It is well-known among those who follow politics that governments frequently show contempt for the people that they ‘serve.’ However, rarely is that contempt telegraphed in advance of an election. Jerry Bance, who is running for the federal Conservatives in the Toronto riding of Scarborough Rouge Park, owns and operates
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Politics and its Discontents: How Fed Up With Harper Are Canadians?
The answer to that could very well determine Dear Leader’s electoral fate in 2015, according to Tim Harper’s analysis in today’s Star. As well, He must keep voter turnout low because his supporters are more committed and likely to cast a ballot. A flood of new, Trudeau voters will doom
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Shape of Conservative Attack Ads To Come?
A new This Hour Has 22 Minutes song parody of Meghan Trainor’s hit “All About That Bass” reveals possible Conservative pre-election attack strategies aimed squarely at the Liberal party leader. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Contempt Of The Electorate?
Tom, a friend of mine, posted the following on Facebook yesterday: Kind of tired of all the polemical posturing in the latest election. However, can anyone provide one instance in history — at least, since the advent of the Industrial Revolution — where, corporate or business tax cuts, the basis
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Unfit To Govern
I have to admit that even though I am now in my sixties, I have never before witnessed the kind of behaviour on the part of a Canadian government as I have of the Harper regime. Contemptuous of opposing views, ready to vilify opponents at every turn, the regime has
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: More Evidence Of The Devil
If the devil is indeed to be found in the detail, then Star letter-writer Geoffrey Kemp of Mississauga has done an exorcist’s job of ferreting out the wily one. Enjoy his well-considered thoughts on an aspect of the ‘Fair’ Elections Act that has gotten relatively little attention owing to the
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: On Democracy And Political Leadership
I have a somewhat busy morning ahead, so for the time being I offer the following: Is the answer to things like this, this? Re Manning Takes Aim at Tory Election Bill (March 3): The Conservatives’ Fair Elections Act is anything but. Instead, it’s about ensuring they’ll form another majority
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Another Nail
As I have expressed in this blog previously, it is my sincere belief that the Harper cabal, indeed, the hard right in general, does not want us exercising our democratic rights, especially as they pertain to voting. The less participation there is, the easier it is for the true believers,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Hee Hee Hee
Despite the misspelling in the caption, I rather like this cartoon, probably for obvious reasons. As well, you may enjoy these letters from Star readers who have an even less flattering view of Mr. Harper as it pertains to his northern junket, escaping the heat via prorogation, and his ongoing
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Harper’s Tricks Are Getting A Tad Tiresome
Sure, I could write reams on what the old trickster is up to in proroguing Parliament yet again. I think the following, though, brought to you by our friends at Citizens Rallying To Unseat Stephen Harper, sums everything up nicely: Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Lessons Learned From Totalitarianism
Reflecting upon a recent visit to Berlin, Toronto Star columnist Edward Greenspon had this to say: I was particularly struck by the lessons to be drawn from 1933 and 1934, when the Nazis were not yet at full swagger. Arguably, as the depths of their hatreds quickly surfaced, they could
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: And Speaking Of Contempt For Democracy …
Does anyone remember this gem from 2011 when Mr. Harper essentially said that parliamentary democracy is of absolutely no consequence? H/t Citizens Rallying To Unseat Harper Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: David Suzuki On Harper’s Contempt For Democracy
David Suzuki has a thought-provoking essay in today’s Globe and Mail that also serves as an excellent precis of some of the things the Harper government would like us to forget, including its promotion of ignorance/contempt for factual data, its demonization of environmentalists, it arrant hypocrisy, and its general contempt
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Unbearable Lightness of Being (Shelley)
I see that Shelley Glover, the Conservative M.P. for St. Boniface riding, is in a spot of trouble. It seems that the lady who practically levitates out of her House of Commons seat to lead a standing ovation each time her dear leader deigns to speak could be suspended from
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: But Can It Be Mixed With Kool-Aid?
Is it possible that at the start of their political careers, Stephen Harper and Rob Ford consulted with Cornelius Grouppe for campaign advice and recruitment methodology? Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Democratic Expression of Our Discontent
Oh, this idea I like very much. And the tactic is easily adaptable in situations that could best be described as ‘fluid’: H/t Sylvia Wilson Canadians Rallying To Unseat Stephen Harper Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Remembrances Of Things Past (A.K.A. Harper’s Empty Promises, A.K.A Lies)
I trust these pictorial efforts speak for themselves: H/t Piper McKinnon – Canadians Rallying To Unseat Stephen Harper H/t The Toronto Star Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Your Sunday Smile
Plus a sobering rebuke of Mr. Harper in this morning’s Star editorial: “This sordid saga of improper Conservative behaviour, high-level secrecy and winking at wrongdoing has infuriated Canadians, disgraced the unelected Red Chamber, and spurred renewed interest in its abolition.” Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Growing Public Cynicism
I can only hope that the growing public cynicism evident in these Star letters translates into a deep and abiding anger that lasts until at least 2015. Here is a sampling: Beyond money, audit reveals a bigger problem for Duffy, May 15 This column described Mike Duffy’s problem but the
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Gated Democracy in Calgary
Last June, I wrote a series of posts about the lack of constituency representation I and many others were receiving from our local Conservative M.P. David Sweet, the catalyst being his obsequious though not unexpected uncritical acceptance of the budget Omnibus Bill C-38. As a consequence, we conducted demonstrations at
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