idealisticpragmatist.blogspot.com
Idealistic Pragmatist: One of several options
http://idealisticpragmatist.blogspot.com/2008/12/one-of-several-options.html
Resisting the pull of cynicism since 1969. Friday, December 05, 2008. One of several options. Was the Governor-General wrong to prorogue? Hell if I know. It seemed like a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" sort of situation, and there really was no good choice. Harper should not have asked for it, that much is certain. But what's done is done. Us the parliament we vote for, but we still have the possibility (and, I would argue, the responsibility). I've never had a lot of faith that these things wil...
kingoftheshiners.blogspot.com
King of the Shiners: May 2011
http://kingoftheshiners.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.html
King of the Shiners. Saturday, May 21, 2011. This article from The Star. On what the CES is showing about how new Canadians voted is pretty interesting. Links to this post. Thursday, May 19, 2011. Freedom Comes to Manitoba. After the election I took the train to Belgium for a week and binged on beer and waffles. Hung out at the Delirium Cafe in Brussels, a famous beer bar with a phone book beer menu (over 2,000 bottles) and spent a massive amount of money that I should. In the tiniest of corner stores he...
kingoftheshiners.blogspot.com
King of the Shiners: Put CBC News Network out of its misery
http://kingoftheshiners.blogspot.com/2011/07/put-cbc-news-network-out-of-its-misery.html
King of the Shiners. Tuesday, July 26, 2011. Put CBC News Network out of its misery. I am under self-imposed house arrest. I got back to Ottawa from London about three weeks ago. Technically I should be working on my dissertation, with its rapidly approaching September due date, but I've always been a procrastinator and the graduate Shiner is no different than the undergraduate Shiner. July 27, 2011 at 12:06 AM. It so biased to the left that it has become laughing stock. July 27, 2011 at 9:54 AM. Ho-ly-f...
kingoftheshiners.blogspot.com
King of the Shiners: October 2010
http://kingoftheshiners.blogspot.com/2010_10_01_archive.html
King of the Shiners. Saturday, October 30, 2010. The Church of Economics. Great article from Caplan. Imagine a so-called scientific discipline based on the proposition that humans invariably act on the basis of rational calculation and complete knowledge. This is not science; it’s blind, irrational faith. Imagine promoting an economic system that busts as often as it booms and that always leaves an abundance of losers in its wake. Links to this post. Thursday, October 28, 2010. Examines the argument made...
kingoftheshiners.blogspot.com
King of the Shiners: January 2011
http://kingoftheshiners.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html
King of the Shiners. Tuesday, January 25, 2011. Hi It's me, Shiner. Been a bit since I last posted. Who knew that pubs with open fires, real ale, free world class museums, and good company could be more enjoyable than paying attention to Canadian politics. Nonetheless, this stadium thing has me pacing my tiny cell in Southwark and periodically frightening my suite mates with outbursts of profanity. I'm not the only one who is angry though. Are feeling. Their laughable headline says it all:. A 20-somethin...
idealisticpragmatist.blogspot.com
Idealistic Pragmatist: MMP and me
http://idealisticpragmatist.blogspot.com/2007/09/mmp-and-me.html
Resisting the pull of cynicism since 1969. Saturday, September 22, 2007. It occurs to me that some of you may not realize that I wasn't born a statistics-spouting, FAQ-writing, electoral reform geek- I was made that way. This post is that story. For them- it actually produced policies that most of the country agreed with. What a wonderful thing this 'parliamentary democracy' thing was. Program for the benefit of the rapidly democratizing East Germans. Your ballot has two votes,. And then came the results.
idealisticpragmatist.blogspot.com
Idealistic Pragmatist: We have polling
http://idealisticpragmatist.blogspot.com/2008/12/we-have-polling.html
Resisting the pull of cynicism since 1969. Wednesday, December 03, 2008. Has released polling data about the proposed coalition. Here are their answers to the main three questions:. Which of these statements comes closest to your own view? The Conservative party deserves to continue in government: 35%. The Conservative party does not deserve to continue in government: 40%. Should the opposition parties get together and topple the Conservative minority government headed by Stephen Harper? Just as fascinat...
idealisticpragmatist.blogspot.com
Idealistic Pragmatist: On the backroom
http://idealisticpragmatist.blogspot.com/2008/12/on-backroom.html
Resisting the pull of cynicism since 1969. Thursday, December 04, 2008. Consider this: When people in the same party get together to talk about plans for laws or governance or strategy, we call it a caucus meeting. But when people from different parties do exactly the same thing, we call it a secret backroom plot. Is that really the message we want to send to the people who govern us? Wall off the parties and make sure no one leaves their bubble? Posted by Idealistic Pragmatist. There'll be a new Throne ...
redtoryglory.blogspot.com
Aeneas the Younger: May 2006
http://redtoryglory.blogspot.com/2006_05_01_archive.html
One cannot understand the Conservatism of Canada without thinking of Disraeli." (George Parkin Grant). Tuesday, May 23, 2006. Latest Ipsos-Reid Political Poll. Http:/ www.canada.com/nationalpost/story.html? This finds that the Harper Government is currying great favour with the Canadian electorate. One has to wonder just what conclusions the government and caucus will draw from this positive reaction? Will they ascertain that their moderate tone and policy is the reason for the positive response? Monday,...
idealisticpragmatist.blogspot.com
Idealistic Pragmatist: In defense of proportional representation
http://idealisticpragmatist.blogspot.com/2005/09/in-defense-of-proportional.html
Resisting the pull of cynicism since 1969. Tuesday, September 20, 2005. In defense of proportional representation. It was inevitable, I suppose, that someone was going to come out and blame the crazy results of recent elections in Germany and New Zealand on that gosh-darned proportional representation. And if it was inevitable that someone. Was going to do that, then I suppose it was equally inevitable that that someone was going to be Jeffrey Simpson of the Globe and Mail. Finally, Simpson attempts to m...
