H/T: R.S.
A government friendly to some businesses
"All bets are off"… or not
It’s been a while since I complained about CBC pundit Stephen Smart but his 5pm news report today was egregious. He suggested the current Angus Reid poll indicates an important shift that […]
Coastal safety
Second B.C. shipping incident in two days, Vancouver Sun, Nov. 23/12 “Dan Bate, spokesman for the Canadian Coast Guard, said Friday that the deep-sea cargo ship, Tern Arrow, lost engine power in […]
Trends
A Failed Experiment, Nicholas D. Kristof, New York Times, Nov 21/12 “Since the 1950s, the top federal income tax rate has fallen from 90 percent or more to 35 percent. Capital gains […]
If BC Liberals lied before, can we believe them now?
In July 2009, Tom Fletcher of Black Press wrote about the HST announcement, “Premier Gordon Campbell and Finance Minister Colin Hansen announced the change in Vancouver Thursday, presenting it as a revenue-neutral […]
To understand the RCMP: Re-sergeance.net
I’m sure you remember me. I just couldn’t resist a response to your disappointing interview of 20/11/12 that you did while in Vancouver. I won’t try to pass myself off as one of those experts you referred to that pop out of cakes, but I did complete basic police training at Depot, have been associated with the Force in operational, instructional, and clinical roles for 35 plus years, and most importantly, I listen carefully when your members speak to me…
Demand deficit
Fiscal Cliff Letter: Small Business Owners Urge End Of Bush Tax Cuts, Zach Carter, Huffington Post “As businesses owners, none of us hire more employees simply because someone gives us a tax […]
Propagandists in the service of the powerful
For more than half a century, the Soviet Union’s news agencies were universally recognized as untrustworthy. Strict political controls ensured that content served interests of the nation’s autocrats. In the democratic world, […]
The other 47% watch
Willard Mitt Romney: “…there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for […]
The real Welfare Queen
Walmart: America’s real ‘Welfare Queen’, Paddy Ryan, Daily Kos, October 2012 ” As many as 80 percent of workers in [U.S.] Wal-Mart stores use food stamps.” Inequality, exhibit A: Walmart and the […]
No sense of decency
In Liberals’ memo shows party’s delusion, Keith Baldrey takes aim at the government crowd and fires a cruise missile through the target. Actions of these minor league partisans suggest Joseph Welch’s famous […]
Talking real money
One indisputable dunce pursuing a nomination for the coming provincial election praised the B.C. Liberal government for its “prudent fiscal management.” Obviously, that person pays no attention to reality. Oxford Dictionaries defines […]
There’s fish in the lake
Two unions are in court to overturn Temporary Foreign Worker Program permits that allow 200 Chinese coal miners to work in northern BC. The labour organizations claim the permits were based on […]
Did you know?
The Great Star Fleet At the turn of the 20th Century, the Alaska Packers Association assembled the largest fleet of privately owned sailing ships in the world. It was an era in […]
Pro-media: watchdogs or lapdogs?
Katie Hyslop has a worthwhile piece in The Tyee about the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation. Teacher Decries Pension Plan’s ‘Unethical’ Investments, The Tyee, Nov. 13/12 “[Paul] Hutcheson started researching the B.C. […]
Wazzup, ferry riders?
A few days ago, Mary Polak’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure announced the “B.C. coastal ferries consultation and engagement process”. The ministry invited: Input on considerations to achieve $26 million in savings […]
A caution for Canada’s Conservative Party
Six CPC members of Parliament may be deposed if the Federal Court accepts allegations of widespread voter suppression during the May 2011 election. This action, to be heard in December, is separate […]
BC Liberal truthiness
We face 26 weeks of taxpayer paid pre-election advertising promoting the BC Liberals. They’ll be using “facts” like this one, broadcast on Global TV November 9: “We’re ensuring British Columbians have the […]
Conservatives use truthiness liberally
For people who care about Canadian veterans, truthiness of the Conservative government is cringeworthy. Harper’s crowd claims to be: …unwavering in our devotion to making sure that Canadian veterans not only have […]
SNC-Lavalin & BC Liberal commonality
A reader of the piece about BC Investment Management Corporation’s holdings in unethical companies asked if the agency has a relationship with SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. Unfortunately but not surprisingly, it does. And, it […]
in-sights.ca 
[…] I’ve been reading two books: Broken City by Patrick Condon, and Happy City by Charles Montgomery. Both are compelling…