Where Do You Fall On The Political Spectrum?

The Green Party likes to tell us that politics isn't about left vs right, but rather between moving backwards and moving forward. Although I think this mantra is seriously flawed, I do think that politics is about more than simply left vs right. That's why I find this website so interesting. It enhances our understanding of political ideology by transforming the traditional left-right dichotomy into at grid which also takes into consideration our views on what are described as libertarian/authoritarian issues. Take the test at politicalcompass.org to find out where you fall on the political spectrum. You can even check out your score in relation to prominent political leaders from Canada and abroad.

Labour Dispute: First Ontario Credit Union

Read about the women of COPE 343 who have been on strike at First Ontario Credit Union in Hamilton for over two months. As an act of solidarity, CAW 199, the union representing First Ontario workers in Niagara, organized a secondary picket of the credit union's Niagara Street branch in St. Catharines s few weeks back. Given the lack of progress in negotiations, it looks like the labour movement will have to step it up in order for a fair collective agreement to be reached. Credit union workers across the province are relying on these women to stand strong and not accept concessions. You can contact COPE 343 via this website.

The Politics of Music in Quebec: Oh Canada

This brand new version of "Oh Canada" by Les Voisins takes aim at the sponsorship scandal and English Canada in general.

Les Voisins "Oh Canada"

JE ME SUIS REVEILLÉ CE MATIN, PLUS D'EMPLOI ET PLUS D'ARGENT
CHÔME DU ET BIEN-ÊTRE SOCIAL, TRAVAIL AU NOIR ET VOL DE L'ÉTÂT
PLUS LE TEMPS AVANCE ET PLUS JE DÉCOUVRE, QUE C'EST
ENRICHISSANT D'APPRENDRE À PAS SE FAIRE PRENDRE,
QUE C'EST PAYANT À SE FAIRE PAYER, POUR NE RIEN FAIRE, SAUF DE GLANDER

OH CANADA, OH CA-NA-DA
OH CANADA, QU'EST-CE QUE JE FAIS LÀ
OH CANADA, OH CA-NA-DA
OH CANADA, SORTEZ-MOI DE LA

ON PEUT ENTRER PAR TOUTES LES FRONTIERES
JUSTE À DIRE QU'ON EST DES TOURISTES
ILS NOUS LAISSENT PRESQUE TOUTE FAIRE,
ON PEUT MÊME VOLER SANS RISQUE

OH CANADA, OH CA-NA-DA
OH CANADA, QU'EST-CE QUE JE FAIS LÀ
OH CANADA, OH CA-NA-DA
OH CANADA, SORTEZ-MOI DE LÀ

LA SEULE FAÇON D'ÉCHAPPER À CET ENFER
C'EST DE PARTIR DANS L'SUD L'HIVER
OU DE S'EN ROULER UN GROS CALVAIRE
QUESTION DE DÉCOLLER DE CETTE TERRE

OH CANADA, OH CA-NA-DA
OH CANADA, QU'EST-CE QUE JE FAIS LÀ
OH CANADA, OH CA-NA-DA
OH CANADA, SORTEZ-MOI DE LÀ
OH CANADA, QU'EST-CE QUE JE FAIS LÀ

CRISSER MON CAMP, D'OTTAWA
OH CANADA, VOUS M'REVERREZ PAS
CAR JE VAIS DEVENIR UN QUÉBECOIS
OH QUÉBECOIS(3X)

Organized Labour and the Saskatchewan NDP

Check out this excellent article by J. F. Conway in Briarpatch Magazine on the relationship between organized labour and the NDP in Saskatchewan. Here's a preview:

The NDP is on the cusp of forgetting—not for the first time—how crucial the
support of the province’s labour movement and the working-class vote are to
maintaining its hold on power.

Ford Opposed War in Iraq

Former Republican U.S. President, Gerald Ford, opposed the war in Iraq. Given that he was surrounded by the same cast of characters who now surround George Bush, this is very significant news. Hear the clip from MSNBC.

The Politics of Music in Quebec: Mon Pays

Two songs, same name, both political, both great. The latter is a spoof of the former.
See the lyrics below:

Gilles Vigneault "Mon pays"

Mon pays ce n'est pas un pays, c'est l'hiver
Mon jardin ce n'est pas un jardin, c'est la plaine
Mon chemin ce n'est pas un chemin, c'est la neige
Mon pays ce n'est pas un pays, c'est l'hiver

Dans la blanche cérémonie
Où la neige au vent se marie
Dans ce pays de poudrerie
Mon père a fait bâtir maison
Et je m'en vais être fidèle
A sa manière, à son modèle
La chambre d'amis sera telle
Qu'on viendra des autres saisons
Pour se bâtir à côté d'elle

Mon pays ce n'est pas un pays, c'est l'hiver
Mon refrain ce n'est pas un refrain, c'est rafale
Ma maison ce n'est pas ma maison, c'est froidure
Mon pays ce n'est pas un pays, c'est l'hiver

De mon grand pays solitaire
Je crie avant que de me taire
A tous les hommes de la terre
Ma maison c'est votre maison
Entre mes quatre murs de glace
Je mets mon temps et mon espace
A préparer le feu, la place
Pour les humains de l'horizon
Et les humains sont de ma race

Mon pays ce n'est pas un pays, c'est l'hiver
Mon jardin ce n'est pas un jardin, c'est la plaine
Mon chemin ce n'est pas un chemin, c'est la neige
Mon pays ce n'est pas un pays, c'est l'hiver

Mon pays ce n'est pas un pays, c'est l'envers
D'un pays qui n'était ni pays ni patrie
Ma chanson ce n'est pas une chanson, c'est ma vie
C'est pour toi que je veux posséder mes hivers


Les Cowboys Fringants "Mon pays"

Sur les plaines d'Abraham, l'armée trinquait à l'eau d'vie
Tout en bas de la falaise, les Anglais prenaient fusils
Ils avaient préparé l'assaut en catimini
Et quand un grand coup de canon est venu déchirer la nuit
Montcalm enfourcha son cheval, les facultés affaiblies...

La bataille v'nait juste de commencer
Les Français étaient ben trop paquetés
Y'ont mangé une cibole de raclée

Les Anglais ont marché sur Québec
Ça mes amis c'était le pire échec
Notre nation aux mains des Red Necks

Si Montcalm avait pas été saoûl
Si l'armée avait pas pris un coup
Les Anglais frappaient leur Waterloo

Le Québec c't'une histoire de boisson
Y'a d'l'argent à faire avec des saoûlons
Y'ont ouvert la brasserie Molson...!

Les patriotes sont révoltés
Le régime anglais devra tomber
Y'ont sorti leurs ceintures fléchées
Les patriotes étaient solidaires
Pour arriver à la victoire
Il faudra arrêter de boire!

La morve au nez pis les dents serrées
Y'ont ben tenté de s'insurger
Mais comme d'habitude tout a foiré

Nos patriotes c'taient pas des chieux
Mais les Anglais étaient trop nombreux
Fa'qu'y sont retournés chez eux...!

Pis y a eu octobre 70
On a ben parlé des felquistes
Y'avait même un buté et un ministre
Le gouvernement a eu l'air con
Mais ç'a duré l'temps d'une saison
Yé ont tout' sacré en prison

Depuis c'temps-là on s'est écrasés
On passe not'temps d'vant la Télé
À jouer au dart su'l vidéoway

Ramène les bouteilles au dépanneur
Fais ça vite ça ferme à onze heures
Tu mettras les bières dans l'cooler!

The Politics of Music in Quebec: Gens Du Pays

Gilles Vigneault's "Gens du pays" has long been considered Quebec's unofficial national anthem. Sovereignists began signing the song during the closing rally of the 1980 Quebec referedum defeat. Find out more about Vigneault and his politics here and here.

Here are the lyrics to "Gens du pays":

Le temps que l'on prend pour se dire: je t'aime
C'est le seul qui reste au bout de nos jours
Les voeux que l'on fait les fleurs que l'on seme
Chacun les récolte en soi-même
Aux beaux jardin du temps qui court

Gens du pays c'est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d'amour
Gens du pays c'est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d'amour

Le temps de s'aimer, le jour de le dire
Fond comme la neige aux doigts du printemps
Fêtons de nos joies, fêtons de nos rires
Ces yeux ou nos regards se mirent
C'est demain que j'avais vingt ans

Gens du pays...

Le ruisseau des jours aujourd'hui s'arrête
Et forme un étang ou chacun peut voir
Comme en un miroir l'amour qu'il reflète
Pour ces coeurs a qui je souhaite
Le temps de vivre leurs espoirs

Gens du pays...

Les Joyeux Lurons

If you can understand French and find politics remotely interesting, check out the hilarious animated series Les Joyeux Lurons (lesjoyeuxlurons.tv). It's a South Park inspired series of animated shorts starring the leaders of Canada's four largest political parties.

New Years Resolution Generator

Via Nag on the lake, waste your afternoon (or morning, or evening) generating some resolutions for the new year here. Thanks to this handy device, I have already resolved to stop drinking tequila so often, start speaking with the dead once a week, and start bathing less often.

Bedard Alleges "Bureaucratic Terrorism"

According to this news story, former Canadian Olympian Myriam Bedard is blaming "bureaucratic terrorism" in Canada for why she allegedly kidnapped her kid and and fled to the United States where she was arrested lat week. Bureaucratic terrorism isn't really explained in the news story... it sounds like something that would come out of the mouths of anarchists condemning the RCMP or radical right wing types denouncing state funded abortion clinics...

Charlie Brown Xmas: Alternate Ending

The true meaning of Xmas revealed.

Another Year End Quiz

I must not have been paying close attention, because I only got 8 right... see how you do on this BBC year end quiz.

Cold War Unicorns

They didn't have these when I was a kid... Great gift ideas for popular culture junkies here.

Why Must Nations Become States? Because of This Guy

Rants like this fuel the fire of Quebec nationalists.

Do Blogs Matter?

That’s what an old friend asked me after I told him that I had started blogging again. I think Jason Cherniak demonstrated their effectiveness here. My blog has never experienced much traffic (about 50 visitors a day at its peak), but it did get mentioned once in the local media. From Niagara This Week in February 2006:

Craitor, who sits with the Dalton McGuinty Liberal government, said he's been asked by a few people what his intentions are for running for mayor. The MPP said the questions are arising because of a blog on the Internet by local politics watchdog Larry Savage. On his Website, Savage said he had heard rumours that Craitor would be running for mayor and approached the MPP at a federal election debate in early January to ask what his intentions were.

Craitor dismissed the rumour at the time, but funnily enough, months later, he mused publicly about his intention to run for the mayor’s job, but for health reasons, decided against it. Besides demystifying the importance of professional watchdogs, pundits and spin doctors, bloggers can fill an important void, especially in smaller urban centres, where investigative reporting is almost non-existent.

25% Pay Hike for Ontario MPPs

Ontario MPPs are voting today on a proposal that, if passed (and it will pass), will see salaries increase to more than $110,000 a year. Cabinet ministers will get an increase of $31,000, bringing their salaries to $157,633 a year, while the Premier will earn juts under $200,000 a year.

Liberals and Conservatives argue that the 25% pay hike is justified because the wage gap between federal MPs and provincial MPPs has become far too great. They argue that MPPs will start heading for the House of Commons if Queen’s Park doesn’t move quickly to close the gap. They also argue, along with an independent commissioner, that most MPPs are making less than some municipal politicians.These arguments seem pretty flawed to me. First, if provincial politicians want to earn what an MP makes, they should run in the next federal election. Second, the comparison with federal MPs is flawed because it is different work. It’s not more important or less important, but it is different. MPP salaries should be compared to salaries of provincial politicians across Canada. This more logical comparison demonstrates that Ontario MPPs are among the most well compensated in the country.

Members of the Ontario NDP caucus have taken a principled position on the pay hike by indicating that they will turn the raise over to charity.

Niagara Falls- St. Catharines Municipal Elections Mini Quiz

Inspired by the calgary grit, here’s a local mini quiz on the 2006 municipal election:

Q1: Name the two incumbent candidates in Niagara Falls who won fewer votes in 2006 than in 2003.

Q2: Which Niagara Falls alderman (soon to be councillor?) had the largest increase in votes between 2003 and 2006?

Q3: Name the only incumbent St. Catharines city councillor to support the Port development project and still hold onto his seat.

Q4: Which former NDP candidate won election to St. Catharines city council?

Q5: Was voter turnout higher in St. Catharines or Niagara Falls?

Q6: How many women were elected between the two city councils?



SCROLL DOWN FOR THE ANSWERS






A1: Jim Diodati and Selina Volpatti
A2: Vince Kerrio went from 8929 votes in 2003 to 12337 in 2006 despite the fact that voter turnout dropped by roughly 7%
A3: Peter Secord in St. Georges Ward
A4: Jeff Burch, NDP candidate for St. Catharines in 2006 topped the polls in Merriton Ward
A5: 41.3 in the Falls vs. 40.7% in St. Catharines… turnout was down in Niagara Falls and up in St. Catharines
A6: Five: Dodge, Foss, Ioanonni, Fisher, and Wing. That represents only 25% of council seats.

Canadian Politics: 2006 Year in Review Quiz

I earned a score of 17/20. See how you do on clagray grit's quiz.