American Politics and the Polarization Paradox: Is the Divide as Wide as we Think?
By Victoria Parker
Doctoral Student, Social Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University
Anne Wilson
Professor, Social Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University
Parts of Canada are already battling a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic and the struggle promises to be at least as difficult as it was in the first wave, if not more so.
Probably all of us have had an experience was so unexpected or startling that we were able to remember years later where we were and what we were doing when it happened.
In my case, one such memorable moment happened 50 years ago this coming Saturday. It was at the height of what became known as the “October crisis.” I was asleep at home in Manotick, south of Ottawa, when the phone rang from the New York news desk of my employer, Time magazine:
This is the second in LISPOP’s series of three blog posts examining important issues in the American presidential election. Here, Associate Professor of Political Science, Dr. Jason Roy examines some of the important issues related to contemporary polling.
Pre-election polls: It’s not how you ask, it’s who you ask
By Jason Roy
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Wilfrid Laurier University
George Will, the great Washington Post political columnist, has a way with words. Consider the opening sentence from his column on the ghastly Donald Trump-Joe Biden debate last week:
“The putrescence of America’s public life was pitilessly displayed Tuesday when, for 98 minutes, whatever remains of the nation’s domestic confidence and international stature shriveled like a brittle autumn leaf.”
With all eyes on the presidential election in the United States, we have put together a series of blog posts on important aspects of the campaign. First in our three-part presidential election primer is an examination of the challenges facing journalists covering an extraordinary politician like President Donald Trump by Bruce Gillespie. Bruce is the chair of Wilfrid Laurier’s Digital Media and Journalism program and an accomplished journalist and author.
Covering Trump and the 2020 U.S. Election (Part 1)
“The situation for too many people in long-term care homes is unacceptable. It’s time for it to change and it will change. So we will start working as of today with the provinces and territories in order to establish new national standards for long-term care.” – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Sept. 23, 2020.
With a fall election no longer in the cards, much of the drama has leeched out of the return of Parliament and the Speech from the Throne on Wednesday.
MPs, in attendance physically or virtually, will find the capital in mourning and flags at half-mast to mark the passing on the weekend of former prime minister John Turner who is well remembered as a great House of Commons man.
“’Curiouser and curiouser!’ cried Alice” – Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
Today’s Conservative Party of Canada is a curious movement. Even curiouser are its leadership race and its upcoming pair of television debates – French on Wednesday, English on Thursday.
The debates, to be broadcast from Toronto, may be the only opportunities for national audiences to take the measure of the four candidates who are vying to take on Justin Trudeau in the next federal election. Voting by ranked preferential ballot is to take place in August.
Political and public attention is shifting from stopping COVID-19 to the delicate and uncertain challenge of recovering from it – to returning daily life to something close to what it was pre-pandemic and to getting the economy firing on all cylinders again.
Opinion-Policy Nexus is a forum of opinion and commentary on topics related to public opinion and public policy. Views expressed in any blog entry are those of the author and do not reflect LISPOP's positions.
