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Something tells me I'm more educated in political philosophy and political history than yourself. You may be making the mistake of limiting the definition of social democracy to a political movement in Canada known as the NDP, but in political science, one would be hard pressed to argue with...

She's very clearly a social democrat. Perhaps of the Liberal Party voting variety. But she's definitely a social democrat. Her views on taxes, regulation and the role of the state can lead to no other conclusion. Most Canadians are social democrats. The main difference between socialists and...

I just think it's hilarious to watch this talk when I was writing in the Standard and the National Post years ago that this was coming. And back then, most of these people were saying I was soothsaying, that the Canadian market was "just fine", we have "better regulation" than other countries...

I dislike Amanda Lang greatly. She's even worse than most of the CNBC hacks in that she is generally incapable of objective economic analysis. Her economic worldview is colored with an extremely political disposition. A decidedly social democratic one. Based on watching her blather for the last...

And this is where I stop reading Sherry. In fact, in my National Post column on this subject I touch specifically on this attitude. I quote myself: Housing has utility, insofar as it protects us from the elements and brings us pleasure. But it is not a wealth-creation vehicle. My house doesn't...

Where we disagree strongly is on the premise that we can unravel this mess in a way which minimizes pain. I think that form of thinking is a fatal conceit. Liquidating malinvestment is always painful. But it is a necessary process to rebalance an economy. The process of doing it slowly merely...

I am unfazed by the arguments that we must maintain a weak currency. This is just more economic central planning. I would float rates, allow competitive currencies, and I'd also unilaterally remove all tariffs and trade barriers. Including removing the labour market opinion requirement for...

You know, my fundamental point, that a lot of people seem to miss when I criticize the solvency of Canadian banks, is that we have a banking system -- not just in Canada, but worldwide -- which is wholly dependent on central banks for stability because of the nature of fractional reserve...

Agree. Strongly disagree. None of the provincial leaders are fiscally responsible. But the Moody's downgrade of Ontario may help bring about some as bond yields are Ontario's debt will start putting serious pressure on the province's finances as the province is forced to take on and...

You know, I sure didn't feel that way when the Toronto police forcibly and illegally searched me the Monday after the G20 because I was wearing a black t-shirt walking home through the downtown. I refused consent for the search, they told me they didn't give a shit whether I consented or not...

Why don't you tell me how you really feel?

Wait. I said these banks weren't bailed out. You clearly miss my point. My point is that these banks had better capitalization ratios when they were bailed out, than our banks do right now.

There's a simple solution to it, and I'll lay it out clearly: 1. Shut down the Bank of Canada and deregulate the Canadian monetary system; and 2. Parcel up and liquidate the CMHC and disband it. Boom! Cheap credit gone. Just like that. Why people feel so warm and cozy that our monetary...

No. Canadian banks are middle-of-the-pack in the OECD as far as their capitalization ratios go. There are banks with far better capitalization than all of the Big Five which have run into trouble in this financial crisis. The fact is, Canadian banks have been peddling cheap credit at breakneck...

The Chretien government was easily the most fiscally conservative federal government of my lifetime. But it wasn't by design. It was a combination of being forced kicking and screaming into austerity and a very effective opposition. But like Greece's socialist party, facing credit downgrades...

Touché. But John Tory was really a rarity in today's political climate. And he absolutely killed himself by having no political sense and pushing that religious schools issue.

Rob Ford was elected because he promised to crush the unions. That was the number one election issue. I knew people who vote NDP provincially and federally who were so pissed off at the unions they voted for Ford almost reflexively. In fact, if Ford had just stuck to guns on fighting...

Our banking system, like other banking systems, is strong until it isn't. I would argue quite vociferously that Canadian banks are nowhere as strong or shock-resistant as their international counterparts. In fact, Societé Generale and Citibank are both and were both far more capitalized at the...

I will admit that being associated with Rand is a bit of a sensitive issue for me. It happens almost every day. :) Secondly, I admit to being very prone to not behaving well when people openly question my integrity. It is like kryptonite for my calm. Also, I am intentionally ignoring what...