Category Archives: Liberal

Democrats are on a mission to dispel any notion that massive new government spending in their Build Back Better (BBB) bill will let roaring inflation out of its decades-old cage. And right on que, liberal economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman weighs in: History Says Dont Panic About Inflation."

Actually, history doesnt say that, just Krugmans headline.

Its a hard sell, though. Krugman makes his case based on a July 6 article from the White House Council of Economic Advisors entitled, Historical Parallels to Todays Inflationary Episode.

Note that the Biden White House published this article more than four months ago, when inflation may not have been out of its cage yet but certainly seemed to be on a long leash. Inflation numbers have steadily increased and will likely go even higher.

But with BBB headed to the Senate for mangling, or even rejection, all the big-spenders, including Krugman, are trying to convince those understandably concerned about raging inflation both senators and the public that the beast will be back in its cage soon.

Maybe, but there is at least one important point that Krugman and the White House ignore.

The Councils paper says that since World War II, there have been six periods in which inflation as measured by the CPI [Consumer Price Index] was 5 percent or higher. The Council and Krugman both argue the period most closely resembling todays inflation was the one immediately following the war, 1946-48.

And its easy to see why. Rationing and price controls during the war constrained consumption, so pent-up demand was high at the wars end just as pent-up demand has been high coming out of the pandemic.

But supplies were limited after the war because manufacturers were transitioning away from war-time products to making products for consumers similar to the way supply chain problems are limiting supplies now.

But, Krugman informs us, the inflation didnt last. Inflation plunged in 1948, and by 1949 had turned into deflation, where prices were falling. [T]he biggest mistake policymakers made in response to that inflation surge was failing to appreciate its transitory nature.

Krugmans advice: Dont worry about the price surges youre seeing. Theyre a result of a special set of circumstances coming out of the pandemic, not Bidens spending spree. The current inflation problem will resolve itself relatively soon, as it did in 1948.

We should note that some prominent Democratic economists have raised inflation concerns. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers has been warning since February, before Bidens $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan passed, that the White House was ignoring inflationary pressures.

Obama administration economist Jason FurmanJason FurmanLiberal economists got the memo: Build Back Better couldn't possibly worsen inflation Biden should signal to the Fed that it's okay to raise rates next year The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by ExxonMobil - Biden hails infrastructure law, talks with China's Xi MORE was blunter in a recent interview with the Associated Press: They poured kerosene on the fire!

And yet both have more recently claimed that all the spending in the BBB would add little or nothing to todays inflationary pressures.

One difference in Krugmans then-vs.-now comparison is the wealth effect, where people feel much more financially secure and are willing to spend more when assets like their home or stock prices rise.

A falling stock market can have the opposite effect. The Dow Jones Industrial Average peaked in April 1946 and started heading downward quickly. By the beginning of the recession in November 1948, the Dow had lost a third of its value.

A steadily declining Dow may have depressed demand for more goods, taking the pressure off inflation.

Today, just the opposite is happening. Stock indexes are creating new highs. And a much larger percentage of the public is investing in the market. Moreover, the personal savings rate hit record highs during the pandemic. The wealth effect is still having an impact, at least for now, and may encourage people to buy more goods, even at the higher prices.

Bidens Build Back Better bill is a huge and costly political and economic gamble. His big spending isnt the only cause of inflation, but it has poured kerosene on the fire, as Furman said. Now Biden wants to double down on that spending.

If inflation continues, it could mean an even tougher drubbing for Democrats at the polls next year. Because the only beast more dangerous to political careers than raging inflation is an angry voter.

Merrill Matthews is a resident scholar with the Institute for Policy Innovation in Dallas, Texas. Follow him on Twitter @MerrillMatthews.

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Liberal economists got the memo: Build Back Better couldn't possibly worsen inflation | TheHill - The Hill

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland make their way to hold a press conference in Ottawa on April 20.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland will be the subject of a new biography that the author calls a portrait of the most powerful woman in Canadian politics and possible heir apparent to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Catherine Tsalikiss book will feed into a growing perception within the Liberal Party that Canadas first female Finance Minister is preparing for the Prime Ministers departure from office even though Mr. Trudeau maintains he will run in the next election after failing twice to win majority governments.

Ms. Tsalikis, who writes on foreign affairs and gender equality, said the biography is set to be published in the fall of 2023 but could be released earlier if there is a Liberal leadership race and Ms. Freeland throws her hat into the ring.

It would be interesting if she does decide to run for the leadership of the Liberals, and I think people want to know more about her story where she came from, what she stands for and what kind of leader she might be, Ms. Tsalikis said in an interview.

Some in the government are seeing early signs that Ms. Freeland wants the top job. One senior government source pointed to the letter Ms. Freeland wrote earlier this month, as Deputy Prime Minister, to Air Canadas board of directors after chief executive officer Michael Rousseau admitted he does not speak French despite living in Montreal for 14 years. Ms. Freeland urged the board to direct Mr. Rousseau to improve his knowledge of one of Canadas two official languages and to include it in his annual performance review.

The government source said the Air Canada letter which could help shore up Ms. Freelands reputation in Quebec appeared to some people in the Prime Ministers Office to be the clearest evidence yet that she intends to seek the party leadership should Mr. Trudeau step down.

The Globe and Mail is not identifying the source because they were not authorized to speak about relations between Ms. Freeland and Mr. Trudeaus office.

Ms. Tsalikis said Ms. Freeland is aware the book is being published by House of Anansi Press but has not yet agreed to sit down for interviews.

She has always been the most fascinating figure to me. We dont have that many women who rise to such positions of power here in Canada, she said. Id like to delve a little bit deeper into her story and why she is so successful in politics.

One senior Liberal MP told The Globe that Ms. Freeland has become more responsive to backbenchers since the Sept. 20 election. Another Liberal source said Ms. Freeland returns calls from MPs more quickly now.

The Globe is not identifying the sources because they would only speak on background about the potential leadership race.

Ms. Freeland is not the only leadership hopeful. Newly named Foreign Affairs Minister Mlanie Joly, who co-chaired the Liberal Partys national election campaign, has a network of loyalists in Quebec for a potential leadership run, according to three Quebec Liberal insiders.

During the campaign, the insiders said, Ms. Joly used her influence to place key people as field organizers throughout Quebec, including supporters of her unsuccessful run for mayor of Montreal in 2013. One is Philippe Lafrance, who was involved in the Quebec students strike in 2012 and once worked for the Parti Qubcois. One Quebec Liberal source said Mr. Lafrance has the ability to mobilize hundreds of volunteers to help Ms. Joly in any leadership bid.

MPs also point to a campaign event this August in Montreal to launch Ms. Jolys local platform. She enlisted a number of local Liberal candidates to show up as well a sign to some that she was laying groundwork for the future.

A source close to Innovation Minister Franois-Philippe Champagne said he wants to run for the leadership as well but has not set up an informal team or done any organizing yet. The Globe is not identifying the source, who was not authorized to speak about Mr. Champagnes leadership ambitions.

Mark Carney, a former governor of the Bank of England and the Bank of Canada, is also frequently mentioned as a possible leadership aspirant with the intellectual and economic experience to mount a serious challenge to Ms. Freeland.

Some Liberals were disappointed that he did not run in the last election in an Ottawa riding. But a senior Liberal on Bay Street said Mr. Carney was wise to opt out better for him to concentrate on building his national and international reputation on climate change and the economy. Should Mr. Trudeau step down in two or three years, Mr. Carney could position himself as a potential leader with the skills to manage the economy without having to carry any political baggage. The Globe is not identifying the source because they were not authorized to speak about Mr. Carneys political ambitions.

And two well-placed Liberals say Frank Baylis, a wealthy medical technology businessman, has also been speaking to MPs about a possible run for the leadership. Mr. Baylis won a Montreal-area federal seat in 2015 but did not seek re-election in 2019. The Globe is not identifying the sources, who were not authorized to discuss Mr. Bayliss potential interest in the Liberal leadership.

Mr. Baylis said people have been asking him what he plans to do next after selling part of his business operations including whether he would ever return to politics. However, he said he is still occupied with his remaining businesses. I am up to my eyeballs right now. Would I ever say no to politics? No. Of course I would never say no, but I am not looking at anything right now.

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Early signs of Liberal leadership ambitions as Chrystia Freeland biography in works - The Globe and Mail

The former New South Wales Liberal MP Michael Yabsley has spent his entire life since university touting for donations for the Liberal party. As a former federal treasurer of the Liberal party he knows a thing or two about the corroding influence of money on politics.

Now hes on a crusade to curtail the flow of money into Australian politics, and has devised a 10-point plan that he believes will bring greater transparency and integrity into politics.

Yabsleys plan is radical: a cap on donations of $200, only Australian citizens on the electoral roll permitted to donate and scrapping public funding combined with tight caps on election expenditure.

He agrees the parties wont like it but who better to design a new one than a poacher turned gamekeeper as he termed himself at the launch of his plan, Dark Money, which he is turning into a book.

Its a bad culture, a flawed culture, and I have been part of it, he said.

But over the past few years hes had time to reflect.

We can redefine the debate, explain the truth and with enough goodwill we can win the debate.

As an example of the corrupting influence of money on politics Yabsley singled out the business observer programs, which both major parties run at their national and state conferences.

These were nothing more than government for rent, he said, an unedifying exchange where businesses were encouraged to pay for access to politicians and the politicians advertise themselves.

For $20,000, businesses get to spend time with ministers who overlap with their interests in a kind of speed dating, he said.

Yabsley was joined by another politician with personal expertise in political fundraising, the former NSW state secretary of the Labor party and former senator Stephen Loosley.

While the two men do not agree on the detail of the solution, Loosley said he fully supported a debate on reform and a retrieval of trust in the parliamentary system.

While Yabsley is in favour of scrapping public funding altogether, Loosley said he would prefer to take the private money out of politics and keep public funding.

Democracy doesnt run on thin air and candidates are faced with temptation at all times, he said.

They also disagreed on the need for $200 donations to be reported publicly.

Yabsley argued it was too small an amount to influence any politicians, but Loosley was concerned it would give rise to the US phenomenon of bundlers political operatives who rounded up smaller donors in the name of a particular interest group.

He also warned that with donation reform in the US had come the development of political action committees, or Pacs, which have become more important than parties themselves in funding campaigns.

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Similarly, bans on foreign donations in the US had led to foreign money washing through thinktanks, which play an important role in shaping political debate, Loosley said.

Theres no point in focusing on parties. We need to be broader, he said.

Loosley warned that trying to sever ties between the ALP and trade unions as part of political donations reform would not be acceptable to the Labor party.

That dog wont hunt, he said. Organised labour was deeply entwined with the party and no one would support trying to undo those ties.

Thank you for your feedback.

The former NSW supreme court judge and the chair of the Centre for Public Integrity, Anthony Whealy, also did not support allowing $200 donations to be anonymous.

Our political masters have been captured by a flood of money coming from industry, he said, pointing to the resources sector, which contains major donors, had appeared to have lobbied on the Coalitions plans for a gas-led recovery as the partial solution to Australias climate crisis.

He said the federal system of donations, with its extraordinarily high disclosure threshold of $14,500, was the worst but disclosure and transparency were important in any system.

Given the serious consequences of mistrust in the political system, Yabsley said he supported strong penalties including jail terms for people who breached electoral laws.

Both Loosley and Yabsley agreed that laws needed to be uniform across the states and commonwealth to avoid exploiting of loopholes between systems.

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Its a bad culture: former Liberal treasurer calls for $200 cap on political donations to boost integrity - The Guardian

Justice Minister Abdlhamit Gl higlighted the necessity of a new liberal constitution in Turkey.

"It is clear that we need a constitution based on a liberal understanding that will protect the will of the people in the strongest way possible," Gl told the members of the parliament's planning and budget committee.

The constitution that Turkey needs must be "based on the equal and fair application of law, pluralism and respect for differences," Gl underlined, adding that drawing up such a draft was a "non-partisan duty" of the country's political parties.

Since 1982, the current Constitution, drafted following a military coup, has seen several amendments. The bloody 1980 coup, which led to the detention of hundreds of thousands of people along with mass trials, torture and executions, still represents a dark period in Turkish political history.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoan wants Turkey to have a civilian-drafted constitution by 2023, coinciding with the centenary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey.

Earlier this year, the president urged all political parties to take part in this process, a call backed by the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), a member of the People's Alliance alongside the Justice and Development (AK) Party led by Erdoan.

Erdoan has repeatedly said AK Party plans to make public its draft for a new civilian constitution in early 2022.

In May, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairperson Devlet Baheli announced that he had completed the "new constitution" proposal and conveyed it to Erdoan. Then, Erdoan appointed a committee under a chairpersonship to work on the new constitution.

Erdoan has declared that they are "determined to present the new constitutional proposals to the nation's discretion" in the first months of next year. It is said that the AK Party has nearly completed its new constitution proposal and will submit it for the MHP to review before the new year.

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Justice minister urges new 'liberal' Constitution in Turkey | Daily Sabah - Daily Sabah

Hello,

Conservative Leader Erin OToole delivered a speech to members of his caucus and invited media on Wednesday that did not reference questions around COVID-19 vaccination and dissension in party ranks that have been ongoing issues for the Opposition.

In a rare move, the Conservatives opened their caucus meeting to members of the media so they could cover an opening speech by Mr. OToole.

Conservatives will work hard to ensure the voices of all Canadians are heard in Ottawa the voices of energy workers and auto workers; the voices of small business owners and farmers; and, importantly, the voices of families with children and seniors who are worried about the cost-of-living crisis gripping the country, he said.

Canadians need a professional, ethical and experienced Conservative team to hold this tired Liberal government to account and to provide Canadians with a clear alternative, Mr. OToole told members of his caucus, sitting socially distanced during the meeting held at a complex across the street from Parliament Hill.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was dismissive of Mr. OTooles speech.

Were focused on fighting climate change, were focused on growing the economy, were focused on reconciliation the kinds of things Mr. OToole should be focused on, Mr. Trudeau said on Parliament Hill, while heading into a Liberal caucus meeting. Instead, hes focused on getting exemptions for his MPs. Now, that doesnt make any sense.

Mr. OToole did not address the issues around the vaccination of MPs. The Tories have faced questions about the vaccination of their MPs as the reopening of the House of Commons loomed this week, with the reality that all those entering the parliamentary precinct must be fully vaccinated. Mr. OToole has said that all 118 Conservative MPs are now either fully vaccinated or have medical exemptions, but refused to say how many have claimed medical exemptions.

Questions have also been raised around dissent in the party ranks after Senator Denise Batters launched a petition urging an expedited vote on Mr. OTooles leadership by party members, instead of awaiting a scheduled vote in 2023. She was then expelled from caucus, and Mr. OToole has warned that other caucus critics could face the same consequences.

The Conservative leader did not take media questions before members of the media were ushered from thebroom so the caucus meeting could proceed.

This is the daily Politics Briefing newsletter, written by Ian Bailey. It is available exclusively to our digital subscribers. If youre reading this on the web, subscribers can sign up for the Politics newsletter and more than 20 others on our newsletter signup page. Have any feedback? Let us know what you think.

TODAYS HEADLINES

FREELAND AS LIBERAL LEADER? - Ottawa bureau chief Robert Fife and senior parliamentary reporter Steven Chase report on early signs of Liberal leadership ambitions as a biography of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland is in the works. Catherine Tsalikiss book will feed into a growing perception within the Liberal Party that Canadas first female Finance Minister is preparing for the Prime Ministers departure from office even though Mr. Trudeau maintains he will run in the next election after failing twice to win majority governments. Story here.

CANADA CONSIDERS RESPONSE TO UKRAINE-RUSSIA TENSIONS - Canada is considering bolstering its military mission to Ukraine, amid a debate over whether additional NATO forces would deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from further aggression against his countrys neighbour. Two sources with knowledge of the deliberations told The Globe and Mail that newly appointed Defence Minister Anita Anand is considering deploying hundreds of additional troops to support the Canadian soldiers already in Ukraine on a training mission. Story here.

OPPOSITION PARTIES PUSH FOR SECRET DOCUMENTS - Federal opposition parties moved quickly on the first day of the new Parliament to force the Liberal government to release secret documents on the firing of two scientists from Canadas highest-security laboratory.

EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR B.C. EVACUEES - British Columbia is offering $2,000 in emergency funding to the thousands of families pushed out of their homes by the past weeks floods and mudslides, as people in the southwestern part of the province prepare for more heavy rain this week. Story here.

FARMERS OPPOSE POTATO EXPORT BAN - PEI farmers are calling on the federal government to explain Mondays decision to ban the export of fresh potatoes to the United States, saying the suspension came as a shock and could cost the province millions in lost revenue.

EARTH IN DANGER: THRONE SPEECH - Tuesdays Speech from the Throne delivered a stark warning about the planets future as Governor-General Mary Simon opened the 44th Parliament, describing a world in danger from climate change and urging legislators to turn talk into action. Story here and the text of the Throne Speech is here.

MANITOBA TORIES DEFEND LEADERSHIP VOTE - Manitobas Progressive Conservative party filed court documents Monday in defence of the partys Oct. 30 leadership vote that saw Heather Stefanson win and become Premier.

TORIES SEEK INVESTIGATION OF BIAS CLAIMS AGAINST COMMONS CLERK - The Conservatives are calling for a parliamentary committee to publicly investigate claims of political bias made against the clerk of the House of Commons. From CBC. Story here.

STEWART DEFENDS RECORD AS VANCOUVER MAYOR - Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart, a former NDP MP, delivered a campaign-style speech to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade this week, saying people who dont like him as mayor want to create a fortress Vancouver and pull up the drawbridge to shut out newcomers. Mr. Stewart, who has said hell run for a second term in next years October civic election, said hes proud of how he has brought in a billion dollars of new money for low-cost housing during his three years at the helm. Story here.

ALBERTA GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS SUZUKI COMMENTS - Albertas UCP government has moved to formally condemn veteran environmentalist David Suzukis recent warnings about blown up pipelines in the legislature, with the government house leader introducing a motion that denounces any comments made calling for the intentional destruction of energy infrastructure as well as incitements of violent eco-terrorism. Story here from The Calgary Herald.

KENNEY FACING LAWSUIT THREAT - A coalition of environmental groups is threatening to sue Alberta Premier Jason Kenney for defamation if he doesnt retract and apologize for statements saying a public inquiry found they spread misinformation about the provinces oil and gas industry. Story here.

YUKON OPPOSITION SEEKS CONFIDENCE VOTE - Yukons Official Opposition is calling for a confidence vote that could bring down the minority Liberal government, though a former clerk of Yukons legislative assembly said the odds of that happening are low. Story here from CBC.

THIS AND THAT

TODAY IN THE COMMONS - Projected Order of Business at the House of Commons, Nov. 24, accessible here.

POILIEVRE ON VACCINE EXEMPTIONS - Conservative MP and finance critic Pierre Poilievre reacts here to questions about Conservative MPs with vaccine medical exemptions. Video from CBC.

ONTARIO AND OTTAWA TALK CHILDCARE - Globe and Mail Queens Park reporter Laura Stone notes on Twitter that officials from the federal and Ontario governments will be meeting virtually on Wednesday to talk about a child-care deal. Ontario will be presenting modelling that shows the province cant get to offering $10-per-day care under the current $10.2-billion funding offer from Ottawa. Nine provinces and territories have signed deals with the federal Liberal government, which has a $30-sbillion, five-year plan to cut fees to an average of $10 per day.

PRIME MINISTERS DAY

Private meetings. The Prime Minister attended the national caucus meeting on Parliament Hill, and later attended Question Period.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

The Deputy Prime Minister, joined by Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough, holds a media availability in addition to earlier attending the national caucus meeting and Question Period.

LEADERS

Bloc Qubcois Leader Yves-Franois Blanchet held a news conference on Parliament Hill.

Conservative Leader Erin OToole delivered an address to his caucus that was open to the media.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh attended the NDP national caucus meeting in Ottawa, then held a news conference. He was later scheduled to speak at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities board meeting and meet with the federations executive.

OPINION

The Globe and Mail Editorial Board on whether the Rogers-Shaw deal is good for Canadians: The biggest issue in the merger is the mobile phone business. It is a principal focus of the two other major reviews: the Competition Bureau is one; Ottawas Ministry of Innovation the other. The latter will weigh the transfer of spectrum licences from Shaw to Rogers. Such acreage, the airwaves over which wireless services are transmitted, is the currency of the mobile phone realm. Canadians have forever, and rightly, complained about expensive mobile phone bills. Their ire burst to the fore in 2019, when it became a federal election issue and the CRTC suggested further action is required to foster better competition and prices.

Campbell Clark (The Globe and Mail) on federal Liberals starting to fret over the new inflation question: If there was a political hint to be taken from the verbiage of Tuesdays Speech from the Throne, it was that Justin Trudeaus Liberal government has realized the economy could become a thing. After running an election campaign on vaccines and child care and a green future and sundry other items, the Liberals had Governor-General Mary Simon outline their third-term legislative program in a speech entitled Building a Resilient Economy. In it, we learn that the Liberals are now alive to concerns about increases in the cost of living, a new-ish kind of recognition after an election campaign where Mr. Trudeau treated inflation as something he didnt much worry about and didnt need to talk about.

Peter Jacobsen (Contributed to The Globe and Mail) on how even the courts agree that injunctions should not prevent journalists from doing their jobs: And yet, there was still overreach in the enforcement of the Coastal GasLink injunction. The blanket inclusion of journalists in these types of injunctions is not only profoundly unwarranted, but also serves to discourage, punish, and even prevent journalists reporting on these incendiary events. Furthermore, allowing the police to remove and detain journalists reporting on police behaviour during these disputes will only arouse suspicion, raise tensions and cause disrespect for the administration of justice. When the police fail to distinguish between protesters and the media, we risk serious injustice. And its the job of the courts to ensure the police are alive to this distinction, by including wording in injunctions that explicitly deal with access for the media.

Send along your political questions and we will look at getting answers to run in this newsletter. It's not possible to answer each one personally. Questions and answers will be edited for length and clarity.

Got a news tip that youd like us to look into? E-mail us at tips@globeandmail.com. Need to share documents securely? Reach out via SecureDrop.

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Politics Briefing: Erin O'Toole takes shot at Liberals, avoids internal party issues in caucus speech - The Globe and Mail

For decades, Indian liberals have controlled the levers of power. They have conditioned everyone to think in a certain way about who is important and who is not. While they have had to yield the levers of power, the mental conditioning is harder to get out of our heads

As of now, very little is moving in the state of Maharashtra. For nearly a month, public buses have been off the streets due to an ongoing strike by workers of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC). Even as the workers refuse to relent, the state government has come down heavily upon them, suspending and sacking hundreds of workers every day. So far, nearly 3,000 workers have been suspended.

Did you know about this? Probably not. Can you imagine if this were happening instead in a state ruled by the BJP?

And consider this. The other day, the Maharashtra government decided to reduce by 50 percent the taxes on imported whisky. Last week, West Bengal also reduced taxes on liquor, making it cheaper by almost 20 percent in the state. And yet both states have not reduced fuel taxes by a single paisa to help the common citizen. Imagine the optics of this. And yet, you know that the media wont make a fuss about it. But why?

If you are sympathetic to the BJP, the explanation is simple. This is due to liberal bias, which happens because the media is run by liberals. That is why the media looks the other way on the political violence in West Bengal, for instance. Or makes a big deal about striking farmer unions from Punjab, while ignoring the striking workers in Maharashtra.

But wait. Is the media really liberal? Since 2014, there has been a noticeable shift in the Indian media landscape. A number of news channels, in fact the most popular ones, now generally lean towards the ruling BJP on most issues.

To understand this apparent paradox, think about a Test match between India and Australia to be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. We all know that Australia starts with an advantage. Because they got to prepare the pitch. They know the conditions better. Even though both sides will have the same number of players and the umpires are unbiased, the system favours the home team. This systemic advantage is called privilege. You dont need anyone to cheat for one side to have a systemic advantage.

The same goes for the media. The problem is not liberal bias, at least not any longer. The problem is liberal privilege. After 2014, the ruling BJP gets enough opportunities to put forward its view on the issues. The question is who picks what the issues are. Who gets to prepare the pitch that both sides are batting on?

It is easy to confuse bias with privilege. A simple distinction is this. While bias can usually be spotted at an individual level, privilege can be observed only at a systemic level.

Consider, for instance, the two dozen or so countries that make up the European Union. These are some of the worlds richest and most advanced societies, with high levels of gender equality. And yet, how many of these countries are led by women? Nowhere close to 50 percent. These leaders are all democratically elected and women make up 50 percent of the voters.

At an individual level, each of these leaders deserved to win, and have worked hard to be where they are. But there was an unseen hand somewhere, which still managed to push only the men into positions of power. It must have happened very subtly. In schools, in workplaces and in offices, at some level, women were given the impression that they do not belong at the top. Thats male privilege.

Privilege is that unseen hand. It is what makes people scroll past a headline such as BJP worker found hanging in Bengal. And then get all riled up about a story such as Human rights activist booked under UAPA in Uttar Pradesh. Also, observe how the media frames these things. One side is always activists or poets. We get to know their names, their age and their background: 21-year-old activist, 80-year-old poet, headmasters son, etc. We are also given endearing details about their personal lives: Soft spoken, cricket fan, dog lover and so on. On the other hand, its always a BJP worker.

Name not important, background even less so. Perhaps the murdered BJP worker was also soft spoken or a dog lover. Does anyone know?

Does this mean that we should not be concerned if someone is unfairly booked under UAPA in a state ruled by the BJP? Does this mean that two wrongs should make a right?

No, and no. Just because a certain group has privilege does not mean that they deserve to be treated unfairly. The rich, for instance, have a certain kind of privilege. Does it mean that rich people should be treated more harshly under the law? Of course not. But we tend to talk about things only when rich people suffer. Poor people who have it much worse are often forgotten.

The same way, an activist getting booked under UAPA in Uttar Pradesh is news. Because the activist probably has liberal privilege. A BJP worker who gets murdered in Bengal is missing that all important liberal privilege. And so, their life just seems to matter less to everyone. And I mean everyone. Yes, even BJP workers have learned to see themselves as not that important.

Thats the most curious thing about privilege. It is a superstition that gets inside everyones head, even those of the less privileged. The underclass picks up on societal cues and subtly accepts its own second-class status. In The Warmth of Other Suns, her epoch-making book on race relations in America, Isabel Wilkerson records the irony of a black doctor in the 1960s facing mistrust from his black patients.

His black patients often assumed that the white doctors were somehow more qualified. This is shocking, but this is how long years of subjugation messes up the way we think.

Even today, America is grappling with the spectre of white privilege. It is not enough for everyone to have equal rights under the law. You must also fight against a system that conditions police to think that a black man, whether armed or not, is inherently dangerous. Just because America had a black president does not mean that systemic racism is over.

It works the same way with liberal privilege. Just because the BJP has won an absolute majority and has found a voice in the media for the first time ever does not mean that there is no liberal privilege any more. For decades, Indian liberals have controlled the levers of power. They have conditioned everyone to think in a certain way about who is important and who is not. While they have had to yield the levers of power, the mental conditioning is harder to get out of our heads.

Once you look at it from this point of view, the behaviour of the media and the rest of society is easily explained. Why do BJP governments get so much media scrutiny and others do not? Because of the mental conditioning that says the BJP does not really belong in power. The media landscape that we see today has been shaped by liberal privilege.

The day this changes, more people will find out that 18-year-old Trilochan Mahato was hanged from a tree in Bengal as punishment for being a BJP worker. And they will learn not to ignore him.

Abhishek Banerjee is a columnist and author. Views expressed are personal.

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Bengal violence to farm protests: How liberal privilege shapes the way we think about what matters - Firstpost

Northern Ontario Liberal MP Anthony Rota has been re-elected as the Speaker of the House of Commons.

Rota beat six others and won in the ranked ballot vote, held as the first act of business before the House of Commons as Parliament prepared to officially open on Thursday ahead of the throne speech.

It was the first job facing MPs as they returned from five months in their ridings and on the campaign trails, and the return to a second term is a gesture Rota said left him touched.

This is something I will treasure for the rest of my life, he told MPs in his first speech.

I promise that I will be fair and respectful.

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As Speaker, Rota will continue to hold responsibility for interpreting the rules and traditions of the House of Commons and overseeing the daily business and proceedings.

He will not vote except in cases of a tie and will not participate in the partisan debates.

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The post also comes with significant perks in the form of a salary top-up of $85,500 added to the base MP salary of roughly $178,900.

It also comes with use of the Speakers official residence known as The Farm which is located in Kingsmere in Gatineau Park.

In the role, Rota will be presiding over what seems likely to be a spirited session of Parliament, with the Liberals in a minority government following a late-summer election that saw the focus put squarely on how best to chart a course through what is hopefully the end game of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tempers frequently flared during the last Parliament, with opposition parties frustrated with government conduct and ethical concerns, and the Speaker called upon multiple times to intervene or issue rulings.

Rota was first elected as Speaker in 2019 and during the course of the pandemic, oversaw dramatic changes to the functioning of parliamentary work to allow for virtual and hybrid sessions as officials fought to contain the spread of the virus.

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He represents the Northern Ontario riding of NipissingTimiskaming.

2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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Northern Ontario Liberal Anthony Rota re-elected as Speaker of the House of Commons - Globalnews.ca

Mental health should be given the same standing as physical health if the government wants to improve the mental health of the nation, which Liberal MP and psychologist Fiona Martin says will be damaged for another five years or more.

She wants the school chaplaincy program reviewed and the number of masters programs increased to expand the psychological workforce.

Dr Martin says massive change is needed in the mental health sector.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

Dr Martin, chair of the select committee on mental health and suicide prevention, said shes willing to fight for recommendations in the committees final report, which she tabled in parliament on Wednesday.

We are very vulnerable. Weve gone through a lot with all the natural disasters and the pandemic, and people are really struggling and they will continue to struggle, I think, for a good five years after this, she said.

The reports 44 recommendations include reviewing mental health training for GPs, creating a standing committee for mental health and expanding the number of masters programs for psychologists to increase the mental health workforce.

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The report also wants counsellors to become registered practitioners with set requirements for training, and calls for an independent review of existing school wellbeing programs, including the school chaplaincy program.

This is about making sure that were armed and ready, and were protecting the mental health of Australians, she said.

The report also recommends changes in parliament, including introducing a new permanent committee for mental health and including the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Mental Health in all crisis meetings.

Link:

Five years of struggle: Liberal backbencher warns national mental health will take time - The Sydney Morning Herald

Mr Hawke is said to have put a proposal to colleagues to have a speedy decision on the seat of Hughes in south-west Sydney so state MP Melanie Gibbons could be confirmed as the candidate.

The Liberals are hoping for a strong candidate in the blue-ribbon seat to take it back from Mr Kelly, the former Liberal who quit the party in February after a storm over his controversial views on coronavirus cures, later joining the UAP and its founder, mining magnate Clive Palmer.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet is said to be unhappy with Ms Gibbons decision to leave state Parliament and force a by-election in order to switch to federal politics.

Mr Hawke is so close to Mr Morrison that many Liberals in the NSW division believe the Prime Minister supports the push to stop open plebiscites and wants to install candidates such as Mr Constance in Gilmore and Ms Gibbons in Hughes.

The party is struggling to agree on the best candidate to run against Ms Steggall in Warringah, the seat previously held by former prime minister Tony Abbott but considered a major challenge for the Liberals after being held by an independent for almost three years.

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Liberal storm over candidates to take on Steggall, Kelly in NSW seats - The Sydney Morning Herald

Woke has also followed a trajectory similar to that of the phrase politically correct, which carried a similar meaning by the late 1980s and early 1990s: Politically correct, unsurprisingly, went from describing a way of seeing the world to describing the people who saw the world that way to describing the way other people felt about the people who saw the world that way. Some in the politically correct crowd on the left had a way of treating those outside it with a certain contempt. This led to the right refashioning politically correct as a term of derision, regularly indicated with the tart abbreviation P.C. The term faded over the years, and by 2015, when the presidential candidate Donald Trump was declaring that political correctness is just absolutely killing us as a country, woke already had greater currency.

Over the past few years, it has become all but impossible to use woke neutrally. It has been refashioned, like P.C., as an insult. One could say that this was simply because of contempt for leftist ideas, even ones relating to improving lives for Black people, but only at risk of oversimplification. Wokeness, as a kind of ideology, has irritated so many because of the tendency for some of its partisans to see those who dissent from their views as disingenuous, antidemocratic and even immoral. To be woke, past tense, is to be awake, present tense, to a way of perceiving societal matters. But its a short step from seeing matters this way to assuming that it is the only reasonable or moral way to see. That latter assumption has a way of rankling those who see things differently.

Now, those on the left, from Ocasio-Cortez on down, face a new iteration of an old dilemma: A neutral descriptor of their worldview saddled with a negative connotation.

Its easy to forget how antique, or at least vague, liberal feels lately. Much of the reason is that the term was tarnished by the right almost as much as woke has been. In an era spanning, lets say, Ronald Reagans presidency, Newt Gingrichs House speakership and Al Gores loss to George W. Bush, those who thought of themselves as liberals in commitment to nudging America toward ever broader embodiments of its ideals, especially those involving the dignity of all individuals, were tarred as unpatriotic sentimentalists dedicated to big government and with insufficient interest in family values.

Writing for The Times in 2009, Timothy Garton Ash hoped we might reclaim the classical meaning of the lowercase-L liberalism we learn about in college, espousing grand but abstract ideas such as liberty under law, limited and accountable government, markets, tolerance, some version of individualism and universalism and some notion of human equality, reason and progress. After all, who could possibly be against any of that?

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Opinion | Woke Went the Way of P.C. and Liberal - The New York Times