I was saddened to hear that former U.S. president Jimmy Carter has gone home to die. A statement from The Carter Center read “After a series of short hospital stays, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter today decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice
Continue readingTag: United States
Views from the Beltline: Finally—Democrats romance the working class
Early in the 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign, Donald Trump was the subject of much mockery. No way this buffoon could win said the pundits. Michael Moore, left-wing rabble-rouser and and film-maker, disagreed. To put it in his words, “This wretched, ignorant, dangerous part-time clown and full time sociopath is
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: The welfare state and the American dream
The American founding fathers had a vision of a roughly equal society. At least for white people—others didn’t count in either the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution. Equality was to be based on the economic asset that mattered most in those pre-industrial days—land. Even the poor would have a
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: ComeupPence
Pun is from a friend. What are all 3 of these ex-executive dorks doing with classified documents in their homes anyway??
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Constitutional ramblings
Constitutions are in the news these days. More perhaps in Alberta than the rest of the country because of Premier Danielle Smith’s separatist manifesto the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act. The Act has met harsh criticism from a range of interests, from the business community to First Nations.
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: First the U.S., now Israel
2015 was a good year. May brought the “Orange Chinook.” After 44 years of Conservative rule, the longest-serving provincial government in Canadian history, the NDP won a close-fought election. Then in October, Justin Trudeau and his Liberals defeated the Harper Conservatives to end a decade of Conservative rule. To quote
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: U.S. voters (and conservatives) trash Trump
The Democrats are quite pleased with their showing in the U.S midterm elections. From where I sit, it doesn’t look quite that cheerful—they lost the House of Representatives and may yet lose the Senate. Nonetheless, the prediction was for the usual midterm result which is a drubbing for the president’s
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Americans want more parties (political, that is)
A growing number of Americans are unhappy with their current political choices. According to a Pew Research Center survey, four in ten say they want more parties than just the Democrats and Republicans. Among younger voters, over half say there are usually no candidates that represent their views well. This
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: The Republican counter-revolution rolls on
Has the Republican Party turned against democracy? It’s beginning to seem so, and if it has it’s the culmination of four decades of revolt against the country’s post-war social progress. After WWII, the United States was in a triumphal mood. It, alongside its allies, had defeated threats to the global
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Nancy P’s Asian adventure
On first hearing about U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s planned visit to Taiwan it struck me as a rather, shall we say, stupid idea. It would infuriate the Chinese, who claim the island as part of China, and the Americans hardly need a fight with another nuclear power
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Say it’s so, Joe
“By a wide margin, this legislation will be the greatest pro-climate legislation that has ever been passed by Congress.” — U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Everyone, except possibly Schumer, was bowled over when Joe Manchin, Democratic senator from West Virginia, agreed to a substantial green bill after demurring for
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: U.S. Supreme Court betrays the founding fathers
The U.S. has a big problem. A legal problem. Its Supreme Court is undermining its democracy. The court has recently made a series of rulings that conflict with the views of most Americans. These include removing abortion from constitutional protection, enhancing gun rights, reducing separation of church and state, and
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Trump’s triumph
Donald Trump only served one term but his legacy will last decades, if not generations. He ensured that by appointing no less than three right wing justices to the U.S. Supreme Court. All are in their 50s and they serve for life, so they will be inflicting their will on
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Surprise—U.S. Senate seriously considers gun control
I confess to some surprise. I wrote in a recent post that nothing would be done in response to the gun massacres in two U.S. cities. Well, it appears something may be done. Not much, mind you, but as Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer put it, “It nevertheless represents the
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: U.S Second Amendment—the most abused law in history?
Once again mass shootings stalk America. Ten dead in Buffalo, 21 in Uvalde, Texas. In less than two weeks. Both shooters were teenagers. Once again there are loud outcries for something to be done, and once again nothing will be done. One insidious influence against meaningful gun control is the
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Is the U.S. a threat to our security?
I have experienced a number of revelations about the state of North American democracy in the last few years. In 2016 I thought it was solid as a rock. How could it not be? We and the Americans have solid constitutions, centuries of experience with democratic governance, loyal militaries, free
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Roe vs. Wade, democracy, and minority rights
The American Supreme Court has certainly managed to catch the attention of the nation. The leaking of a draft of a ruling has people wondering whatever happened to Court security. Drafts are expected to be kept close to the vest until a final decision is made, for obvious reasons. So
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Oil, guns and ethics
Promoters of the Alberta tar sands suggest customers for the product almost have a moral obligation to buy it. Their term is “ethical oil.” We hear the refrain from an assortment of politicians, journalists and business executives, chief among them Alberta premier Jason Kenney. The oil of many of our
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Perhaps the party of Lincoln isn’t dead yet
The Republicans backing Trump again would be the definition of insanity. Who said that, you ask. A Democrat perhaps? Or a journalist? An academic? No, as hard to believe as it may be, the speaker was a prominent member of the Republican Party. He is, in fact, Larry Hogan, Governor
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: More craziness from Texas
Many years ago, when I toiled in the oil patch, I lived in Houston, Texas for a couple of years. It was most enjoyable, especially the part about missing Canadian winters. And the city had the best eating I’ve every experienced: the confluence of three cuisines—seafood, barbecue and Mexican—all first
Continue reading