tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post5933131381070526138..comments2024-03-28T19:18:40.387-04:00Comments on Northern Reflections: When Will They Ever Learn?Owen Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-54547584031235190072022-01-25T08:49:50.325-05:002022-01-25T08:49:50.325-05:00It's ironic, TB, that the "information re...It's ironic, TB, that the "information revolution" has narrowed our focus and shortened our attention spans.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-51781918702615206972022-01-24T21:24:41.329-05:002022-01-24T21:24:41.329-05:00Cultivated ignorance, thanks a useful description....Cultivated ignorance, thanks a useful description.<br />Mr. Trump is the obvious acme of this description that said most of our elected officials are in their position due to their access to finances from well heeled groups regardless of political motivation. <br />Today politics are ruled by ego centric individuals catering to sensational broadcasts from an ever decreasing platform of main stream news that can and should provoke discussion and more!<br /><br />TB <br /><br /> Trailblazerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08065775238162848249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-25958177969218962662022-01-24T20:38:22.642-05:002022-01-24T20:38:22.642-05:00And so goes Alberta?
"Anocracy is usually t...And so goes Alberta?<br /><br /><br />"Anocracy is usually transitional — a repressive government allows reforms, or a democracy begins to unravel <br /><br />TBTrailblazerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03436709163754934547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-3611482037834418482022-01-24T20:17:20.648-05:002022-01-24T20:17:20.648-05:00Democracy has always been fragile, Mound. All it t...Democracy has always been fragile, Mound. All it takes to make it disappear is cultivated ignorance.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-9931830496166765112022-01-24T17:34:57.518-05:002022-01-24T17:34:57.518-05:00I came across a troubling op-ed by UCSD prof Barba...I came across a troubling op-ed by UCSD prof Barbara Walter today about how, during the Trump years, America entered anocracy. She has spent 30 years in the study of civil wars and insurgency.<br /><br />"Anocracy is usually transitional — a repressive government allows reforms, or a democracy begins to unravel — and it is volatile. When a country moves into the anocracy zone, the risk of political violence reaches its peak; citizens feel uncertain about their government’s power and legitimacy. Compared with democracies, anocracies with more democratic than autocratic features are three times more likely to experience political instability or civil war."<br /><br />Walter thinks Biden has ratcheted the swing down a notch or two but America is at risk of losing its democracy for good if Trump or his alter-ego is returned to power.<br /><br />"This is what average citizens should be thinking about when they hear that America’s democracy is declining. They are being led, unaware, into a downward spiral of instability, in which extremists and opportunists spread fear — and then grab power by force."<br /><br />The United States led the western democracies in the wake of WWII, implementing the World Bank, the WTO, GATT and other measures to cement the alliance in the postwar era. Now it might move the west into an era of authoritarianism and Potemkin democracy.<br /> The Disaffected Libhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13135599782685108764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-55178487923871521402022-01-24T12:23:53.082-05:002022-01-24T12:23:53.082-05:00That's exactly how I took it, Tim (waterboy).That's exactly how I took it, Tim (waterboy).Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-61955513275294780202022-01-24T11:51:22.497-05:002022-01-24T11:51:22.497-05:00Another image that sticks with you, sal. A good si...Another image that sticks with you, sal. A good six words beat a thousand anytime.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-4562056110935547902022-01-24T11:49:33.813-05:002022-01-24T11:49:33.813-05:00I suspect you're right, Cap. Gross inequality ...I suspect you're right, Cap. Gross inequality breeds the kind of leaders who now dominate our politics.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-19130685464621690002022-01-24T11:49:32.101-05:002022-01-24T11:49:32.101-05:00Just realized I called you mound Owen, I guess tha...Just realized I called you mound Owen, I guess that's a honour eh?Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10402189163304073024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-38728825632333472382022-01-24T11:47:09.365-05:002022-01-24T11:47:09.365-05:00Thanks for the link, zoombats. She's right. Ma...Thanks for the link, zoombats. She's right. Making shit up is easy and fun.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-52894471182464296372022-01-24T11:32:44.454-05:002022-01-24T11:32:44.454-05:00.. haha.. Michael Harris is such a gem !
I look fo..... haha.. Michael Harris is such a gem !<br />I look forward to a full read, thanks !<br />‘ferrets in a sack..! Indeed !<br /><br />FYI a fave of mine is from the late Robert B Parker<br />who in by view wrote dialogue and descriptions<br />equal to the late Elmore Leonard & late Tom Wolfe<br />Describing a scene with a protagonist he wrote this<br /><br />‘it was like a wolverine in a beauty salon..’the salamanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06853337802990122289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-31492763151964722452022-01-24T11:11:50.968-05:002022-01-24T11:11:50.968-05:00I think many of us see these men for exactly who t...I think many of us see these men for exactly who they are and vote for them because of it, Owen. Kenney, Trump and BoJo all promise to inflict pain on others. That appeals to voters keen to settle partisan scores or hurt those below them on the social ladder. <br /><br />Indeed, our society rewards those willing to take advantage of others, and those most able to do so - psychopaths, sociopaths and narcissists - rise to the top in business and politics. It's a fine line between business/political success and jail, but as Trump illustrates, those with money don't need to worry about jail no matter how many they kill through their negligence. <br /><br />Until society rejigs its incentive and disincentive structure to get rid of grotesque levels of income inequality, men like Kenney, BoJo and Trump will continue to be voted in. <br /><br />CapAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-66648418140671048772022-01-24T10:33:19.314-05:002022-01-24T10:33:19.314-05:00Further to your discussion Owen I offer this link ...Further to your discussion Owen I offer this link in todays Tyee<br />https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2022/01/19/Death-By-Thousand-Lies/zoombatsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-88663967912441956872022-01-24T10:21:56.808-05:002022-01-24T10:21:56.808-05:00What is so frustrating, waterboy, is that so many ...What is so frustrating, waterboy, is that so many of us can't see them for who and what they are.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-10610528490771620402022-01-24T10:20:06.920-05:002022-01-24T10:20:06.920-05:00Harris is a master of the striking phrase, zoombat...Harris is a master of the striking phrase, zoombats.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-61737396582284589522022-01-24T09:44:07.717-05:002022-01-24T09:44:07.717-05:00What is plainly clear reading through these summar...What is plainly clear reading through these summaries is that the valuable time, money and oxygen these failed so-called "leaders" consume is monstrous. Each of these three are responsible for untold numbers of death, misery and financial hardship that the ramifications will be felt for decades to come. They stood by denying reality, downplaying facts and promoting garbage information that millions of people swallowed whole. These pos's will never learn a thing mound, at the end of the day, everything they do and say is about self, self preservation and the never ending need for attention, Kenney, Johnston and Trump are interchangeable as failed men. Let's not forget they have company in Doug Ford and many others, Scott Moe etc. BC Waterboy.Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10402189163304073024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-86858839375135128862022-01-24T09:43:05.544-05:002022-01-24T09:43:05.544-05:00Ferrets in a sack. You have to love the analogy an...Ferrets in a sack. You have to love the analogy and the image. How appropriate.zoombatsnoreply@blogger.com