Look, this “democratic reform” file has been a fiasco from the start.  From four vague lines in the Liberal Party platform (promising bold change but not saying what the bold change would be), to now, when the whole thing has spiralled downward into Twitter hashtag farce (there some really good ones, too): it’s been a disaster, full stop.

I’m against all of the parties on this thing.  I oppose the “referendum solves everything” approach – favoured by Conservatives and separatists – because I still don’t know what the question would be.  (And, irony of ironies, what kind of referendum would it be? Fifty per cent plus one? Two-thirds? Ranked ballot style? And so on.)

I’m against the New Democrat approach, which is proportional representation by stealth.  They want that system because it guarantees them seats, even when they run a shitty election campaign, which is something they do with great regularity.  For Dippers, proportional representation is like an electoral pension plan without end.

And I’m against the Liberal approach, which is to tinker with democracy for no apparent reason whatsoever.  It may be imperfect, per Churchill, but our system of electing and governing is a Hell of a lot better than all of the alternatives, isn’t it?  Besides, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.  To wit: before now, was anyone standing around the water coolers of the nation, saying: “God almighty, I didn’t sleep again last night because our elected representatives are insufficiently informed about the Gallagher Index!”

Enough time has been wasted on this horseshit, politicians.  Donald Trump is bringing the world towards the brink of some sort of a war with China, and this is all you have to worry about?

Get a life.  It’s our democracy, not yours, you solipsistic, self-interested bastards.

 

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…why we still need effective gun safety laws.

27 years ago. 

1. Geneviève Bergeron (born 1968), civil engineering student
2. Hélène Colgan (born 1966), mechanical engineering student
3. Nathalie Croteau (born 1966), mechanical engineering student
4. Barbara Daigneault (born 1967), mechanical engineering student
5. Anne-Marie Edward (born 1968), chemical engineering student
6. Maud Haviernick (born 1960), materials engineering student
7. Maryse Laganière (born 1964), budget clerk in the École Polytechnique’s finance department
8. Maryse Leclair (born 1966), materials engineering student
9. Anne-Marie Lemay (born 1967), mechanical engineering student
10. Sonia Pelletier (born 1961), mechanical engineering student
11. Michèle Richard (born 1968), materials engineering student
12. Annie St-Arneault (born 1966), mechanical engineering student
13. Annie Turcotte (born 1969), materials engineering student
14. Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz (born 1958), nursing student

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From “weasel,” using weasel@huha.com at 24.36.21.45.  American spelling. Anyone care to find him?

You are simply a weasel who barks “fascist” and “racist” at your political enemies because you got nothing. You’re a bribe-taking politician wannabe FFS. As punk as Hillary’s pantsuits. Pathetic to the core. Please do the world a favor and kill yourself.

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What do you think?

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Dear Chinese friends:

唐纳德·特朗普不代表加拿大

Donald Trump does not speak for Canada.  He barely speaks for most Americans, too.

Sincerely,

Us

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We know Donald Trump did. It’s why he’s a fascist. Throwing an opponent in a democracy in jail – simply because they disagree with you – is fascism.

And now we know a lot of Canadian Conservatives feel the same way. They want to throw Rachel Notley in a cage because they hate her – because she disagrees with them. Because she’s a woman, perhaps. Because she’s not doing what they want her to do, almost certainly.

 

It was around the 40-second mark. Did you see that unctuous, servile weasel Chris Alexander? Grinning when the crowd starts chanting “lock her up” about Rachel Notley? Not telling them to stop?

These people aren’t conservatives. Real conservatives value true speech, I believe, and they defend democracy.  They value debate.

Fascists don’t.

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Neo-Nazis in Toronto. Queen East park, 2 pm. A bunch of them. 

Here we go. 

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In Ontario, where I live, I don’t think any single group has destroyed the reputation of what was once a noble profession – the profession of law – more than personal injury lawyers. With their 50 per cent contingency fees, and referral fees, and “litigation financing,” and whatnot, they are a disgrace. 

You see them leering at you from the backside of every bus, and even above urinals at the ACC: you won’t pay a cent! We only get paid when you get paid! Trust us!

Well, you shouldn’t. And the “lawyers” at the very bottom of trial lawyer barrel are Diamond and Diamond – who have now finally been exposed in a huge Toronto Star exposé this morning, here.

Some of the highlights:

• Their “award-winning” trial lawyer has actually never tried a case 
• They don’t actually work on most cases – they just refer them somewhere else for a fat fee
• Clients say their private information has been given to other lawyers without permission
• The face of the Diamond firm has been charged with passing off counterfeit money in a casino
• He has called one client a “fag” and others at the firm call clients “retarded”
• They are the subject of umpteen complaints about advertising and ethics 

Not every personal injury lawyer is a scumbag, of course. Many years ago, I worked with a few who seemed to be decent. But they, in part, let this weed sprout up  everywhere. Money talks, I guess. (Oh, and do you want to know one of the main reasons why insurance is sometimes so expensive? It’s because of fraud, and because of outrageous contingency fees and referral fees charged by trial lawyers. That’s why.)

And what has the law society done about this? Pretty much nothing. What have the CBA and OBA done about it? Nothing that I am aware of – and I used to sit on their executives. What has the province of Ontario done about contingencies and the like? Zero, zippo, zilch. Diamond and Diamond are scummy, to be sure, but the blame for this appalling situation is not all theirs. Others let it happen. 

I think the Star is just getting started on this issue. (At least, I hope so.) We will see what they do next – and what the once-noble legal profession does. 

If anything. 

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New popular vote totals from AP:

• Clinton 65,124,828 (48.2%)

• Trump 62,652,263 (46.3%)

• Johnson 4,457,409 (3.3%)

• Stein 1,429,050 (1.1%)

 

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