BTW: My Superstore pharmacist advised me about (and booked us for) both flu and Covid shots on October 15th. Just go and ask-but what a disgrace that we have to.
In the name of "grassroots democracy" our province is being held hostage to the lunatic fringes known as TBA and the Black Hats. It is past time to get off of our collective keisters and kick these clowns to the curb. Perhaps the only possible positive spin one can put on this is that the Smith government serves as a cautionary warning to the rest of Canada of what to expect should PP ever become Prime Minister.
Think "long view." First and foremost we need to be free of the dilettante Trudeau. When the time comes, Poilievre can be voted out just as readily as his predecessor. It's a time of ferment in Canadian politics. Like the old saw goes, "If you want to make an omelette, you have to break a few eggs." The current cabal of Justin and Jagmeet needs to be despatched unto history such that neither can partner up with the treacherous Bloc to continue their perpetual ineptitude. That will require holding our collective noses and voting conservative in the next Federal election. It's also necessary to consider that just as Trump failed to meet any of his unsettling promises, once in office PP will have to behave himself due to the thin margin he'll have to work with.
Danielle Smith is a Libertarian disguised as a populist. Back to Snyder, he describes Libertarianism as political adolescence. It is somehow believed that if we all act badly in our own self interest, somehow we will all be better off. Its a religious view of faith in the self that fails to recognize that we all live and I would argue thrive because of our liberal democracy,in comparison to the majority of peoples in the world who do not, and that none of us are where we are without the collective support of a properly functioning civil society and its institutions
Is there any cock-eyed take on reality that ISN'T sanctioned by some religion or other?
The fact that so many actually accept religious doctrines as TRUTH despite them consisting of a series of MYTHS, i.e. definitively NOT true (sound familiar?), but that a strong societal taboo persists against criticism of ANY of this "magical thinking," the TRUTH and its companion FACTS are pretty much kneecapped right off the bat.
And this is how "Christian Nationalism" has gradually coalesced into "Project 2025," the appallingly backwards and misogynistic 900-page guidebook for the current GOP if Trump wins. Hiding in plain sight IS easier down there because Americans ARE disproportionately religious for a modern democracy, but a majority of Canadian conservatives both provincially and federally are also evangelicals of one kind or another since Presto Manning's Reform Party takeover. So it's only a matter of time, and Canadians pride themselves on their "tolerance," even of the endemic intolerance found in religious doctrines. It's in the word--doctrine.
Everyone thinks what's happened in the States can't happen here, that decidedly theocratic direction, but Take Back Alberta's leader, the wind beneath the wings of the UCP, is a home-schooled evangelical who has read the bible 12 times, and thinks that anyone who is "pro-choice" is "inhuman."
Where are the people from the apparently fast-growing group-- the ATHEISTS, worshippers only of REASON. #TRUTH is our moment.
Tris Pargeter: When you look at the UCP, it's another cobbled together political merger by Preston Manning. His dad, Ernest Manning, and Bill Aberhart, had very toxic beliefs, such as eugenics, which Peter Lougheed had promised to undo, if he became premier. In the 1960s, Preston Manning was urging Peter Lougheed's fledgling Alberta PCs to join his dad's Social Credit Party. Peter Lougheed wisely declined. TBA is quite similar to the Social Credit Party, and so are the UCP. When people like this are allowed in a position of power, it is very dangerous.
Possibly you could have qualified, or defined, what you consider a "journalist". IMO currently the vast majority of so called "journalists" are just paid puppets for the current regime. Take Post Media for example. Far right wing Zionist owners making sure the truth doesn't disturb things. If were not for the internet and "journalists" like yourself we would have no access to a truthful and honest report of events. Keep up the good work.
Adam Zivo, Post Media is a self admitted spy and operative for the Ukrainian Secret Police.....the same ones that killed journalist Gonzalo Lira by neglect.
Thanks, Lisa for your continued questioning of Our Dear Leader. I'm so angry that she listens to the 4000 party members rather than the 4 million Albertans she represents. Keep up the good work.
I have great appreciation for serious journalists. But I also want serious journalists to ask serious questions, persistently, until they get a serious answer. Danielle Smith - and others - get away too often with brushing aside a question with some non-sequitur if not outright lie. There's something very wrong when I have to depend on amateurs on Twitter for meaningful investigation.
Alfredo Louro: What you have said is spot on. When we have a media that flat out lies and does not do due diligence in telling the truth, there is a problem, and big time. Columnists, and journalists aren't supposed to be members of any political parties in Canada, and yet there are ones who are, such as Licia Corbella, who has been exposed as a card carrying member of the UCP. You won't get anything objective, when columnists, such as Licia Corbella lie to influence the outcome of a provincial election in Alberta. Licia Corbella was raked over the coals by academics at Alberta universities, for publishing these falsehoods about Rachel Notley and the NDP, but she was relentless in publishing these lies. The politically green folks would go along with these lies, because they are incapable of fact checking, and the UCP got a second term.
I am a huge reader of Snyder as I look to history to help explain where we are now. Also I am always interested in Ms. Young as she is very insightful. I really believe that we fail to learn from the past at our peril and the humanities like philosophy and literature to help explain the current discourse.
Danielle Smith is a Libertarian disguised as a populist. Back to Snyder, he describes Libertarianism as political adolescence. It is somehow believed that if we all act badly in our own self interest, somehow we will all be better off. Its a religious view of faith in the self that fails to recognize that we all live and I would argue thrive because of our liberal democracy,in comparison to the majority of peoples in the world who do not, and that none of us are where we are without the collective support of a properly functioning civil society and its institutions
Not all Albertans who voted for and support Ms.Smith are radical kooks as you suggest. A lot of us just believe in Western Values common sense and less (and responsible) government.
I am still trying to get my head around the Premier of Alberta Canada investigating who is putting the chemicals in those airplane contrails thus legitimatizing the CHEMTRAILS CONSPIRACY THEORY.
We have certainly reached a point where more of the same shoved down the throats of the majority is unacceptable.
And as one commenter said below, what can we expect from PP? Well look up neoliberalism on Investopedia.com and shiver with fright as we aren't prepared to deal with Manning, Harper and now Poilievre’s view of government as an enemy. We will be getting neoliberalism on steroids which has destroyed society and democracy in the UK and the USA by increasing poverty and inequality while shortening life span. And disenfranchisement of millions of voters.
If we have a weak and complacent media, that refuses to have any standards, by possessing weak columnists, who will not remain neutral, or apolitical (in the sense that they are not supposed to be members of political parties in Canada), this will affect our democracy in an adverse way. If these columnists are showing allegiance to a political party, and advertising for that party leader's business interests, there is something wrong with this. This is a glaring example of this. These Postmedia columnists in the National Post never revealed themselves in the first article they published, and were not truthful in telling readers that they were supporting a sitting premier's assets, which was then up for sale in a following article. It was a clever marketing ploy, and a big conflict of interest being shown. Lorne Gunter, who has a spouse that is employed by the UCP in some capacity, also didn't realize that he was supporting Danielle Smith's business interests, which is something that should be forbidden. Most columnists don't have any integrity anymore. If this type of material was published in a newspaper, even a decade ago, these columnists would have been sacked from their jobs, and Danielle Smith would have been made to resign as premier of Alberta. If this is what these columnists are up to, it is a pathetic state of affairs.
Very insightful, Lisa! How do we move the deluded beyond the post-truth?
PS Is it true that Smith's musing on Chemtrails means she sings that old Roy Rogers' song, "Happy Chemtrails to you!?.... Perhaps not quite like that? :)
BTW: My Superstore pharmacist advised me about (and booked us for) both flu and Covid shots on October 15th. Just go and ask-but what a disgrace that we have to.
In the name of "grassroots democracy" our province is being held hostage to the lunatic fringes known as TBA and the Black Hats. It is past time to get off of our collective keisters and kick these clowns to the curb. Perhaps the only possible positive spin one can put on this is that the Smith government serves as a cautionary warning to the rest of Canada of what to expect should PP ever become Prime Minister.
Think "long view." First and foremost we need to be free of the dilettante Trudeau. When the time comes, Poilievre can be voted out just as readily as his predecessor. It's a time of ferment in Canadian politics. Like the old saw goes, "If you want to make an omelette, you have to break a few eggs." The current cabal of Justin and Jagmeet needs to be despatched unto history such that neither can partner up with the treacherous Bloc to continue their perpetual ineptitude. That will require holding our collective noses and voting conservative in the next Federal election. It's also necessary to consider that just as Trump failed to meet any of his unsettling promises, once in office PP will have to behave himself due to the thin margin he'll have to work with.
Pierre Poilievre will likely never be PM. Who will be responsible for that? The premier of Alberta.
Danielle Smith is a Libertarian disguised as a populist. Back to Snyder, he describes Libertarianism as political adolescence. It is somehow believed that if we all act badly in our own self interest, somehow we will all be better off. Its a religious view of faith in the self that fails to recognize that we all live and I would argue thrive because of our liberal democracy,in comparison to the majority of peoples in the world who do not, and that none of us are where we are without the collective support of a properly functioning civil society and its institutions
Is there any cock-eyed take on reality that ISN'T sanctioned by some religion or other?
The fact that so many actually accept religious doctrines as TRUTH despite them consisting of a series of MYTHS, i.e. definitively NOT true (sound familiar?), but that a strong societal taboo persists against criticism of ANY of this "magical thinking," the TRUTH and its companion FACTS are pretty much kneecapped right off the bat.
And this is how "Christian Nationalism" has gradually coalesced into "Project 2025," the appallingly backwards and misogynistic 900-page guidebook for the current GOP if Trump wins. Hiding in plain sight IS easier down there because Americans ARE disproportionately religious for a modern democracy, but a majority of Canadian conservatives both provincially and federally are also evangelicals of one kind or another since Presto Manning's Reform Party takeover. So it's only a matter of time, and Canadians pride themselves on their "tolerance," even of the endemic intolerance found in religious doctrines. It's in the word--doctrine.
Everyone thinks what's happened in the States can't happen here, that decidedly theocratic direction, but Take Back Alberta's leader, the wind beneath the wings of the UCP, is a home-schooled evangelical who has read the bible 12 times, and thinks that anyone who is "pro-choice" is "inhuman."
Where are the people from the apparently fast-growing group-- the ATHEISTS, worshippers only of REASON. #TRUTH is our moment.
Tris Pargeter: When you look at the UCP, it's another cobbled together political merger by Preston Manning. His dad, Ernest Manning, and Bill Aberhart, had very toxic beliefs, such as eugenics, which Peter Lougheed had promised to undo, if he became premier. In the 1960s, Preston Manning was urging Peter Lougheed's fledgling Alberta PCs to join his dad's Social Credit Party. Peter Lougheed wisely declined. TBA is quite similar to the Social Credit Party, and so are the UCP. When people like this are allowed in a position of power, it is very dangerous.
Thx for another good column. Just got a renewal reminder from The Walrus, and was considering Not renewing. Will renew today.
Possibly you could have qualified, or defined, what you consider a "journalist". IMO currently the vast majority of so called "journalists" are just paid puppets for the current regime. Take Post Media for example. Far right wing Zionist owners making sure the truth doesn't disturb things. If were not for the internet and "journalists" like yourself we would have no access to a truthful and honest report of events. Keep up the good work.
Not surprised you don't have the courage to include your last name with your antisemitic comment.
Adam Zivo, Post Media is a self admitted spy and operative for the Ukrainian Secret Police.....the same ones that killed journalist Gonzalo Lira by neglect.
https://pressprogress.ca/this-national-post-columnist-says-he-spied-for-a-foreign-intelligence-agency-experts-call-his-behaviour-unethical-and-absurd/
"Far right wing Zionist owners "
Yikes!
Thanks, Lisa for your continued questioning of Our Dear Leader. I'm so angry that she listens to the 4000 party members rather than the 4 million Albertans she represents. Keep up the good work.
I have great appreciation for serious journalists. But I also want serious journalists to ask serious questions, persistently, until they get a serious answer. Danielle Smith - and others - get away too often with brushing aside a question with some non-sequitur if not outright lie. There's something very wrong when I have to depend on amateurs on Twitter for meaningful investigation.
Alfredo Louro: What you have said is spot on. When we have a media that flat out lies and does not do due diligence in telling the truth, there is a problem, and big time. Columnists, and journalists aren't supposed to be members of any political parties in Canada, and yet there are ones who are, such as Licia Corbella, who has been exposed as a card carrying member of the UCP. You won't get anything objective, when columnists, such as Licia Corbella lie to influence the outcome of a provincial election in Alberta. Licia Corbella was raked over the coals by academics at Alberta universities, for publishing these falsehoods about Rachel Notley and the NDP, but she was relentless in publishing these lies. The politically green folks would go along with these lies, because they are incapable of fact checking, and the UCP got a second term.
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/licia-corbella-rachel-notley-cant-run-on-her-record-as-premier-because-its-a-disaster
I am a huge reader of Snyder as I look to history to help explain where we are now. Also I am always interested in Ms. Young as she is very insightful. I really believe that we fail to learn from the past at our peril and the humanities like philosophy and literature to help explain the current discourse.
Danielle Smith is a Libertarian disguised as a populist. Back to Snyder, he describes Libertarianism as political adolescence. It is somehow believed that if we all act badly in our own self interest, somehow we will all be better off. Its a religious view of faith in the self that fails to recognize that we all live and I would argue thrive because of our liberal democracy,in comparison to the majority of peoples in the world who do not, and that none of us are where we are without the collective support of a properly functioning civil society and its institutions
Not all Albertans who voted for and support Ms.Smith are radical kooks as you suggest. A lot of us just believe in Western Values common sense and less (and responsible) government.
Imagine getting all our news from Postmedia, The Rebelnor the Western Standard and no public owned news sources like CBC?
CBC maybe public owned, but is the most biased and govt influenced and funded news in Canada.
I am still trying to get my head around the Premier of Alberta Canada investigating who is putting the chemicals in those airplane contrails thus legitimatizing the CHEMTRAILS CONSPIRACY THEORY.
We have certainly reached a point where more of the same shoved down the throats of the majority is unacceptable.
And as one commenter said below, what can we expect from PP? Well look up neoliberalism on Investopedia.com and shiver with fright as we aren't prepared to deal with Manning, Harper and now Poilievre’s view of government as an enemy. We will be getting neoliberalism on steroids which has destroyed society and democracy in the UK and the USA by increasing poverty and inequality while shortening life span. And disenfranchisement of millions of voters.
If we have a weak and complacent media, that refuses to have any standards, by possessing weak columnists, who will not remain neutral, or apolitical (in the sense that they are not supposed to be members of political parties in Canada), this will affect our democracy in an adverse way. If these columnists are showing allegiance to a political party, and advertising for that party leader's business interests, there is something wrong with this. This is a glaring example of this. These Postmedia columnists in the National Post never revealed themselves in the first article they published, and were not truthful in telling readers that they were supporting a sitting premier's assets, which was then up for sale in a following article. It was a clever marketing ploy, and a big conflict of interest being shown. Lorne Gunter, who has a spouse that is employed by the UCP in some capacity, also didn't realize that he was supporting Danielle Smith's business interests, which is something that should be forbidden. Most columnists don't have any integrity anymore. If this type of material was published in a newspaper, even a decade ago, these columnists would have been sacked from their jobs, and Danielle Smith would have been made to resign as premier of Alberta. If this is what these columnists are up to, it is a pathetic state of affairs.
https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/alberta-premier-danielle-smith-works-a-weekend-shift-at-her-restaurant-doing-dishes
https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/premier-danielle-smith-the-dining-car-restaurant-for-sale
https://edmontonsun.com/opinion/columnists/gunter-smith-shows-here-everyday-albertan-side-while-working-in-the-restaurant
Very insightful, Lisa! How do we move the deluded beyond the post-truth?
PS Is it true that Smith's musing on Chemtrails means she sings that old Roy Rogers' song, "Happy Chemtrails to you!?.... Perhaps not quite like that? :)