Marc Zwelling

What are the chances of a Canadian Trump?

rabble staff — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 13:40:34 +0000

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Like this article? rabble is reader-supported journalism. Chip in to keep stories like these coming.

In the Brexit referendum and Donald Trump's takeover of the Republican Party some pundits see proof that restless voters are rejecting the guidance of political leaders, business elites and mainstream news media.

Could a demagogue like Trump, arousing xenophobic passions, emerge in Canada?

No.

Canada has had politicians with Trump-like impacts. Their opponents underestimate firebrands, and then they disrupt the system.

Could a demagogue like Trump, arousing xenophobic passions, emerge in Canada? No. Marc Zwelling looks at the markers in public opinion to explain why.

Tragedy of errors: The NDP seeks answers, asks the wrong question

meagan perry — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 18:41:54 +0000

Monday, November 9, 2015

Chip in to keep stories like these coming.

The federal NDP lost its 18th straight election in October, and leader Tom Mulcair is trying to find the black box in the wreckage of the campaign.

The federal party’s campaign was a tragedy of errors. In late May EKOS Research declared, "…The prospect of a previously unthinkable NDP victory has squarely entered the realm of plausibility for voters."

An election lookback -- what the NDP should have done and what they can do now to energize Canadian progressives.

A single-issue election: The anti-Harper vote

rabble staff — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 18:23:15 +0000

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Chip in to keep stories like these coming.

By now, under a typical government, a federal election in Canada called on August 2 would nearly be over. But Stephen Harper's fetish for trying to manipulate the public created an 11-week campaign instead of the ordinary 37 days. A seemingly everlasting election gives Harper's Conservatives more time to raise money while exhausting their opponents' bank accounts.

Pollsters and pundits are trying to isolate the issues. Is the economy top of mind? Health care? But there is really only one ballot-box question: Do you want four more years of Stephen Harper or not?

Harper surrenders to ISIS (or how the left should talk about terrorism)

rabble staff — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 14:21:37 +0000

Thursday, March 5, 2015

The Harper government's anti-terrorism act is a trap for the Conservatives' opponents.

To Stephen Harper, there's no trade-off between security and civil liberties when you fight terrorism. The prime minister postures as tough on terror and taunts those who disagree with him as pawns of the jihadists.

As civil liberties advocates insist, Bill C-51 turns the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS) into an enemy of the people. The bill allows the authorities to spy on anyone they feel threatens the "security of Canadians." Such a broad definition of a security threat smears picketers, writers and protesters as terrorists.

Harper insists the public supports his anti-terrorism policies, but there is a different story in the polls. So how should Harper's opponents take him on, using public opinion findings?

The inequality trap

rabble staff — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 13:07:28 +0000

Monday, April 28, 2014

Two years ago the Occupy Movement propelled inequality into the news. Today Occupy is gone from the headlines, and inequality hasn't made it to the political agenda.

Think-tanks, economists and some politicians talk a lot about inequality. What do Canadians think?

In a Forum Research poll in November, 86 per cent agreed that "there is a growing income gap in Canada, where the rich are getting too rich and the poor are getting too poor."

- 76 per cent also agreed the "provincial and federal governments should do more to redistribute wealth from the richest to poorest Canadians." Fifty per cent agreed strongly.

Because inequality's not a top-of-mind concern, people are content with crumbs instead of larger shares of the pie. Moving inequality onto the public agenda requires calling for radical change.

Thinking outside the mailbox to save Canada Post

rabble staff — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 18:17:03 +0000

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

You can change the conversation. Chip in to rabble's donation drive today!

What will become of the post office?

Other companies and organizations that faced Canada Post's problems thrived, not by doubling down on their old mandates but by refocusing on a new purpose.