III. Austerity and The Blocking of Social Citizenship In Ontario
When the Social Commons are enclosed, the state has decreed there are those inside and those outside the political order. I took up the issue of the Social Commons and…
June 2014
Home again: another Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour done
This was waiting in the fridge for me when I got home from day two of the Rideau Lakes Cycle tour earlier this afternoon. I have some statistical trivia to…
for those who believe meat-eating can be ethical: in praise of beretta farms
I’ve mentioned Beretta Farms in many different posts over the years, but I’ve never specifically blogged about them. With grilling season underway, it’s time to give Beretta a shout-out. When…
Former Bank of Canada Governor Speaks Of the Dangers Of Radical Fundamentalist Capitalism
Now here is a voice of reason that is well worth watching and listening too. Carried by Press Progress and made available courtesy of Huffington Press. Well, this ought to…
Wynne’s sleazy plea for power an assault on democracy
To Kathleen Wynne, democracy and personal voting rights mean nothing. Power means everything. In a Toronto Star editorial, she tries to pull a fast one by telling Ontarians, “a vote…
Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Robert Reich proposes that the best way to address corporate criminality is to make sure that those responsible go to jail –…
Fewer staff means 19% more problems for Ontario hospital patients
What might happen if Tim Hudak gets his way and 100,000 public sector jobs are eliminated?Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) data shows that fewer personnel in hospital nursing units…
NDP Calls for Restored Funding for Autism Early Intervention Centres
Many thanks to Dominic Cardy, Kelly Lamrock, Amanda Diggins and the NDP who understand the essential point of any early autism intervention policy – ensuring that autistic preschoolers receive proper…
Why strategic voting doesn’t work
In the 2011 federal election, 400,000 Greens voted strategically to stop Harper. But it had no effect. He still won a fake majority on 39.6% of the vote. Why? Green…
Good Reading: Sarah Kendzior On The Left’s Rape Problem
Sarah Kendzior has posted a powerful personal essay. She raises important issues about the left and its serious problem with rape. I think this is a must-read for any man…
Good Reading: Sarah Kendzior On The Left’s Rape Problem
Sarah Kendzior has posted a powerful personal essay. She raises important issues about the left and its serious problem with rape. I think this is a must-read for any man…
Vote splitting facts
Since we have a primitive, 19-century voting system — First-Past-the-Post — a minority party wins all the power on 40% of the vote due to vote splitting. In 2011, Harper…
what i’m reading: the book thief, an anti-war novel
I’m sure many of you have read The Book Thief, Markus Zusak’s youth novel about a German girl and her (non-biological) family during World War II. If you haven’t yet…
Turning the public against politicians.
If economics is the dismal science, political economy must be the corrupt science and therefore politics is just corrupt. We came to this conclusion when we were bemoaning the fact…
My New Favorite Book: The Cartoon Introduction to Climate Change
The Cartoon Introduction to Climate Change was released this week by Island Press and I highly recommend you check it out. It’s not only a fun read to educate yourself…
Some Real Hope For Renewables
I only have time for this quick post, but allow me to direct you to this story about what appears to be a breakthrough in solar power generation and this…
Elections Ontario Struggling……
Elections Ontario is struggling to find enough staff to fill the positions required to process your vote, this is not a particular surprise to those who have worked the polls…
Strip Clubs Criminalized By New Prostitution Legislation? Could well be
"Whereas the Parliament of Canada recognizes the social harm caused by the objectification of the human body and the commodification of sexual activity" This is part of the preamble to…
this year’s garden-ette and sweet dogs in their small backyard
Here are some visuals for this post. This year’s crop, we hope: eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, basil, and thyme. As you can see, it’s a fraction of the backyard we used…
Dear NDPers: The Time Has Come To Do The Right Thing And Abandon Your Party
Because it has already abandoned you. I mean, Jack Layton carefully prepared your federal counterparts for his “move to claim the center”. And some of the changes he made, to…