The Devil's Bartender

Strategic Voting part 2

We're back to this familiar point in pre-election rhetoric where the phrase 'strategic voting' is being talked about like 'blowback' or some other necessary evil by voters and promoted like a savior by the Liberals.  This time around I am adamently opposed to it.  The main reason being that it will only push us towards an American style two party system (or split one party system).  If you can't vote for who you want to vote for than democracy is dead.

So this election I'm either voting NDP or for the Green Party to get some left leaning ideas put on the agenda.  Click here for more info on the NDP and here for the Green Party.

And get out there and VOTE!!!

ps- For some info on the NDP perspective on strategic voting you can check out this article in Rabble.ca sent to me by the author, Greg Dwulit (thanks Greg!).

So that's why it's always China vs. Cuba in the World Cup finals....

This is from Nationalreview.com - a website for the Republican party. Alas, i believe this man is serious.

"I am convinced that the ordeal of soccer teaches our
kids all the wrong lessons in life. Soccer is the
Marxist concept of the labor theory of value applied
to sports -- which may explain why socialist nations
dominate the World Cup."

And my personal favorite...

"So the issue of the day is whether we Americans will
muster the forces to take back our culture from the
un-American soccer enthusiasts. We need to channel our
kids' energies into more productive activities:
baseball, football, tennis, MTV -- even smoking would
be an improvement."

God Bless America Part II

This is from Linwood Barclay in today's Toronto Star:

In other convention developments, New York Newsday is quoting police sources who say there may be, among the anticipated thousands of anti-Bush demonstrators, a few plants. Some law enforcement agents may infiltrate anti-Bush organizations to get the inside track on what the protest groups are planning to do, which means the agents will be right there to arrest them when they do it.

But, it's also anticipated that some protesters may impersonate police officers and, once in uniform, will attack their fellow demonstrators, as a way of stirring up allegations of police brutality.

So there is the potential for protesters posing as police officers to beat up on police officers posing as protesters.

If you're looking for a more fitting metaphor for the administration of George W. Bush, which used pretend evidence to justify the invasion of a country to find pretend weapons of mass destruction, you could do worse.

But the good news is that over 200,000 people got off their asses to show their disgust with Bush yesterday in New York. So there's hope....

You can check out the rest of the article here: The Star.com

Bullet Point Manifesto

I wrote this a couple of years ago so there may be flaws... (and so much for the 'Bullet Points'!)

Strategic Voting

There's a knock on my door on a Saturday morning hours before noon.  Obviously it's not a friend.  But i decided to sling a towel around my waist and answer it anyway.  There's  a brochure from the conservative party on the doorstep which  i pick up and then hand back to the guy in a suit who's backtracking towards me.  "I'm voting NDP." I say, as i hand him back the brochure.

"That's O.K.",  he says "Just as long as you don't vote for the Liberals."

I had to laugh but at the same time wonder: With all our shifts and gains toward equal representation, are Canadians going to be forced into a situation where we have to vote strategically?  And is it still 'democratic' if people are voting this way?  And, God forbid, am i going to have to vote for the Liberals just to keep the Consevatives out of power?!?

If you have a solution then HELP!!!

RocKtivism!

It's been said a million times before but worth saying again: Music has a special role in connecting people with ideas and issues that they would otherwise avoid or miss.

I was starting to think that the music industry and its emptiness were beyond salvation but was relieved to find that rock and politics still make a happy couple. Punkvoter is a collection of American punk bands who are trying to get young people involved in politics or at least aware of what's going on. Even bands that i would normally consider 'pop' in the most base and empty definition of the word have come out strong in support of this movement.

This reminded me of Joey 'Shithead' Kiethley's article in the Globe and Mail on the current relationship between politcs and punk. (Kiethley is in the band D.O.A., an activist, a politician (he led the Green party in a bid for premier of B.C. twice), a businessman (Suddendeath records), writer, and a list of other accomplishments.) It's good to see that punk is far from being dead.

Gas Price Activism

I've received the same email from three people (posted in the 'extended body' section) that complains about rising gas prices and then encourages people to 'take some intelligent, united action' by boycotting Shell in order to force an across the board reduction in gasoline prices. I can think of 101 reasons to boycott Shell in order to force 101 beneficial changes to society and the planet in general. eg- fuel efficient cars, cleaner burning fuel, support of r&d towards non fuel burning methods of transportation, etc, etc But lower prices so people can drive their SUVs around town without a care in the world or their pocket books?!? WHAT THE HELL KIND OF ACTIVISM IS THIS??

It's about time the government raised taxes a couple of cents to help fund other methods of public transportation. eg- ttc to the airport like every other 2 bit big city in the western world, bike paths, tax incentives for those who live close to their workplace (check out the FON's website for more ideas on Smart Growth http://www.ontarionature.org/enviroandcons/issues/sprawl.html )

And gas prices going up just before the government is going to announce a tax increase on gas? Hey, you don't think the oil companies would do something harmful to society for their own benefit? ....Naaaaa

And before anyone starts bitching, yes, i do drive: http://www.autoshare.com/