It has just come out that our civil servants have been told to provide fodder to the Harper government’s wish to make terrorism a big issue in Canada. An issue big enough that we don’t notice the horrific mishandling of our economy and tax system. Harper used the Ottawa shooting
Continue readingTag: Terrorism
Accidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Brendan O’Neill writes that the UK Cons are following in Stephen Harper’s footsteps by pushing the concept of thought policing. And George Monbiot rightly criticizes the gross inflation of supposed terror threats and simultaneous neglect of far more serious risks: A global
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Was the Senate report on ‘countering’ the threat of terrorism intended to incite hatred for political gain?
PHOTOS: Conservative members of the Senate of Canada answer questions about their “interim report” on countering terrorist threats to Canada. Actual Conservative Senators may not appear exactly as illustrated – but close enough, unfortunately. Below: Liberal senator Grant Mitchell of Alberta, who dissented from the report; former British MP George
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Breaking: Cons Helped Overthrow the Ukrainian Government
Lordy. And to think I didn't take Stephen Harper seriously when he claimed he was leading the fight to "liberate" Ukraine. Who knew that he actually helped bring down a duly elected government? For crass political purposes. Or as others might say, was used as a hapless pawn. Read more »
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Senate Wars V: The Harper Empire Strikes Back
“But surely,” said the Senate apologist, “even if an undemocratic upper chamber is utterly useless in actually reviewing legislation, we can still pretend it has value based on its willingness to study issues on something less than a wholly partisan basis.” Then this happened. And the Senate apologist was once
Continue readingWhy Britain is culpable for the slaughter of its citizens
British Prime Minister David Cameron is enraged at the massacre on a beach at the Sousse resort in Tunisia last week. And well he should be: thirty of his countrymen and women were slaughtered. He has pledged a “full spectrum” response, whatever that means. But while Mr. Cameron is engaging
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Evening Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Daniel Marans reports on Bernie Sanders’ push for international action against austerity in Greece and elsewhere. And Binoy Kampmark documents the anti-democratic and antisocial ideology on the other side of the austerity debate. – Noah Smith writes that while there’s no discernible
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material to start your week. – Emmanuel Saez examines the U.S.’ latest income inequality numbers and finds that the gap between the wealthy few and everybody else is still growing. The Equality Trust finds that the UK’s tax system is already conspicuously regressive even as the Cameron Cons plan
Continue readingFor black Americans, 239 years of terrorism
The United States is obsessed with terrorism these days. In a Pew Research survey, Americans ranked defending the U.S. against terrorism as the top policy priority for their federal government, ranking it even above the economy. At home, they have built a bureaucracy second only to the Pentagon for homeland
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Conservatives ask Liberals to “apologize for decades of racism”
The Harper Conservatives accuse the Liberals of “decades of racism” dating back to Liberal PM Mackenzie King, who served from 1921 to 1930 and 1935 to 1948. The post Conservatives ask Liberals to “apologize for decades of racism” appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: “Kill Bill C-51″: Conservative Supporters Tell Stephen Harper
Game-changing supporters of the Conservative Party of Canada are warning Stephen Harper Bill C-51 could result in “a Liberal or NDP government”. The post “Kill Bill C-51″: Conservative Supporters Tell Stephen Harper appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – Elizabeth Warren reminds us (PDF) that previous trade agreements were packaged with the same promises of labour and environmental standards being used to sell the latest versions – and that there’s been no enforcement whatsoever of the elements of the deals which
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Distracted Thinking
I am something of a creature of routine. For example, all things being equal, my early morning ritual consists of retrieving the Toronto Star from my mailbox and reading the front section while enjoying my breakfast. It is during this reading that I often get my idea for the day’s
Continue readingBlevkog: Omar Khadr is a rescued child soldier and should be treated as such
The release of Omar Khadr, on strict conditions, has reignited the debate over his capture and imprisonment in Guantanamo Bay. The Conservative Party, ever in campaign mode, is always looking for a political issue to use to charge up their base, and his release, which they opposed and continue to
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Meanwhile, Back At Campaign Central
Hate campaign, that is. True to form, the Harper regime wasted no time in denouncing the decision to release Omar Khadr on bail pending his appeal. And in addition to playing to their rabid base, they took the opportunity to excoriate both Trudeau and Mulcair with some verbal prestidigitation: Meanwhile,
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Bill C-51 undermines Canada’s business climate and global reputation
Canadian business leaders and tech entrepreneurs are convinced that Stephen Harper’s Bill C-51 undermines Canada’s business climate and global reputation. The post Bill C-51 undermines Canada’s business climate and global reputation appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Elizabeth May Rejects Harper’s Cosmetic Bill C-51 Amendments
Harper’s Bill C-51 remains “dangerous and undemocratic” and “deeply unconstitutional” despite the Conservatives’ proposed amendments, says MP Elizabeth May. The post Elizabeth May Rejects Harper’s Cosmetic Bill C-51 Amendments appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Some Inspiration From A Clear-Thinking Citizen
That’s what I derive from Donald Crump’s Star letter. It is a shame more of our fellow citizens are not possessed of such critical faculties: Increasing risk of terror in Canada When a government starts making decisions based primarily on getting re-elected, with little regard for what is best for
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Attention, Shoppers: Don’t Let The Terrorists Win!
An important message to all Canadians from Stephen Harper: Recommend this Post
Continue readingScripturient: Blog & Commentary: Manufactured Terror: Bill C51
Stephen Harper wants you to be afraid. VERY afraid. If you’re frightened, you likely won’t question his and his party’s destruction of the country, the decaying economy, job losses, homelessness, the ignored murder of aboriginal women, the muffled and cowed bureaucracy, hobbling the CBC, undermining Canadian science and scientists, and
Continue reading