Yesterday I offered, shall we say, an unflattering appraisal of the American ‘character’ and psyche. Further evidence supporting that assessment is to be found in the following video: Perhaps those of similar disposition dying for a night out on the town should ponder this cautionary tale? Recommend this Post
Continue readingTag: Wisconsin
Alberta Politics: Will Alberta conservatives blame Rachel Notley and Justin Trudeau for Line 3 delays in Minnesota? Of course they will!
Will Alberta’s conservatives find a way to blame Premier Rachel Notley and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the delays in construction Enbridge Inc.’s Line 3 Expansion announced yesterday? Why not? Given the credulity demonstrated by Alberta’s mainstream media when it comes to such stories, such an effort should get plenty
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: How the Occupy Movement is Enriching People’s Lives
Imagine an eco-community of micro-homes designed as a first step out of homelessness. Housing, easy to get into, if people care. Occupy Madison in Wisconsin has come up with an innovative first step of a solution [see below]. These 96 square foot homes are no long term solution, at all.
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Has Alberta pioneered an unlegislated ban on collective bargaining?
“Post-secondary collective bargaining,” Alberta style. Advanced Education Minister Thomas Lukaszuk and a post-secondary employer negotiator rig the deck, foreground, while a faculty association negotiators ponder what’s just happened. Actual Alberta bargaining teams may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: The real Mr. Lukaszuk, former advanced ed minister Steve Khan. As
Continue readingRedBedHead: Joy At Republican Humiliation Shouldn’t Make Us Forget The Choices Sucked
I was in a bar/restaurant near my house on election night, trying to get some work done and watching the results come in. At first it seemed like a nail-biter (though I was convinced that it would be a fairly easy sweep for Obama) and people were texting and Facebooking
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Advice to Alison Redford: Own fair and reasonable, and leave the comedy riffs about Danielle Smith to us bloggers
Yuck! Alberta Opposition Leader Danielle Smith learns about veterinary medicine at the source. Or was this the lesson on Wisconsin’s “grassroots democracy”? Whatever. After that, she had cheese in Wisconsin. Below: Alberta Premier Alison Redford. I recall hearing somewhere the image experts have come to the conclusion that “if you
Continue readingDeSmogBlog: What To Expect When You’re Electing: Representative Paul Ryan
Ryan Romney.jpg With the selection of Wisconsin Republican Representative Paul Ryan has his running mate, Mitt Romney has effectively pushed his campaign into the climate change denying fringe. While Romney hasn’t been considered a friend of the environment since he began running for national office, his tendency towards flip-flopping made
Continue readingDeSmogBlog: Was Scott Walker Chosen to Headline Heartland Institute Gala Due to His Bradley Foundation Ties?
800px-ScottWalker.jpeg Wisconsin Republican Governor Scott Walker will keynote the Heartland Institute's 28th Anniversary Benefit Dinner this evening at Navy Pier in Chicago, IL. Walker recently won the Kochtopus-funded Americans for Prosperity George Washington Award. Now, two months after his recall election steamrolling of Democrat Tom Barrett, the climate change denying group
Continue readingDeSmogBlog: Wisconsin v. Yoder Redux? MN Amish Citizens Revolt Against Frac Sand Mining
shutterstock_83010019.jpg "History," the old adage goes, "repeats itself." And this is precisely the reason why we learn it. read more
Continue readingDeSmogBlog: Sand Land: Frac Sand Mining in Western Wisconsin – Video Report by DeSmogBlog
Sand mine.jpg The rush to drill for unconventional gas, enabled by a process popularly known as "fracking," or hydraulic fracturing, has brought with it much collateral damage. Close observers know about contaminated water, earthquakes, and climate change impacts of the shale gas boom, but few look at the entire life
Continue readingLeft Over: Ugh, Wisconsin…any Lessons Learned Here at Home?
I just read that 35% of Wisconsin union members voted for Walker; anyone who thinks that union members here in Canada wouldn’t do the same sot of thing (if they bothered to vote at all, another discussion, I know) doesn’t know union members very well…as a retired union activist who
Continue readingArt Threat: A doc that makes you want to occupy – We Are Wisconsin at Hot Docs 2012
Yesterday we caught three political docs at Hot Docs, and before I race off to The Law In These Parts, here is the first of many more micro-reviews. We Are Wisconsin, directed by Aimee Williams, is the first film I’ve seen at the festival that champions activism and calls on
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: The Perilous Road Ahead for Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker
Scott Walker’s day of judgment is coming. Wisconsin’s Government Accountability Board has set June 5th for the special recall election of Walker and five other GOP pols also recalled. Walker has gone to astonishing lengths to derail the recall and the recall election. So far he’s struck out every time.
Continue readingDeSmogBlog: ALEC Climate Change Denial Model Bill Passes in Tennessee
alec-exposed-600x400_0 (2).jpg The month of March has seen unprecedented heat and temperatures. A rational thinking, scientifically-grounded individual could only posit, "Well, hmm, I bet climate change has something to do with the fact that in Madison, WI, it is 80 degrees in mid-March. Sometimes it's 60 or 70 degrees colder
Continue readingScott Walker gets mic checked!
From the estimable Brad Blog, I find this video from a speech by Wisconsin governor Scott Walker at a Chicago engagement both amusing and important. We need more of this. Cross Posted at Let Freedom Rain
Continue readingScott Walker gets mic checked!
From the estimable Brad Blog, I find this video from a speech by Wisconsin governor Scott Walker at a Chicago engagement both amusing and important. We need more of this.
Continue readingDeSmogBlog: New Lake Michigan Coal Ash Spill Raises Old Concerns
coal ash spill.jpg
On Monday, a bluff surrounding a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based power plant collapsed, sending a cascade of debris and coal ash waste from the power plant into Lake Michigan. No in…
Continue readingBusting the union-busting bills
Anti-union legislation has been all the rage in the U.S. following last November’s election of a number of right-wing governors. Most notorious is Wisconsin’s Scott Walker, infamous for his polarizing union law that strips most public employees of thei…
Continue readingBlunt Objects: Six Republicans to be Recalled in Wisconsin
Getting away from Dippers, Khadir, and the National Question for a moment, we switch gears to Wisconsin, where you may remember there was a big protest over an anti-union bill, and now-successful recall initiatives (unlike those in BC) which will pave …
Continue readingPoliTeching: New Video Campaign Against WI Gov. Walker’s Supporter – Koch Brothers
Support for campaign against Wisconsin’s governor Scott Walker is increasing after he forced a bill that would remove worker’s bargaining rights. It was seen as an attempt to eliminate worker’s union. Following that, campaigns were launched against the governor’s supporters and campaign contributors, such as Koch Brothers and M&I bank. Wisconsin have similar campaign contribution […]