Pursuing Truth, Goodness, and Beauty
News, articles and opinion pieces
This absurdity comes to us courtesy of the magazine Reason.com: The Slow Death of Free Speech in Britain (America, You’re Next!) Freedom of speech no longer exists in Britain. The land that gave the world the Magna Carta, the Levellers, and John Stuart Mill—three of the key foundation stones of the modern conception of liberty—is…
This past week, taxpayers in Ontario were treated to the news of how both their federal and provincial governments will spend their money. On the surface the two budget documents were very different. The federal government document spoke of fiscal responsibility and a balanced bottom line. The provincial government document included a storyline that excused…
Amongst the political parties, there is always much said and written about fiscal competency and who is to blame or to be credited for the Nation’s economic health. This is particularly true during budget time. This week there was a great deal of banter about deficits and debt. The Conservatives wanted to crow about their…
Equalization payments are Canadian governments’ grand design to ensure all its citizens can live in a Province that will have the resources necessary to deliver similar levels of public services. This system has the Federal Government redistribute payments from those Provinces that are richer to those Provinces that are poorer. So, tax money is taken…
With the Mike Duffy trial dominating the Ottawa political headlines, By George Journal wishes to evoke the spirit of Harry Truman to relate that there are still some politicians who are honest and hard-working – like President Truman’s example demonstrates. Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He probably made as many, or…
The By George Journal delivers daily missives both on Twitter and Facebook. Our tweets and posts are forwarded to inspire and motivate our followers. They are positive urgings to remain determined and focus on your day’s objectives and to be aware of those things that make you complete and give you purpose. Consider joining us…
Forget Parliament Hill and the Red Chamber of “sober second thought.” Forget even the courts and Mike “the Puffster” Duffy’s trial – or the auditor’s take on the high-flying “I paid it all back” Wallin. If you want the real Senators story in Ottawa these days, you need to turn your attention to the excitement…
Here are two off-the-wall political polls that will provide great entertainment fodder at your next cocktail social. First, there was a poll taken in January by Abacus Data that revealed how Canadians felt about doing common, everyday things with our federal political leaders. Participants were asked which of the three federal politicians best fit a…
Here is a shameless plug for our favourite Ottawa Valley fiddler – Alexander George. This weekend – April 4 & 5 – the sap will be flowing and the many Lanark County maple farms are hosting a special festival to showcase their syrup as well as some local Valley talents. One Almonte maple stand, owned…
Here’s a Canadian song writer and performer that will set you back on your heels and force you to sit and listen to his insightful lyrics. David Myles hails from New Brunswick and now lives in Halifax. He has a total of eight albums to his credit and is busy these days on a tour…
This week we have Parliamentarians convulsing over Canada’s future role in the war against Islamic extremists. On one hand we have Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservatives willing to commit to a military engagement that has no clear objectives (at least publicly stated) and no clear end-game strategy. For the PM, it is a…
In a very provocative opinion piece, American political pundit Rachel Alexander (co-editor of Intellectual Conservative) identifies American President Obama as the primary reason: Why Americans don’t care about ISIS Alexander observes: We see the horrifying images of prisoners in orange jumpsuits about to be beheaded everywhere now in the news, but not much seems…
On the heels of the damning report from CFIB of earlier this week that revealed there was a growing disparity between private and public sector salaries and benefits, there comes a new Fraser Institute study that exposes just how wide the pay gap has become in Ontario. The Fraser Institute released today: “How Compensation Spending…
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business’ (CFIB) released a telling report yesterday on private vs public sector jobs that confirms yet again the increasing advantage our government workers enjoy with their salaries and benefits. The CFIB report “Wage Watch” exposes the bloated bureaucracy in Canada, documenting a 10%-15% “wage gap” between higher paid public sector…
Here are some contrarian thoughts from a provocative book: Stealth Democracy: Americans’ Beliefs about How Government Should Work by John R. Hibbing and Elizabeth Theiss-Morse. The thesis explored in Stealth Democracy explains a lot about our society and the average guy’s lack of concern for what is and isn’t happening in our own country’s Parliaments….
A recent presentation to politicos at an Ottawa conference reveals just how important Facebook will become in the fight for public support and your vote in the up-coming federal election campaign. At the Manning Center Networking Conference Facebook session, politicos were instructed on how to best use the Facebook platform in the coming months. Many…
Facebook is a tremendous social media tool – perhaps the best tool to be ever developed. People can spend hours on their Facebook each day – socializing. However, this on-line activity can also lead to an addiction, as people get lost in the FB’s black hole, clicking through both posts, sponsored pages and, ultimately, ads…
Alec Scott has written a great expose of Vint Cerf – the father of the Internet – in the recent ROB magazine. Here are some facts that you should know about the man and about the modern phenomenon known as the Internet. What is most striking about reading this magazine piece is the realization that…
In speaking from the standpoint of a libertarian, we must be ever-weary of those who argue for government controls, education and intervention “to fix” a societal problem. Most often, the programs and services conjured up will inevitably encroach on a citizen’s rights much like the proverbial camel’s-nose-in-the-tent. Big government will beget bigger government – values…
Did we need further proof that Ontario’s public sector enjoys much more than “the rest of us”? Not really, though here it is: a Fraser Institute study just released says that “Government workers in Ontario receive higher wages and likely more generous non-wage benefits than their private sector counterparts.” Niels Veldhuis, president of the Fraser…