Posted: October 22, 2008

MAYBE THE RICH ARE THE PROBLEM by Linda McQuaig
  Suddenly, "spreading the wealth" no long seems unthinkable.
 
 

RESULTS HIGHLIGHT NEED FOR ELECTORAL REFORM by Ed Broadbent
  Stable coalition would be better than unstable minority government.
 

AND THE BIG LOSER IS — STEPHEN HARPER by James Laxer
  Just like RB Bennett, Harper will be seen as responsible for the economic downturn.
 
 

WOMEN CREEP UP FROM 21 TO 22 PERCENT OF MPs from Equal Voice
  Canada will still rank far behind other democracies in terms of the number of women elected to its national legislature.

AN ELECTION OF LOSERS by Marc Zwelling
  All parties – except the Greens – down in the popular vote.
 
 

Jim Kempkes
NEW OCCUPANT, NEW ORNAMENTS by Jim Kempkes
  After November 4, prepare for a whole new attitude at the White House.

Colin Powell has endorsed Barack Obama. Paddy Powers, Ireland's biggest bookmaker, is already paying off on an Obama victory. Short of a terrorist attack or giant meteor hitting earth, it looks like the White House could have new lawn decorations – Jim Kempkes
pages.interlog.com/~kempkes

Editorial

RECESSION AND A CONSERVATIVE DYNASTY LOOM by Ish Theilheimer
  Fragmented future of Canadian politics and the real-world crises ordinary Canadians will face call for new thinking.
 

Science matters
WHEN MAMMALS ARE THREATENED, WE ARE THREATENED by David Suzuki, with Faisal Moola
  One quarter of the world's mammal species face extinction in 30 years unless we act now.
 

Gainsay who dare? We dare! And Canada needs voices that dare challenge the status quo. Now you can support independent journalism in Canada through direct debit or recurring payments – automatic deductions from your credit card for your convenience. Click here to donate, subscribe or renew your subscription to StraightGoods.ca today!

Canadian Politics
IT'S TIME TO UNITE THE LEFT by Geoffrey Stevens
  Harperites form government although 60 percent of the voters preferred more liberal parties.
 
 

YOUTH DIVERSION WORKS WELL IN ALBERTA by Jeremy Klaszus
  New report says the Youth Justice Act is meeting its goals.
 
 

STRATEGIC VOTING DOESN'T WORK by Bill Tieleman
  Gary Lunn won even though strategic voting campaigns urged voters to choose Briony Penn.
 
 

ABORIGINAL LITERACY NOT A PROBLEM IN A VACUUM by Elsie Hambrook
  Education ministers must take history, economics and cultural barriers into account.
 

MeanToons
FALLING THROUGH THE GAP by John Meaney
  Just try to keep your balance on shifting middle ground.

www.meantoons.com

Workplaces
WAL-MART CLOSES UNIONIZED QUEBEC TIRE AND LUBE SHOP from NUPGE
  Second shut-down in Quebec since 2005 reinforces Wal-mart's image as anti-union.

Consumers
MORTGAGE CRISIS NOT LIKELY TO HAPPEN HERE from the Public Interest Advocacy Centre
  But new consumer group report reveals other high-interest borrowing pitfalls.

Media files
BLOGGING IS CHANGING JOURNALISM from the Online Journalism Blog
  Survey finds that writers feel closer to audience needs and interests.

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ON STRIKE from CEP Local 191
  Strikers set up own news reporting site.

US election watch
IT'S ALREADY STOLEN by Robert F Kennedy Jr and Greg Palast
  Palast and Kennedy say the Republican vote suppression machine has already fixed the 2008 election.

PICK OF THE WEEK

ELECTORAL MAP Watch the USA turn blue. Barack Obama needs more than the majority of popular votes to become president. He also needs to win 270 votes in the "Electoral College". On this map (one of many online), public opinion polls indicate that Obama should capture 384 electoral college votes. Watch as the Republican red states fade to pink and then turn to soothing Democratic blue.   www.electoral-vote.com

Hot headlines
CANADIAN HELD IN ETHIOPIA AFTER ILLEGAL RENDITION FROM KENYA by Louisa Taylor
  Canada unwilling to defend rights of uncharged man: Amnesty International.

NATIVE COMMISSION HEAD QUITS, CITING "INCURABLE PROBLEM" from the Canwest News Service
  Harry LaForme, Chair of Truth and Reconciliation Commission, resigns after six months.

Take action!
HELP PROTECT ALBERTA GRIZZLIES from Sierra Club Canada
  Urge Premier Stelmach to put grizzlies on the Endangered list.

Feedback from our readers
WHY HAS THE SUBJECT OF THE SPP BEEN IGNORED? by Elizabeth Leary
  And worse, why does know no one know what I am talking about.

Humour
THE GOOD LIFE from the Internet
  The rewards of heaven.