Abstract
Manitoba Health Minister Cameron Friesen has come under some fire recently, and I've taken a few personal hits for defending him in conversation or social media posts. In this essay I posit that most of the criticism is not well-considered, overlooking the attendant facts or possible alternative actions. Some of the criticisms, where well-founded, are misdirected, while others call for unwarranted retributive action. I find many of these to be based in anger and frustration. As such, the bulk of these criticisms are unhelpful in the current situation of the global pandemic, as they undermine confidence and spread the same anger and frustration without a firm basis for either.
Abstract
Following the 2019 Federal Election in Canada, I had a few thoughts nagging at me. I jotted down most of them here in the week following the election, just to clear them from my mental register. Eventually, I came back and added some sources and notes, finishing up the idea so it would at least become publishable. The main idea here is that Alberta and Saskatchewan can't separate, that they're the only two Western Provinces talking about it, and that their leaders actually know they can't separate. Talking about separating and raising anti-Ottawa sentiment in their provinces, however, builds populist political capital for them, so don't look for them to admit that separation is highly impractical for them despite the perceived unfairness that they tout.
Abstract
There are different levels of climate change denial, ranging from denying its existence outright to denying that we should combat it in any fashion. These denials are often based upon some erroneous objection or objections, which are themselves often predicated upon deeply-held presuppositions which present a perceived personal risk to acceptance of climate science or the resulting recommendations.
Abstract
In this short article, I suggest that having a vision and articulating it is key to being a politician worthy of voting for. No vision, no vote.
