Two Things Proud Canadians Can Do
As I wrote in my previous post, there are very heartening signs of a deep resurgence in Canadian national pride. Consumer boycotts of American products, the purchasing of Canadian products…
democratic participation
Toward Democratic Renewal
I’m sure that all progressive bloggers are disheartened and bedeviled by the devolution of democracy in Canada. Not only has it been under consistent and sustained attack by the Harper…
Let The Sun Shine
Like the vampires of fiction who cling to the darkness as they carry out their nefarious, life-depleting ravages on their prey, the Harper regime best operates in the dark, away…
On Encouraging Political Participation
The other day I wrote a post on John Cruickshank’s TED Talk about the low level of political participation among young citizens. His thesis was that as a society, we…
Why So Much Ignorance In This Age Of Technology?
I have always thought it ironic that in this age of interconnectedness, when we have almost unlimited sources of information at our disposal, so many of us are abysmally ignorant…
Tragedy In The Commons
I know that I am hardly alone in sometimes thinking that the insights and observations of progressives have a Cassandra-like quality to them; we think we can see patterns auguring…
True On Both Sides Of The Border
Substitute parliamentary democracy for republic and Bill Maher’s words are a stinging indictment of apathetic Canadians. Recommend this Post
All It Takes Is One Ant
H/t Occupy Canada Recommend this Post
Judgemental? Yes
But true nonetheless: You can read more about our perilous state here. Recommend this Post
Food For Thought
H/t Canadians Rallying To Unseat Stephen Harper Recommend this Post
Citizenship on the Sidelines
Being on holiday has induced in me a certain mental torpor, so please forgive me if this post states the obvious. Those of us who write politically-oriented blogs are, of…
On Our Democratic Deficit
These Star readers, whether you agree with them or not, have some interesting perspectives to offer: Re: Growing disconnect between Canadians and Parliament, May 2 Democracy is just a mirage,…
What Is Democracy?
The other day I wrote a post on the decline of democracy under the Harper regime. Included was reference to Bob Hepburn’s recent piece on the same subject. Although I…
The Dominoes of Democracy – Part 2
What is one of the chief effects of the Harper regime’s preference for an ideologically-based policy model over one premised on logic, facts and empirical evidence, as explored in my…
The Dominoes of Democracy – Part 2
What is one of the chief effects of the Harper regime’s preference for an ideologically-based policy model over one premised on logic, facts and empirical evidence, as explored in my…
Canada and Egypt: A Study in Contrasts
My wife, well aware of my anguish over the disengagement with democracy of so many Canadians, made a comment this morning that has inspired this post. She observed the sharp…
The Perilous State of Democracy in Canada
Over the past year I have written several posts on the woeful state of democratic participation in Canada, a state I am convinced is at least in significant part due…
Resistance Is NOT Futile
In the various incarnations that the series Star Trek has enjoyed, The Next Generation was my favorite. Starring the well-known Shakespearean actor Patrick Stewart, whose regal commands propelled The Enterprise…
Why Do Those With So Little Prize Democracy So Much?
As I am sure is the case with most passionate political observers, our increasingly dismal turnout at electoral polls is a source of great personal dismay. While our political 'leaders'…
Democratic Renewal
I just got back from my Algonquin trip, so just a very brief post. In skimming today’s Star, there is a very interesting piece by Bob Hepburn on efforts at…