Mostly fools
When asked the population of England, Scottish historian and essayist Thomas Carlyle gave as his answer, “Thirty millions, mostly fools.” If asked about British Columbia’s population, Time Colonist writer Les…
Norman Farrell
Send message to protect environmental reviews
Today’s budget announcements make it clear that long-standing legal protections for the environment, including environmental reviews of major industrial projects like mines and oil pipelines will soon be rolled back…
The 1% wages war
From Robert Borosage, Campaign for America’s Future, March 29, 2012 In 2010, as the economy began its slow recovery from the Great Recession, a new study shows the richest 1%…
Premier Photo-Op’s annus horribilis
While aging corporate media types like Bill Good and Les Leyne rally to protect the BC Liberals, Bob Mackin, a reporter with no family member seeking government employment, recaps Premier…
Stop hangin’ those picket signs on our trees!
Rocky Mountaineer sorry for illegally cut trees in Vancouver, Bob Mackin, Vancouver Courier, March 15, 2012 “The upscale tourist railway that sells rides through what it calls unspoiled scenery is…
We can do better… we must do better
Number 5 Driving me to blog about public issues is passion for my grandchildren to inherit a better world. Unfortunately, the more I learn about the roads we travel, the…
Gary Mason tweets about van Dongen
Globe and Mail columnist Gary Mason has never been a docile follower of the Liberal-friendly press gallery clique. He demonstrates independence this week in his column and especially in his…
Behind the ostensible government
Before Gordon Campbell, the BC Liberal Party had been roused from the near dead and invigorated by Gordon Wilson, then a youthful populist leader. However, business interests chose Wilson’s party…
A little late but the right thing to do
British Columbia Hansard, March 26, 2012 J. van Dongen: I rise and ask for the attention of the House to make a personal statement. Mr. Speaker: Proceed. J. van Dongen:…
No comment needed
The Rich Get Even Richer, Steve Rattner, New York Times, March 25, 2012 Steven Rattner is a contributing writer for Op-Ed and a longtime Wall Street executive.
Harper’s anti-science shame
Don’t miss Andrew Nikiforuk’s latest contribution at The Tyee: Understanding Harper’s Evangelical Mission “…While government and industry PR folk spin fabrications about Canada’s environmental record, Scott Vaughan, Federal Environment Commissioner…
Ethically challenged plutocrat
SNC-Lavalin CEO resigns after review, Globe and Mail Report on Business, March 26, 2012 SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. has announced the departure of chief executive officer Pierre Duhaime amid allegations he…
Obama now leader of the not-free world
Chris Hedges writes: “The NDAA implodes our most cherished constitutional protections. It permits the military to function on U.S. soil as a civilian law enforcement agency. It authorizes the executive…
Something is rotten in the state of PavCo
The government’s fiscal year ends in a few days so here’s a suggestion for more accurate financial reports in BC. Add a separate line item for “Fraud, Theft & Abuse.”…
OK to shoot a disarmed and badly injured man in the head
Paul Boyd August 13 2007, 39-year-old Paul Boyd, a successful animator who suffered bipolar disorder, created a disturbance on Granville Street. When police arrived, he struggled with them, reportedly armed…
Winners win, losers lose
The Age of Double Standards, Robert Kuttner, The American Prospect, March 19, 2012 “…Petty felons and 200,000 small-time drug users do prison time, while corporate criminals whose frauds cost the…
Premier Photo Op is a compulsive liar
Premier Christy Clark calls for an audit of TransLink over Evergreen Line, Mike Raptis, The Province, March 22, 2012 “Premier Christy Clark is calling for an audit to TransLink to…
Lewis Black & Co. – funny stuff !
The BBC News Quiz gets a US makeover with an all-American panel. With the US election this year, turmoil in the Middle East, financial insecurity all around – not to…
White racism alive and well in USA
Overt racism that disgusted so many of us in the fifties and sixties is not tolerated in most circles today. An exception though involves the American world of right wing…
Toothless media accommodates political fraud
In 2006, Rafe Mair wrote News Media, Defanged for The Tyee. It included the headline: “Politicians, not too long ago, feared the press.” Of course misreants particularly feared Rafe Mair…