An Upsetting But Worthwhile Read

Just finished going through Naomi Klein's "The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism" a ringing condemnation of what is referred to as the "Chicago School" of economics.

It portrays a history of 'shocks' in many many countries ever since the Chilean coup of 1973. She traces the application of 'shocks' to both economies in many countries and also is quite explicit on governing authorities usages of torture and other human rights violations to go along with 'economic shocks'.

While the book is unpleasant to read in many cases it is a 'must read' for anyone wishing a progressive analysis of what happened in our world the last four decades.

2009 In Review

Well it's nearly the end of the year... I think it was very early in 2009 that I began writing this blog...

What was most important for me this year.. without a doubt the events of this past August...my best friend and spouse and I celebrated 40 years of marriage. We really enjoyed celebrating it with friends in both Regina and Ottawa.

We also waited for and enjoyed the very recent news of the arrival of our fourth grandson.

(Friends of ours will receive a more personal account of our year in a few days)

The country of ours...well...somehow we did not have a federal election. Though I would not have minded one (it is the 'highest expression' of a democracy), I am glad one did not occur. Our electorate is quite polarized and I don't really know how an election would have turned out.

Some things I liked about the year in our political life in Canada -- well it's hard to say... maybe one bright light was the Ontario government's decision to have a new advisory group provide input into social policy - adjustments to welfare rates may be one result. But the province has a huge deficit brought on by the economic downturn so nothing may result from the group's work...

Lots of things not to like about the year past in the political world...our federal government's mean streak especially in dealing with critics and several Canadians seemingly abandoned when in trouble in other countries, and our almost absence or foot dragging on dealing with environmental issues... I was embarassed at our country's receiving of 'fossil' awards in Copenhagen.

Last winter's conflict in Israel and Gaza was most distressing. Both sides committed war crimes (according to human rights groups) yet neither appears to be taking that issue seriously...

The Sri Lankan civil war ended but justice has not arrived in that part of the country.

More locally I was continually amazed at how hypocritic and demonic' some of our talk show hosts in our city can be in their discussion of current events. Last winter's regrettable transit strike brought out the worst in their continuing war against public services and unions. Their attitudes towards Afghan detainees was most upsetting.

The continuning strife in Iran seem to predict interesting times in the month ahead.....

Mean Streak

I cannot understand the increasingly 'mean streak' shown by Canada's national government. The most recent example was their arbitrary cut off of Kairos - a Catholic service agency. A high level Cabinet Minister accused the organization of being anti-semitic.. only because it criticized certain policies of the Israeli government.

The current government recently went so far as to distribute literature in a number of areas of Canada accusing our main opposition party of being anti-semitic.

This bunch in power don't seem to understand one can criticize government all over the world but not get accused of being anti this or that group of people.

As a semite I can criticize policies of the Israeli government... but in the current federal government's eyes, that makes me an anti-semite.. an accustion that is totally and completely wrong!!

Mr. Kenney.. you don't speak for me.. you and your colleagues should restore KAIROS funding

Controversy Over Conservatives Ten Percenters

Gee how low can a political party go...apparently lower than anything done so far.

I am appalled at latest federal Conservative party portrayal of folks who criticize Israel as being anti-semitic. Since when does criticism of any country make one a "anti" towards the religion or people of the predominant ethnic or religious group in that country.

One can criticize Canada's policies and not be labelled anti-Canadian; one can criticize policies of the Vatican and not be anti-Catholic. One can criticize policies of Iran or Sudan and not be anti-Muslim. BUt if one express an iota of concern about Israel, some of its 'defenders' hurl the anti-semitism charge at the those expressing concern.

I saw all the furore in the media on this yesterday. The furore is justified in my view. No Canadian of any ethnic background should support a party that demonizes opposition. This current governing party appears determined to divide Canadians - it thinks it can gain politically by pitting groups of Canadians against each other.

Canadians we have to stop this at election time whenever that comes.