Elections – Why Bother, They’re Awful ( #Pickering #pickpoli )
There are a lot of people out applauding Pickering City Council’s decision to appoint rather than hold a by-election to fill the vacant Ward 3 council seat because – as…
Electoral Reform
Elections – Why Bother, They’re Awful ( #Pickering #pickpoli )
There are a lot of people out applauding Pickering City Council’s decision to appoint rather than hold a by-election to fill the vacant Ward 3 council seat because – as…
Tuesday Evening Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – The Star argues that Canada can’t afford to leave tax loopholes wide open for the rich – as the Libs are doing…
Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Stephen Dubner discusses the importance of social trust in supporting a functional economy and society: (S)ocial trust is … HALPERN: Social trust…
This Week in “Huh?” Ivanka, Justin, Elon
As we pivot to the new, sustainable world defeating this current wave of fascism and climate change deniers, let’s look back at this week to keep abreast of the contempt…
The Ball Is In The Government’s Court
The NDP has come out in favour of holding a referendum on electoral reform. Given the recent history of such efforts — Brexit and the American election — we’re getting…
New column day
Here, on how the impression that our votes for change don’t produce the expected results can lead to the public putting up with a destructive alternative just to have an…
On decision points
Needless to say, it’s disappointing that there now doesn’t seem to be any prospect of a shift to a more proportional federal electoral system without a referendum. But the NDP’s…
The Cons, the NDP, and the Referendum Trap
As you know for almost a year Rona Ambrose and her Cons have been demanding that any plans for electoral reform must be approved by a referendum.Screeching away like a…
Democraphobia Runs Rampant in North America
The fear of democracy has a long history. Plato was mistrustful of the demos, believing it would be subject to bullies and to tyrants. In England, the storming of the…
Democraphobia Runs Rampant in North America
The fear of democracy has a long history. Plato was mistrustful of the demos, believing it would be subject to bullies and to tyrants. In England, the storming of the…
Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Andrew Nikiforuk highlights how Donald Trump’s election is just one more predictable consequence of the end of shared growth – even as…
More Bernard-trutherism: An update on Alberta’s (now ex) Roughneck
PHOTOS: Bernard the (now-ex) Roughneck enjoys some of the acclaim that goes with his newfound prominence here in Wild Rose Country. Photo grabbed from Facebook. Below: Neal Hancock as Bernard…
New column day
Here, a rare Saturday column on the lessons we should draw from the election of Donald Trump in how we organize and work within our political system. For further reading…
Wednesday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – Michal Rozworski writes that the Trudeau Libs’ economic model has come into view, and that we should be fighting back against what it…
PEI leads the way in remedying our democratic deficit!
Way to go PEI! Voters strike a blow for a better democracy; our federal government and other provinces should pay heed: A non-binding plebiscite on electoral reform in Prince Edward…
PEI leads the way in remedying our democratic deficit!
Way to go PEI! Voters strike a blow for a better democracy; our federal government and other provinces should pay heed: A non-binding plebiscite on electoral reform in Prince Edward…
Monday Evening Links
Miscellaneous material for your Monday reading. – Brent Patterson criticizes the Libs’ short-sighted plans to privatize public services in lieu of any coherent economic policy. And Tom Parkin calls out…
Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Community Food Centres Canada highlights the need for social assistance benefits to keep up with the cost of living, while noting that…
Electoral News
For the last few months I have been focusing on Electoral Reform here at Democracy Under Fire and in order to ‘keep up’ have a Google Alert set to give…