Andrew Moodie

I can't wait to talk to one of Harper's supporters. This is what I'll say.

He lost the election because Canadians don't want to live in a country where people call a hotline to report on foreigners.

If someone wants to wear a Niqab let them.

And supporters of the NDP got cold feet and went for a choice that would assure that the Harper government would be gone.

A suggestion to the future leader of the Conservative party.

Put the Progressive back in Progressive Conservative.

As I was doing research for Big Ideas today, I came across this economic theory that is espoused by Ron Paul (Yeah, I know, that Ron Paul) created by the Austrian school of economics. The Austrian School is a heterodox school of economic thought that emphasizes the spontaneous organizing power of the price mechanism. (Wikipedia) The super reductive explanation is: They are laissez faire capitalists who don't believe in mathmatical study of market economy. Instead they believe you can deduce what markets will do based on studying human behavior.

This study of human actions they called Praxeology. And I have to admit, even though I think their economic theory is complete and utter crap that has brought the American economy to the brink of complete collapse, I do however believe that the job of the artist is to be a Praxeologist. In the dramatic arts in particular, we study human behavior and motivations all the time.

So as much as I am opposed to the economic theories of the Austrian School, I do like the nifty little word they've given to explain what I do for a living. 

Creating art is actually harder than brain surgery. We do the same thing, we operate on the brain to provide healing.

A brain surgeon gets to use a scalpel.

We can't use anything.

A brain surgeon tells you the exact time of your operation and you show up gladly.

An artist creates art and hopes you sit yourself down in front of it. And often, you don't.

To be a brain surgeon, you have to memorize many many things, and there are scientific proofs that can guide you to achieve a successful operation.

An artist has only their craft, their intuation and some luck.

There have been many brain surgeons all over the world and there will be more in the future.

Only one person came up with Hamlet. And no one has come close since.