Last night on the CBC's National, there was a profoundly disturbing report by investigative reporter Diana Swain outlining how a nurse from Ontario, Rose Mckenzie, while working in California, was grossly negligent in her care of Spencer Sullivan, who had undergone a routine surgery for neck pain. As a result of McKenzie's negligence, Sullivan was left a quadriplegic with brain damage.
The most disturbing part of the report is the fact that although she was stripped of her nursing licence in the U.S., she is now working as a nurse in Oakville, the problem being that self-disclosure of any past problems is the only way the Ontario College of Nurses could have become aware of the loss of her licence. Obviously, McKenzie did not self-disclose.
Click here to read the whole report and see the CBC news video.
P.S. Despite the Harper Regime's hatred of the CBC, such reports amply demonstrate its value.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
George Carlin's Screed
Many thanks to Orwell's Bastard for posting this video in which George Carlin talks about the 'man behind the curtain.' Although directed at an American audience, his acerbic observations about who is really in control seem equally applicable to Canada, especially under the Harper regime.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
A Refresher Course in Harper's Disdain for Democracy
I am currently reading Lawrence Martin's book Harperland, which anecdotally confirms some of our worst fears and suspicions about Stephen Harper and the Harper Government (see, even I've taken to referring to our government that way), and even though I no longer subscribe to The Globe and Mail, I do check it regularly for columns by Martin.
Today's piece, entitled On the road to the Harper government's tipping point, is a reminder of the myriad abuses of democracy that the Prime Minister is responsible for. At a time when many of us despair of the possibility of any change in the next federal election, it is useful to remember that the fate of our democratic traditions and institutions ultimately does reside in our hands, no matter how much the government seeks to undermine those traditions and institutions.
Today's piece, entitled On the road to the Harper government's tipping point, is a reminder of the myriad abuses of democracy that the Prime Minister is responsible for. At a time when many of us despair of the possibility of any change in the next federal election, it is useful to remember that the fate of our democratic traditions and institutions ultimately does reside in our hands, no matter how much the government seeks to undermine those traditions and institutions.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Harper's Orwellian Use of Language
One of the greatest pleasures I derived as a teacher was doing a unit on language as part of the Grade 12 English course that I regularly taught. At the beginning of that unit, we read George Orwell's seminal essay, Politics and the English Language, which offered a trenchant, if at times challenging analysis of how language can be used to curb freedom and undermine free and critical thought. It was a theme that later formed the basis of his most popular novel, 1984.
After further study which included exploring fallacies of logic, I would give students an assignment requiring them to analyze the misuse of language and logic in our society today, which invariably led them to look at the pronouncements our politicians make. I was reminded of those times yesterday morning as I read Heather Mallick's amusing yet perceptive column in The Toronto Star on the Harper Government's manipulation of language. I would encourage everyone to read it.
After further study which included exploring fallacies of logic, I would give students an assignment requiring them to analyze the misuse of language and logic in our society today, which invariably led them to look at the pronouncements our politicians make. I was reminded of those times yesterday morning as I read Heather Mallick's amusing yet perceptive column in The Toronto Star on the Harper Government's manipulation of language. I would encourage everyone to read it.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
G20 Summit - The Issue That Won't Go Away
Responding to a recent editorial in The Star calling for a G20 Summit inquiry, readers' letters amply demonstrate that this is an issue that won't go away. Click here to read them.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Do We Need A New Political Literacy? Part 1
I take much comfort in reading the political views expressed by many members of Progressive Bloggers, giving me as it does a sense of community, shared purpose and the knowledge that passion for politics and love of our country is alive and well.
Nonetheless, I cannot help but be discouraged by poll results showing strong ongoing support for the Harper Conservative Government, despite its regular and unapologetic attacks on what many of us see as the fundamentals of democracy and good governance.
While there is hardly a need to provide a comprehensive list of those attacks, a few of the more recent and egregious examples will serve to illustrate that my antipathy toward this government goes well beyond philosophical disagreements:
- The request by the opposition members for the Afghan detainee documents was met by deep resistance and cries of confidentiality. Even a ruling by the Speaker of the House ordering those documents be made available was met with an unsatisfactory compromise, foolishly accepted by The Liberal Party.
- The unnecessary proguing of Parliament by Stephen Harper to avoid defeat of his Government in the House was a gross misuse of privilege, sadly abetted by former Governor-General Michelle Jean
- The contempt shown to Parliament by speaking lies about the need to reform the Census with the claim that many hundreds had complained about its intrusive nature when, in fact, there might have been no more than a dozen objections.
- The refusal by the Government to permit Ministers' aides to testify before Parliamentary Committees, despite the fact that the latter have the power to compel such testimony.
- The entire tissue of lies surrounding the cessation of funding to KAIROS by Bev Oda.
I have asked myself why, despite these serious offences, they are dismissed so readily by so many. Of course, there are several combinations of possible answers, ranging from people's inertia, indifference to, or alienation from the political process to being too busy working and maintaining a family life to have the time for such concerns. I wonder, though, if there might be an additional factor at work: an ignorance of and therefore an inability to understand the very principles that are the foundations of our government.
We hear many cries coming from government and business that it is time to teach financial literacy at a young age so that people can avoid falling into crippling debt in the future. While I don't disagree with that notion, in my mind of equal if not greater importance is the imparting of a kind of political literacy by our schools that will help to bring about a more knowledgeable and engaged citizenry.
In future posts, I will try to suggest what such a model might look like, and some of the changes that would be necessary to bring this about.
Nonetheless, I cannot help but be discouraged by poll results showing strong ongoing support for the Harper Conservative Government, despite its regular and unapologetic attacks on what many of us see as the fundamentals of democracy and good governance.
While there is hardly a need to provide a comprehensive list of those attacks, a few of the more recent and egregious examples will serve to illustrate that my antipathy toward this government goes well beyond philosophical disagreements:
- The request by the opposition members for the Afghan detainee documents was met by deep resistance and cries of confidentiality. Even a ruling by the Speaker of the House ordering those documents be made available was met with an unsatisfactory compromise, foolishly accepted by The Liberal Party.
- The unnecessary proguing of Parliament by Stephen Harper to avoid defeat of his Government in the House was a gross misuse of privilege, sadly abetted by former Governor-General Michelle Jean
- The contempt shown to Parliament by speaking lies about the need to reform the Census with the claim that many hundreds had complained about its intrusive nature when, in fact, there might have been no more than a dozen objections.
- The refusal by the Government to permit Ministers' aides to testify before Parliamentary Committees, despite the fact that the latter have the power to compel such testimony.
- The entire tissue of lies surrounding the cessation of funding to KAIROS by Bev Oda.
I have asked myself why, despite these serious offences, they are dismissed so readily by so many. Of course, there are several combinations of possible answers, ranging from people's inertia, indifference to, or alienation from the political process to being too busy working and maintaining a family life to have the time for such concerns. I wonder, though, if there might be an additional factor at work: an ignorance of and therefore an inability to understand the very principles that are the foundations of our government.
We hear many cries coming from government and business that it is time to teach financial literacy at a young age so that people can avoid falling into crippling debt in the future. While I don't disagree with that notion, in my mind of equal if not greater importance is the imparting of a kind of political literacy by our schools that will help to bring about a more knowledgeable and engaged citizenry.
In future posts, I will try to suggest what such a model might look like, and some of the changes that would be necessary to bring this about.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
G20 Inquiry Demands on Facebook
For those who might be unaware, late last June a Facebook group was created calling for an inquiry into the G20 abuses. Here is a Toronto Sun article from last July discussing it:
Call for G20 inquiry grows on Facebook
By TOM GODFREY, TORONTO SUN
Last Updated: July 9, 2010 4:45pm
Email StoryPrintSize A A AReport Typo Share:
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Almost 60,000 people have taken to Facebook to demand a full public inquiry into Toronto police action at the G20 Summit last month.
A group called Canadians Demanding a Public Inquiry into Toronto G20 created the Facebook page June 27, on the last day of the Summit.
The group also created an online petition calling for Chief Bill Blair to “be removed from his post.”
Blair this week said he won’t be stepping down and ordered a review of his officers’ involvement in the G20. The review upset some people who wanted public input.
A police spokesman said Friday the service has no comment.
Creators of the page are hoping an inquiry will answer questions from the public.
“It’s time for the healing process to start,” said a page organizer. “Which is why we’re asking for an inquiry to provide complete transparency. Why did things unravel like they did.”
Facebook users were told an inquiry should be supported by Ottawa and establish the “facts and causes of an event or issue, and then to make recommendations to the government.”
One Facebook user, named “Green,” said he has been in fear of cops since the G20.
“I now live in fear that I am on some type of watch list,” Green wrote. “ I am scared that my house will be raided or that charges will still be laid, even though all I did was exercise my rights.”
He said his “view of Canada as a free state have been completely smashed. “
Facebook user Jeremy called for all cameras and phones taken from protestors by police be returned to their owners without film evidence being destroyed.
“The police can destroy any footage they like,” Jeremy said. “No matter how incriminating, so that if ever a public inquiry is made, there will be no hard evidence.”
Another user said he supports Toronto cops who do their jobs.
“I support the police force that acts in a true and just way,” the man said. “I do not support those who were in Toronto during the G8/G20 Summits.”
Claudia Calabro, of the Toronto Community Mobilization Network, said her group is pushing for a full and open inquiry.
“There has to be an independent inquiry to be funded by the government,” Calabro said. “It has to be ordered at the federal level.”
Call for G20 inquiry grows on Facebook
By TOM GODFREY, TORONTO SUN
Last Updated: July 9, 2010 4:45pm
Email StoryPrintSize A A AReport Typo Share:
+
Almost 60,000 people have taken to Facebook to demand a full public inquiry into Toronto police action at the G20 Summit last month.
A group called Canadians Demanding a Public Inquiry into Toronto G20 created the Facebook page June 27, on the last day of the Summit.
The group also created an online petition calling for Chief Bill Blair to “be removed from his post.”
Blair this week said he won’t be stepping down and ordered a review of his officers’ involvement in the G20. The review upset some people who wanted public input.
A police spokesman said Friday the service has no comment.
Creators of the page are hoping an inquiry will answer questions from the public.
“It’s time for the healing process to start,” said a page organizer. “Which is why we’re asking for an inquiry to provide complete transparency. Why did things unravel like they did.”
Facebook users were told an inquiry should be supported by Ottawa and establish the “facts and causes of an event or issue, and then to make recommendations to the government.”
One Facebook user, named “Green,” said he has been in fear of cops since the G20.
“I now live in fear that I am on some type of watch list,” Green wrote. “ I am scared that my house will be raided or that charges will still be laid, even though all I did was exercise my rights.”
He said his “view of Canada as a free state have been completely smashed. “
Facebook user Jeremy called for all cameras and phones taken from protestors by police be returned to their owners without film evidence being destroyed.
“The police can destroy any footage they like,” Jeremy said. “No matter how incriminating, so that if ever a public inquiry is made, there will be no hard evidence.”
Another user said he supports Toronto cops who do their jobs.
“I support the police force that acts in a true and just way,” the man said. “I do not support those who were in Toronto during the G8/G20 Summits.”
Claudia Calabro, of the Toronto Community Mobilization Network, said her group is pushing for a full and open inquiry.
“There has to be an independent inquiry to be funded by the government,” Calabro said. “It has to be ordered at the federal level.”
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