Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
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Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
@janetbufton.ca
3.2K followers 430 following 3.1K posts
Canadian mum, 3D liberal in Babylon
Writing collected at janetbufton.ca
diversity dynamism democracy Detroit Lions
Elbows up.
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Janet Bufton 🍁🌻 @janetbufton.ca · Jan 8
I've been working on a market liberal case for democracy. That case now spans four pieces, all of which are linked in my latest blog post.

ft most prominently Don Lavoie, Kevin Elliott @kjephd.bsky.social, Benjamin Constant, Adam Smith, and James Buchanan...
Democracy for liberal people
Market liberals need liberal democracy
www.janetbufton.ca
janetbufton.ca
We are habituated to the technocratic details of a budget mattering most—which taxes are raised/cut? Where is spending directed? What is regulated and how? When will the budget balance?

It's all now secondary to digging in hard to defend the open society.

open.substack.com/pub/iandunt/...
We are in a struggle against populism. That is the story of our age. It desires a closed society: closed to people, and goods, and ideas. It would impoverish us, then use the hatred and anger which results to target immigrants in ever more grievous ways. The open society has the ability to improve people’s lives in a way populism never will. But to do so, it must commit to its principles: rationality, transparency, sober policy-making and national responsibility. We need a tax policy which is geared to growth, an economic strategy which desires growth, and a political agenda which is prepared to face down the nativist complaints which get in the way of growth. That is how we will improve people’s lives. That is how we can kill populism. The Budget may have had some welcome policies, but on the core issue of our time it was an act of criminal negligence.
November 29, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Reposted by Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
jacobtlevy.bsky.social
Appalling.

montrealgazette.com/news/provinc...
Quebec plans to ban street prayers as it moves to beef up secularism law
The law will oblige students and staff to keep their faces uncovered while they are within the education system, from daycare to university.
montrealgazette.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Reposted by Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
aaronwherry.bsky.social
Cynics like to say Canada lacks a distinct national identity, but then how would they explain this?

defector.com/how-a-campy-...
How A Campy 1970s Game Show Became Part Of Canada's National Lexicon | Defector
On tiny Hornby Island northwest of Vancouver, after the Women’s World Cup in the summer of 2015, our bed-and-breakfast host was telling us about the town. The pizza place in the park is terrific, he s...
defector.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Reposted by Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
anthonylfisher.bsky.social
The richest man in the world, bankroller of Trump, supporter of Germany's Nazi-sympathizer party, and free-speech-warrior-for-morons wants words to be criminalized as violence.
November 27, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Reposted by Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
jamellebouie.net
you should support liberal currents!
November 26, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Reposted by Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
aaronwherry.bsky.social
American democracy is drunk.

bsky.app/profile/nyti...
nytimes.com The New York Times @nytimes.com · 3d
As A.I. companies gain political power and prepare to pour cash into the midterm elections, some of those worried about the dangers of an unfettered A.I. industry are setting out to raise tens of millions of dollars to back candidates of their own.
Fears About A.I. Prompt Talks of Super PACs to Rein In the Industry
As artificial intelligence companies prepare to pour money into the midterm elections, some in the A.I. world are hatching plans of their own to curb the industry’s influence.
nyti.ms
November 26, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Reposted by Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
craigmeyer.bsky.social
took me a few days to get around to it, but this was exceptional work by Pablo and Madison

also, salute to Trinity Ward for speaking about Gaines on the record. that takes genuine courage given what she's probably had to deal with the past 48 hours
pablo.show Pablo Torre @pablo.show · 9d
PTFO collaborated with @msjpauly.bsky.social and @motherjones.com on an investigation into Riley Gaines.

Riley’s messaging about trans athletes involves “predatory men” and “sexual assault.”

But there’s an important story multiple ex-teammates at Kentucky want you to know: youtu.be/iKUl8lkuGOc?...
Riley Gaines Investigated: The Lia Thomas Race, the Coach & Why She "Doesn't Even Like" Trump | PTFO
YouTube video by PABLO TORRE FINDS OUT
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Reposted by Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
nathanpgoodman.bsky.social
How can ordinary people come together to protect immigrants from unjust deportation?

Throughout the 1980s & early 90s, the Sanctuary Movement illustrated one way to do this.

In a newly published paper, Karla Segovia, Molly Rovinski & I analyze this movement. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Collective action in the sanctuary movement: polycentric protection of central American asylum seekers - Constitutional Political Economy
In the 1980s and early 1990s, civil wars contributed to significant waves of migration from Central American countries such as El Salvador and Guatemala. The United States federal government, specific...
link.springer.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:07 PM
janetbufton.ca
I gave to bump them over $10K. If you're reading this now, you have a chance to have your gift matched and bump them over $100K.

Liberal Currents is essential if you want to revive your own liberalism into a vibrant, living set of beliefs and positive vision for the world.
adamgurri.liberalcurrents.com Adam Gurri @adamgurri.liberalcurrents.com · 3d
HUGE rally here folks, let's make it to $70k tonight, where we'll hit a matching threshold that nets us another $35k on top of that! gofund.me/525131968
November 26, 2025 at 2:32 AM
janetbufton.ca
Disagree but I see how he's in a tight spot.
Carney says he made a mistake by dismissing Trump questions with 'who cares?' | CBC News
Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday he should not have been dismissive of reporters' questions about speaking to U.S. President Donald Trump, conceding he used "a poor choice of words."
www.cbc.ca
November 26, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Reposted by Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
justinling.ca
Steve Witkoff is such a Russian patsy. Just absolutely embarrassing.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Steve Witkoff: I would make the call and just reiterate that you congratulate the president on this achievement, that you supported it, you supported it, that you respect that he is a man of peace and you’re just, you’re really glad to have seen it happen. So I would say that. I think from that it’s going to be a really good call. Because — let me tell you what I told the President. I told the president that you - that the Russian Federation has always wanted a peace deal. That’s my belief. I told the president I believe that. And I believe the question is — the issue is is that we have two nations that are having a hard time coming to a compromise and when we do, we’re going to have a peace deal. I’m even thinking that maybe we set out like a 20-point peace proposal, just like we did in Gaza. We put a 20-point Trump plan together that was 20 points for peace and I’m thinking maybe we do the same thing with you. My point is this... Yuri Ushakov: Ok, ok my friend. I think that very point our leaders could discuss. Hey Steve, I agree with you that he will congratulate, he will say that Mr. Trump is a real peace man and so and so. That he will say. SW: But here’s what I think would be amazing. SW: Yeah because listen to what I’m saying. I just want you to say, maybe just to say this to President Putin, because you know I have the deepest respect for President Putin. YU: Yes, Yes. SW: Maybe he says to President Trump: you know, Steve and Yuri discussed a very similar 20-point plan to peace and that could be something that we think might move the needle a little bit, we’re open to those sorts of things — to explore what it’s going to take to get a peace deal done. Now, me to you, I know what it’s going to take to get a peace deal done: Donetsk and maybe a land swap somewhere. But I’m saying instead of talking like that, let’s talk more hopefully because I think we’re going to get to a deal here. And I think Yuri, the president will give me a lot of space and discretion to get to the deal. YU: I see...
November 25, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Reposted by Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
aaronwherry.bsky.social
Incredible stuff.

ottawacitizen.com/news/new-sch...
New school-zone signs too large for Ottawa street poles, councillor says
The city's timeline to install the new school-zone signs is unclear, as Tim Tierney says they are too large to fit on the city's poles.
ottawacitizen.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Reposted by Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
justinling.ca
i see that Big Paper Towel has gotten to the Washington Post.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlXc...
November 25, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Reposted by Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
justinling.ca
Wherein I do a bit of Kremlinology around the White House's chaotic Ukraine peace negotiations. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Justin Ling: American leadership looks chaotic. The truth may be more sinister
A recent flip-flop on Ukraine may be less a sign of disorganization than infighting.
www.thestar.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Reposted by Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
adamgurri.liberalcurrents.com
This is what I’m excited to announce. We’re at $38,000 now. Until we hit $70,000 a generous donor has pledged to match every dollar. This will be a HUGE leap towards our goal. Please help us reach it! gofund.me/638697766
liberalcurrents.com Liberal Currents @liberalcurrents.com · 4d
Yesterday we raised over $35,000. Today, we are excited to announce a donor who has generously offered to match the second $35,000. If you help us reach $35,000 today he will match you dollar for dollar. Please help us get there! gofund.me/638697766
The Liberal Currents Startup Fund
November 25, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Reposted by Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
jacobgrier.bsky.social
If you're looking to support independent media that's actually meeting the moment in American politics, you'd be hard-pressed to do better than Liberal Currents.
November 24, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Reposted by Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
liberalcurrents.com
To fight fascism we need opposition media with a backbone. 𝘓𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 is that. Help us grow our voice. www.gofundme.com/f/the-libera...
Donate to The Liberal Currents Startup Fund, organized by Adam Gurri
To fight fascism we need opposition media with a backbone. Liberal Currents is that. Help… Adam Gurri needs your support for The Liberal Currents Startup Fund
www.gofundme.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Reposted by Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
davidbunce.bsky.social
Today is Holodomor remembrance day, one of the worst human rights atrocities of the 20th century.

If you are wanting to know more, this episode of @originstorypodcast.bsky.social is excellent, featuring justifiable moral outrage from @iandunt.bsky.social and @dorianlynskey.bsky.social
originstorypodcast.bsky.social Origin Story @originstorypodcast.bsky.social · Oct 29
🚨NEW EPISODE🚨 Welcome back to Origin Story: The Story of Socialism as we resume the story of Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin in part three @iandunt.bsky.social and @dorianlynskey.bsky.social discuss Terror 👉 linktr.ee/originstoryp...

#originstory #lenin #trotsky #stalin
November 22, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Reposted by Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
radleybalko.bsky.social
Just heard that after 27 years on Louisiana’s death row, Chris “Jimmie” Duncan is finally getting out. Not exactly sure when, but I’m told he’ll be home for Thanksgiving.

This is wonderful news.

Here’s my 2009 piece on the forensic fraud that got him convicted:
Forensics Fraud?
Experts say this video shows a doctor manufacturing evidence. So why is a man still on death row?
reason.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Reposted by Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
immcouncil.org
The Trump administration has a new mass deportation playbook.

We’ve seen it in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Charlotte. And it’s coming to more cities.

@daralind.bsky.social explains 👇
November 21, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Reposted by Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
anthonylfisher.bsky.social
DEI is banned but swastikas and nooses are back, baby
U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”
www.washingtonpost.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Reposted by Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
profterrig.bsky.social
Those of us who study this stuff have been saying it over and over…taking on the policies of the far right further enables them. I was in a discussion yesterday in Bristol and have to agree that Labor is opening the door for Farage.

on.ft.com/3K9Dipe Denmark is a flawed model for UK asylum policy
Denmark is a flawed model for UK asylum policy
Britain’s ‘pull’ factors may make hardline policies less of a deterrent
on.ft.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Reposted by Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
jacobtlevy.bsky.social
This (unfortunately pricey) volume comes out in a few weeks and despite being years in the making is unexpectedly timely, since the crosscurrents, factions, and continuing rise of the postliberal right are very much part of each day's news.
November 18, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Reposted by Janet Bufton 🍁🌻
jacobgrier.bsky.social
It's always a delight to write for @theunpopulist.net, which consistently publishes some of the smartest public intellectuals around, as well as articles by me like "Superman is cool" and "I dressed up in an inflatable dog costume."
November 16, 2025 at 9:11 PM
janetbufton.ca
Occasional reminder that you can bring an ostrich-fucker to a fight without forgiving or forgetting what they've done.

It's good if Hanania opposes Trump *and* you do not under any circumstances have to hand it to him.
November 16, 2025 at 10:45 PM