Auden, Trump and poetry
There’s a poem by W. H. Auden (1907-73) going the internet rounds these days with suggestions of Auden’s prescience towards the latest American president and contemporary politics. It’s a powerful…
politics
On Obama
I don’t agree with everything he did, but I love the way he did it. Obama was (is – he’s not dead) a classy guy. He’s a role model for…
On Obama
I don’t agree with everything he did, but I love the way he did it. Obama was (is – he’s not dead) a classy guy. He’s a role model for…
Capitulation Day
Comfort is in scare supply to those who value democracy — or even basic human decency — but what little comfort is available I can take in saying at least…
Goodbye yellow brick road. Hello Mordor.
Very soon, a racist, classless and misogynist piece of trash moves into to the White House. Be above this swamp rat, American friends. You are better than him and his…
Wikileaks: Manning Sentence Commuted to 7 years
I’m elated! Chelsea Manning is finally going to be released. Obama signed the commutation today. Wikileaks, the anti-secrecy organisation which published the diplomatic cables, has previously said its founder Julian…
When Leading Means Leaving
Some decisions in politics are easy. It is not hard to oppose Trump and every vile thing he stands for. You can be a decent human being or a Trump…
Use of Coal Power to Shrink Regardless of Politics
Coal producers can’t keep up. Coal used to be the cheapest form of energy, but that was before cheap renewable technology and more efficient gas plants came along. What’s more…
Sask Party Putting People Out of Work
The Sask Party has hit a new low. “Province laying off 251 custodial workers, “lowest paid government employees,” says union” A tender for cleaning services at SGI’s head office was…
Dr. Leitch Has a Winning Prescription
In the parlance of her previous life as a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Kellie Leitch is scrubbing up to win the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada. This may…
Rafe Mair: The BC election no one can win
Christy Clark (Province of BC/Flickr and John Horgan (BCNDP/Flickr) The election is sufficiently near to develop a few axioms to carry us through the sea of a largely imponderable mass…
Busting Urban Planning Myths
There’s a lot of misconceptions about how to make cities a better place to live that need to be cleared up. A popular belief is that adding more lanes for…
For a Decade It was Harper Horror
Now, it may be Trump’s turn to make everything worse. I’m not planning on blogging about Trump very much, however. The man gets far too much attention, and that’s one…
It’s Not a Wonderful Life
I’m convinced many Americans – Donald Trump among them – think Frank Capra’s famous film, It’s a Wonderful Life, was a documentary, not entertainment. It has all the elements of…
Saturday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your weekend reading. – Owen Jones highlights the need for social democratic parties to present a real popular alternative to neoliberal government, and offers his suggestions as…
Those Profane Twitter Goofs
1/1 Earlier I retweeted a post re carb tax w/ a profane hashtag ref the PM that I simply didn't initially see. Minutes later it was deleted. — Brad Wall…
recognizing racism in Northern Ontario
So there’s a story around here about a company promoting ice huts that said in their ad: “Please no status card users! You are not welcome in our huts. Equality…
What it Means to Join a Political Party ( #cdnpoli )
A lot of people believe joining a political party means getting together and advancing policies and ideas that they collectively believe in.The truth is - the more important part about…
What it Means to Join a Political Party ( #cdnpoli )
A lot of people believe joining a political party means getting together and advancing policies and ideas that they collectively believe in. The truth is – the more important part…
What it Means to Join a Political Party ( #cdnpoli )
A lot of people believe joining a political party means getting together and advancing policies and ideas that they collectively believe in. The truth is – the more important part…