It’s popular to pin tail on economists, but most media don’t help either…
It is popular to pin the tail on economists. Presumably they’re to blame for failing to warn Canadians we could not go on buying things we don’t need to fill houses we can’t afford. “If you can’t find an economist, ask an astrologer,” quipped CTV’s Craig Oliver. It is funnier to scapegoat others than dwell […]
Can media expose anti-Semitism without frightening the public?
The headlines were frightening. “Threats, Assaults Rising,” “Jews Face Hate Crime Increase,” and “Community Faces Death Threats, Assaults, Intimidation.” CBC’s Peter Mansbridge said, “Canada may not be as tolerant as we think.” Did headlines tell the whole story? The scare followed the release a year ago of the B’nai Brith Audit of Antisemitic Incidents. An […]
When it comes to China, ‘don’t be afraid of unpleasantness and public airing of differences’
Coming soon to cable is the ultimate cop show: Police State TV. Saddened by its “image problem,” the Communist Party of China proposes to launch a 24-hour, English-language TV service similar to Al Jazeera. “A group of the biggest state-controlled media organizations in China is planning to spend billions to expand overseas as part of […]
Tory governments should protect lawful gun owners
The Conservative government succeeded in passing an Amendment to the Investment Canada Act. Last year they used the budget implementation bill to push through some immigration reform provision. What they should have done is abolish the gun registry by attaching a provision to the budget bill that had just passed the House and Senate. Because […]
Word of Tories’ coming attack Ignatieff ads pulsed through punditry like an electric current
Speculation churned for weeks; “Conservatives are scouring hundreds of hours of videotape as they prepare to pummel their key rival Michael Ignatieff,” announced The Canadian Press. The word pulsed through punditry like an electric current. Conservatives Attack Iggy. Finally, a diversion from the economy. This should make for lively conversation at the bankruptcy auctions. “Did […]
Many politicians and pundits aren’t good at talking about poverty, eh?
With the recession, it is timely to talk about poverty. Many politicians and pundits are not very good at this. They caricature poor people as victims of iron-heeled capitalism, or shiftless spongers who cash pogey cheques at the liquor store. The truth: poverty is hard. Escaping poverty is harder. Millions have done it. You can […]
Canada’s iconic national symbol gets zapped too
It is 35 seconds of video on YouTube, viewed 500,000 times. It is 35 seconds that provoked six separate investigations culminating in a televised inquiry. It has brought revulsion and shame, and changed how Canadians think of a federal institution that once made them proud. “Grotesque,” The Vancouver Province called it. Recently a Canadian Press […]
F-word: media vulgarity is inelegant and of little value
In a forgotten cultural milestone, it was 38 years ago last week the obscenity f—k first appeared in a daily newspaper in Canada. MPs who mark the decline of civilization from this point should note it appeared in coverage of the House of Commons. The f-word is now so commonplace The Canadian Press instructs young […]
Prime Minister looks embattled in economic crisis
It was a special day for Stephen Harper, his third anniversary as leader of our country. Nobody wheeled in a cake for the TV cameras. It was a bad sign. It was another humdrum day back at the office. The Prime Minister appointed a new deputy minister of Fisheries and announced he’d spend $500-million to […]
Politicians speak casually of millions, billions, trillions…
Politicians speak casually of millions, billions, trillions. Who could not be impressed by their worldliness? My inflation calculator stopped in rural Manitoba circa 1979. Canadian Tire sells bicycles for $400? My first car cost $400. I buy $12 shirts at a place I know and wear them ’til the cardboard pops out of the collar. […]
