Harry Shannon
The U.S. Supreme Court justices who believe in originalism have been using an unusual method to help their decisions.
Originalism is the view that interpretations of the U.S. Constitution should be based on the “original meaning,” that is, the meaning understood by those who adopted the Constitution.
As many critics have…
Author: admin
Ebola epidemic sweeping across Alberta
Since a male Alberta resident returned home from overseas several weeks ago, 273 people have died from ebola disease and thousands more are believed to be infected. Other provinces are refusing entry to anyone from Alberta.
The initial case (‘Case X) flew home maskless from Europe while asymptomatic. Case X fell ill and was diagnosed with ebo…
A divided city?
Harry Shannon
Just over 20 years ago, the Ontario government created a new City of Hamilton by amalgamating what had previously been the city with surrounding towns. At the time it was highly controversial. One town, Dundas, held a plebiscite (an unofficial vote) on the issue. About half the electorate voted - far more than typically turn out f…
Failure to sample can be dangerous to your health
Harry Shannon
Background: Municipalities in Ontario held elections last week. A couple of days before, the Hamilton Spectator published a letter complaining that an opinion poll reporting on the race for Mayor was useless. I responded and the letter was in the print edition a few days later. Below is the letter I sent; there were some minor edi…
Don’t elect this man
Harry Shannon
We got this flyer in our mailbox a couple of weeks ago:
My comment on this was the lead letter in the Hamilton Spectator today. Only 250 words allowed, so I couldn't make all the points I would have liked to.
It's a scary thought that someone like this man might get elected.
Here’s the text of my lett…
Should we raise the retirement age? No
Should we raise the retirement age? That’s what an opinion article in the Hamilton Spectator last week proposed.
The author argued his case using data on life expectancy (LE). He noted that back in 1965, when Canada Pension Plan began, LE for men was 66.8, for women 73. He then stated that, since the pension age was 65, men only got CPP for a…
Anti-Science group folds after only a few days
Harry Shannon
The group Anti-Science Politicians, or ASP, has rapidly backed down from its aims and is disbanding less than a week after it announced its formation. ASP was a growing international movement that promised to reject science and the products of science.
ASP was founded by Mike Pence and includes anti-vaxxer politicians and other…
An end to polls?
Harry Shannon
I was looking for information on electric vehicles (EVs). Through our local library, I saw the May 2022 edition of BBC Top Gear magazine. The front page promised ‘THE ELECTRIC AWARDS.’
The table of contents included ‘Reader’s Choice’ and went on: ‘Did you choose your favourite in the poll to end all polls. TG reader…
Britons live miserable lives – even right-wing tabloids acknowledge it …
… although they do so unwittingly and indirectly
Harry Shannon
On March 1, The Guardian published an opinion piece by Gordon Brown, the former UK Prime Minister. It was sad reading. The title was: “First food banks, now bedding banks: in my time in politics, this is the worst poverty I’ve seen.” Brown reported that families that coul…
Israeli apartheid?
Harry Shannon
A few weeks ago, Amnesty International (AI) issued a report that concluded that Israel is guilty of apartheid in its treatment of Palestinians. Of course, the term apartheid is loaded, and you can agree or disagree with AI’s conclusion. Notably, Human Rights Watch and the Israeli NGO B’Tselem have also accused Israel of aparth…