Harry Shannon
Former Alaska governor and vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin is working with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to change the names of the Trans-Canada Highway and the Trans-Alaska pipeline.
Palin told a news conference that evangelical groups have complained about the use of “trans” in…
Category: Politics
I’m Not a Customer
Harry Shannon
Here's my letter that appeared in the Hamilton Spectator recently. It's self-explanatory - no background info needed.
Not a Customer
I called Premier Doug Ford’s office to give my opinion on some of his policies. Before I spoke to a human, a recorded message told me I would be forwarded to a ‘Customer Service Representat…
U.S. Supreme Court justices sought new solution to problem of originalism
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…
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…
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…
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…