Thoughts on BC Politics and More

I remain deeply committed to the principles I believed once defined the progressive Left — reason, empiricism, tolerance, and the defence of human dignity. Yet the movement that once championed open inquiry, free speech, and honest debate has hardened into an unforgiving orthodoxy, driven less by ideas than by attitude. The Left I admired for its skepticism and intellectual courage has shifted into a culture of moral certitude and censoriousness. Like many, I find myself repeating the familiar refrain: I didn’t leave the Left; the Left left me. What happened? Well, many things, but one of the most frustrating aspects of modern progressivism is its insatiable appetite for moral self-congratulation and theatre. As Hannah Arendt warned, when politics shifts from persuasion to moral showmanship, it ceases to be politics altogether ... CLICK HERE for the full story 

As most of you are likely aware now, I have been seriously reconsidering my ballot ranking, for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada . Until a week and a half ago Erin O’Toole, and Peter MacKay had been my only two considerations, with O’Toole in the number one spot. That’s changed ... because out of the blue Leslyn Lewis has caught my attention for her forthright, and clearly articulated policies, that she is presenting.   Let me be clear though, I am still not totally convinced -- YET – that she can capture the heart and soul of enough Canadians, across the country, to win a federal campaign. What I find interesting however, is that her campaign ‘appears’ to be focused not just on Conservative Party members, but on all who will need to be brought in to a big blue tent, when the next election is called. In the last federal election, Conservatives got hammered on what I will call 'perceived' beliefs (or that so-called hidden agenda), about the party, with regar...

Many progressives consider themselves to be ‘liberal’ in their ideals and thoughts, so they align with the party that carries the name. They are not analytical or deep thinkers. Their leanings are heavily socialist; they tend to adopt causes for underdogs particularly people in far flung places. Many of you will recall protests and publicity campaigns aimed at corporations for using ‘slave labour’, and ignoring human rights in overseas operations. Apple, Cisco, H&M, IBM, Nestle, Nike, Nygard, Starbucks and Walmart and many others have been targeted. You will also recall ‘blood diamonds’ and the condemnation of diamond mining in places like Angola where human rights are absent, and profits are used to finance banditry and civil wars. Outraged progressives fought for laws to prevent or restrict corporations from doing business with regimes that failed to implement human rights ... and that demanded bribes from foreign businesses.  That is w...