Even without his massive conflicts, Is Elon Musk qualified to restructure programs created by elected representatives of the people?
Unqualified, conflicted governance
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.
Actively working for change…
Audre Lorde was particularly focused on issues involving race and oppression, but her words are relevant to all of today’s critical issues. Individually, we may not affect material change, but working with others, that becomes a real possibility.
Try to be a “radical”
Polluting Education
This report explores the involvement of the oil and gas industry in schools and climate-related education in Canada. Given that comprehensive, evidence-based climate education is essential to addressing climate change, and that youth will be the most affected by climate breakdown, it is imperative that the industry most responsible for driving the climate crisis be prevented from influencing the education young people receive on subjects related to climate, environment, or energy…
Madmen and extremists…
One of the less frequently noticed luxuries of the postwar liberal order was the licence to be a fool. For the better part of a century, prosperous, scientifically minded countries have tolerantly sustained an underbelly of madmen and extremists — medical sceptics, conspiracy types and anti-democratic fantasists who would quickly have come to grief in less congenial surroundings.
Last honest election
Who needs competition in politics when rules can be rigged to favour people who make the rules? Real democracy is inconvenient for those who wish to govern.
“Who’d ever thought the USA could make Canada mad”
Build-grow-sell stories are repeated endlessly. It’s a result of our neighbour’s economic imperialism but also the lack of confidence in this country held by our corporate rulers. Sure, Canada beat the U.S.A. in a best-on-best hockey final, but in the national economy game, Americans are winners most of the time.
The current world situation
This is a guest post by Chris Merrick, a school friend who has serious concerns with the state of the world. Most of us can say that in our lifetimes, Canada has never experienced such a direct threat to its continued existence. It is vital to build country-to-country relationships in other parts of the world. The U.S. President is not our only problem because a large number of American politicians and plutocrats are Trump’s fellow travellers.
Canadians will never kiss the gangster ring
Charlie Angus, a longtime Member of Parliament from Northeastern Ontario, published his observations about recent NATO meetings in Brussels. American historian Heather Cox Richardson reinforced some of the concerns expressed by Angus.
Fox News entertainer says the quiet part out loud
This is a reprint from electoral-vote.com, a site for sane commentary about politics in the USA. I don’t always have the resolve to follow American political news but I recommend this website for its discernment of important issues.
BC Supreme Court finds racist RCMP acts violated Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Award-winning Indigenous journalist Brandi Morin posted comments about Justice Michael Tammen’s findings in a court case that followed violent and racist actions by the RCMP. Police were serving as a security force for the oil and gas industry, which is just one more hidden subsidy governments provide for fossil fuels. An approaching climate crisis seems not to matter. Unfortunately, the findings of Justice Tammen are unlikely to change RCMP behaviour. The police force has a long history of ‘dirty tricks’ favouring oil and gas companies.
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it
Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana stated the words shown here in his work The Life of Reason. With the rising tide of fascism in the USA and elsewhere, we should be attentive to his warning. According to University of Edinburgh historian Stephan Malinowski, a small group of powerful actors played a critical role in the creation of the Third Reich. In the 21st century, a different small group is again promoting fascism.
And Now for Something Completely Different
“We are entering uncertain times internationally and the need for strong, domestic food production is again becoming more acute. On behalf of everyone on the farm, thank you for all you do to support local food and local farmers wherever you live.”
Our 18th year
In 2026, this personal blog will begin its 19th year. Financial contributions from readers keep the lights on. If you judge IN-SIGHTS to be worthwhile, please contribute by clicking on this post and following the link provided.
Geothermal — clean, non-destructive renewable energy
Traditional geothermal failed to produce clean heat and electricity for the people of the German town of Geretsried. But now Calgary’s Eavor Technologies, using directional deep drilling technologies developed in the oil and gas industry, is starting its first commercial power plant in Geretsried.
Defenders of democracy must speak out – UPDATED
I told Michael James, the writer recently featured here, that I wished more journalists had the strength of character to oppose authoritarianism now threatening democracy. Doing so involves professional risks because the Trump/Musk administration is supported by plutocrats who control major parts of the USA economy. There are also risks to an individual’s safety and well-being because one of the persons currently exercising power has pardoned dangerous criminals and marshalled massive numbers of would-be oppressors who, like him, ought to be in jail.
Is democracy doomed in North America?
With the Musk/Trump administration ripping huge holes in America’s social safety net, it is frightening to observe how major media properties have sagged onto bended knees to pay homage to wealth and power. There is a parallel to Germany in the 1930s. There, political leaders took control of media that did not serve the Nazi Party. A cocktail of naked opportunism and misplaced arrogance among the country’s most powerful men facilitated the rise of the Third Reich. With the media silenced or controlled, it was relatively easy for evil men to consolidate power and punish opponents…
Michael James update…
Mr. James posted a follow-up to the short essay he recently published on Facebook. His first piece was shared tens of thousands of times, but it attracted many hateful responses. According to James, Trump supporters reacted with threats, insults and rage. Many people favour freedom of speech only when they agree with what is spoken. Commentators on both sides of the political spectrum tend to oppose words that go against their personal values or beliefs.
Demagoguery
On the information platform Medium, Jack Dallaire describes himself: “Former tech CEO turned journalist-in-training. Psychology degree holder with a mission to uncover how tech giants are shaping a digital dystopia.” He wrote a piece about Pierre Poilievre that is worth attention.
Be the People…
Michael James is a widely published journalist who lives in New York. He posted the following on Facebook and I think it is worth repeating.
in-sights.ca 
Millions of US, Americans support Trump! He is not an aberration! When Trump is gone there are many more to…