A Canadian Republic (with a new anthem to boot)
It is worth remembering, every once in a while, that Canada remains a constitutional monarchy. Precisely because the monarchy has no de facto power, most of us - myself included…
democracy
Austerity Leads to Suicide Rate Increase
Friday’s Vancouver Sun had a short item that you might have missed, “Suicides up, road deaths down due to recession.” It’s in the bottom corner of page B5: Suicides rates…
Thoughts on a Filibuster
Can I get a “WOW”? Just look at all those women! I couldn’t stop grinning as woman after woman after woman rose and spoke. What happened to all the arrogant…
I, for one, would like an HST job – and it might sway my vote.
If you’re registered to vote in BC, and provided that Elections BC hasn’t completely screwed up your voter registration (I have, at times, received three voter information cards for variations…
Excuses! Excuses!
Apparently, voter apathy was not restricted to the young at the 41st election. Below are the numbers broken down of the wall of shame known as the non-voters: 18 to…
Democracy in action
Shorter Bob Bjornerud:Of course we couldn't possibly object to giving farmers a chance to vote on the future of the Canadian Wheat Board - just as long as it doesn't…
The Arab spring—seeking a deeper democracy than ours?
Catherine Ashton, high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy, recently stated that the EU called for "deep democracy" in countries such as Tunisia and Egypt…
Meanwhile, elsewhere…
June was a bleak month on the world democracy stage. Saudi Arabia cracked down on women protesting for the right to drive, while relatively more progressive* Libya showered its female…
In Virginia dead people can vote
Now that is true dedication to democracy. People are dying to vote.Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economyVirginia has passed a law that if a…
Join Us For the Unveiling of a Headstone In Memory of Nick Schaack
Join Us For the Unveiling of a Headstone In Memory of Nick SchaackWhat: Unveiling of a commemorative headstone for Nick Schaack, who died as a result of his participation in…
CUPW will challenge the back-to-work legislation
Canada Post union to challenge back-to-work legislation in court - thestar.comAs I was pointing out, the legislation is illegal, and the union is going to challenge it in court. Now…
Greece at a Crossroads
Now that the Greek government has survived a confidence vote in Parliament, the stage is set in Greece for further confrontations ahead of next week’s decision on the new “austerity”…
On back to work legislation. Whoa, deja vu.
So, another conservative (note the small "c") government, another round of back to work legislation. Canada violates its international obligations yet again, and is again grouped with such shining lights…
On the Canucks Riot, Protest, and Division
I was saddened and disappointed to watch Vancouver burn last night. Disappointed because the Canucks played so poorly and lost a game that they didn’t deserve to win, saddened to…
On Riots & Anarchists: the Media’s Reactionary Propaganda
Good afternoon Vancouver, how’s your head? The hand-wringing and spinning has commenced in full force now in the wake of the riot which gripped the downtown core after the Canucks…
On governance (3): The Crown.
So, yeah. The Crown. This could be a really short post -- hell, by my standards, it probably will be.Here's the thing. Constitutionally, we need the Crown. We can't get…
Is Capitalism Terminally Ill?
Today (June 15th) the Toronto Star broke news that the NDP was planning to drop the term “socialism” from its party’s platform. This was a mere formality of what had…