Nuclear technology does more than make powerful weapons. It also makes for powerful politics. It allows Kim Jong-un, ruler of a sordid little dictatorship, possibly the most backward nation on Earth, to meet with the president of the United States, the most powerful man in the world, as an equal.
Continue readingTag: United States
Views from the Beltline: “U.S. democracy is in urgent need of repair”—Freedom House
“After experiencing a gradual decline in respect for political rights and civil liberties over the past decade, the United States is now facing an acute crisis for democracy.” So says a special report by democracy watchdog group Freedom House. And who, you might ask, is Freedom House? Freedom House is
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Do we have a prime minister or a mouse? Canada doesn’t need U.S. permission to call China and bring the Two Michaels home
It appears China has thrown Canada an unexpected lifeline, offering us a chance to redeem our relationship with the world’s No. 2 economy and save the Two Michaels. Is Justin Trudeau up to the challenge? Canadian Michael Spavor (Photo: Facebook). On Friday, the Chinese government put Michael Spavor on trial
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Make America fair again?
The United States is the most unequal of the advanced countries. By far. And it’s getting worse. The ratio of the average income of the richest 10 percent to the poorest 10 percent in the U.S. is 18.5 whereas for most Western countries it’s closer to ten. (Canada’s is 9.4.)
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Joe Biden—union man
During Joe Biden’s election campaign, he promised he would be “the most pro-union president you’ve ever seen.” This may be the most important promise he made, at least on the economic front. Income inequality has steadily increased in the U.S. in the last 30 years and is considerably greater than
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Lula—Brazil’s Biden?
Brazil and the United States have at least one thing in common in their recent political histories. Both had popular progressive presidents replaced by fascists: Donald Trump replacing Barack Obama in the U.S. and Jair Bolsonaro replacing Luiz Inácio da Silva (Lula) in Brazil. Both successors proved as incompetent as
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: The difference between a Democrat and a Republican
One of the brightest lights to appear recently on the stage of American politics is the absolutely delightful Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Bright, charming, compassionate and—I have to say it—gorgeous, the Democratic Representative from New York brings a touch of polish to a tarnished democracy. And then there is her polar opposite
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Joe Biden—a Teddy or an FDR?
Many progressives are hoping for great things from Joe Biden. The United States faces huge problems aside from the pandemic and its economic fallout. There is an opportunity here for a bold and progressive president to make his mark and do great good. This brings an inevitable comparison to the
Continue readingAlberta Politics: With the Taliban on the cusp of controlling Afghanistan once again, we owe it to our dead to ask, ‘Was it worth it?’
Yesterday morning, the New York Times reported the Taliban is on the cusp of total victory in Afghanistan. The Times being the Times, of course, it didn’t put it quite that way. Former Liberal prime minister Jean Chretien (Photo: Jason Paris, Creative Commons). “The Taliban Close In on Afghan Cities,
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Trump and the definition of fascism
Is Donald Trump a fascist? He has been accused of being one, including by me in previous posts, but the left is inclined to label conservatives they particularly dislike as fascists, just as conservatives label progressives they particularly dislike as communists. So let’s take a close look at the Trump
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Democracy and mass delusion
I have always been intrigued by people’s tendency to believe what they want to believe rather than what the facts are telling them, to believe what their innate biases desire rather than what is true. I do it myself, of course, although I hope that for the most part I
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Has Trump revived fascism in the Republican Party?
I am surprised and disappointed at those Republicans who support Trump to the point of rejecting the will of the American people and even democracy itself. The recent effort to allow Vice-president Pence to potentially replace Electoral College votes for Mr Biden with votes for Mr Trump came close to
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Canada’s Inability To Produce Covid Vaccines Is A Wakeup Call
Why Canada can’t make its own COVID-19 vaccine — and how to ‘fix’ the problem before the next pandemic By Alex Boyd Calgary Bureau Wed., Nov. 25, 2020 updateArticle was Read more… The post Canada’s Inability To Produce Covid Vaccines Is A Wakeup Call first appeared on richardhughes.ca.
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: What I learned from Trump
Up until four years ago I assumed that democracy was not only strong, it was invincible. At least in the Anglosphere. Why wouldn’t I? During my lifetime, democracy had survived the Great Depression, the Second World War complete with Fascists and Nazis, and the Cold War against a totalitarian state.
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: Can America Be Saved
I am writing this as a citizen of a world that no matter where we live are strongly impacted by whatever America does and whatever happens in America America is celebrating but it will take a lot more than the end of the Trump presidency to save America. Trump promoted
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: Biden Beats Trump
U.S. election results: Live, real-time election results as Joe Biden set to become president #SNL you shady bitch pic.twitter.com/72vlKD0tsy — ChildishOcean (ALSO VOTE!! BLUE!!) (@Kidfromqueens1) November 8, 2020 This is how Ireland ended its newscast tonight pic.twitter.com/Izi14NxnUh — Harry Alford (@HarryAlford3) November 7, 2020
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Donald Trump is now as American as apple pie
Donald Trump is for real. His victory in 2016 was no fluke. He got more votes this time, including more support from Republicans, the party he was predicted to shatter, than he did last time. He even got more votes from Latinos and Blacks. For half the U.S. public, Trump
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Electing Biden isn’t enough
In 2016, Americans embarrassed themselves by electing Donald Trump as their president. Then Trump took over and has embarrassed them ever since. If they want to regain the world’s respect, they must not only elect Joe Biden next Tuesday, they must repudiate Trump. They must elect Biden in a landslide.
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: China has a soft power shortage
Now would seem to be the moment for China’s star to shine. It has gained control of the coronavirus pandemic rapidly and effectively, and it is the only member of the G20 whose economy is expected to grow this year. At the same time, its major rival on the world
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: USA Debates Its Existence
Trump saying he can't stay in a basement and make money. We know he also can't from his penthouse. Has managed to from the White House though. pic.twitter.com/pwrN1xgVr0 — Saskboy says #BlackLivesMatter (@saskboy) October 23, 2020 Trump’s lies about wind power, and solar, and natural gas are over the top.
Continue reading