WTF Even My Strategic Vote Won’t Count
Before I start my rant, it should be known that I have been a candidate for political parties that wanted to change the voting system on four occasions. I have…
brian gibb
A Three Ring Circus, a Horse Race, and a Pussy Riot
It’s a funny thing living in the second decade of the twenty-first century. There’s such a wide gap between our technological reach and our social institutions. On the same day,…
The Economic Freedom of the Few Limits the Political Freedom of the Many
Politics is all about who decides on whose behalf. Inevitably, political decisions entail winners and losers. In an ideal world, political decisions would be made by inclusive institutions that allow…
Democracy’s Last Conquest: The Anglo-American Empire
Slowly but surely democracy is spreading and finding roots around the world. The latest countries to begin their path towards democratic governance are Tunisia and Libya. In both countries, democratic…
Canada’s Lamentable Lack of Imagination
When I was a kid growing up, I thought Canada was cool. Canada’s centennial celebrations made me believe that as a young country we were just coming into our own.…
The Revolt of the Few and the Abdication of the Many Has Brought About the Collapse of the Middle Class in America
Years ago, in his book, The Revolt of the Elites and the Betrayal of Democracy, Christopher Lasch foresaw the diverging interests of the corporate executive class and the shareholders they…
More Than Ever America Needs to be Coherent in Its Electoral Response
Well America, taking a look at the recent stats concerning wage growth or the lack thereof and the stunning drop in the net worth of the vast majority of Americans,…
With Upcoming Elections in Quebec, These Are My Choices. What Would You Do?
Democratically speaking, Canada is a third world country. Case in point, the upcoming general election in Quebec and my fairy tale constitutional right to effective representation and meaningful participation in…
The End of the University as We Know It?
The hallowed halls of learning are no longer the place they used to be, exclusive enclaves of learning that allowed those fortunate enough to attend to gain the skill sets…
Peace, Order, and Corrupt Government
Yesterday saw the convergence of two events: the 100th day of the student strike marked by a demonstration of more than 150,000 people in the streets of Montreal and the…
Gutting Canada’s Environmental Laws Is Simply Part of Stephen’s Gubernaculum
To the one who wears the Crown goes the right to do what one wants when one sees fit. In the case when the Crown resides in Parliament, this right…
The Revolution Won’t Be Televised But You Can Follow It on Twitter
As the Quebec Spring unfolds and the students continue their protests in the streets, it has become apparent that there is a big disconnect between the generations with regard to…
Hold on There, History Ain’t Over
Electoral results last week in Europe indicate that the idea the free market capitalism and its close cousin, liberal democracy, have yet to conquer the world, leaving humanity in an…
Quebec Students Strike: A Momentary Triumph of Strong Democracy over Weak Democracy
Fundamentally, democracy implies being ruled and participating in the ruling process. Benjamin Barber makes this point eloquently when he compares the instances of “strong” and “weak” democracies. A strong democracy…
Will the Quebec Spring Migrate South?
Students in Quebec have been boycotting classes for more than eighty days in protest of the provincial government’s decision to raise university tuition fees 75% over the next five years.…
The Big Lie Reigns Over Us
Everybody knows that the dice are loadedEverybody rolls with their fingers crossedEverybody knows that the war is overEverybody knows the good guys lostEverybody knows the fight was fixedThe poor stay…