Northern Plains Drifter

Do Saskatchewan voters really want to increase corporate power?

Northern Plains Drifter — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 06:41:53 +0000

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Saskatchewan will hold an election on April 4. Premier Brad Wall and his conservative Saskatchewan Party are looking to voters for their third consecutive mandate. Will he get it? After all, the political landscape has significantly changed since the last provincial election in 2011.

Sorry, Brad Wall. Refugees are welcome in Saskatchewan.

Northern Plains Drifter — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 18:34:07 +0000

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Many people are familiar with the reflective lament by Pastor Martin Niemoller:

What have the Conservatives ever done to hurt anyone?

Northern Plains Drifter — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 17:15:31 +0000

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(Note: The following is very loosely based on what I recently overheard in a neighbouring classroom lecture. It is a fusion of this AND a famous satirical skit from a British comedy group popular in the 1970s.)

Film review: Best of Enemies

Northern Plains Drifter — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 21:24:12 +0000

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1968 is considered the most chaotic and turbulent year of the chaotic and turbulent '60s. Major protests took place across the globe, including in Mexico City, Prague, Paris and many American cities. Protests in two American cities, Miami and Chicago, provide the backdrop for the political documentary film Best of Enemies.

After Alberta, 'Orange Waves' could be the new normal

Northern Plains Drifter — Tue, 12 May 2015 18:53:41 +0000

Progressive politics is Alberta-bound !!

On May 5, 2015, Canadians witnessed a rare political phenomenon: Alberta's NDP swept to power, growing from a meager four MLAs to winning 53 of 87 seats! In the process, Albertans tossed aside a tired and arrogant "Progressive" Conservative Government that had been in power for the last 44 years.

This historic event was reminiscent of something similar that took place at the national level four years earlier. On May 2 2011 Canada's NDP defied all the media pundits as they virtually swept across Quebec, growing from one seat to 59! The 2011 federal election resulted in the NDP having its largest federal caucus ever as its 103 MPs became the Official Opposition.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights versus the Marlboro Man

Northern Plains Drifter — Sun, 10 Nov 2013 01:58:43 +0000

Over the years I have been in many discussions that indicate some confusion around two concepts that are vastly different in important ways. These two concepts are individual rights and individualism. Yes, they do sound similar, but from an ideological standpoint they are light years apart. In the current era of neoliberalism and corporate power, the first discourse seems to be in retreat while the other thrives.

Taking the Canadian flag off our backpacks

Northern Plains Drifter — Sun, 27 Oct 2013 07:15:03 +0000

Wandering Canadian Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers of yesteryear knew that travelling around the globe was a lot easier for us than it was for our American brethren. This was undoubtedly the result of our good standing throughout the world and our reputation as a sane and progressive country on almost all issues, both international and domestic.

Many of us who travelled around other countries considered it wise to sew a Canadian flag on our backpacks and show it prominently.

(Disclosure: Throughout much of the 1970s and into the early 1990s, I was one of those backpackers bouncing about the planet, proud to be a Canadian, the flag always prominently displayed.)

I've got those deregulation blues

Northern Plains Drifter — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 19:55:49 +0000

Who do you think has the best interests of society in mind through the work they do: public servants like teachers OR those who make the big decisions for private industry?

This would make for an interesting poll.

We live in an era where much of the effort done by people who work on behalf of the public good is denigrated. A focus on accountability has arisen mainly because public servants are paid from public monies, and we are living during an extended tax-cut craze. (Indeed, it is sadly ironic that the politicians who put down public servants are also paid from our taxes.)

Five questions for a Prime Minister who doesn't like to answer questions

Northern Plains Drifter — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 22:36:00 +0000

Mr. Harper, you have been my Prime Minister for seven and a half years now. Over that time I have wanted to ask you lots of questions. Because I never get the chance to ask you, I have wanted journalists to pose these questions. I have come to learn, however, that it is not a simple matter for journalists to ask you any questions of import.

You rarely hold news conferences, Mr. Harper, and when you do, you are adamant that the entire group of journalists will ask a maximum of five questions. This surprises me on two counts: first, I cannot recall any leader, Canadian or American, who has paid such little regard for taking questions from the media, and by extension, citizens; and second, it is we Canadian citizens who pay your wages.