Here in Ontario, the newly re-elected Conservatives under Doug Ford are making oblique sounds about private health care as a way to help solve our hospital crises. While we do have private clinics, etc. in this province, it would seem that they are suggesting much more than that. One needn’t
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Politics and its Discontents: Hell No, I Won’t Go!
In the days of my youth, the above was an anthem of resistance, shouted in defiance of the American draft sending young men to fight and to die in Vietnam. As a Canadian, I watched from the sidelines but nonetheless admired them for their conviction and willingness to go to
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The CORE Of The Problem
As I continue to reflect upon the sad outcome of the recent Ontario provincial election, I find that the bulk of my disdain, my odium, my repugnance, is aimed not at the minority of voters who gave Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives another majority. Rather, it is toward the majority
Continue readingScott's Diatribes: Ontario Provincial Election Musings
Regarding the Ontario Election: I will not repeat everything verbatim that I said on Twitter, but I will say this to the Ontario Liberal Party. Get some serious policy rethink going before you pick a leader; specifically 1 member, 1 vote and allow all members to vote. Do away with
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Paltry Offerings
I can’t remember a time when I have been less inspired about an election. Here in Ontario, where we go to the polls on June 2, we have Conservative Doug Ford leading in the polls, counting on a credulous and forgetful electorate. Then we have the seatless Liberal leader,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Theatre Of The Absurd
I’m feeling too burnt out these days to put thoughts to words, my ever-constant cynicism about people and politics reaching new levels. Therefore, allow me to post some editorial cartoons that help to capture the absurdity of what we call politics and life. H/t Michael de Adder H/t Graeme MacKay H/t
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Sign Of The Times
People in Ontario will recognize this as one of Doug Ford’s election bribes and an acknowledgement of his good friends, the developers. H/t Theo Moudakis Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Master Class
If you have been reading my blog lately, you will see that I have posted a few times about the ongoing bribery by Doug Ford in his efforts to secure a second majority come this June’s election. Indeed, for the student of politics, Ford’s government is a master class
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Most Dangerous Bribe
H/t Theo Moudakis I wrote recently about the large-scale bribery that Doug Ford is engaging in during the run-up to Ontario’s June 2 provincial election. Cheques in the mail, promises of gas-tax reductions, ending toll fees on some highways, pending cheaper childcare – all measures to convince an often
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Cheque Was In The Mail
Yesterday, retrieving the day’s delivery from our mailbox, I really was not surprised to find an envelope from the Ontario government. It contained my licence sticker rebate for the past two years, plus another $100, the latter of which I do not understand. But it doesn’t matter; I’m not keeping
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Short Follow-Up
As a follow-up to yesterday’s post about the many bribes Doug Ford is offering voters to win their support in June, here are two letters that offer interesting perspectives: Ontario drivers to save $120 per year through Premier Doug Ford’s cancelling of licence renewal fees — but it will cost
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Counting The Ways
How much does Doug Ford covet Ontarian’s votes? Let me count the ways. In the run-up to this June’s provincial election, the premier is sparing no expense (while at the same time eliminating huge amounts of revenue) to buy at least enough votes to ensure a return of his
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: What Is A Conscientious Voter To Do?
I think we all realize that democracy in many parts of the world, including our own, is in a state of malaise. The threats we face are not simply the obvious ones like cyberattacks, shadowy sources of funding for insidious trucker convoys and rampant disinformation. Many of our problems are
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Peak Inside The House Of Ford
Although the newspapers are apparently shying away from this, there is strong evidence of a breach in the dyke of official solidarity in Doug Ford’s family. And that breach is his daughter Krysta, who, it seems, is unhappy with current societal regulations regarding Covid-19. Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s eldest daughter
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Another Reminder About A Multi-Tasking Premier
As the reinvention of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives continues as we move closer to next June’s election, yet another reminder about the man behind the curtain. H/t Graeme MacKay Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Just A Reminder
With an election in Ontario next June, Doug Ford has been trying to rebrand himself, somewhat unsuccessfully given his unusual capacity for stepping in it. Nonetheless, a little reminder from Patrick Corrigan serves to highlight Dougie’s true nature and the values he really embraces. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Designed To Fail
H/t Theo Moudakis In his column today, Bruce Arthur offers the opinion that Ontario’s vaccine passport is a half-hearted effort by Doug Ford that seems almost designed to fail. …as the Star’s award-winning Rosa Saba reported in one of several essential pieces this week, existing vaccination PDFs can be altered after downloading
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Meanwhile, In Ontario, In Search Of A Useful Idiot
The PC government of Doug Ford has an interesting fund-raising scam scheme. It consists of sending an ‘invoice’ to people: Some Ontario residents have received mail correspondence asking them to donate to the PC’s election campaign, however, the letters have been designed to appear as invoices. Kingston resident Greg Gies
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: An Olympic Performance
And the gold medal winner in the back flip category is: Andrea Horwath. H/t Theo Moudakis Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: An Assault On The Olfactory Cells
To paraphrase a character from the play Hamlet, something is rotten in the state of Ontario. And one needn’t be a master detective to trace its source. Indeed, it is perhaps to state the obvious to conclude that Doug Ford is in the thrall of, and debt to, the
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