A Pause That Refreshes

The computer I normally use to post is down. When I stop spending money on my garden, I’ll get it fixed!

Why the CBC should be more like HBO

Why the CBC should be more like HBO – Andrew Coyne – Macleans.ca.Okay – how does that affect regions?

And Canadian Indians?

American Indians: Gambling on nation-building | The Economist. A reasonably balanced report.

USA-Canada BFF?

Love lost between the U.S. and Canada over exported oil? – Erin Burnett OutFront – - CNN.com Blogs. I’m not sure that it’s fair to single out the pipeline as the sole reason for Canadian humble animosity.

Participatory budgeting

For Some New Yorkers, a Grand Experiment in Participatory Budgeting – NYTimes.com.  While I think this is a good idea, it misses the crucial point that there is a whole other part to budgeting besides spending wisely – taxation and other fees. What would have happened if citizens would have been given the option to reduce their property or income taxes?

Voters aren’t given the opportunity to be directly responsible for their mistakes.

 

Let Us Now Praise Stephen the Cautious

I have a couple of favourite conservatives – David Frum is one. I can occasionally see a compassion inherited from his Mom – heck, more than occasionally. Frum praises Harper’s caution in the last Federal budget – don’t cut too much, gradually get to a balanced budget.

For the centre left to ignore the debt and deficit is dishonest. Maybe voters are tired of being lied to, that they can have supportive social programs and low taxes, which essentially means debt and deficit. We might, however, recommend modest tax increases and straightening out the tax code.

Can we return to the greatest political slogan of all time? “Corporate Welfare Bums”

My argument with Harper is that in addition to welcome gradualism, there does have to be some shift in emphasis so that we are doing better over a 5 to 20 year time line. This means an emphasis on research and development, infrastructure, and education for employment.

Almost all social problems get addressed by emphasizing those three things.

If you’re getting your underwear in a knot, just remember that Harper isn’t Ryan.

Harper and an Anti-Woman Agenda

Birth control controversies a fundraising boon – Robin Bravender – POLITICO.com. Often times people vote against a party rather than for a party. Harper is smart to keep his right wing social MPs under a tight leash.

Shut Up Newt

How Much Would You Pay For The Universe? – The Dish | By Andrew Sullivan – The Daily Beast. I find it disheartening that Newt Gingrich should be the dreamer about space exploration. I also find the sarcasm in response disheartening. Economies are based on education and R & D – things that a space program are very efficient producing.

Why Won’t Supply Side Economics Be Killed?

Marginal Tax Rates and Wishful Thinking — Economic View – NYTimes.com.
This opinion piece is typical of what economists have been saying for a decade now. Again, demand is what increases supply. If there’s money to be made, companies will expand despite tax rates.

The Cotton Conundrum

The Cotton Conundrum – The Dish | By Andrew Sullivan – The Daily Beast.

I did not know this – more acreage world wide is used to grow cotton than to grow food. What’s the alternative? Probably making garments that will last much longer. Most of the clothes I through out are “used up”.