The persistence of idiocy.

There is some speculation that Stephen Harper might use the economic downturn to fog over some ideologically driven cuts to government spending. These fears are not baseless: Harper has already axed a National Portrait Gallery, and during the election, he said some nasty and untrue things about artists. It's also no secret that the Tories hate the CBC, because they think it demonizes them. The fact that they're evil is what demonizes them.

So I read in the paper that the Liberals and the NDP fear the worst. Cuts to CBC funding is the most obvious example, but apparently, the Conservatives also want to privatize Atomic Energy of Canada, Ltd.

However, one paragraph stuck in my mind this morning, even as I read it through a mild pot-Grey Cup hangover:

"I'm hopeful there will be some ideologically-driven, neo-conservative cuts to government," political scientist Tom Flanagan, a former chief of staff to Harper, said in an interview.

I am, I fear, a foolishly optimistic person, because I am constantly surprised by the dishonesty and denial of those on the right. As the grand economic engine belches smoke and grinds to a halt, in no small part because of neo-conservative doctrines of deregulation and small, grotesquely expensive government, there are still men who want to see more of the same. This guy is a political scientist, so apparently he is supposed to be paying attention, and he appears to have missed most of the last eight years (or much, much longer, depending where you live).

Neoconservatism has destroyed much of South America. It shattered the dreams of the emerging South Africa. It consistently strips people of their rights, nations of their resources, and governments of their independence. It is an essentially racist doctrine, saying that Africans, Latinos and Asians must subsidize the North American way of life. Having gained a toehold in the US, it soon brought the financial system down. Getting a moderate endorsement up here in Canada, it resulted in tainted lunchmeat and the deaths of several people.

It is a bust, but men like Flanagan keep hoping to see it work. There are many shortcomings of conservative philosophy, but it's persistence in the face of reality is what is most discouraging.

Real classy

It's Michael Coren time again. Today, it's not about his religion, his bigotry or his hypocrisy. Today we add a new dimension to the complex character that is Mr. Coren.

Saturday's column was about, ultimately, the previous Saturday's column, which I've already commented on here.

Hundreds of e-mails arrived, of course. Most in my favour, but many against, which is all a healthy indication of democracy and free speech. One, however, was particularly interesting, in that it was sent by someone who is paid by our tax dollars to be objective and balanced.

"You were kidding, right? No matter. That material is about as funny as a good old-fashioned waterboarding joke. Disgraceful."
Richard Goddard
goddardr@cbc.ca.
o (+001) 416-205-5950
f (+001) 416-205-5731.
Q on CBC Radio ONE.
Canada Qs up: Afternoons 2 - 3:30, Evenings 10 - 11.
Shipping Address: Office 2H109-D,
Canadian Broadcasting Centre,
205 Wellington St. W., Toronto, Ont. M5V 3G7."

Way to call him out, Michael. Very classy.

Perhaps I don't quite understand the mandate of the CBC and its employees, but I assumed that public time, money and equipment were supposed to be used for the public interest and not for private opinion and political vendettas.

If the message were purely personal, at the very least it revealed an intense ideological position from a producer who makes decisions about what should be on the public airwaves. But if it were purely personal why did it list so many CBC contact details? Was this an official CBC statement and if so could the directors of the corporation please explain their stance in greater detail?

Allow me to help you out, Mr. Coren. It took me almost fifty seconds to find this information:

The CBC is fully committed to maintaining accuracy, integrity and fairness in its journalism.

Fairly straightforward. Goddard is a producer on an A&E show. Commenting on your column is not really within his professional purview, but he didn't do it on air, so that's irrelevant. Furthermore, using the word "disgraceful" hardly reveals an "intense ideological position". You essentially said the kid was spoiled, and that is disgraceful. It also listed so many personal details because it's his freaking email signature, you Luddite.

The best bit is that Coren spent time researching Goddard's resumé, but failed to find the mandate of the CBC.

I guess what really bugged me is this: it probably took two minutes to shoot off that email. You visit Coren's website, click on "E-Mail", and it opens your email program. Goddard may or may not have done it from his home computer. But it sent from his cbc.ca email address. Probably not cool, but hardly worthy of this public outing.

Coren, not only are you hateful, bigoted, and close-minded, you are over sensitive and classless. I should have known that a bully like you couldn't take it. I almost hope you don't find out about me.