Here’s our first mini-episode, as promised! What should we call it? We’re trying out Teen Tankie Podcast Gang, for reasons. We decided to crack open David Staples in AlbertaViews, who definitely doesn’t make any of us mad with his arguments for “competition” and “choice” in public education. Read along with us here.
The Manning Centre is “stepping back from its advocacy work.” Team Advantage does a deep dive into the Manning Centre’s history, goes through the cast of veritable ghouls that have worked there, and considers how the Manning Centre’s missteps over the last few years have contributed to the lack of enthusiasm for their activism. Please donate to our Patreon so that we can rent out the first floor of the Manning Centre’s building!
Hear all about Alberta’s Premier Preacher who wanted to do a whole bunch of wacky stuff with money! Team Advantage dives deep into the philosophy of Social Credit, putting stamps on your money every week, the personality of William Aberhart (fondly remembered as Bible Bill), the end of the United Farmers of Alberta and the Social Credit landslide in 1935, Depression-era economics, getting into fights with the federal government, and much more.
Looks like everyone is mad about equalization, so it’s time for us to explain why Equalization is Good. Joining Team Advantage this week is Ricardo Acuña, Executive Director of the Parkland Institute. We talk about what equalization is, how it’s often misrepresented, and why it’s actually really important. Spoiler: guaranteeing a basic level of public goods and services to all Canadians is great.
Follow Ricardo at @RicAcuna, and read his Vue Weekly columns on equalization here
and here. And of course, be sure to check out the latest at the Parkland Institute!
To celebrate our ownership of 6/36,000,000ths of the Trans Mountain pipeline, Team Advantage discusses the role of the Canadian state in taking on risky investments that aren’t commercially viable. We point out the important role of the state in establishing modern industries (the space race, telecommunications, computing) and consider the oilsands as similarly shaped by heavy public investment. Lastly, we ask: if subsidizing fossil fuels is our “version” of Silicon Valley, is it wise to continue sinking money into it?
Ready for Ralph Klein, Ontario edition? Joined by special guest @james_m_wilt, Team Advantage discusses the terrible coverage of Doug Ford in the run-up to Ontario’s election. We read some of the awful fluffy coverage of Ford that helped him win.
Warning: the following takes are absolutely awful.
Thanks to James for joining us — be sure to check out his work at thenarwhal.ca, and of course, listen to the excellent News You Can Use Podcast!
Team Advantage talks about the shitheads who are trying to rehabilitate the flat tax, explains why the flat tax is a Bad Idea, and explores the intellectual lineage of this Very Bad Idea. Featuring Jack Mintz, Mark Milke, the Fraser Institute, and Friedrich Hayek.
We actually read the giant collection of policy proposals that the United Conservative Party debated (some of) last weekend. Folks, it’s bad. Featuring the New Green McCarthyism, roundabout ways of attacking abortion rights, treating kids like property, Alberta’s constitution (?), pipelines, picking on unions, and much more. Jordan Peterson also drops in to read a sample of UCP policy, which was really nice of him.
On April 28th, Briarpatch Magazine launched their Prairie Issue at Shelf Life Books in Calgary. We recorded the discussion with authors and community members, who spoke about decolonizing the justice system and fossil fuel industries in the prairies — past, present and future. Featuring @curtislefthand, @kateljacobson, and @dgrdon. NOTE: Around minute 11:00, David Gray-Donald mistakenly says that in 1972 the Saskatchewan oil industry was Alberta-owned, which is not accurate. He meant to say it was American-owned at that time.
Remember that one time the youth tried to make the NDP rad? Team Advantage is joined by Mount Royal University’s Roberta Lexier to discuss the Waffle, the 1969 Waffle Manifesto, James Laxer, Mel Watkins, economic nationalism, and much more.