LA Times – Our Last, Best Chance
Today’s LA Times editorial is grim – “Climate change is already here. 2020 could be your last chance to stop an apocalypse.” The changing climate is no longer an abstract…
The Mound of Sound
The American election is more than a year off. It’s still more interesting than what’s on offer here, now.
I’m not following the federal election. I do as much as I can to avoid it because, in a word, it’s a “shitshow.” Maybe that’s two words. Does it matter?…
What a Crappy Thing to Do.
Someone nicked the 18-carat loo from Blenheim Palace, Winston Churchill’s birthplace. The golden lavatory, named America, drew large crowds when it was exhibited in New York. It had been installed…
Embarking on the Era of "Climate Barbarism"
It has been foretold for years, at least two decades. Gwynne Dyer has written of it. Now, Naomi Klein says it’s upon us, an era of “climate barbarism.” Klein’s has…
It’s California – Again
California has just prohibited private prisons, including ICE detention centers. California just passed a bill banning all for-profit prisons and immigrant detention facilities in the state, the Guardian reports —…
Let’s Play ‘Bury the Billion’
The Sackler clan apparently knows how to stash cash on a scale that would make KPMG weep with envy. Team Sackler owns Perdue Pharma, a company that’s in deep kimchi…
If You Want Democracy, Be Prepared to Fight For It.
I have been posting a lot lately on democracy and capitalism, things that we ought to have in mind as we go through this general election. In both critical areas…
The Decay of Capitalism
Has Boeing become the poster-boy of terminal stage capitalism? Writing in The Guardian, Matt Stoller argues that capitalism is no longer merely atrophied. It has broken. Just a year ago…
So, You Think You’re a Progressive?
‘Progressive’ is a term bandied about very loosely. It seems anyone who considers themselves left of a Conservative can claim the laurel. Liberals like to imagine themselves progressives. New Dems…
Elections and Mounties Creep Me Out
I don’t like riding to Justin Trudeau’s defence but this business about the RCMP investigating supposed wrongdoing in the midst of an election campaign smacks of political interference by the…
Breaking the Hold of Neo-Feudalism
It’s what Canada’s finance minister calls “job churn” when he tells Canadians that the gig economy is their future and they can lump it. Welcome to precarity, going from short-term…
Will Another Trudeau Betrayal Be Set Right?
Relax, Liberals. Then justice minister Jody was also neck deep in this. ‘This’ is the Carter decision on assisted dying. The decision of the Supreme Court of Canada, the most…
40 Days – May They Fly
I don’t like election campaigns. Well, if you’re assigned to cover one the overtime’s great but it’s a lousy spectator sport unless you like a non-stop barrage of horseshit. They’ll…
The Only Question Is Who Will Be Kissing Bibi’s Ass. Will It Be Justin or Andy?
Canada has its nose so far up Benjamin Netanyahu’s backside that our leaders seem to have become pleasantly accustomed to the smell. Trudeau or Scheer, no matter, they can’t get…
Not So As You’d Notice
America is getting hammered by severe weather events these days – hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, droughts – of steadily increasing frequency, intensity and duration. So what is the biggest killer of…
Monbiot – the Brexit Vultures are Circling Overhead
Guardian scribe, George Monbiot, sees a dark ideology at play in the political ranks of Brexiteers who would be happy with a ‘no-deal’ Brexit. We make a mistake when we…
Wait, Am I Missing Something?
Our friend, Warren, seems to think Justin Trudeau is the worst prime minister ever, citing an article from the Globe claiming that the Libs are obstructing an RCMP investigation into…
A Massive Majority of British Columbians Say Scrap Daylight Savings.
93 per cent. That’s a compelling majority in favour of abolishing Daylight Saving Time and BC premier, Jim Horgan, says he’s got the message. Those of us well north of…
Henry’s Abyss – The Curse of the Neoliberal Era
I suspect that there are moments when most of us wrestle to make sense of our world today. There are so many things going on from climate change to the…