Appeared in the North Shore News – June 19, 2015 Hold on — is it possible that those demanding social tolerance are themselves harshly intolerant? The news elites have chosen as our times’ biggest story the transformation of former male Bruce Jenner to female Caitlyn Jenner, with the triumphant media epiphany of a cover photo…
Premier’s dark side slowly emerging
Appeared in the North Shore News – June 5, 2015 Christy Clark is becoming nasty, vengeful and self-pardoning in her old age. Such a nice lady, too. On camera, anyway. Beaming smile. Can’t imagine her using the f-adjective describing the federal cabinet, as Green Party leader Elizabeth May — another big smiler, gleaming like a…
B-line to Armageddon if No prevails?
Appeared in the North Shore News – May 22, 2015 The $7.5-billion transit plebiscite coffin should have so many nails in it that it may require a second coffin. There’s a note of desperation in the Yessirs’ plea-cum-threat to Metro Vancouverites to lend approval to the 10-year plan, funded by a half-percentage-point lift in the…
Just take the No. 250 Utopia bus
Appeared in the North Shore News – May 8, 2015 This may be a unique reason to vote against the big interests’ Metro transit plan: It doesn’t go far enough. Universal rule: All transit systems stimulate the authorities’ Stalinism. The business, bureaucratic, political, academic and union elites — the now and future car-driving class —…
Talk of a third crossing grows old
Appeared in the North Shore News – April 24, 2015 Well, that should be the nail in the coffin. Maybe a whole carpenter’s apronful of nails. I speak of the prospects for a North Shore Yes vote in the transit plebiscite, somewhat pushed out of the public mind by fresher disasters. Still personally debating whether…
Park Royal towers back up for debate
Appeared in the North Shore News – April 10, 2015 Abandoning my usual wishy-washy views, I have a strong one on the proposed Park Royal towers project. Kill it, West Vancouver council. Nora Gambioli. Christine Cassidy. Craig Cameron, maybe. They’re council’s most likely giant-killers of the density-leaping 27-storey and 12-storey residential-plus towers sought by the…
It’s politics as usual for Yes coalition
Appeared in the North Shore News – March 27, 2015 The bungling boys and girls of the Transit and Transportation Coalition have stooped to truth-suppression. Oh, slap my wrist, be kind: “Selective editing.” Sure, it’s common: He who pays the piper gets to call the piper’s tune. So far, it’s off-key for the Yes team…
Politicians face off on transit vote
Appeared in the North Shore News – March 13, 2015 The transportation referendum — hold on, we interrupt this rant for a breaking rant from our opinion room: Stephen Harper will win this year’s federal election. We now return you to regular ranting . . . You read it here first. The Conservatives have taken…
Rule 1: Never sell. Rule 2: See rule 1
Appeared in the North Shore News – February 27, 2015 Self-interest (aka money) rules. The real estate industry expertly knows how to twist the monster home issue: Divide the neighbours. There’s no end of chat about prospective monster home property buyers. Almost none about the other side of the deal: the sellers. It takes two…
Zealots crowd out the considerate
Appeared in the North Shore News – February 13, 2015 The bicycle is one of the greatest inventions in history, a freeing vehicle, a pioneer emancipator of women — and now a vehicle of protest. To start at the conclusion: The North Shore’s nearest analogy to the gang warfare elsewhere in Metro is on the…