tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post7020237471205233684..comments2024-03-28T22:02:16.520-04:00Comments on Politics and its Discontents: Time To Reject Magical ThinkingLornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-76290101894317360512015-11-22T09:21:07.776-05:002015-11-22T09:21:07.776-05:00As always, you make some very good points here, Sa...As always, you make some very good points here, Salamander. I agree completely that the term infrastructure as it pertains to government spending needs very precise definition. As I am sure you know, we have a huge infrastructure debt in our country, with roads sewers, bridges, water mains, sewers, etc. beginning for refurbishment and renewal. I remember the Chretien government grants for infrastructure in the '90s. a time when, instead of using them for repairs, municipalities squandered them on things such as arena refurbishments, luxury boxes at stadiums, etc. This must not be allowed to happen again.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-19894475371280692712015-11-22T09:00:08.980-05:002015-11-22T09:00:08.980-05:00.. Will have to revisit Himelfarb.. I drifted away..... Will have to revisit Himelfarb.. I drifted away when I felt he was far too trusting that Harper Inc would or could be steered by Parliamentry norms protocols & traditional behavior..<br /><br />That aside.. its my belief that the term 'infrastructure' needs far more incisive publicity definition and examination.. Just add one simple word in front of 'infrastructure' and you have Pandoras Box creaking open.. Try 'oilwell infrastructure' or 'pipeline infrastructure' or 'LNG infrastructure' .. <br /><br />As Facebook has given us the term 'its complicated' .. we'd do well to use it in regard to 'infrastructure' .. and 'politics' .. especially in regard to the dangerous reality of decaying political parties owned and/or captured by uberpowerful corporate mastadons. <br /><br />While ranting on the matter, I may as well take a few potshots regarding military infrastructure.. and Coast Guard, Search & Rescue, Navigation infrastructure .. and the complete fools such as Stephen Harper who took us all for fools on those procurement files.. and lets not forget Vets, Seniors Pension fund infrastructure.. Hell, we're still completely in the dark re our new Fair Election infrastructure and Spying & Privacy infrastructure .. and how many pro Harper judicial appointments have been trojan horsed into our Judicial infrastructure ... !the salamanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06853337802990122289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-58908324871597082582015-11-21T14:52:48.467-05:002015-11-21T14:52:48.467-05:00There is a great deal for him to overcome, LD, giv...There is a great deal for him to overcome, LD, given the terrible state Harper left our books in, and the many sources of government revenue that he eliminated.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-20964708132258201222015-11-21T14:51:00.360-05:002015-11-21T14:51:00.360-05:00He is tireless in his efforts, Owen, to get us to ...He is tireless in his efforts, Owen, to get us to rethink our disdain for progressive taxation.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-29710721451695688192015-11-21T14:18:39.541-05:002015-11-21T14:18:39.541-05:00Lorne, Trudeau provides some hope. Time will tell...Lorne, Trudeau provides some hope. Time will tell if he will come through. Hurdles are to many given the legacy of Harper or ten years of nightmare.LeDarohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12526776746689708239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-75899276491291196662015-11-21T13:53:38.531-05:002015-11-21T13:53:38.531-05:00I agree with your assessment of Himelfarb, Lorne. ...I agree with your assessment of Himelfarb, Lorne. A superb thinker and public servant.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-26220704995598335502015-11-21T12:18:57.143-05:002015-11-21T12:18:57.143-05:00While we all hope for better things from Trudeau, ...While we all hope for better things from Trudeau, there are no guarantees of that. Time will tell. As for the neoliberal agenda's entrenchment, I think we have a compliant and corporate media to thank for much of that, yet another reason alternative media are so important today, Pamela.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-48073638900014604782015-11-21T12:11:24.672-05:002015-11-21T12:11:24.672-05:00With Austerity, low taxes and Trade Deals to name...With Austerity, low taxes and Trade Deals to name a few tools of Neoliberalism, it has been thoroughly entrenched in our political infrustructure. What is amazing Lorne about this, is that it has made major changes to our government and society without its name ever being mentioned, let alone discussing its worth as a philosophy we should embrace. The secrecy surrounding it both domestic and global is an indicator of it's corrupt nature.The damage that Harper and his regime have left is the damage caused by Harpers Neoliberal mandate.. Let's see how much Trudeau keeps and how much he returns to democratic policy. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07842215982128591742noreply@blogger.com