The dream of proportional representation dies again; long live pro rep
I campaigned during the first and second referendums we had …
The dream of proportional representation dies again; long live pro rep Read More »
Politics
I’m voting for proportional representation
I’m voting for proportional representation. I hope you do too, …
Tsleil-Waututh Nation versus Bill Morneau, the duty to consult, and the public interest
Say it with me. The duty to consult Indigenous people does not conflict with the public interest…
Nine animals that we should be trophy hunting instead of grizzly bears
I’ve been wracking my brain trying to think of how to help stop the commercial trophy hunting of bears in BC, which is ongoing and totally unethical. But I’m pretty smart, so I put this problem in my mind-vice and I’m a genius…
Trying to understand the American election
Here are few articles that might help put yesterday’s election in perspective. Or maybe not…
#PantSuitNation is making me cry
There is much about this election that has provoked a roller coaster of emotions. I’m excited to see that some women have chosen to dress up in their pantsuits to vote.
My friend is voting for Donald Trump, because reasons
So much media that passes as journalism isn’t, and this election has demonstrated the power of television and “news” in a remarkable and nauseating way…
Harper, Mulcair, Trudeau all members of anti-gay churches
The leaders of the three major parties in our federal election are all members of anti-gay churches. That is to say, simply, that they officially and explicitly believe that gay behaviour is sinful…
Petrostatehood is not a zero or one
Some time ago Nikiforuk published an article at Foreign Policy declaring Canada a petrostate. It caused a big splash and became a talking point in the culture wars that make up Canadian politics. Stephen Saideman called it hyperbole. And Andrew Leech called it short on evidence…
People died for this right
I’ve heard countless pious prescriptions to do such and such, because “people fought and died for this right.” There are many versions of this cliché. They are all clichés. And they are all terribly lazy…
Why Catholics hate: a primer
The official Catholic doctrine is that homosexual conduct, including non-sexual, romantic behaviour, is immoral. The Catholic church writes and defends this view. The Catholic church preaches this to their members. And the Catholic church teaches this to students…
The mystery of the ‘secret canadian bank bailout’
Stephen Gordon is concerned that the CCPA put out a press release saying that the Canadian Government secretly bailed out banks during the global financial crisis. I heard him on CBC yesterday and I listened carefully, partly because I know him to say things that are interesting and sometimes galling…
About “See the veil for what it is”
It is likely that any article written by a white male journalist that starts with a title like “See the veil for what it is” would raise my hackles. So when I saw the article today I had a bit of a reflexive response: here’s another white guy, with little demonstrated understanding of women’s issues, feminism, or Islam, about to tell us what the veil really is.
Charles McVety, President of the Institute of Canadian Values, demonstrates textbook homophobia
I was listening to As It Happens on my way downtown on Wednesday, and overheard an interview with Charles McVety. I recommend listening to the interview. It’s about ten minutes. It’s worth a listen.
Derek Abma and National Post misrepresent views of Elliot Diringer
On November 30th, Derek Abma wrote an article for the …
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Fracking, colonization and the Peace Country
Went to a public forum last night to hear about fracking in Northeastern BC. I thought I already knew how bad hydraulic fracturing and shale gas extraction are. But there is nothing quite like having graphs and maps enriched by honest, heartfelt stories, told by real breathing humans…
Scott Stinson’s defense of John Crosbie’s racist joke
I don’t make a habit of reading the National Post. It’s what Conservative Party members read. But I did see an article from Friday, November 4. It was on page three. I was immediately struck by the overt racism and decided to try to engage the author, Scott Stinson, by Twitter…
Democracy is not zero or one
Democracy is not a single style of governance. Democracy is not simply about having elections. Democracies come in many colours and fashions. Democracy is a matter of degree and dimension…
Outing the ringers
This piece by Jay Smooth at Illdoctrine is awesome. It’s a three card monty. And the big media spokes people are shills, ringers and ropers. You can also check out the latest news about the People’s Assembly of Victoria.
‘Normal’, ‘special’, and the art of marginalization
I have a warm fuzzy place in my heart for …
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the Calgary Stampede’s growing public relations challenge
AMERICAN HUMANE monitored the animal action. No animals were harmed.
National Post on global warming climate destabilization
The National Post has a decidedly denialist narrative. Do a …
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Bahrain, Formula One, and Avaaz
Nice animation and a bit of news about the good work that Avaaz is doing…
Britain is voting on First Past the Post
Well hell. The situation today bites. First Past the Post bites. Folks think so in Britain too.