Archives
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The Canadian Election and the War in Afghanistan
Conservative Party leader, Stephen Harper, attempted to remove questions about Canada’s role in Afghanistan from debate during the election campaign by announcing the combat role of the Canadian Forces will … Keep reading »
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Wall Street Panic, Main Street Pain and Policy Choices
Government Responses to the Financial Crisis: Meltdown and Bailouts Falling house-prices triggered a financial crisis in the summer of 2007. Increasing numbers of people who had borrowed against their property, whose … Keep reading »
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Canada’s Elections: What’s the Alternative to the Tories?
Canada’s minority Conservative Party government has called a federal election for October 14. Serious issues confront voters – war in the Middle East and Afghanistan, the economic downturn that that … Keep reading »
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The Current Crisis: A Socialist Perspective
‘They say they won’t intervene. But they will.’ This is how Robert Rubin, Bill Clinton’s Treasury Secretary, responded to Paul O’Neill, the first Treasury Secretary under George W. Bush, who … Keep reading »
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Comparing Crises: The 1930s, the 1970s, and Today
Boom or bust, Wall Street keeps people busy. Everybody debates the U.S. government’s $700-billion bailout plan these days. After the bankruptcy of the Lehman Brothers investment bank, who’s next was … Keep reading »
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NDP or Bloc? Quebec Left Debates Election Tactics
An interesting debate over federal election tactics has developed among socialists in Québec solidaire (QS), the new left pro-sovereignty party that confines its activity to contesting Quebec, but not federal, … Keep reading »
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Harper’s Bunker: The State, Neoliberalism and the Election
The manner of governing of Stephen Harper’s Conservative government might be characterized as a paradox with a purpose. A sharp centralization of authority over decision-making and political management in the … Keep reading »
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Canada’s Election and the Climate Crisis
Five Parties, No Solutions For the environment, there’s good news and bad news in Canada’s current federal election campaign. Good news: for the first time ever, climate change is a central … Keep reading »
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Crumbling Bloc?
Watching the Bloc Québécois over the past decade is a little like watching a bullfight. You know that the bull is going to die, but not on what particular charge. … Keep reading »
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Bolivia’s Elites Seek A Media Coup
Bolivia’s popular movements are attempting to use democracy and a legitimate government to advance an agenda of sovereignty, greater equality, and development. Their opponents, led by several governors of the … Keep reading »
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Labour Day 2008 and Canadian Workers
Labour Day 2008 in Canada sees a number of longer term trends over this period of neoliberalism intensifying – downward pressures on real wages, growing precarious and marginal work, undermining … Keep reading »
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Out of Sight – Out of Mind
Toronto’s ‘Streets to Homes’ Response to Homelessness The City of Toronto’s ‘Streets to Homes’ program is a finalist for one of two awards that will be presented during the celebration of … Keep reading »