a)      You’re behaving like a NAZI
b)      I was JEWED out of a promotion
c)       Quit that NIGGER
d)      That shirt is so GAY
Which of these statements are you most likely to let slip by without raising an eyebrow?  None of them should.  They all are very offensive and represent the of type verbal bullying that has become all to normal.
In light of Jamie Hubley’s suicide which was caused, in part at least, by bullying, I wanted to make sure that we all realize that bullying is not just the big ogre in …

It was a very unhappy weekend in Ottawa as we learned through the news of two untimely deaths.
First there was Ottawa Sun journalist, Earl McRae who passed suddenly while at work.  I read McRae’s pieces often and although not always agreeing with his take on topics, felt I could understand clearly his point of view.  His sometimes sarcastic writing style made me chuckle.  He knew how to make a point.
My one personal interaction with him two and a half years ago was when I chaired the Martin Luther King Jr. …

You know things are changing when former mayor Larry O’Brien writes about the protesters in New York (and all across the USA now) are on the right side of history.  From Warren Buffet down, I think the privileged class is starting to realize that the system is not working fairly.  And more importantly, some government policies need to shift to bring this fairness back into line.
Great piece of writing Mr. Mayor!
Read his blog here: THE WALL STREET PROTESTERS ARE RIGHT!

As I drove to the studio this morning, I started thinking about how we got where we are as a culture. How did a country with so much promise and opportunity, so much to offer, end up on the verge of economic, and societal collapse? How is it that a nation that on one hand, has unimagined wealth, largely untapped human resources and room to grow both economically and geographically within it’s own borders, end up with lacklustre leadership and generally speaking, a population so complacent and bereft spirit, that …

The truth is that a very large portion of the electorate does not follow politics on a daily basis. I would haphazard a guess that more than 90% of the population don’t fully engage in an election until the last week or so and that is why this week’s Ontario leaders’ debate was so important. It really would be the first time that many voters would be able to see and hear their choices for the October 6th election.
It’s always fun to hang out with “normal” Ontarians who …

I have a very active Facebook group page for Perspective Ottawa where many comments are posted (http://www.facebook.com/groups/perspectiveottawa/).
You can also now directly post the group wall by sending at email to this address: perspectiveottawa@groups.facebook.com.
If you are not yet a member of the group, please join.  And if you are, please share this note with your friends so they too can participate in the discussions.
Thanks.
Blake

The Gulags of old Russia may be gone but a new Gulag holds everyone in a prison.  Every time I hear an elitist say we can’t go back I cringe and grind my teeth until my wife insists I stop that irritating sound.  Debt is the prison and we are the prisoners.  We are the slaves.  There was a time and place in history when personal and government debt did not exist.
In the early 20th century with the advent of electric washing machines, electric stoves and toasters you could put …

A Guy Watching Politics makes the point Canada risks going the way of the Tea Party politics.  I’m not sure Canada is espousing the same type of politics as in the US but as usual, it a thoughtful read.
And The Other Harper takes us totally away from politics and into the fanciful world of soap operas and their turn to the Truman Show-esque turn to product placement as a way to survive dwindling ratings.
The World Famous Dan Shields is always good for the laugh.  By the time you read this, …

Many times, politicians use the two phrases interchangeably and they are not.  The drive to bring taxes down, as in the US, to the lowest possible and to get government out of the job of providing certain safety net services is far different than the desire to root out waste in the government and to use tax dollars sparingly.
The current debate in the US is about what the government should do versus what should be left to private industry.  There is a certain faction of the politico in the US …

In my last article I mentioned the looming collapse of the US economy.  There are many common factors to take into consideration, but the most important factor is of course oil.   How nations get oil also has common factors.  As we know, the major oil reserves are geographically located in the Middle East and to a lesser extent in parts of Africa, South America, and North America.  The recent ascent of economies in China and India make the demand for oil more than a precious resource. The economic war, if …