Canadian Federation of Independent Business wants municipal politicians to take the CFIB Taxpayer Pledge, committing to three principles: 1. Property Tax Fairness: “A commitment to narrow the current gap between commercial and […]
Norm Farrell
Gwen and I raised three adult children in North Vancouver. Each lives in this community, as do our seven grandchildren. Before retirement, I worked in accounting and small business management. Since 2009, I have published commentary about public issues at IN-SIGHTS.CA.
Robert Reich readings
Robert Reich is an American political economist, professor, author, and political commentator. He served in the administrations of Presidents Ford, Carter and Clinton. Reich is currently Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at […]
Screw us and we multiply
Susan Heyes says, “Best sign I saw today…..Thanks to Geoff Olson!”
Demonstrators and police should stay unmasked
The BC Civil Liberties Association, now in its sixth decade, does important and principled work in our province while advocating for individual rights, freedom and law reform. Their good work continues as […]
Solution for continued wealthcare
Report: A quarter of U.S. millionaires pay taxes at a lower rate than some in middle class, by Lori Montgomery, Washington Post, October 12/11 “A quarter of millionaires in the United States […]
Lost vision: efficient, affordable, customer focused
Gulf Islands bi-weekly newspaper Island Tides promises an eclectic mix of local, regional, national and international topics—serious and light-hearted—to give readers a “relaxed, informed ‘West Coast feeling“. One of the contributors to […]
Can we believe anything they say?
Pavco’s convention centre and stadium deals fascinate me. People residing beyond BC’s lower mainland are probably more pissed-off than fascinated. The arrangements clearly demonstrate disaster potential when public and private enterprises work […]
What is Coke doing with Koch
From the Center for Media and Democracy’s PR Watch What is Coca-Cola doing behind closed doors with Koch Industries at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)? The Center for Media and Democracy […]
Drawing lines
One of the items in my Mirth and Meditation Archive is this: Art, like morality, consists in drawing the line somewhere. – Gilbert K. Chesterton Chesterton’s expression is wonderfully concise but, in […]
Negotiation, a fruitless process in education
Almost six years ago, Vince Ready, in an interim report to the BC Liberal government about relations with teachers, commented: …the parties have not concluded meaningful negotiations in the decade since the […]
Open letter to DFO by Alexandra Morton
To: Dr. Laura Richards, Director General, Science, Pacific Region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada I am writing to ask for your progress report on the thousands of silver-bright sockeye and now Coho that are floating […]
Dogs know best what to do with (anonymous) polls
Stephen Smart’s report from Victoria caught my attention during Tuesday’s CBC News Vancouver. The Legislative reporter has apparently written off the NDP opposition; his focus was on the party that finished fourth […]
Today’s built-to-loot enterprises show their style
Chuck Collins is a senior scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies where he directs the Program on Inequality and the Common Good (www.inequality.org). Chuck is also a co-founder of Wealth for […]
Important victory for democracy and freedom
New York, NY. Monday, October 3, 2011—Today, award-winning journalist Amy Goodman announced that a final settlement has been reached in a federal lawsuit brought by Goodman and Democracy Now! producers Sharif Abdel […]
Truth a long time casualty at PavCo
Harvey Oberfeld recently called professional sports teams: “… the worst corporate welfare bums … trying to get working class British Columbians, through our taxes to subsidize various aspects of their operations. “And […]
It’s the union’s fault – Pavco’s truthiness
The stadium soon to be named Telus Park opened to CFL fans Friday but the facility was troubled with inadequate concessions and services. Early Saturday, CKWX News reported: “The line-ups were too […]
Taking action when business is slow…
“The FBI has received substantial criticism over the past decade — much of it valid — but nobody can deny its record of excellence in thwarting its own Terrorist plots. “Time and […]
Killing machines have no conscience
Is there irony in America’s rush to deploy drones and remote controlled weaponry around the world? From Joseph Nevins at the Boston Review, Robocop: In September 2010 the House Unmanned Aerial Vehicles […]
Shouts may begin with whispers
“Wall Street’s fear is understandable. If the public is ever given a voice to express its outrage, their party train will have to stop and some people will pay for their crimes. […]
"You can talk at your own town hall meeting"
Terrance Heath produces an excellent piece on the American ‘Tea Party’ movement brought to life by the Koch brothers and other plutocrats and apparatchiks. Is The Tea Party Over? Maybe. – published by […]
in-sights.ca 
Unfortunately, about 130 million Americans support Trump according to major polling organizations. That's particularly scary and reminds us of a…