What’s left and what’s right? Usually it is obvious, but sometimes you have to take a step back and consider the bigger picture. For example, the Toronto toll debate has exposed a lack of scrutiny of the leading source of corporate profit over the past century by many supposed leftists. Absent a political economy of... Continue Reading →
A first step in ending global warming — ban automobile ads
A Metro should never be wrapped in car ads. On this past week, the whole front of Montréal's Metro paper promoted Kia. All of page 2 and the back of a paper targeted at the city's transit riders also promoted an unhealthy, lethal, inefficient and utterly unsustainable mode of transportation. Incredibly, public transit systems regularly... Continue Reading →
Unions will thrive if they promote alternative to capitalism
At their finest labour unions are class conscious organizations that check the corporate elite’s influence over public policy. But, even the best Canadian unions have largely failed to provide an alternative vision to the existing system and challenge the power of big business over important areas of our lives. Alongside collective-bargaining activities, unions have spearheaded... Continue Reading →
Plotting to deceive the public nothing new for automakers
Over the past eighteen months two of the world’s largest automakers have been found responsible for deadly conspiracies. But, recent revelations can’t compete with the industry’s previous scandals. Last month Volkswagen was caught rigging millions of its cars emissions testing systems to meet regulatory standards. The German company programmed its turbocharged direct injection diesel engines... Continue Reading →
What’s ‘Green’ about subsidizing car travel?
Would you believe the Green Party recently took a more environmentally regressive position on an important issue than Stephen Harper? Elizabeth May added her voice to the main opposition parties on a recent visit to Montreal by telling suburbanites they should expect a future non-Conservative federal government to continue aggressively subsidizing the most costly, unhealthy... Continue Reading →
Let’s reclaim Montreal from the automobile
For those of us of left-wing persuasion, it’s counterintuitive to call for the privatization of public lands. But, generally, the less public space there is in a neighbourhood, the more pleasant it is. And the less of a toll it takes on the planet. Why is this? The answer is simple and so overwhelmingly a part of... Continue Reading →
Private automobiles and public health
When a plane carrying 239 people disappears and everyone is presumed dead, the world’s TV networks devote hours of coverage to the tragedy. Newspapers run long and detailed stories. Experts are interviewed to discuss probable causes and remedies. Government safety boards investigate and produce reports. There seems a genuine attempt to learn from what happened... Continue Reading →
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