22-May-2013 Posted by Chris

The Royal Jelly

Today Mayor Stephen Mandel announced he would not seek a fourth term as Mayor of this great City. Like many, I am grateful and a bit in awe of what he has accomplished. What he accomplished is well known, how he accomplished it however, is the story we should all learn from. In a time where politics seems to be a polarizing endeavor, he bucked the trend by building a community and council that rallied... read more

1-May-2013 Posted by Chris

America: Because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

This video is a telling indicator of how rapid development of technology and ability by the US Military is actually doing more harm than good. Because they can do something, which might seem smart on paper, does not necessarily provide the moral gateway to do it. Yes, America can use technology to target the “heads of the snake” and use drones to kill enemy leaders. Yes, this might even kill... read more

7-Apr-2013 Posted by Chris

The Wildrose Reinvented. Maybe it’s time?

Maybe it’s time? Yesterday the Wildrose Party of Alberta came together and laid the foundation for a more moderate policy framework, mostly by removing or clarifying their contentious social policy. It has yet to be submitted to the approval of the membership, but I think that’s a formality. By doing this, the rigid social conservatives, those who joined the party to protect ideologically based... read more

31-Mar-2013 Posted by Chris

Ralph Klein – The Alberta Everyman who led with authenticity

Ralph Klein gave protesters the finger. He derided “Eastern bums and creeps”. He drank too much. He apologized a lot, often for good reason. But Ralph Klein could lead us with authenticity, because he was like us; with fault. Premier Klein also balanced the damn budget. Ralph wasn’t idolized just because he balanced the budget, which was formidable enough; the success he enjoyed politically was for... read more

22-Mar-2013 Posted by Chris

Make Something Edmonton

It’s amazing. This City, that I love. We have an identity, what we think of ourselves, that is proud, self-deprecating, humble, yet helpful. We mock ourselves, we curse the snow… yet we stay here, build things and help each other thrive. It’s both part of our anthropological DNA and our current economic reality. Our image, which might be described as what others think of us, has always... read more

15-Mar-2013 Posted by Chris

Wildrose populism offers no real solutions.

I spent 2 hours on Monday this week in an Edmonton criminal courtroom (as an observer, not a defendant!) Here is what I observed: - A 59-year old aboriginal woman who was charged with shoplifting. She was charged with her first criminal offense, after shoplifting 8 bottles of perfume, with the intent of reselling it to feed her family. According to the duty council, she has been on AISH for most of her... read more