The next job bubble to burst may be yours, professionals
Monday, March 14th, 2011
Mar. 12, 2011
Not so long ago, everyone believed knowledge workers were generally sheltered from the more dramatic upheavals of the economy. In the past few decades, as middle-class incomes stagnated and good blue-collar jobs disappeared, the professional class did extraordinarily well. Lawyers, accountants, tenured university professors, architects and even the ink-stained wretches of the press have had pretty good lives. But now, global competition, relentless cost pressures and technological change are hitting the professional class, too. Few will be left unscathed.
Tags: economy, globalization, standard of living, youth
Posted in Debates | 31 Comments »
The case of the smelly lunch
Thursday, February 3rd, 2011
February 3, 2011
There are many cases of genuine racism and discrimination in Canada. I don’t believe this is one of them. This is the story of a smelly lunch, a disgruntled employee and a powerful human-rights tribunal that slapped a small businesswoman with a hefty fine on the basis of an unsubstantiated grievance. When she didn’t pay up, the other side’s lawyers got a writ to order the seizure of her house.
Small businesses are common targets of frivolous human-rights complaints. Generally, their lawyers tell them to shut up and pay – because if they don’t, it’s going to cost them even more.
Tags: multiculturalism, rights
Posted in Equality Delivery System | 1 Comment »
Does inequality matter?
Sunday, January 9th, 2011
Jan. 8, 2011
if you want to work up a little moral outrage, Canada’s $6-million CEOs are the wrong target. They are practically paupers compared to the class of hedge-fund managers and investment bankers who make up a good part of the new super-duper global über-elite… “the financial sector has learned how to game the … system of state capitalism.”… They passionately believe that their interests are our interests, even when they’re not.
Tags: globalization, ideology, participation, standard of living
Posted in Equality Debates | No Comments »
Do you belong to the Elites? Take this test and see!
Saturday, November 6th, 2010
Nov. 6, 2010
Are you reading this column over lattes at Starbucks? If so, then you are almost certainly a member of the Elites – the social class that Stephen Harper, Rob Ford, and Tea Partiers love to dump on. The anti-elite backlash is running high these days, because an awful lot of people think that the Elites (that’s you, latte-lass) are arrogant and out of touch. The anti-anti-elite backlash is also strong, because an awful lot of the Elites think that ignorance and know-nothingism have been elevated into a political movement.
Tags: ideology, participation
Posted in Inclusion Debates | 2 Comments »
Coming soon: the great retirement shock
Saturday, April 17th, 2010
April 17, 2010
… pension experts believe the only answer is some version of soft coercion. That is, you must strongly encourage people to save for their own retirement throughout their working lifetime, while preserving some element of choice… But it turns out most people don’t want to choose. They’re just not that knowledgeable or interested… Yet, the truth is that if we want to cushion the coming retirement shock, it’s going to cost us plenty.
Tags: pensions
Posted in Debates | No Comments »
Universities are sitting ducks for reform
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010
Apr. 13, 2010
What the market really needs is a lot less marginal research, and better ways to deliver utility courses… Ultimately, this means a two-tier university system, with a few elite research-intensive universities, and more teaching-centred ones. …as the research model becomes more unaffordable, the future will look far different. Tenure will become much rarer and teaching loads will increasingly be handled by non-PhDs trained to handle a particular group of courses.
Posted in Education Debates | No Comments »
The nightmare gender gap
Thursday, March 4th, 2010
Mar. 04, 2010
The plight (and rights) of aboriginal women is a serious matter. The growing marriage gap between highly educated and less-educated women – and the hugely unequal life impact this has on their children – is another. Unfortunately, these issues won’t be honestly addressed so long as the old-time dogma maintains its stranglehold in academe, labour groups and public discourse.
Posted in Equality Debates | No Comments »
Prostate cancer dilemma
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
Last updated on Tuesday, Feb. 09, 2010.
One widely cited study found that, for every man whose death was prevented by a PSA test, 48 men received needless treatment. Few men are aware of these statistics…
Posted in Health Debates | No Comments »
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