Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Sunday, October 21, 2012

George McGovern Dead: Former Senator Dies At 90

Former U.S. Senator and presidential candidate George McGovern has died, the AP reports.

He was 90.

The 1972 Democratic Party's nominee for president, he lost to Richard Nixon with only 17 electoral votes.

A longtime progressive, McGovern called for tax reform and a national health insurance. He was also a staunch opponent of the Vietnam War and ran his 1972 presidential campaign on ending it.

On War and Peace, George McGovern Will Die Vindicated

Speaking at the Democratic National Convention in 1972, George McGovern kicked off his ill-fated presidential bid by focusing on his opposition to the ruinous war in Vietnam. "I have no secret plan for peace. I have a public plan. And as one whose heart has ached for the past ten years over the agony of Vietnam, I will halt a senseless bombing of Indochina on Inaugural Day," he said. "There will be no more Asian children running ablaze from bombed-out schools. There will be no more talk of bombing the dikes or the cities of the North. And within 90 days of my inauguration, every American soldier and every American prisoner will be out of the jungle and out of their cells and then home in America where they belong. And then let us resolve that never again will we send the precious young blood of this country to die trying to prop up a corrupt military dictatorship abroad. This is also the time to turn away from excessive preoccupation overseas to the rebuilding of our own nation. America must be restored to a proper role in the world. But we can do that only through the recovery of confidence in ourselves."

Omnibus Budget: Bill C-45 To Deliver Profound Changes For Environment, Natives

OTTAWA - Government calls it making way for business. Outraged foes call it the slicing and dicing of environmental protection and any remaining trust with aboriginal peoples.

Over several months of omnibus bills, amendments, regulations and tinkering with longstanding conventions, Ottawa has undertaken a series of adjustments that add up to undeniably profound changes in both environmental and aboriginal policy.

Conrad Black, have I got news for you – you haven't discharged your sins

The disgraced press baron's complete lack of contrition should debar his re-entry into decent society.


Conrad Black's appearance on Have I Got News For You won't do anything to rehabilitate the reputation of an unrepentant fraudster, but it will allow him to show that he at least believes he has nothing to be ashamed of and that he can re-enter British society with his head held high.

PBO to serve legal notice to non-compliant departments

Kevin Page, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, will serve legal notice to those departments that have yet to hand over detailed plans for budgetary cuts early this upcoming week, iPolitics has learned.

Page issued the following statement Sunday:

    “I can confirm to you that the PBO will be filing and serving legal notice on all non-compliant Deputy Heads early this week. As it is now clear that this matter will constitute the subject of a legal action, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.”