"as trade guru Sylvia Ostry always says, given a choice between conspiracy and cock-up, bet on cock-up every time."
William Watson in Ottawa Citizen Oct. 19 2004
The Environment: A True Story is now available on YouTube in shorter chapters as well as the full film. I'm pleased to say the complete documentary has already had over 1200 views in just over a week which for a 160 minute feature is very satisfying.
For those who find it more convenient to watch (or easier to keep track of where you've gotten to in it) in shorter segments it's also now posted as a YouTube playlist.
In my latest National Post column I explain why the federal LIberals' "sunny ways", and progressives' penchant for "compassionate" improvisation generally, are divisive and leave people feeling cheated.
"Bigotry is an incapacity to conceive seriously the alternative to a proposition. It has nothing whatever to do with belief in the proposition itself."
G.K. Chesterton in Lunacy and Letters quoted in Dale Ahlquist and Peter Floriani, Chesterton University Student Handbook
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
Dame Edith Sitwell, quoted as "Thought du jour" in Social Studies in Globe and Mail Sept. 29, 2011
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not more so."
Albert Einstein, quoted by Burton Malkiel A Random Walk Down Wall Street
"Many persons in these days wish to retain the morality which they like, after getting rid of the religion which they disbelieve. Whether they are right or wrong in disturbing the foundation, they are inconsistent in wishing to save the superstructure."
James Fitzjames Stephen in Liberty Equality Fraternity
If you're in the Ottawa area on Oct. 30 please consider joining MP David Anderson (Cypress Hills-Grasslands, and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for International Human Rights and Religious Freedom), Janet Epp Buckingham (Director of Trinity Western University's Laurentian Leadership Centre), Jay Cameron (Litigation Manager for the Justice Centre for Canadian Freedoms) and myself to discuss "Canadian Freedoms: Growing Threats?" at the Parliamentary Forum on Canadian Freedoms.
It's in Room 430, Wellington Building (197 Sparks St.) from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday Oct. 30 and it is open to the public. But you need to RSVP to David Anderson's Legislative Assistant Tristan McLaughlin (613-995-1616 or david.anderson.a1@parl.gc.ca) and you will need photo ID for admission to the Parliamentary premises.
I'll be talking about Magna Carta, how Parliament evolved to protect the freedoms guaranteed in the Great Charter, and how the weakening of Parliament in recent decades threatens our liberties.