Thursday Morning Links

Assorted reading material to start your day...

- Pogge's post on the appalling bail conditions demanded of G20 protester Neil Hundert deserves far more attention. And it's particularly worth asking a couple of questions hinted at by pogge: what valid purpose could possibly be served by prohibiting a citizen from "expressing political views including in the media" to make that a relevant bail condition in the first place? And is there even the slightest chance that such a practice wouldn't be abused if it's allowed?

- Meanwhile, in other civil rights abuse news, the federal government has filed its defence to Abousfian Abdelrazik's claim against it. I wouldn't take this step as particularly noteworthy other than to the extent it's one step along the way to having the claim adjudicated; the bigger question looks to be how long the Cons insist on keeping Abdelrazik labeled a terrorist and how hard they fight to suppress the facts about his treatment.

- George Monbiot's argument as to the need to make a strong argument for policy based on empathy and social values is well worth a read:

But there's a paradox here, which means that we cannot rely on politicians to drive these changes. Those who succeed in politics are, by definition, people who prioritise extrinsic values. Their ambition must supplant peace of mind, family life, friendship – even brotherly love.

So we must lead this shift ourselves. People with strong intrinsic values must cease to be embarrassed by them. We should argue for the policies we want not on the grounds of expediency but on the grounds that they are empathetic and kind; and against others on the grounds that they are selfish and cruel. In asserting our values we become the change we want to see.

- And finally, the main significance of Christian Paradis' reversal in admitting that he talked business at the fund-raiser thrown for him by Paul Sauve looks to be the credibility it gives to Gilles Varin in making accusations against Paradis. Until yesterday, it would have seemed easy enough for the Cons to simply deny any connection to Varin and suggest that nobody should take the word of a shady operator with a "checkered past" over that of a cabinet minister - but the task figures to be far tougher now that Paradis has acknowledged that he was wrong and Varin was right on such an important point.