tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.comments2023-10-08T09:01:17.216-07:00The Murgatroyd BlogStephen Murgatroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14407855028282306596noreply@blogger.comBlogger239125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-30236321753116736452020-12-02T10:11:54.982-07:002020-12-02T10:11:54.982-07:00I entirely agree with this analysis - that Kenney ...I entirely agree with this analysis - that Kenney is not incompetent but doing things that further his and others' aims - Harper, O'Toole, Ford, and those behind the scenes - there is nothing accidental in all this - he just hopes the majority of the voting public don't catch on before the next election. It is much more concerning and, indeed, frightening than mere incompetence.Alberta retired business womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04941322440608667530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-29729673850836128202020-12-02T00:20:56.556-07:002020-12-02T00:20:56.556-07:00I agree that he has done all you say. I disagree w...I agree that he has done all you say. I disagree with your main premise, however. I do not think Kenney is incompetent. He says the things he does will have a certain outcome, like giving money to corporations to create jobs, because he assumes most Albertans will believe it. He knows it's not going to create jobs. He knows exactly where the money will wind up.<br /><br />I take the rather more cynical view that what he is doing has purpose. He has an agenda and goals. None of them benefit Albertans. That was not his intention. Based on all the information revealed during the investigation into the UCP leadership race, it appears there was a fairly sophisticated strategy involved in making Kenney leader of the party. It was not politics as usual. <br /><br />Jason Kenney is a product of years of involvement in far-right activities, from his anti-abortion activism and efforts to prevent men dying of AIDS to have their loved ones visit in San Francisco in the 1990s, to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, to being an MP for the Reform Party/Canadian Alliance Party/CPC. He is ideologically driven. <br /><br />Everything he has done, if seen through the lens of the Harper tradition, appears to be intended to further hard-right conservative goals. Including social conservative ideals. Removing protection from students who join a GSA, cutting environmental protections, opening areas up for coal mining, union busting efforts, Rewriting curriculum to teach kids "the dignity of work" and learn creationist Bible verses as poetry, removing the word "Public" from schools, de-indexing AISH payments and making it harder to be eligible for AISH, tearing up the doctors' contract, cutting educational spending and firing educational aids and teachers, threatening to fire nurses and other health care workers, privatizing health care support, giving money to corporations, trying to pass a law that would allow doctors and pharmacists and other health professionals to refuse a patient based on "conscience"... He appears to be trying to collapse our health care system so that we will become desperate enough to accept a for-profit model...<br /><br />It you look at things with acceptance of the idea that he may not be trying to do his best for Albertans, that he may, in fact, have an entirely different set of priorities, what he has been doing makes sense. What appears to be incompetence, I propose, is an ideologically-driven strategy. People assume our government is going to work for the public good. But what if they are not interested in the public good? What if they are lining the pockets of their friends and donors while padding their own bank accounts? All the while, furthering their vision of an austere, theocratic, authoritarian state... The Cailleach: Another Blogging Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01591642605157707451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-12619125042719909862020-06-01T00:08:22.318-07:002020-06-01T00:08:22.318-07:00The Offices of the new New Zealand polytechnic are...The Offices of the new New Zealand polytechnic are to be based in my hometown of Hamilton.It will be interesting to see just how it will operate.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13644945354454800205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-56449195667251236372020-04-14T16:02:27.684-07:002020-04-14T16:02:27.684-07:00Steve,
Please lead the charge on these ideas. The...Steve,<br />Please lead the charge on these ideas. They will push us about as far as we are wiling to go. Even to get this far we have to be really pushed.<br />We both know that these changes are only the beginning of what the 21st Century will demand from us. But they are a beginning... an attractive illusion that will get us moving. All good. We can learn along the way that that the Modern Techno-industrial imaginations, aspirations and polices which now dominate our media, governments and politics are a delusion which lead only to destruction of life as we know and love it. Your ideas begin to open us to the possibility that Albertans are capable of more then merely have the top 25% of us get rich.Ruben Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09520390392076618698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-69560720204035002382020-04-11T08:32:15.655-07:002020-04-11T08:32:15.655-07:00it is an opportunity to renew the ecology of the r...it is an opportunity to renew the ecology of the regions what are your thoughts on preserving lands and wildlife?<br />Marlowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08481605745964300393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-5827917022294075112020-04-11T06:31:19.390-07:002020-04-11T06:31:19.390-07:00This is a brilliant article and truly a roadmap fo...This is a brilliant article and truly a roadmap for Alberta's future- thank you.<br />Mary SamideMaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05870530513037698755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-31158738834377880382020-03-24T12:44:19.365-07:002020-03-24T12:44:19.365-07:00This is as true to day in March 2020 as it was whe...This is as true to day in March 2020 as it was when originally posted. America has still not figured out that saying he's got NPD is not just another insult thrown at someone who's arrogant.<br />This is a serious debilitating psychological affliction. How can a person with no empathy, for example, truly represent the public interests?<br />I am constantly amazed that no one, but no one, talks about Trump's obvious mental health!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12021894507117037758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-31994846263895829302020-02-26T07:29:04.730-07:002020-02-26T07:29:04.730-07:00Do you have numbers on debt service ratios? In a p...Do you have numbers on debt service ratios? In a perpetually low interest environment, and with an already low debt/GDP they must be well within the comfort zone. Also do you have figures for percentage of retained earnings that have gone into share buybacks from Alberta tax cuts. The vast majority (95%?) of the savings from the Trump corporate tax cut has led to share buybacks, like all US corporate tax cuts since 1982!pohearnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13243940190490535802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-33789098008235967622020-02-20T23:16:27.430-07:002020-02-20T23:16:27.430-07:00This is a clearly crafted statement of what’s not ...This is a clearly crafted statement of what’s not working and what needs to change Steve. How can you ensure he and the right people read it and actually reflect meaningfully on their actions in order to make the changes you suggest? What needs to happen? Can you influence thisSarajanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623202037353701490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-59973926565844163522020-02-20T13:38:50.973-07:002020-02-20T13:38:50.973-07:00Absolutely well said. And thank you for writing th...Absolutely well said. And thank you for writing this. Bobbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05312414545749417047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-22293548836657291512020-01-30T22:07:04.153-07:002020-01-30T22:07:04.153-07:00Governance by dinosaurs.Governance by dinosaurs.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14529561498562110747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-81931213628490855772020-01-30T15:14:22.423-07:002020-01-30T15:14:22.423-07:00Great analysis!Great analysis!Julius Buskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02807941831320690997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-53840429532566573412019-11-01T10:35:27.932-07:002019-11-01T10:35:27.932-07:00Well said Stephen and lessons from our past should...Well said Stephen and lessons from our past should be learned from and listened to however many of do believe, as you stated, this is just a strategy for other things to fall in place. To justify the need for an expansion of private education, after an the existing system (s) have been gutted and to the doing away with school boards as what has been done or planned for other provinces. As you also note the cuts will have ripple effects throughout our communities.Being a county councillor we deal a lot with crime and the fall out from criminals/ the trauma and impact on the victims and communities. Many communities already struggle with being disconnected and having their own dysfunction, & in my opinion will only intensify many communities and their socioeconomic situations especially rural. Education needs to be first and utmost. When you are dealing with crime, and criminals, studies show intervention, prevention and education are all part of the crime prevention solution, as well as police. If we were smart, our monies and time would be spent on our children and families, allowing that to trickle into our communities. Education is Power ! Not a deterrent to a society :-) just my thoughts for what its worth...:-)<br />Jean Botanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-54182469278444841212019-10-28T10:38:44.089-07:002019-10-28T10:38:44.089-07:00Must be Pierre's son at Davos in 2019 unless s...Must be Pierre's son at Davos in 2019 unless some preternatural occurrence happened! ojoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11703910327490817426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-37937694063171328932019-10-28T10:32:26.040-07:002019-10-28T10:32:26.040-07:00Masterly and pithy summary that Slav Heller would ...Masterly and pithy summary that Slav Heller would have been delighted to endorse had he still been with us.ojoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11703910327490817426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-79611399801632779842019-10-27T10:18:24.756-07:002019-10-27T10:18:24.756-07:00Thank you Stephen, this is a great breakdown of a ...Thank you Stephen, this is a great breakdown of a reactionary movement. People are feeling alienated from our federal government. This breakdown explains to me why the decisions made by the federal government were not necessarily an intended slight to Albertans. I hope that our government (federal and provincial) would take the time and resources to communicate this clearly to us. Christinanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-44326693234564967202019-10-24T17:38:17.082-07:002019-10-24T17:38:17.082-07:00Having read this work, I can summarize it thus. Ha...Having read this work, I can summarize it thus. Harper is to blame for everything, Trudeau is wonderful, Albertans are idiots, fossil fuels are bad, equalization is dandy and only you know what your talking about. It must be great to be so erudite and worldly, I'm sure unemployed Westerners will surely approve.<br /><br />PeterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-65198593380953999202019-08-24T07:50:03.607-07:002019-08-24T07:50:03.607-07:00Their theory of change is that anything started by...Their theory of change is that anything started by the “UCP” is a mistake that needs to be revised and corrected and that they need “cover to do it”. Do you mean “... anything started by the NDP is a mistake that needs to be revised ... ? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-82096347365218552822019-01-20T11:48:48.639-07:002019-01-20T11:48:48.639-07:00Love this blog. You are a fan of limericks. Ky f...Love this blog. You are a fan of limericks. Ky favorite:<br /><br />There was a young lady named Bright<br />Whose speed was much faster than Light<br />She departed one day in a relative way<br />And returned on the previous night.<br /><br />Richard Sherbaniukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10106406111818191586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-72865009698177177822019-01-02T09:40:19.978-07:002019-01-02T09:40:19.978-07:00Thanks for this. I believe women, youth and Millen...Thanks for this. I believe women, youth and Millennials will decide the next President. SHE will be younger politically experienced but independent and a vision based beyond exceptionalism and into service.Ken Chapmanhttp://rebootalberta.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-57307649082466877602017-03-05T13:38:14.273-07:002017-03-05T13:38:14.273-07:00The current state of the American political system...The current state of the American political system has greatly shaken my world view. As a woman, as a parent, as a business owner - the whole situation is still hard to handle. <br /><br />Glancing at your recent blog posts and seeing this post, I'm reminded that for me - like many people - I very much have a "Before November 8th" and "After November 8th" split in my perception of how the world works. <br /><br />We were no more misogynist, racist, xenophobic (insert your choice of words here) as a society after November 8th than we were before, only before that day we didn't know the full realities of the world we live in. Ultimately, people are afraid for their futures, and that manifests in different ways. This is one of them.<br /><br />I see tech and innovation as the way to move from a world where we once relied on building cars and mining coal to sustain ourselves, into a future where we embrace and thrive in a new economy. This is the chaos at the beginning of that change, and figuring out how to make that switch as a whole society is a serious challenge. <br /><br />I look forward to our innovation class, as ultimately I think it's more related to the realities that led to Trump's win than most people think! <br /><br />This short article touches on this, and I thought you'd enjoy the quick read: <br /><br /><a href="https://www.wired.com/2017/02/ai-threat-isnt-skynet-end-middle-class/" rel="nofollow">https://www.wired.com/2017/02/ai-threat-isnt-skynet-end-middle-class/</a>Miranda L.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-36707421253800366942016-08-11T01:46:06.103-07:002016-08-11T01:46:06.103-07:00With just cause, you add colourfully to the flood ...With just cause, you add colourfully to the flood of appalled commentary about this surreal and unimagined emergent property of the US political and cultural systems encapsulated in the GOP candidate. It is tragic that the challenge to the 'Wall Street driven' business-as-usual framework that Clinton would maintain and that will continue to fuel exponential human impact on the sustainability of planetary life-support systems, is being challenged by an even worse alternative. Let's hope that the worst will self-destruct in time for the least worst to prevail.ojoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11703910327490817426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-79865007416375656192016-05-28T11:20:42.187-07:002016-05-28T11:20:42.187-07:00"Trump will make Trump rich again. That seems..."Trump will make Trump rich again. That seems to me to be the prime agenda." As opposed to... current Congress members...? http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2014/01/millionaires-club-for-first-time-most-lawmakers-are-worth-1-million-plus/<br />Alex Olteanuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09960388480832669445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-730737807144234152016-02-07T13:55:43.907-07:002016-02-07T13:55:43.907-07:00Dear Stephen
I am trying to get in contact with y...Dear Stephen<br /><br />I am trying to get in contact with you and your personal website is down at the moment.<br /><br />I am the Business Manager for the Queensland Association of State School Principals (QASSP). Please drop me an email magdalene@qassp.org.au so that I can connect with you.<br /><br />Thanking you in advance,<br /><br />MagdaleneMagdalenehttp://www.qassp.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10536145.post-39024538263529475962016-01-31T12:57:59.718-07:002016-01-31T12:57:59.718-07:00In the dictionary under Murgatroyd you will find -...In the dictionary under Murgatroyd you will find - an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action. :-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292354321307910713noreply@blogger.com