Canadian Constitution to Ill Effect
Democracy Watch Logo Recently I learned that an organization called Democracy Watch was going to sue the New Brunswick government over its decision to call an early election back in September. Now, suing anyone is risky but more so when that organization has limitless funds to mount a defence. So if nothing else I commend their bravery. Sadly, the bravery has a
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Afternoon Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman offer another look (PDF) at the growth of income and wealth inequality in the U.S. Andrew Jackson and Toby Sanger examine (PDF) the case for an annual net wealth tax to reduce its severity in Canada. And
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On asymmetrical warfare
In the wake of this week’s U.S. elections – featuring a closer-than-expected contest for the presidency, and down-ballot results which look to disappointingly leave substantial power in Republican hands – there’s been an outpouring of commentary criticizing the money that was put into campaigns which ultimately lost. If there’s a
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: I’d dump Barrett on climate change alone
When Senator Richard Blumenthall asked U.S. Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett the simple question “Do you believe that human beings have caused global warming?”you might think this highly-educated woman would simply have answered yes. The simple truth. But no, her actual answer was, “I don’t think I’m qualified to
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Matthew Yglesias discusses how the Republicans avoid having to answer for antisocial plans (such as wanting to limit access to health insurance based on pre-existing conditions) because voters simply don’t believe they could possibly be as evil as they act when given
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: U.S. democracy corrupted by U.S. constitution
In 2016, most Americans voted for Hillary Clinton. They got President Donald Trump. Republicans represent fewer citizens than Democrats, yet they have controlled the Senate for more than half of this century. Senators supporting Bret Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court represented only 44 per cent of Americans, less than those
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Afternoon Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – Scott Schmidt writes that it’s inevitable that a government (like the UCP) which sees cruelty as the point of governance will reflect that attitude in its actions. – Kate Aronoff points out the destructive alliance between corporate Republicans and the likes of QAnon
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Don Pittis discusses how the spread of modern monetary theory is challenging some stale assumptions about government budgeting. And Sarath Peiris highlights how the Saskatchewan Party’s plans for severe austerity are utterly unworkable without the federal government riding to the rescue of
Continue readingThe Maple Monarchists - Blog: Green Party Leadership Race: Views on the Monarchy
Elizabeth May The Green Party is holding the second leadership race this year. It is to choose a successor to Elizabeth May who has been a longtime champion of Canada’s monarchy. This is also the first time since the party gained national status that a leadership race has been called. As such it is an important chance
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: Toxic Deadly Gaming Culture
One of the strangest things about modern tech is that you can easily hear what a dead murderer thought of himself and others. There are hours of video of this Rudy guy boasting about his video game prowess while calling women “pap smear”. Cops were warned about his violent harrassment
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – T.M. Scanlon analyzes the dangerous effects of wealth inequality. And Philip Alston discusses how COVID-19 has only exposed an existing pandemic of poverty and inequality which was previously masked by grossly insufficient poverty lines: The consequences of this highly unrealistic picture of
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