US homes prices tank, as the economy roils.
Will Harper’s new cabinet hold the dike?
Notice what’s making news lately? Lots of layoffs, with a two-month shutdown of the GM truck plant in Oshawa, and those 2,000 jobs at Air Canada. US pilots are also getting pink slips, and 7,000 or so more workers will be losing jobs on Wall Street as the financial meltdown continues.
The Toronto stock market lost the better part of 300 points Tuesday, and a dismal report on the American housing market clearly shows that disaster has not hit bottom yet. Year-over-year price declines are over 15%, and for the first time ever, all 20 metro areas measured took a dive. LA and Miami prices have collapsed 26% in 12 months. In fact, this has turned out to be the worst housing mess since the Depression.
As I have said before (and written a book about), this is coming here – at least a version of it. Housing sales volumes have fallen right on schedule, and price declines will be everywhere by Labour Day. This is a looming disaster for our consumer-heavy economy. Meanwhile the price of oil will correct to less than $100, since the commodities market is in bubble mode, taking the TSX with it. All in all, the next year of so is going to provide one hell of an economic roller-coaster ride.
Without a doubt, family financial stress will rise, and just in time for the next federal election. What timing. Luckily for Mr. Harper, there will be a shiny new cabinet. Sort of.
Four days after telling reporters with a straight face that he would not be shuffling his cabinet any time soon, that is exactly what PMSH will do Wednesday morning at eleven. In case you care, this is more evidence that Stephen Harper feels he is totally justified in lying to people, even those whose jobs it is to write down his words, because, well, because.
PMO leakers are letting it be known this will be a small shuffle, in order the fill the big humorous hole left by Mad Max, and that rising Quebec star, but funny dresser, Christian Paradis will be making the leap from junior minister to the real thing, maybe in charge of International Trade. That will let David Emerson wander over to Foreign Affairs.
Moistening his Stanfields will be James Moore, the lonely 30-ish junior minister from BC with the Dick Tracey hair who has been salivating for a limo and driver for the past two years. Alas, poor James thinks that repeating all those sad talking points about Chuck Cadman and being derided in public has earned him something. It has not.
And then there’s Jason Kenny, once a taxpayer advocate who also stormed Ottawa as a young firebrand, and is now am angry middle-aged man. He thinks he should be a real cabinet minister, not just a sec-state, for being such a smarty-pants in QP and for showing up at multicultural events as evidence that Conservatives are no longer racist Reformers. Well, except for Pierre Poilievre, of course. But he thinks he should be in cabinet, too, despite his remarks about those lazy aboriginals.
In any case, Mr. Harper should probably dump Helena Guergis, who is a cabinet disaster, along with Bev Oda, who charged $1,700 for a cab from Durham to Toronto, for a party event. He should switch Jim Prentice and Jim Flaherty, for obvious reasons. He should dump J-P Blackburn, who dispenses patronage in the regions of Quebec and charters private aircraft to go home on the weekends. Vic Toews, the ultra-socon and Louise Arbour-hater, should be pastured until his self-engineered judicial appointment comes through. And Diane Finley should never be appointed to anything, because she lacked the courage to stand before a meeting of 600 farmers in her own riding – saying she feared for her personal safety.
Of course, the shuffle will be meaningless. This is a one-man government. Now you know why.
And your home? More tomorrow.
By the way, here’s what you will not be seeing Wednesday at 11am. Dress code now applies.
Update: This is it??
Elected-as-a-Lib Emerson from Trade to Foreign.
Paradis from obscurity to Public Works.
Unelected Fortier to International Trade.
Moore to Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific Gateway and Official Languages. Sorry, no car. And, yeah, we really needed one of those.
Updater: The new Harper cabinet. Just the right amount of sex.
276 comments ↓
And to think that these people you criticize you used to call seatmates, collegues, friends…
I think that sentence should have ended with ‘colleagues.’ — Garth
Well, you did warn us this was coming. I mean the downturn not the cabinet shuffle.
When he made the rash promise of no shuffle the other day, Harper must have forgotten that someone has to go to the G8 on Thursday.
I think he’s losing it. What with him being in charge of everything, that cabinet ball got dropped.
Now as for solutions to the downturn. I’d like to see some belt-tightening suggestions on The Green Shift website that don’t cost a lot of money to implement. I realize this is not the role necessarily of a political policy but can we have a discussion on that page that is moderated but which allows Canadians to share ideas about how they are riding out the storm in a green way?
Garth,
What impact does the declining house prices have on seniors who have reverse mortgages?
Is it possible that they have no equity in light of the downward price decline?
What happens to them?
Nothing. That’s CHIP’s problem. — Garth
US homes prices tank, as the economy roils.
Will Harper’s new cabinet hold the dike?
Will the carbon tax will help?
Gord.
(a) There will not be one in place this autumn. (b) Long term? Absolutely. — Garth
As I have said before (and written a book about), this is coming here – at least a version of it.
posted by Garth Turner on 06.24.08 @ 10:59 pm
Well if Dion ever becomes PM he will certainly expedite your doomsday prediction with his “tax on everything.”
That otta sell your books and make you happy.
It’s almost as if here and the Globe and any other forum the Con posters just wait for a new post to comment and divert and distract. Really quite the operation.
There’s still the credit default swaps/options market. It’s supposed to tank. Just read that Bernanke is going to up rates. Funny that?? All the indicators pointed to cutting which would have been a real interesting way to solve stagflation. Since a lot of commodities are hedged against the U.S. dollar then it should be interesting on the exchanges. Used to be gold that was used as a hedge now it’s corn, soy, oil and so on.
‘Mad Max’ as you call him is giving a press conference about the ‘affair’. I love listening to fairy tales.
As for practicing green?? Cut down on my computer time, have my own veggie garden, buy local whenever I can, make most of my clothes, front loader w/m and try to dry outdoors. No cell. The hydro bills can be nauseating if we don’t cut usage.
I haven’t split and rolled 3ply into 1ply or cut toothpaste to scrape out the remnants but I know people who have. I think it was more of a cost savings than being ‘green’.
Hi Garth.
On Friday I got a call from a nice young man asking for a donation for a political party. He said to expect an election in Fall.
I have been a contributer in the past. I declined, saying I prefer to give directly to Garth Turner since he is the only MP who acknowledged my communications over the last
three years.
I asked him to make a note to pass on to the leaders of the party.
He said the conversation is being recorded; I then repeated my complaint about being ignored, for the benefit of the recording device.
Keeping my word, I mailed a check to you today, my second donation in recent months.
Thanks for providing the space for us to get heard.
Thanks to all who read the material on this weblog.
The go nowhere do nothing agenda of the Harper-Cons will continue to ruin the days ahead for many Canadians. I totally agree with you Garth that Harper’s one man show can’t lift us out of the mess he has lead us into over the years he has been in power. What’s that old saying “those who fail to plan-plan to fail”
I think his whole legacy can be wrapped up in the phrase “sex, lies and the audiotape”
Bon Chance mes amis!
It does look as though we will have a tough roller coaster ride whether there is a price on carbon or not.
It would have been much better if, rather than putting all the surplus on the debt (partly to limit any future party in power), Harper and Flaherty had kept some of the surplus for the long roller coaster ride. It could have helped get rid of coal-fired generating stations and with new tooling up etc. for low-emission cars as well as helping people to cope.
They couldn’t see the train coming — no vision.
it’s a one man government, and he’s beating you singlehandedly.
Garth i get a kick out of goofs like you. You pretend that you knew that the housing market was going down. That must mean you also knew when it was going up and you and all of your friends made MILLIONS on the up turn.
Rod
Read the book. — Garth
. . . and just in time for the next federal election. What timing. . . .
Now is the time to focus on informing Cdns. countrywide, thru town halls, Q&A sessions with the public about the Green initiative — what to expect if Libs. are elected, what they WILL do, what the estimated cost of phasing in over four years or so WILL be.
Stay as far away as possible from the economic woes of North America. Let CRAP handle Canada’s aspect; after all, there is nothing positive to say EXCEPT complete mis-management of FF (Fiscal Fundamentals) by dimdum.
That’s their problem — they caused it, they fix it. Or resign en masse.
. . . US pilots are also getting pink slips, and 7,000 or so more workers will be losing jobs on Wall Street as the financial meltdown continues.
For the United Airlines pilots layoffs, whatreallyhappened.com had an interesting comment, which said something to the effect of “. . . those who keep their jobs will either have to fly longer hours, or UA cuts routes — one of the two.”
Wall St. layoffs — a report a week or so ago said 25,000 jobs or so will be gone for good by the time this debacle is over. So much for their huge bonuses!
In Kelowna, the number of For Sale signs has risen rapidly, and Sold signs have declined at an equivalent pace.
Staples, such as food prices, utility increases, fuel costs, etc., are increasing quite regularly now.
If there is a cool fall, combined with a cold and lengthy winter plus a cool, wet spring, it will be a lot nastier than it is now.
****************************************
Not too long ago, I posted a link which stated “hidden inflation is running between 10-15%, possibly higher” in the US (which eventually spills into Canada).
The link here says roughly the same thing.
http://tinyurl.com/47dl2d
****************************************
Has anyone considered the regurgitated theory that Comic Ali (Sadaam’s spokesgit), the Jolly Green Giant and our constant laugh-at hapless hairy are one and the same?
What a terrifyingly funny thought!
One more thing if the GREEN SH*T PLAN is so good why didnt you Liberals bring down the Government and take it to the PEOPLE?
ROD
Perhaps Garth and other liberals convince Dalton McGunity and Mr Dion to support the Zenn car.
Ask Dalton to seize the GM plant in oshawa (since GM is closing the plant anyways it should cost a small amount ) because GM is in default of their $175 million dollar loan ( stop giving companies millions of taxpayers monies but instead cut corporate/business tax to 10% level -giving all business a tax break instead of a few – GM, Bombardair, Nortel are one of the biggest corporate welfare bums) and give the Oshawa plant to the Zenn motor compnay to produce the next generation electric cars using eestor technology in 2009.
Then providing a 25% tax credit to install a geothermal/solar system for business/residential owners.
Power your electric Car with Solar or Wind
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLcYgtd1Yw8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_lSxhTatUU&feature=related
Zenn Car -Why is the federal and Provincial gov’ts are aganist electric cars?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb9ypkc9Uvs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWdor7-JipY
Algae as a biofuel ..Biofuels don’t have to be made from corn or wheat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyoKTbxerpQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-GpX3oJFTU&feature=related
Dr Robert Zurbin – Flex fuel -biofuels
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLRuGUPkyh4
I disagree with your prediction that the price of oil will stabilize at $100 a barrel. Worldwide demand is up, pushed by China and India, and worldwide production has been flat since 2004, since the industry is having difficulty finding enough oil fields each year to replace the fields that are declining in production.
Dr. Robert Hirsch is predicting $500 per barrel oil in the next 3 to 5 years (that is 2011 to 2013). He has good credentials for such a statement (see his wikipedia info at http://tinyurl.com/4o7tdv ).
http://www.theoildrum.com/node/4191#more
Things are going to change.
I did not say stabilize. I said volatility. — Garth
(a) There will not be one in place this autumn. (b) Long term? Absolutely. — Garth
By Gord G. on 06.24.08 11:26 pm
Sure – let’s just kill the rest of the manufacturing jobs in Canada! And after Stephane Dion gets done with his Carbon Tax – many of people won’t be able to afford their homes, the Liberal elites will be able to these home at a song.
Why is Stephane Dion so pig headed? What’s he trying to prove? Maurice Strong may be proud of his latest protege – but most of us see him for what he is – and it’s not positive.
Wasting $25 BILLION a year on needless military spending will not help – that money should be put into infrastructure improvement projects across the country instead.
I heard on the news last night that prices have not only dropped in all 20 cities measured, in Las Vegas the prices dropped 26% IN ONE MONTH!
You can hear the sound of sphinter muscles tightening all through the US, all at a time when the US government is throwing away hundreds of billions of dollars on a war in Iraq that should have never been started.
Easy credit will always generate downstream problems since it encourages over-consumption and creates the illusion of affordability. All economies are cyclical and the downside of cycles exposes the real risk of easy credit.
The Harper government needs to rescind its approval of 40-year mortgages to cut Canada’s future risk.
Shuffle the chairs on the Titanic.
‘Twould be different, had they a plan, other than NO PLAN.
Incompetents, lacking vigour, taking rest, to HIDE.
The battle is joined, IN SILENCE. The resolve is made, IN SILENCE. The promise will be KEPT … IN SILENCE.
…A solemn promise … TO CANADA.
The sky is strange this night, papa.
Yes, my son, ‘Tis a blood moon.
1700$ for a cab ride? The woman never heard of Thrify car rentals, or don’t own her own wheels? Geeze, talk about someone losing touch with reality!
“Canadians appear to be ready to see Harper and Dion discussing policy away of the confines of the House of Commons, and this might help Dion,” said Mario Canseco, director of global studies for Angus Reid Strategies.
70% keen to see Dion, Harper discuss policy
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/448786
Let us see how much of a leader Harper really is.Will he say yes or chicken out?
Canadians want TV debate on Liberals’ carbon tax, poll finds
70% keen to see Dion, Harper discuss policy
Jun 25, 2008 04:30 AM
Bruce Campion-Smith
Ottawa bureau chief
OTTAWA–An overwhelming majority of Canadians want to see Stéphane Dion and Prime Minister Stephen Harper square off in a televised debate on the Liberals’ proposal for a carbon tax, a new poll shows.
“Canadians appear to be ready to see Harper and Dion discussing policy away of the confines of the House of Commons, and this might help Dion,” said Mario Canseco, director of global studies for Angus Reid Strategies
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/448786
yes.. major job losses, housing market crash. what a great time for a new carbon tax!
this lorrie goldstain column sums up exactly what the average canadian thinks of this new tax. luckily, most of us really do understand that the term “revenue neutral” means absolutely nothing to the average joe. enjoy your continued stay in opposition.
http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Goldstein_Lorrie/2008/06/20/5932866-sun.php
EDITORIAL
TheStar.com
Timely warning on climate change
Jun 25, 2008 04:30 AM
On June 23, 1988, the threat of climate change finally captured the media’s attention when James Hansen, director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, warned a U.S. Senate committee that the planet was already warming as a result of human activity. That year, Canada produced 594 megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
Despite the steady increase in concern over climate change in the 20 years since Hansen’s testimony first made its way into the public consciousness, Canada’s emissions have increased by more than 21 per cent and now contribute to a much more serious threat.
Although Canadians – and much of the rest of the world – have grown much more aware over the past 20 years of the dangers of not taking action, they nonetheless failed to act.
Monday, 20 years to the day after his appearance before the Senate committee, Hansen was back on Capitol Hill with a more immediate warning. Emphasizing that safe levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide have already been exceeded, Hansen said, “We have reached a point of planetary emergency.”
Hansen called for a U.S. carbon tax that looked an awful lot like the one Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion is proposing for Canada. Like Dion, Hansen said proceeds of the tax should be fully returned to the public.
Although Hansen didn’t say much that hasn’t already been said by other leading climatologists and economists, the timing of his intervention underscores the urgency for action. He was right 20 years ago when he said man-made climate change was already happening, and he is just as right now when he says the world has no time to spare.
No one in Washington called Hansen’s ideas “crazy” or said he was out to “screw everybody across the country” – the words Prime Minister Stephen Harper used in his response to Dion’s carbon tax plan.
By hurling schoolyard invective at the most widely accepted instrument for fighting global warming, Harper has shown that he does not share the experts’ sense of urgency. Indeed, the “intensity” targets that underlie his own climate-change plan would allow for continuing growth in Canada’s emissions. His intemperate language also suggests that he cares more about uninterrupted Alberta tar-sands development than about the terrifying risks of a climatic tipping point.
In his failure to act, Harper has replaced the vitriolic Alberta slogan heard at the time of the National Energy Program – “Let the eastern bastards freeze in the dark” – with his own climate change variant: Let the whole world bake in the heat.
Just remember…all our problems are the other guy’s fault…never our own.
Have a nice day! See you Thursday night.
Its Already hit here in Parry Sound, prices down 10%, and sales down 20%.
American tourists down 25% last year how much are they going down this year?????
The traffic coming up down 35% as reported by the OPP reports.
Resort employment down 24% this year
There has been 1700 lay offs in manufacturing in this area since two tier Tony stepped in.
The only time he is around is for photo ops.
I don’t see the price of oil dropping significantly although U.S. demand might weaken, India and China will more than take up the slack, also Cjina has some 71 billion in U.S. Treasury Bills and are likely to stockpile oil as the hedge against the U.S. dollar. If they begin to pull some of their money out of treasuries, we could see a big problem for the U.S. (Not that it isn’t big enough now) I could be wrong, i have been before but I see the new trading range 130-170 for oil for the next 3-4 months.
As I was working yesterday, I had the t.v. on to NewsNet, I heard an economist say that Canada is doing very well despite what is going on in the U.S. and that even with lay offs in some sectors our individual wealth has actually increased…I think he said 1.2% (he sited stats can). He said our housing market in some sectors may be slowing down but over all remains good.
I don’t know if I agree with him or not. There are a lot of mixed messages out there.
I DO know that the cost of living and the cost of commerce is going crazy nuts high and especially for farmers it is on the brink of being unsustainable.
That’s what I know. It would be interesting to know where the individual wealth was increasing.
As an aside: did you know they still have not been able to trace the origin of the toxic tomatoes? How can you fix it if you don’t know where the problem is? Buy Ontario.
Leasa
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=f507cf20-8964-4f1f-9a2b-b6e7213d9526
This could push oil higher if implemented…and would make production costs that much higher as well.
Cabinet shuffle on the cards (sorry about the awful pun).
Some Tories speculate that Harper may still conduct a more sweeping shakeup of his cabinet in the fall, in preparation for a possible election. But one senior Tory pooh-poohed that suggestion.
“Harper’s not about team,” the insider said.
“He doesn’t want strong people … sitting at the cabinet table. Why would he shuffle the cards? He’s got people doing his bidding now.”
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2008/06/24/5974306-cp.html
Harper not a team player?
I’m shocked. Shocked.
“His (Harper’s) position is more representative of a dictatorship than a democracy.” –By C. B. Innes on 06.24.08 12:37 pm
“The human spirit is creative, and wants to be free to create new solutions, not to have uniform state-sponsored solutions imposed on him by the jackhammer of the state.” –By sheila on 06.23.08 8:55 pm
“You sound just like Stephen Harper… When the marketplace fails then government has to step in: that is the progressive-conservative way.” –By C. B. Innes on 06.23.08 9:43 pm
C. B. Innes, those comments of yours on PMSH are less than one full day apart.
Which is it? Is he a dictator, or does he refuse to step in when the coercive powers of the state are needed?
C. B. Innes, you now state, “He (Harper) is willing to use the coercive powers of the state to ‘walk over’ those opposed to his position just as he illegally silenced the farmer elected members of the Wheat Board.” -C. B. Innes, June 24, 12:37 p.m.
C. B. Innes, “the coercive powers of the state” in your example are the simple right of a government to appeal a judge’s decision, a decision in which many western farmers believe that the judge clearly erred.
It is a decision that gives the Canadian Wheat Board officials the right to “walk over” the rights of their members who do not agree with their decisions, and to use their money to support political advertizing that they do not agree with.
I ask you, C. B. Innes, is that fair? I hear on the radio comments from farmers who are outraged at the judge’s decision which walked all over these farmer’s rights to see their money go to the political cause of their choice.
In my books, political advertizing should always be supported only freely by those who support that political cause, or that political party, not by judges who bring down the jackhammer of the state to force all farmers to support one political position.
Is that just?
Acting on the advice of the one true believer in democracy in Africa today,*** here will be NO comment on MY cabinet shuffle. DER FUBAR
*** — All heil Robert Mugabe!
http://multimedia.thestar.com/images/assets/260401_4.JPG
The envelopes…PLEASE!
http://multimedia.thestar.com/images/84/20/dd1436c14ce3ab3ed8e77c7c2685.jpeg
If we really want to kick start the economy, reverse the taxes on Income Trusts. This will loosen up the ability to access capital.
Nice to see you delete comments that confirm your party’s flaws.
Comments are deleted that are vile, vulgar or utterly pointless. — Garth
Harper’s Centurians–Imperial Guard
Centre Left: BIRDY [BOO!] BAIRD
Centre Right: PARIAH POILIEVRE
http://www.legionsix.org/gladiatorsprepare.jpg
By Leasa on 06.25.08 7:33 am
Pretty easy to see where the wealth is going, look at the CEOs of the large corporations and compare their rate of increase against the average worker. That will tell you.
I just wandered over to National Newswathch: http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/ and was mightily impressed by the amount of positive reaction to the Green Shift Plan across the spectrum. Reckon you have a winner there. Congrats.
Leasa, did you know that field tomatoes in California are no longer being harvested by Mexican labourers? They developed a mechanical harvester that cuts the plants off below the ground and separates the vines from fruit. Along with the fruit must come some of ground stuff filled with droppings, i.e. a source of salmonella/e.coli. Ever wonder why the field tomatoes these days are hard as rocks? Agreed, we should buy local.
1. I don’t know if I agree with him or not. There are a lot of mixed messages out there.
2.As an aside: did you know they still have not been able to trace the origin of the toxic tomatoes? How can you fix it if you don’t know where the problem is?
1. Some are coming right outa your blender.
2. CDC Atlanta has attributed the problem to the horrendous backflow from your receent Port-A-Potty SLUDGE SLIDE.
See you over to the car show … I’ll only be marvelling at the front-end chassis supports … SPECIFICATIONS!
Don’t let Layton cut subsidies to BigAss.
http://people.alfred.edu/~rlb4/images/Garconis/Fat%20Subaru.jpg
Well if Dion ever becomes PM he will certainly expedite your doomsday prediction with his “tax on everything.”
That otta sell your books and make you happy.
By Janice on 06.25.08 12:05 am
Maybe you could enlighten us on what kind of plan you could support with the costing of such?
For example the CPC is planning to regulate emissions, would you support that? If so, what costs do you anticipate those who are regulated would pass on to the consumer, if any?
I can understand your reluctance to embrace the plan by Mr. Dion, but what would you support in it’s place?
Let’s call the cabinet shuffle the Blue Shift: a move in the right direction, but too little and too late to save the government – or environment.
Garth congratulations!!!
After finishing work I did my usual thing a few minutes ago and checked out National Newswatch to see which way the winds blow today. I fully expected that the green plan would have fizzled out in the MSM by now and nearly lost control of a bodily function!
Instead of no coverage like I expected about three quarters of the articles were about the environment and the green plan. After reading them almost all were even favourable to the liberal plan! The biggest shock were the two articles in Alberta newspapers that grudgingly accepted that we have to start somewhere and the Liberal plan looked better than the Conservative one!
Gotta love those con-bots to keep the issue alive and well. Feel sorry for that poor lady though getting hammered by thousands of the usual silly attacks we get here. Maybe if she read this site daily she would develope the thick skin many of us have developed.
Leasa 7:13am BUY ONTARIO
I totaly agree but would change it to BUY CANADIAN. I was once a market gardener while going to college.
Why is Stephane Dion so pig headed? What’s he trying to prove? Maurice Strong may be proud of his latest protege – but most of us see him for what he is – and it’s not positive.
By Catherine on 06.25.08 4:53 am
Catherine, I assume you mean cons. I, and many others do not agree with your assessment.
C. B. Innes,you claim to speak for progressive conservatives in defending statist solutions. Many members and supporters of the former Progressive Conservative Party of Canada did not and do not think like you.
Take the Canadian Wheat Board issue, for example. It is all about choice vs. statist solutions where all farmers are forced into one mould, and on marketing strategy whether they agree with it or not.
It has become as clear as the day that your approach does support the government monopoly position more than the freedom of choice position.
Why do you put so little value on human choice and freewill?
I oppose all monopolies, business monopolies, marketing monopolies, etc., but government monopoly is the worst monopoly of them all.
The government is a wonderful servant, but a beast of a master.
You look at the state as if it were a neutral, nonpartisan arbitrater of human disputes, but it is not. Therefore, the state should allow for maximum freedom rather than to impose solutions coercively that force all citizens into one mould.
The state offers non-creativity and no variety when it insists on its way in dominating the lives of its citizens, and that is why I say that the government monopoly is the worst monopoly of them all.
Free societies allow for freedom of choice. The statist approach says, “It’s my way or the highway.”
Why, Pyotr, won’t you listen to the ‘reasoned’ voices of the C.R.A.P./S.H.I.T.’s?
Duh … Well their contrivance don’t got some wheels!
“Those five individuals, you know who they are: Guy Giorno, who is arriving, John Baird, Jim Flaherty [Whitby-Oshawa, Ont.], Tony Clement, and Peter Van Loan [York-Simcoe, Ont.]. The five of them were all trained in Ontario by Mike Harris and a fellow named Mike ‘Mud’ Murphy, who’s the most ruthless Republican attack-dog in the United States. Let them deny it; the only thing they know is to go hard aggressive, wedge politics, they’re scared silly of this plan.”
Mr. Goodale had particularly harsh words for the Minister of the Environment, John Baird (Ottawa West-Nepean, Ont. “The minister of the environment, in the eyes of anybody who takes the environment seriously, has become a joke. I was talking to some leaders in the oil patch in Calgary just in the last couple of days, and they were very candid in their assessment of John Baird, saying that in private meetings he is the same vacuous, empty vessel that he is in public. He’s a comedian, he’s a jokester and deep down he’s shallow—there’s nothing there.”
“They’re looking for a new face; they can’t put Mr. Baird up anymore because whenever they put Mr. Baird up on anything with the environment there is zero credibility. People just now snicker and they dismiss and, unfortunately for Mr. Baird, he’s made himself the object of ridicule in the House and across the country because he’s not doing his job at all as minister of the environment, that’s why I said in my question during Question Period, ‘Well where the hell is the minister of the environment? Why isn’t he answering these questions?’ This is the most important environmental announcement the Liberal Party has made in three years, say. It’s a massive and coherent plan and why isn’t the minister of the environment asking? Because he can’t.”
The question is, at some point, will Canadians view these attack ads, as Dion puts it, as an insult to their intelligence, because the Conservatives are so confrontational that sometimes they go overboard and it might come back on them. Monday, June 23, 2008
hmacleod@hilltimes.com
Will Harper’s new cabinet hold the dike?
posted by Garth Turner
A cabinet made from balsa wood can’t hold anything.
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=610990
The Green Shift is good for Canada
John McCallum, National Post
Published: Wednesday, June 25, 2008
“Garth i get a kick out of goofs like you. You pretend that you knew that the housing market was going down. That must mean you also knew when it was going up and you and all of your friends made MILLIONS on the up turn.
Rod”
And just how many books have you authored Rod? Or are you just another empty-headed neoCon disrupter?
“It is a decision that gives the Canadian Wheat Board officials the right to “walk over” the rights of their members who do not agree with their decisions, and to use their money to support political advertizing that they do not agree with. By sheila on 06.25.08 8:08 am”
Sheila, the members of the Wheat Board are duly elected by the farmers themselves. Each member is clear about how they stand on grain marketing approaches and farmers have consistently voted for board members who support the status quo.
It is Harper that is trying to trample the decisions of farmers as expressed by their duly elected board members.
By sheila on 06.25.08 8:08 am
Is is just … What?
Is it just, to appoint an unelected person to the Public Works Portfolio, and have him virtually excluded from any Parliamentary examination … While he wields tremendous financial power through controlling the purse-strings for the department which makes the largest government expenditures?
I’ve checked all the SouthAsian menus.
None has “favour” in the ingredients when curry is mentioned.
If you want top ‘curry favour’ with the C.R.A.P./S.H.I.T.’s, you would attract opportunity by making campaign contributions and fattening their coffers.
““Canadians appear to be ready to see Harper and Dion discussing policy away of the confines of the House of Commons, and this might help Dion,” said Mario Canseco, director of global studies for Angus Reid Strategies.
70% keen to see Dion, Harper discuss policy
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/448786
By PYOTR PETROBITCH on 06.25.08 6:22 am”
If I was a betting man, I’d bet Harper will chicken out. He has no real understanding of this policy area and has always denied climate change even exists.
Dion is often underestimated. When he brought in the Clarity Bill he debated the issue with sovereignists in Quebec and chewed them up big time.
Harper is afraid to take Dion up on the challenge and face him one on one in a debate. This would unlike the petty, sleazy comments Harper throws out when questioned in the House of Commons… he would actually have to answer questions with logic and fact. That is something that he simply is unable to do… he can’t match Dion’s intellect.
So…it’s a great challenge by Dion. One that Harper will ignore. And, it’s one that will enhance Dion’s image. If the debate happens, Dion will win… and Harper knows it.
As I was working yesterday, I had the t.v. on to NewsNet, I heard an economist say that Canada is doing very well despite what is going on in the U.S. and that even with lay offs in some sectors our individual wealth has actually increased…I think he said 1.2% (he sited stats can). He said our housing market in some sectors may be slowing down but over all remains good.
I don’t know if I agree with him or not. There are a lot of mixed messages out there.
I DO know that the cost of living and the cost of commerce is going crazy nuts high and especially for farmers it is on the brink of being unsustainable.
That’s what I know. It would be interesting to know where the individual wealth was increasing.
As an aside: did you know they still have not been able to trace the origin of the toxic tomatoes? How can you fix it if you don’t know where the problem is? Buy Ontario.
Leasa
By Leasa on 06.25.08 7:33 am
Leasa & others, did you happen to see The National last evening. Mansbridge was in Saskatchewan discussing the ‘boom’ that was occuring there, due to their natural resources. IIRC, they are outpacing Alberta, but the Mayor of Wainright, I believe, expressed concern about the pace. House prices & construction are sky rocketing, but they too are experiencing a lack of qualified workers. One couple moved from Alberta to Sask. to follow the money. They figure they’ve made between $30 – $50k on their home since they moved there 3 months ago. Farmers are planting 1M+ acres more than last year of canola & wheat because of high world prices & shortages. Unemployment rates have nose dived in Sask. So yes, when you look at the overall stats, they may look good, but not for everyone. I’m pleased for Sask. They’ll now be contributors to equalization instead of receivers, unless Harper can change that too. Just wondering, as I don’t know the actual possibilities of that happening, bbut he strikes me as someone who love to abandon it.
By rod on 06.25.08 1:50 am
Are you ‘THE ROD’ who told StockYard Day the Niagara River flows south? On that day of all DAYS, he grouched about firing that assistant. How come you IS NOT GONE, or, at the very least, TASERED?
Dion is often underestimated.
By TS on 06.25.08 9:47 am
Too bloody true! I’m betting the same way as you are. I’m sure, IF, and it’s a big IF, Harper takes up the guantlet, the print/electronic media will be overflowing with jingoist/simplistic/twisted ‘truth’ coming straight outa the C.R.A.P./S.H.I.T’s biblical manifesto.
Incidentally, you do REALLY GOOD interpretive work.
From a Globe and Mail article from 2004 , Here is a quote from: Robert L. Mansell, Professor of economics (PhD, University of Alberta) A member of the “Calgary School” of conservative, some might say neo-conservative, theory that shaped the thinking of Stephen Harper. Speaking of the yet to be elected Prime Minister he said: If Mr. Harper is elected:
‘I think he is someone who is prepared to confront some of the myths, who is prepared to anchor things much more in solid facts. Instead of having health care and Kyoto debated on emotional terms . . . he’d say, Let’s have a meaningful debate based on facts.’
Crazy! Screwed! Meaningful debate based on facts! – what happened??
It is Harper that is trying to trample the decisions of farmers as expressed by their duly elected board members.
By TS on 06.25.08 9:38 am
TS, its a waste of time trying to reason with the likes of Sheila. She is totally indoctrinated in her total free market approach a la Repugs (and Harper’s gang) in the US who supported Bush & many who still do, even tho the Repug policies were constrary to their best interests.
On with debates!! hold them all in Quebec City, Hamilton and Winnepeg.
By sheila on 06.25.08 9:15 am
Have you ever worked for Bob-Lob-Law, repeat, BobLobLaw, repeat BobLobLaw?
….Ad nauseum. Most of us have read Ayn Rand, and have a sense of THAT ideology, and still have a whole lot of room in our hearts for those who share the earth with us.
Are you speaking for the inhabitants of another planet? …
Were all the CEO’s, CFO’s judged to be crooks and criminals free-market enterprisers like you? Is your name Urquhart … of the “puffed” CV?
With apologies to Kady O Malley (Her titles are much funnier)
A real cabinet shuffle:
Rona Ambrose Minister of Parks, Recreation & Potted Plants
(sorry, Rona but when was the last time you spoke in QP?)
Gerry Ritz Minister of Ethanol Plants
(glad to here you get one in your riding)
Gary Lunn Minister of Nukie Plants & Dead of Night Firings
(why does this man keep getting elected?)
Dean Del Mastro Minister of Planes, Trains & Automobiles
After all, he owns a Suzuki dealership)
Loyola Hearn Minister of Fish Sticks
(arrrgh – have you been to sea?)
David Emerson Minister of Foreign Liaisons
(Name changed due to Max & re-election bid chance – zero)
Jim Flaherty Minister of Ontario Relations
(need I say more?)
Jim Prentice Minister of Mr. Fix It!
(he must be so lonely as the only Red Tory)
Gordon O Connor Minister of Paper Money
(General do you miss those lobbying days?)
John Baird Minister of Hippy, Dippy Weathermen
(Darn scientists – keep explaining if you keep turning right you end up where you started – nowhere)
but the Mayor of Wainright, I believe, expressed concern about the pace,
By kpn on 06.25.08 9:47 am
KPN, Wainright is not in Saskatchewan.
Gord.
Leasa,
I don’t often agree with your arguments, but I agree 100% with your statement that we should buy food grown in Ontario. (If you live in Ontario). If you live in another province, you should support that provinces produce and products.
It would behoove us all to buy Ontario made produce and products whenever possible. If you can’t buy Ontario, buy Canada, and if not Canada then North American.
It might cost slightly more, but consider that little bit extra an investment in your community, province or country.
Some may not think so, but every layoff and plant closure affects every single one of us.
So…it’s a great challenge by Dion. One that Harper will ignore. And, it’s one that will enhance Dion’s image. If the debate happens, Dion will win… and Harper knows it.
By TS on 06.25.08 9:47 am
I voted for the debate too,
Gord.
Until about a week ago I was one of those demanding that the Liberals bring down this government sooner rather than later for all the many reason that we all know only too well – even sent them an email telling them so. I now understand the wisdom of waiting until the end of the session so as to announce the campaign for the election – The Green Shift. The campaign debate will be about policy despite Harper’s determination to make it about gutter politics. So, finally, Canadians will realize that Harper truly believes that we’re just too stupid to see that he thinks he’s the only smart guy in the room/country/world/universe.
Bring it on!
19 years!!
Do you remember the Exxon Valdez oil spill 19 years ago? Today the Supreme Court rolled back the punitive damages from 2.5 Billion to 507.5 Million.
Comments are deleted that are vile, vulgar or utterly pointless. — Garth
No they aren’t. You delete those that disagree with you but your allies’ you certainly don’t. Try reading a few, like men with hats. You can’t say his aren’t vile and vulgar or actually have a point.
If I deleted points of view I disagree with, you would be less than a cloud of electrons. — Garth
I agree with ORLEBAR, the New government secrets needed to be displayed before an election was called.
I understand the wisdom of patience.
Now, we can definetly make more informed choices.
Fearmongering is sinful.
I for one am very happy with this debate. It’s about time. Even you global warming deniers like Harry, Brian Wilson, Catherine etc. Have to admit that if would be wonderful if these cars would stop spewing so much disgusting noxious fumes out of their rear ends.
I live in what is called the inner city. Every day when I walk out, I have to smell cars polluting the air.
There are those who don’t remember what fresh air smells like.
Dion’s plan gives us a hope to know whatthat feel like, smells like. again.
They would argue with that.
Before you people start saying this doesn’t target air pollution or smog, but only green house gases, think again. Of course, it does. All of it. Think of a world where we weren’t forced to smell and breathe the filth of combustion engines every day. Oil to help drive the Alberta ecomony? Give me a break. Give us all a break.
Timely warning on climate change
June 25, 2008 – The Star
“20 years to the day after his appearance before the Senate committee, Hansen was back on Capitol Hill with a more immediate warning — that safe levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide have already been exceeded — “We have reached a point of planetary emergency.” Hansen called for a U.S. carbon tax that looked an awful lot like the one Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion is proposing. Like Dion, Hansen said proceeds of the tax should be fully returned to the public. No one in Washington called Hansen’s ideas “crazy” or said he was out to “screw everybody across the country”. By hurling schoolyard invective at the most widely accepted instrument for fighting global warming, Harper has shown that he does not share the experts’ sense of urgency. Indeed, the “intensity” targets that underlie his own climate-change plan would allow for continuing growth in Canada’s emissions. His intemperate language also suggests that he cares more about uninterrupted Alberta tar-sands development than about the terrifying risks of a climatic tipping point. In his failure to act, Harper has replaced the vitriolic Alberta slogan heard at the time of the National Energy Program – “Let the eastern bastards freeze in the dark” – with his own climate change variant: Let the whole world bake in the heat.”
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/448661
_____________________________________
Carbon tax no NEP: analyst
June 25, 2008 – Edmonton Journal
EDMONTON – Liberal carbon tax proposals are no revival of the bygone 1980 National Energy Program
“He described Liberal opposition leader Stephane Dion’s plan to prompt cuts in consumption by raising costs of all fossil fuel uses, as an essential dose of strong economic medicine. “The inspiration really is environmental,” Robson said.
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/business/story.html?id=8f480c64-321f-4c68-bed6-b8b9277a9675
_____________________________________
Carbon tax or carbon trade?
June 25, 2008 – Times & Transcript
“the real question: which is preferable, a carbon tax or a “cap-and-trade” policy?” A year ago, the American Enterprise Institute, a distinctly conservative business think tank, published a paper entitled Climate Change; Caps vs. Taxes, presenting reasons for choosing tax over trade. It maintains that corrective taxes are more effective and efficient than direct regulation. It points out that collection mechanisms already exist for a consumption tax. By contrast, the process of negotiating, implementing and policing emissions controls and a fair trade in carbon credits would be long and contentious. In addition, it notes that, unlike an international cap-and-trade market, a carbon tax retains money within the jurisdiction where it is paid. And further, it argues that a carbon tax is far less susceptible to cheating and corruption than any cap-and-trade system.”
http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/article/335841
I was quite happy about James Moore’s appointment to cabinet. …happy he got it, rather than Irene Matthyson, London Fanshawe. When I’m in Oddawahaha, I don’t want to have to keep my laptop closed from prying eyes, particularly when I’m auditioning future movie stars.
I think Chuck McVety will ban me from the fertility dance this year because I walked right past him when he flashed his phoney smile. Leastways, you’ve got to know your enemies in the mind control games.
Garth, After seeing the videos on the electric cars there is only one thing to do when you become the government.
FIRE everyone in Transport Canada!
Those dinosaurs NEED to go.
If we lose all those “Canadian” jobs to foreign interests because of the Transport Canada obfuscation then they are only good for one future line of work. They can be coolies who pack mandarins around Odawah in palanquins.
They obviously haven’t the brains for better. (And it would cut down on GHG’s)
I find it absolutely amazing that some people on this blog would confuse me with the teachings of Ayn Rand, and at the same time refer to myself and others who believe that farmers should have a choice on how their grain is marketed as dictatorial.
It is the elected members of the Canadian Wheat Board who impose their will on the farmers, just like many elected Members of Parliament do the same with the people who elected them.
We don’t like politicians and elected officials who do this in either scenario, do we?
Just because our MPs are duly elected does not authorize them to use tax dollars for partisan political purposes.
Yes, I know for sure that politicians of all stripes use their postage-free privileges to support their partisan positions, just as Garth does and everybody else.
At least, all MPs from different political positions use this privilege, which I don’t think is right either.
However, with the Canadian Wheat Board, there is only one political position that is supported by the dues of all members, and that simply is not right.
If anybody has an opposing view, they are being shafted by the judges.
And this is not a problem?
I am amazed that people here who complain about democracy gone awry, and about the dangers of dictatorship among elected officials are actually supporting this practice.
They are SUPPORTING it, can you believe?
I am amazed.
Whatever happened to the freedom of choice in using one’s hard-earned money to support only the political causes that one believes in?
“Fearmongering is sinful.” –By Sandy Canchuk on 06.25.08 11:17 am
Then I take it that you oppose the alarmists and fearmongerers in the environmentalist movement?
“… less than a cloud of electrons.”
That’s what our troll Janice amounts to.
“The inspiration really is environmental,” Robson said.
By barb the proof-reader on 06.25.08 11:26 am
Later, in the same Politics show, Newman interviewed the papal DUNCIO from Calgary Southeast, who disagreed with Robson, but was, AS USUAL, unclear as to his reasons. If I ever get my way, I’ll have him working as General Dallaire’s batman, shining all the boots in the General’s footlocker.
James Moore appointed Minister of Cadman Cover-up:
http://caiti-online.blogspot.com/2008/06/james-moore-appointed-minister-of.html
Boy you sure change your opinion dont you? You conducted an interview with Helena awhile back and said nothing but good things about her. Now this?
Can you find it in you, in your bitter, tortured, rejected little soul to find something GOOD about the government over the term?
Anything at all?
I did a video with Helena a little more than two years, before she was given the junior cabinet portfolio she drowned in. Of course I was nice to her. I’m nice to everyone. — Garth
As an aside: did you know they still have not been able to trace the origin of the toxic tomatoes? How can you fix it if you don’t know where the problem is? Buy Ontario.
Leasa
By Leasa on 06.25.08 7:33 am
I heard that in the U.S. they do not use those little stickers that are on most tomatoes here which identify the source. Is that correct? Even imported tomatoes from the U.S. and Mexico have those stickers in our stores.
I have priorities that I use when I purchase food so that whenever I can I purchase local produce. However, it is often difficult to identify domestic products.
I oppose all monopolies, business monopolies, marketing monopolies, etc., but government monopoly is the worst monopoly of them all.
By sheila on 06.25.08 9:15 am
Sorry Shiela but a far more “to be feared” “Monoploy” does exist.
It is called MONSANTO!
When what you eat and all you can get is controlled by one corporation you are in BIG trouble.
And WE are.
Sheila: Not as much as I oppose the apocalyptic, rapturous, doomsday alarmists in the religious sector.
Give me environmentalists any day!!
“You delete those that disagree with you but your allies’ you certainly don’t.”
By Janice on 06.25.08 11:09 am
Janice, just yesterday I disagreed with Mr. Turner (respectfully) and in turn Mr. Turner disagreed with my post RESPECTFULLY.
You reap what you sew and in your case that might explain how your posts and the posts of those like you are treated.
It has been my experience that Mr. Turner allows people posting on his site (yes, it’s HIS, not yours or ours HIS) to speak candidly.
Seems to me that we can disagree with Mr. Dion, Mr. Turner, or anyone else that we choose, respectfully.
Frankly, the tolerance that Mr. Turner displays in allowing people like YOU to post is far more than I would show if I were in his shoes.
Simply put, if you come into my house, you behave respectfully or I’ll boot your sorry ass right back out the door. Same should apply online.
If I behaved as rudely as a few of the Harper slugs that post here I’d expect to be booted to the curb.
You have a lot of nerve slamming Garth for giving you a forum from which to air your views.
You and your kind need to learn the meaning of the word RESPECT.
I ask you, C. B. Innes, is that fair? I hear on the radio comments from farmers who are outraged at the judge’s decision which walked all over these farmer’s rights to see their money go to the political cause of their choice.
In my books, political advertizing should always be supported only freely by those who support that political cause, or that political party, not by judges who bring down the jackhammer of the state to force all farmers to support one political position.
Is that just?
By sheila on 06.25.08 8:08 am
You certainly are one-sided in your view that only one side of the debate should be presented: the side you agree with. Certainly government, and multi-national corporations can combine with those who support to “run over” the rights of those who might disagree.
Afterall, the Canadian tax payer pays Stephen Harper’s salary. Does that mean he should not be allowed to oppose something that we support? Your argument is illogical.
Sheila: Why do you call the Wheat Board elected officials policies “political”?
If the officials agreed wholeheartedly with Harper’s wheat board policies, would that not be “political”, too????
I believe you must also think that kangaroo courts are O.K.–one-sided and pre-determined??
Mr Garth TurnerMP, FYI
If you mist this 50 min CBC radio
show last Sat. June 21., Quirks & Quarks
This Week on Quirks & Quarks
Hope for a Change.
Talk of climate change usually revolves around what we’re doing to make our lives on the planet worse, or what the effects of warming temperatures will be. But there is another side to the climate change story. Quietly, more and more people are finding ways to live a less carbon-intensive life, without giving up all the comforts of home. This week, in our season finale, we’re going to devote our entire show to looking at eco-friendly living around the world. From an island in Europe that’s completely powered by windmills, to a planned city in China that will hold half-a-million residents, with no carbon emissions, we’ll travel the planet looking for the latest ideas in environmentally sensitive living. Along the way, we’ll find out if there really is hope that we can change.
All this and more on Quirks & Quarks, with host Bob McDonald, Saturday right after the noon news on Radio One, or anytime on our web page.
AND NOW a second opportunity to hear Quirks & Quarks – every Monday night at 11pm on Radio One.
http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/archives/07-08/jun21.html
It’s almost as if – the Con posters just wait for a new post – to comment and divert and distract. Really quite the operation
BY A.POLITICAL 06.25.08 12:05AM
_____________________________________
BINGO!
It’s easy to look up the fact that the ultra right wing, gradually over a few decades, publicly and cunningly, have openly become abusive liars. They routinely “reframe” anything they don’t like, [ie: the centre, the left, science..].
Second problem: The leadership level of those NeoCons are a mix of narrow minds, control freaks, hawks, military industrial and the greediest wealthy and corporate cronies, who appoint lobbyists like Harper to reassemble the workings of our governments to suit their wealth schemes. It’s all soft sell, to sound like it’s good ideas for the people. Of course it’s not. All the while, it’s screw the people.
The masses’ weakness is that we don’t want to believe that’s true.
Harper in his own mind thinks he’s right. But he’s there because his tactics work well for the string-pullers. The influences in his life have lead him to believe they’re right, and he fails to see the downfall of his ideology because his mentors and colleagues all echo the same thoughts. The big time NeoCon liars gladly play with their man Harper.
We now have to be super vigilant – Trolls are only one of their demented Tools in the cache of tricks. Also constantly used: sales pitches which say one thing, but are the opposite.
This morning I noticed [stumbled upon actually] that a great site, The Harper Index, is part of The Golden Lake Institute, and found this:
What is framing?
“Framing is the practice of influencing how people think and feel about issues by encouraging them to think about them in a particular way. This is done with language that conjures up and appeals to images and values that people know and understand deeply.
The political Right is masterful at framing issues in ways that glorify business and individual achievement and disparage public enterprise.
Linguist and cognitive scientist George Lakoff has been credited with helping American Democrats successfully challenge the Bush Republicans. He believes that, in an environment where right-wing frames often go unchallenged, “reframing” is necessary.
He writes:
“Reframing is telling the truth as we see it: telling it forcefully, straightforwardly, articulately, with moral conviction and without hesitation. The language must fit the conceptual reframing: a reframing from the perspective of progressive morality. It is not just a matter of words, though the right words do help evoke a progressive frame: paying their fair share, those who have received more, the infrastructure of wealth, and so on.
“Reframing requires a rewiring of the brain. That may take an investment of time, effort, and money.
The conservatives have realized that. They made the investment and it is paying off. Moral: The truth alone will not set you free. It has to be framed correctly.””
http://www.GoldenLakeInstitute.ca/index.cfm
Comments are deleted that are vile, vulgar or utterly pointless. — Garth
No they aren’t. You delete those that disagree with you but your allies’ you certainly don’t. Try reading a few, like men with hats. You can’t say his aren’t vile and vulgar or actually have a point.
If I deleted points of view I disagree with, you would be less than a cloud of electrons. — Garth
By Janice on 06.25.08 11:09 am
I see about 2 hours after I asked you questions you have the time to take shots at Garth…maybe today you could answer the questions I posed to you at 9:04 am…Thank you.
Hi Garth.
I wonder why you feel it is necessary to point out that Emerson was elected as a liberal.
Do you point out that you were elected as a Conservative with your comments as well?
And I cant remember who wrote this… was it Emerson, or someone else:
I am a democrat who believes everyone in the House of Commons, including the cabinet members who make up the government, should be elected. They should sit in Parliament as they were elected. If they decide to change parties, they should go and get re-elected.
I did not decide to change parties. Mr. Harper decided I would. — Garth
but the Mayor of Wainright, I believe, expressed concern about the pace,
By kpn on 06.25.08 9:47 am
KPN, Wainright is not in Saskatchewan.
Gord.
By Gord G. on 06.25.08 10:36 am
Oops, meant Weyburn.
Ignatieff would have made a great Foreign Affairs Minister … wonder what’s stopping him from crossing the floor, doing a ‘belinda’ … because he ain’t gonna ever be the next leader of the Liberal party … that’s being reserved for Bob Rae … ??!!!
Ed Stelmach Alberta Premier – Edmonton Sun June 23, 2008
The premier said his plan for carbon capture and storage is the fastest way to reduce carbon.
Oh really?
I am sure everyone realized that the Alberta Premier would reject the Dion Green Shift Plan. But steady Eddie is misleading his own electorate by saying the CC&S is the quickest to reduce carbon. The proposal made in March of 2007:
The federal and Alberta governments joined forces to kick-start a plan for a $1.5 billion pipeline that would ship unwanted CO2 from utilities and oil sands production to natural gas fields, where it would be either stored or used to tease out more gas from aging wells.
Ottawa is contributing $156 million to help study the feasibility of the scheme, but Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach, who seems quite keen on the project, nonetheless warns it would still take several years to get rolling and that the $1.5-billion cost is from earlier estimates and may go much higher.
The project is at least 10 years in the future and the scope has never been tried before on such a large scale. No one should be fooled as to the real reason Eddie is so ethusiastic for CCS – peak oil wells injected with CO2 equals more crude.
I am amazed.
By sheila on 06.25.08 11:56 am
Keeping right on subject, learn some discipline and take the walk … to learn the meaning of the labyrinth. OK grasshoppa? Do you wanna be in the movies?
http://muddycreekmaze.com/images/maze_2007_rpdc.jpg
I have a suggestion on how to “be good to yourself, and be good for the world”..
Since we can only do our 1 of 6.7 billionth to help the world… or our 1 of 33-millionth to help Canada, our best bet is to be informed, and fight Harper’s reliance that Canadians are uninformed and apathetic… [his words - he relies on it].
It turns out that our own small contribution can have more weight if we know the truth, and know what to talk about in the bigger scheme of things, rather than relying on the MSM. A good computer can make a difference.
My sister-in-law made me realize something. She had recently bought a brand new computer, with the new operating system. It immediately crashed and was in her IT guy’s shop for a month, now installing an old operating system. She can barely operate the thing. I’ll repeat, it was brand new and heavy duty, about two months ago. She has now spent more than if she had bought the other type of computer she had thought about – but it seemed too expensive at the time.
I did buy the other type. Last year, I went way over budget, and am still paying off my new computer. It is the kind that only 5 or 7 percent of users buy. It is faultless. It installs everything itself. It’s a breeze. I can make type/font larger for ease of reading. I can save and categorize and find everything. It does all installing for me, no hassles. No thinking. None.
In other words, I encourage anyone to buy yourself one of these marvels. You’ll get a lot more out of your computer time, and Harper will hate you for knowing even more.
“Afterall, the Canadian tax payer pays Stephen Harper’s salary. Does that mean he should not be allowed to oppose something that we support? Your argument is illogical.” –By C. B. Innes on 06.25.08 12:29 pm
Yes, they pay the PMs salary, but they also pay Stephane Dion’s salary, and Garth’s salary, and Jack Layton’s salary, and Gilles Duceppe’s salary.
With the Canadian Wheat Board, dissent is not tolerated. Your analogy is completely bogus.
Why would a government board be so afraid of giving farmers a choice in their marketing strategy.
Your whole outlook is based on the “big brothr knows best” mentality, and it is oppressive.
By Catherine on 06.25.08 4:53 am
Fear mongering… nice.
So what you are saying Catherine is that since Harper took over with gas at $1.03 at the pumps in Jan. of 2006, we should be thankful for all Harper has done to help Canadian consumers with energy prices that have gone up 35 – 40% with no realistic plan for a cleaner environment, peak oil, decreased consumption or increased green tech strategy, that he did everything he possibly could to reduce consumption/prices.
And we should be thankful of what Harper has done to insure a falsely inflated currency from record M & A’s that fueled 7.75% of our GDP from the sale of our Can corps fueling our Canadian dollar and killing our manufacturing industry while raping our own domestic corporate tax base… all under Harpers watch.
Thankful for Harpers assurance that all is well with the Canadian economy even though 400,000 manufacturing jobs have disappeared under his watch, a decimated forest industry has remained unprotected, thankful for Harper’s decimating Can corp IT’s, thankful for doing all he can to destroy the wheatboard, the film industry, Canadian digital media & telecoms, a billion dollar softwood giveaway, pissed away money on 200 worn out tanks, a swiss cheese accountability act, a head in tarsand approach to the environment, and all the while, Canadians are losing market share in every single sector and we should be thankful? Thankful that we have the biggest U.S. multinational lobbyist this PMO has ever known who never gave up his old job at the NCC?
All “heresay” to science, bullying civil servants, philibustering committee’s, slamming a senate which has obviously shown its use towards the film industry Harper tried in every way to destroy for U.S. market share, slamming Ontario for cheap partisan politics, buying and bribing his way into elections (not to mention interfering with U.S. ones) and on a day to day basis, hapless ministers show continual contempt for the law, rules and parlimentary procedure… so open and transparent. So accountable. So very NCC/Republican.
Sure is nice to know we can trust the informed opinions of people like yourself who rail against a non-existent Dion governance record with fear mongering while conveniently skipping over the blatant daily misgivings of Harpers oh so shiny record.
In my books, political advertizing should always be supported only freely by those who support that political cause, or that political party, not by judges who bring down the jackhammer of the state to force all farmers to support one political position.
Is that just?
By sheila on 06.25.08 8:08 am
And you forgot to add, only those who have the financial resources to “sell” their point of view. If a government can use our money to “advertise” their point of view and restrict the ability of others to put forth an alternative position democracy is undermined.
Those of you who are fortunate enough to have the support of both the government and the economic elite are just as statist as any other political ideologue because you use the coercive power of the state to your advantage.
The difference comes only from how the state is used and who it favours. Advertising itself is a subversion activity.
Using the power of money to convince someone to act against their own interests is simply a form of subversion. Those of us who understand Straussian theory are aware of that position.
Here is a George Carlin quote which I think is worth repeating:
“There is a certain amount of righteous indignation I hold for this culture, because to get back to the real root of it, to get broader about it, my opinion that is my species–and my culture in America specifically–have let me down and betrayed me. I think this species had great, great promise, with this great upper brain that we have, and I think we squandered it on God and Mammon. And I think this culture of ours has such promise, with the promise of real, true freedom, and then everyone has been shackled by ownership and possessions and acquisition and status and power,” he said. “And perhaps it’s just a human weakness and an inevitable human story that these things happen. But there’s disillusionment and some discontent in me about it. I don’t consider myself a cynic. I think of myself as a skeptic and a realist. But I understand the word ‘cynic’ has more than one meaning, and I see how I could be seen as cynical. ‘George, you’re cynical.’ Well, you know, they say if you scratch a cynic you find a disappointed idealist. And perhaps the flame still flickers a little, you know?”
By Harry S on 06.25.08 12:48 pm
Maybe he has a mind of his own and wouldn’t make a good bobblehead!!!!!!
I think his whole legacy can be wrapped up in the phrase “sex, lies and audiotape
By CALBERTA 06.25.08 12:58AM
_____________________________________
Calberta,
That’s a GOOD ONE!!!!!!!
Barb, I enjoyed that piece on language “Framing”. Once you start counting people’s use of “going forward”, “regime”, and “the right thing to do” you realize how deeply certain concepts have been psychologically embedded.
Personally, I would prefer not “going forward”, especially when you consider the recent doubling in fertilizer, gasoline and iron ore prices.
Garth, in regards to Real Estate, is it possible that we will see a dual market where suburban homes devalue while those in the inner cities become more valuable? Maybe those lining up for the Yonge St. condo weren’t so crazy after all. There is a $10 Million condo going up for construction in Calgary. Interested?
Your whole outlook is based on the “big brothr knows best” mentality, and it is oppressive.
By sheila on 06.25.08 1:05 pm
Then can I safely assume from your outlook that you would favour Independent MPs?
Let me run my agenda by you again?
FOR A NEW INDEPENDENT GOVERNMENT IN CANADA
Here is the plan…
1. Each Province and/or Territory is allotted one member of parliament based on their percentage of the population of Canada. For example if Alberta has say 18 % of the population, they get 18 seats. (There will be possibly a few more than 100 seats to accommodate those provinces who have .5 % or more or who might have less than 1% of the population)
Each Province or Territory must have at least one seat.
2. Within each Provincial caucus, the members slated to be in the cabinet will be voted in by the elected members.
3. Each Province and Territory will have one member in Cabinet, the four largest Provinces in population two. (Total 16 members)
4. The Prime Minister will be elected by the 16 members of Cabinet and approved by the Parliament as a whole.
5. Funding for elections will be provided by the federal government and will be limited to the minimal amount necessary. (the amount to be determined by Elections Canada)
No individual or corporate donations will be accepted, the penalty for accepting them will be dismissal from Parliament and a by election will be held in that riding within 60 days.
6. Recall from cabinet can be effected by a vote of 75% of Parliament.
7. Recall from Parliament can be effected by a 60% participation in the form of a petition of the MPs riding.
Thank you…
“Update: This is it??
Elected-as-a-Lib Emerson from Trade to Foreign.
Paradis from obscurity to Public Works.
Unelected Fortier to International Trade.
Moore to Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific Gateway and Official Languages.
Sorry, no car. And, yeah, we really needed one of those.
— Garth”
_____________________________________
For me, the key word is “Unelected”.
“Fearmongering is sinful.” –By Sandy Canchuk on 06.25.08 11:17 am
Then I take it that you oppose the alarmists and fearmongerers in the environmentalist movement?
By sheila on 06.25.08 11:59 am
—–
Fearmongering is manufacturing fear with no basis. Alerting people to danger is called warning them.
Fearmongering is yelling “Fire!” in a crowded theatre when there is no fire.
Warning is alerting people to a fire and directing them to the exits in a sensible manner.
Dion is the fire marshal. He’s been telling us for years of the dangers that lay ahead. He listened the first time to the climate change scientists. He was green before people even knew what it meant.
Some people listened all those years ago. Most didn’t. They bought the corporate line – SUV’s, four flying vacations a year, McMansions. Now we’re in a mess.
Blaming Stephane Dion for trying to fix our present woes is like blaming your doctor for prescribing a course of treatment.
Garth,
James Moore, very bright young kid. However, he probably doesn’t realise that he is being manipulated badly. As for rewards?
Sure shows how little depth of talent Harper’s group has when an unelected minister and a former floor-crossing liberal take high profile positions in cabinet. Sad! Sad! Sad!
At the very least, he could have put Prentice in finance, unless of course, Harper is nervous about him. Hmmm.
Hi Scotty on 06.25.08 2:14 am,
Thanks for the links you gave.
Have you had a chance to read these books yet?
Because, it isn’t always sunny enough, or often windy on the Hottest and Coldest day in Ontario.
‘Power to Save the World: The Truth About Nuclear Energy’
By: Gwyneth Cravens
http://www.amazon.com/Power-Save-World-Nuclear-Energy/dp/0307266567
‘Kicking the Carbon Habit: Global Warming and the Case for Renewable and Nuclear Energy.’ by William Sweet
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Kicking-Carbon-Habit-Global-Warming-William-Sweet/9780231137102-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527william+sweet%2527
Have you heard about these battery’s by
Altairnano, with a 10min recharge time.
http://www.altairnano.com/
If I remember correctly these batteries were used to help set a new land speed record?
Were going to need lots of carbon free power to recharge all the vehicles.
We have World Class CANDU Nuclear Power Plants can get the job done!
The last few have been built on time and under budget!!!
The radioactive fuel is not getting out into the environment.
Coal plants are now releasing radioactive stuff, and Mercury, the stuff of smog, and lots of greenhouse gases. People are dieing from smog now!
For more on CANDU and Nuclear Power try,
http://www.aecl.ca/
http://www.cna.ca/
CANDU is supplying Ontario now with
52-54% of our electrical energy, to keeping the lights on and they don’t make any greenhouse gasses.
Yes, there’s a little bit of carbon released building the plant, and some carbon from making the fuel. The plants last 40+ years.
The fuel for the USA light water reactors need highly enriched fuel.
CANDU only need fuel that ~3% fissionable fuel to make carbon free eletrical power!
Please get all the facts!
The books above and the links I gave are a good starting point.
We don’t have very much time to stop adding to the Global Heating Gasses.
Nuclear Power is the only technology that we have ready to go that can replace the energy we are now getting from carbon-based fuel, in time.
Last year the world burned 1 cubic mile of oil, plus coal, natural gas, hydro, etch.
The oil won’t last forever, there’s only so much!
PMSH plan is to us up all of Canada’s Natural Gas in the tar sands by 2028!
The world is going to be all out of oil in 2050-2060!
PMSH doesn’t seem to care about his own kid’s future; do you really think he cares about you and your family’s future?
This PMSH & gang are NOT good leader or planner!!!!
By barb the proof-reader on 06.25.08 1:04 pm
You’re comparing lemons to apples. Probably the lemon was using the vista o/s … which has been panned by all knowledgeable nerds … to the point they want the xp o/s improved rather than shelved. Allow or Disallow???
I did not decide to change parties. Mr. Harper decided I would. — Garth
Oh, I didn’t know that PM Harper told you to go join the Liberal party !!!!
I thought he just said: “Screw off!”
Garth quick question even though maybe a little off topic. How is it that Canada and Quebec Pension plans are included in the Govt. Surplus? These funds are not part of the Government general revenues and are untouchable by the any Government are they not?
Still can’t figure out the comments regarding Couillard and her apparent good looks. Strikes me as incredibly haggard and white trashy. So she lets her average set of knockers hang out. Meh.
Are the Cons really that hard up?
Guess it’s down to where I live and the incredible number of stunners who openly flirt and make themselves available. Admittedly, they’re lacking a bit in the brains department.
It’s gonna be hard making the move back…
Sheila, you seem not to understand marketing boards. They exist to protect domestic producers. In order for them to be effective, the commodity must be pooled. You cannot have some producers being members some years and not others. Many instances exist in developing and destroyed nations where under the benign dictatorship of WTO market reform, small producers have been forced off the land into urban slums, with the crime, drugs and hopelessness that entails – all for market efficiency.
Is that what you want for Canadian farmers? Shall we throw them to the multinational corporate wolves? They are having a hard enough time surviving as it is – given the massive subsidies being showered on our southern competitors, not to mention our climatic disadvantage.
Principle is great in theory, but sometimes it must be tempered with practicality.
And BTW, your earlier quote about government being a poor master, was originally:
“Economies are supposed to serve human ends.. not the other way round. We forget at our peril that markets make a good servant, a bad master and a worse religion.”
-Amory Lovins
Wasting $25 BILLION a year on needless military spending will not help – that money should be put into infrastructure improvement projects across the country instead.
BY TS ON 06.25.08 5:26 AM
_____________________________________
But TS ?!!?!? .. the $25 BILLION in military spending is part of the big orders.. you know.. part of the plan of The North American Future 2025 Project..
How, snifffle, can Harpie say no to them ??!!??? sniffle, sniffle, wimp, sniffle..
http://www.canadians.org/water/documents/NA_Future_2025_backgrounder.pdf
“It has become as clear as the day that your approach does support the government monopoly position more than the freedom of choice position.”
Freedom of choice does not exist in the real world of globalized food marketing. That is why the “choice” option was placed on the ballot, it was designed to fool people into believing that was really a choice under the global trade system. The only real choice was control over marketing by private corporations or by a government regulated co-operative system.
“Why do you put so little value on human choice and freewill?”
In order to live in society restrictions must be placed on choice and freewill because we need structure. It is that structure which provides us with security and allows us to strive maximize our potential. If you enslave yourself to those who control the marketplace you have lost just as much freedom and choice as if you enslave yourself to government. You need to achieve a balance.
“I oppose all monopolies, business monopolies, marketing monopolies, etc., but government monopoly is the worst monopoly of them all.”
Here is where we differ. I am not an anti-statist because I believe there is a role for a government monopoly. To take your argument to its ultimate conclusion would you advocate that government not have a monopoly over coercive power?
Exxon Valdez oil spill 19 years ago
Today the Supreme Court rolled back the punitive damages from 2.5 Billion to 507.5 Million
By PECKED TO DEATH BY DUCKS 11:07AM
_____________________________________
That just figures, doesn’t it.
I thought he just said: “Screw off!”
By Harry S on 06.25.08 1:22 pm
Hello, Harry … Long time no hear. BTW, what’s your riding?
How’re things in the mani[a]c depressive world? You can always come over for a visit to our hotel in Penetanguishene. We’ll get a l’il boy to chase you down the expansive shiney halls on a tryke.
http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/54/039_12800~Jack-Nicholson-Posters.jpg
Allow or Disallow???
By PYOTR PETROBITCH 1:22PM
_____________________________________
I didn’t want to name names. But I went through several operating systems, antivirus crap, crashes. Got fed up.
Now, none of that. I’m FREEEEEEEEEE!! Wheeeeeee!!
Apples to oranges.. you punny
By jwp on 06.25.08 1:13 pm
By Harry S on 06.25.08 12:48 pm
Maybe he has a mind of his own and wouldn’t make a good bobblehead!!!!
……………………………….
Seems as if Iggy and BobRae are no longer on the DreamWhip Team … with BobRae totally silent on the Green Shift, and Iggy assigned to “immigration” matters. I guess the Team has been disbanded and Dion is going on his own for the Green Shift.
Perhaps there’s a clash of professorial egos between Dion and Iggy … after all both consider themselves to be ‘experts’ in their own field .. but somehow I think that sociology has little to do with environmental science.
I seriously doubt that Iggy would feel fulfilled in a Dion or Rae government .. so it would be either back to Harvard or crossing the floor and being Canada’s distinguished Minister of Foreign Affairs … and spitting in Opposition leader Dion/Rae’s eye …!!!
I must correct myself, as I discovered a couple of earlier servant/master proverbs.
Money is a good servant, but a bad master.
Sir Francis Bacon, derived from an Italian proverb.
Fire is a good servant, but a bad master.
Old English Proverb.
It appears Lovins just updated the Bacon proverb.
“Economies are supposed to serve human ends.. not the other way round. We forget at our peril that markets make a good servant, a bad master and a worse religion.” -Amory Lovins
BY PERSONA SINE INGENIO 1:28 PM
_____________________________________
Glad to see that posted. Worth repeating.
“Dion is the fire marshal. He’s been telling us for years of the dangers that lay ahead.”
The whole issue is one of trust, and whether this carbon tax is what is needed to put the fire out.
The issue is one of trust, not one of science. You can find a scientist to prove any point of view that you want.
In David Suzuki’s case, however, he clearly mixes his religion in with his science, and that is where trust comes in.
Titanic has hit the berg . All men on deck ! We have to shuffle the lounging chairs before we go under .
Giving that unelected bozo Fortier any kind of cabinet post is a slap in the face to all Canadians .
Flaherty is left to count what is left in the Piggy bank .
Great idea .
Baba Rum Raisen strikes again.
Dear Garth,
To me the real question is why would Harper move Fortier from Public Works to International Trade?
There’s something very suspicious to me about the Fortier move.
Is it a diversionary tactic, or is international trade money that requires a trusted confidant involved somehow or what?
I’d say look closely at the portfolio and follow the money.
Sincerely,
MB
Couple of things caught my eye today, after the breathless excitement of the cabinet shuffle.
Why does that sound like a dance?
Put your right foot in…
Take your right foot out…
Do the cabinet shuffle with me.
—–
First, one of Canada’s best exports.
Conrad Black loses appeal
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/449201
As far as I’m concerned, Conrad Black never had even an iota of appeal.
—–
Bill Moyers talked about the access to government that right-wing evangelical wingnuts have with the Bush administration in the U.S.
Since 2000, they’ve spread to Ottawa.
—–
See how they pray
Consider their goals before joining Prayer Sunday, presented by Ottawa’s National House of Prayer.
“Rob and Fran Parker are a couple from British Columbia who say they felt God calling them to set up a house of prayer in the capital. Mr Parker has a long association with an organization called Watchmen for the Nations.
(That has a whiff of der Faderland about it.)
“…[E]ven without groups in tow, NHOP personnel appear to have ready access to heavily security-conscious Parliament Hill. They attend Question Period, sit in at committees and lead prayer meetings.
(Just like Julie Couillard without the boobs.)
“…The NHOP website is also requesting prayers for the success of a youth-oriented event called The Cry, which is to be held on Parliament Hill on August 23rd. Similar youth rallies were held in 2002 and 2006 to dramatize concern about what organizers described as the moral and social decline in Canada.”
—–
These people scare the liver out of me. Not only are they praying for the back-door anti-choice bill, they have a huge funding base.
I’d still like to see Harper’s account of campaign funding. Never mind. I don’t believe in miracles.
But August 23rd is the big day for the youth meeting. I listened to some comments from some of the kids at a similar get together a couple of years ago. For most of them, it was a really good way to hook up with other young people while their parents thought they were doing something holy. There’s hope for them after all.
If NHOP stood for National House of Pancakes, it would be a lot more palatable.
C. B. Innes, I was referring to the fact that you called PMSH a dictator for wanting to challenge a judge’s ruling on the Canadian Wheat Board, when, in this case, what he is standing up for is freedom of choice, not one non-negotiable political point of view.
Then you liken him to me who is too free, and not nearly regulatory and controlling enough.
You are going to have to decide whether he exercises too much control, or not enough. You can’t have it both ways.
I know that there are rationales for both sides, but at the end of the day, freedom of choice is not a rational thing, and it should not be suppressed in a democratic society.
Dictators use exactly the same type of rationale as we see here to rationalize the high-handed methods of the Canadian Wheat Board.
Does big brother government know best, or do individuals not also have some intelligence in being allowed to make their own decisions?
Ordinary farmers need to start being treated as adults, not as children perennially.
That is the issue, no matter how hard you try to obfuscate it.
Mil perdons. I forgot the link for “See how they pray”.
http://www.straightgoods.ca/ViewFeature8.cfm?REF=374
For many months I wondered “What the hell is Shephan Dion doing?” Through all this bullcrap in the house. Now I have my answer. I knew it had to be good.
Years ago, I watched this guy. I watched him through the daily newspapers as he took on the separatists. A comment could not escape the lips of Bouchard, Parizeau, where he did not respond with reasoned, educated editorial comment in the daily news. When the party responded with his selection as Liberal Party Leader and next Prime Minister, the country said, “We don’t know this guy”
The thing I noticed most about Dion, is that he a conciliator. If anybody can do it, he can. This is a far cry from Harper’s divide and conquer routine.
What’s more, he really loves this country. All of it. He’s not busy in the trenches pitting one part of the country against another, like Harper is.
Dion is a real statesman. If anyone can pull this country in the right direction, He can.
By persona sine ingenio on 06.25.08 1:28 pm
Farmers are as deserving as any other venture and deserve a choice as how they market the goods they produce. The cattle industry has done well over the years without marketing boards forcing them to sell to one entity, although now they are in trouble, but will prevail as they always have.
Is Harry S. a pseudonym for Doug Finley?
Oh for Christ’s Sakes I wish the trolls that come here and say How Garth has ‘Changed’ would just STFU.Garth is the SAME as he ever was and he has voiced HIS opinion not the Leader’s talking points.Dion is Man enough to listen to a differing view.Harper is a Nasty Bully that just want the little Cowering YES dummies that will do his Shit Jobs. Garth isn’t and Never was a Follower or a YES man. Garth is his OWN Man and he doesn’t have to Put up with the CRAP,but he willing let’s us sound off.if what I or anyone elses says Offends Him than it’s his House and he can Tells us to STFU or Get Out because if we SHIT on His floor that’s his Right,He PAYS the bills.
Oh and I sick to death of the GD “Journalists/Pundits” that Spew the B/S issues are “Too Complex” for the great unwashed idiot Canadians to understand.Oh and they sure as hell love to Push the Propaganda of “How Hard it is to “Understand Dion” Now that is the Biggest Pile of bullshit after Canadians elected Judo Jean and everyone couldn’t really understand much of what he Said,but we got the gest of It. I have had No problem understanding Dion b/c I just try to LISTEN a little Harder for I’m Interested in what he has to Say.
Keep up the great work Garth. I see you as One of the TRUE Progressives that will help Lead us into the 21st C.never lose your Indendence it’s what drives All the ‘partisans” Nutz.
The issue is one of trust, not one of science. You can find a scientist to prove any point of view that you want.
In David Suzuki’s case, however, he clearly mixes his religion in with his science
BY SHEILA 2:03 PM
_____________________________________
Boy Sheila, you are a classic example of re-shaping the nature of things with false accusations and reversal of truth. I’ll remind you of the Harper funded liars who betrayed us when they called themselves The Friends of Science. Hansen feels these sorts of liars who have done us all so much harm, should all be prosecuted, and so they may be, just as the Tobacco Industry was finally forced to stop telling lies.
Put all YOUR labels back where they were, on yourself AND Harper, and take them off of Suzuki and Dion and those who seek to do the right thing for the people.
You are obeying your oracle master Harper, but we don’t fall for that garbage, nor will anyone else. Your time is up – Con lies are being called out.
Comments are deleted that are vile, vulgar or utterly pointless. — Garth
By Barry on 06.25.08 8:25 am
Garth, do you have an example of an utterly pointless comment. Maybe let one of Barry’s through so we can see just how off the wall he is?
Gord.
Hey Garth could you get a Sticker made up with a Cloven Hoof Print on your Ass from the Harper Hoof when he BOOTED you.I think maybe it will help the CON Trolls better Understand what Really happened for it seems they Can Only comprehend Pictures NOT Words. :>)
“Among other factors behind this unjust increase in oil prices is the abhorrent act of speculators acting for their own selfish interests,” said Saudi King Abdullah in his address at the June 22 oil summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
King Abdullah acknowledged that some of the blame for higher energy costs falls on higher oil consumption and taxes on fuel but he also urged enhanced tracking of oil commodities transactions to help prevent unbridled market speculation.
Members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have agreed in large part that speculators in the commodities market are the culprits for skyrocketing costs.
Western powers however have mainly blamed inadequate oil supply in the market for higher energy prices.
But OPEC President Chakib Khelil insists there is enough oil to supply the market.
“We believe that the market is in equilibrium. The price is disconnected from fundamentals. It is not a problem of supply,” Khelil said.
Speculators are greedy soul sucking bastards with no social conscience .
Sidebar:
Americans drive 30,billion less miles
Not since the oil crisis of 1979 has the number of miles driven by Americans dropped so significantly — specifically, by 30 billion.
The drop took place from November to April, and it shows no signs of slowing as gas prices maintain their record-busting peaks. Previously, high prices at the pump would change driver behavior temporarily, but experts now think some of these new fuel-saving habits might stick.
Total miles traveled declined by only 1%, but this is impressive simply because the number of cars on the road grows by 1% to 2% each year, which means Americans had to cut back quite a bit to achieve that 1% decline. The number of miles traveled is also equal to 2005 levels, when roughly 8 million fewer people lived in the United States.
When is Canada Day? Is it July 1 again this year? Only reason I ask is that yesterday I received a reminder from the local MP suggesting our family should support Canada Day celebrations. Do MP’s think we’re suffering in the final stages of Alzheimer’s? The celebrations, gatherings, special events, and communal meeting places are all published in the local newspapers. What gives?
By sheila on 06.25.08 2:09 pm
Why dont the farmers agree with you ?
Very unhappy cons again today. Wow they must be worried about the Green Shift or is the fact their leader has absolutley 0 guts and will not accept Dions invitation to debate the issue like an adult.
I am going to say Stephen Harper is a spineless ,scared little wiener.
So until the con leader stands up like a true leader, the trolls posts are all moot.
The new Angus-Reid poll.
This should wind the cons right up .
New Green Shift Poll
http://farnwide.blogspot.com/
By Men With Hats on 06.25.08 3:00 pm
Good info. I expect gasoline costs will continue to suppress the urge to ‘hop in the car’ on just any pretext. My neighbours here have taken to inquiring whether we need anything when they’re out shopping. We reciprocate, walk more to the store, ride the bike with a newly installed carrier to accommodate a plastic carrier box. There are lots of simple and ingenious ideas that haven’t been brought fully into play.
This time, I hope you guys will stick to your “green” story. Harper’s team did so many mistake’s yet you guys constantly get distracted. Stay focus for once!
Sheila:
I read your comments with interest. I have the following comments for you to consider.
Firstly, on your point “The issue is one of trust, not one of science. You can find a scientist to prove any point of view that you want.” With respect, this is total nonsense. In fact, you can’t find a “scientist” to prove any point you want. At best, you can hire a “scientist” to argue a point (usually a retired “scientist” on the payroll of an industry sponsored “think tank”). Proof, particularly scientific proof, is quite difficult to manufacture and defend against scrutiny. This is why their is very little debate in the scientific community concerning human induced “climate change” – the climate change deniers (a very few of which are in fact “scientists”) cannot bring forward much significant scientific proof. The best the “climate change deniers” have thus far done is criticize the work of others. I should also point out that an overwhelming majority of their criticism has been so unprofessional and unscientific in nature that very few have ever been published in peer reviewed scientific journals.
As to your second point “Does big brother government know best, or do individuals not also have some intelligence in being allowed to make their own decisions?”.
Personally, I have never understood why people would be distrustful of a democratically elected government mandated to do what is best for “society”, but yet blindly trustful of unelected “individuals” who are only looking after their own interests? Point in fact, for most important matters we don’t trust “individuals” to make the “right” choices (i.e. the best choices for all of us). We don’t let “individuals” decide for themselves how fast they can drive on the highway, or what “chemicals” they can put in our food. Indeed, the fact that you and I lock our doors at night is proof that we do not trust the “individual” to do the right thing. Likewise, in the case of the Wheat Board, the government, elected by the people (including farmers) have decided that they do not trust the “individual” not to undermine the best interests of wheat farmers and consumers. The fact that some “individual” (i.e. corporate) wheat “farmers” may wish to argue that they can make better decisions is besides the point – they will make better decisions FOR THEMSELVES, not for society as a whole. Their decisions, however, can dramatically, and negatively, impact the remaining wheat farmers. Of course those “individuals” will make the “best decision” – for themselves. Who other than government, being the only group elected by the people, has either the moral authority or resources to make the “best decisions” for ALL OF US?
Just a thought.
As I have said before (and written a book about)… – Garth
You wrote a book?
Titanic has hit the berg . All men on deck ! We have to shuffle the lounging chairs before we go under .
Giving that unelected bozo Fortier any kind of cabinet post is a slap in the face to all Canadians .
Flaherty is left to count what is left in the Piggy bank .
Great idea .
Baba Rum Raisen strikes again.
- Men With Hats
Hey Jackie…
Must be time to take your pills!
It’s about the economy.
Never lose sight of that.
Domestically, we have to continue to held the Harper Consrvatives responsible for their record and performance.
We have to hold them responsible for everything.
Dion is a real statesman. If anyone can pull this country in the right direction, He can.
By ML on 06.25.08 2:24 pm
Well said ML – nice post. I did not know M. Dion until the leadership convention; then I started to read about what he went through defending Canada.
There is no arrogance but a very strong determination. I have to admit I wanted a summer election. I had spent too many hours watching QP driving my blood pressure up.
But the patient fly fisherman understood something we failed to recognize – it’s too important. I have to say when he’s speaks about climate change and our challenge his passion comes to light.
It’s still a steep climb but he is fighting for the best in us.
I wonder if our P.M. understands that this is about hope not fear. I can see the manipulation from the Conservatives.
We have under estimated M. Dion. I think Mr. Harper has underestimated Canadians.
Garth, do you have an example of an utterly pointless comment. Maybe let one of Barry’s through so we can see just how off the wall he is?
Gord.
By Gord G. on 06.25.08 2:45 pm
Just read a few of Harry’s Gord, you’ll get the idea…LMAO…
I always get a chuckle about people that say Canada has no Navy.
When you ask them how many war ships Canada has, they give you the I dunnow answer, maybe 2.
The reality is Canada has 32 warships and has had them for years.
As a matter of fact the Liberals initiated the Leadmark 2020 project that is quite comprehensive.
I think if you look at this carefully you will see that this latest Conservative discussion about the additional monies for the military is an extension of the already in place Liberal Plan (Leadmark 2020)from 4 or 5 years ago.
This plan is several hundred pages and is very thorough.
http://www.navy.dnd.ca/leadmark/doc/index_e.asp
BY SUE ON 06.25.08 2:38 PM
Right on, Sue.
The wealthy are a burden
http://www.acreativerevolution.ca/node/1078
and so is this neo-con cabinet. Is that guy purposely sticking his tongue out at us or at Stevie?
“We believe that the market is in equilibrium. The price is disconnected from fundamentals. It is not a problem of supply,” Khelil said.
Speculators are greedy soul sucking bastards with no social conscience .
By Men With Hats on 06.25.08 2:51 pm
Please I made my living that way for many years…don’t you think every Canadian Bank is speculating?
Once you start counting people’s use of “going forward”, “regime”, and “the right thing to do” you realize how deeply certain concepts have been psychologically embedded
By PECKED TO DEATH BY DUCKS 1:17PM
_____________________________________
Pecked,
I started working for a U.S. company 20 years ago – right away there was a booklet of buzzwords we had to use in morning meetings. You’d laugh hearing the managers competing to see how many times they could fit in obligatory phrases, like: “at the end of the day” or “think outside the box”. They fell over themselves trying to ‘belong’, obey and please the overlords, like dogs doings tricks.
I noted the subservient behavior but I couldn’t perform. I was a bit older, and knew better than to shame and betray myself.
Then 10 years ago those buzzwords became popular culture. I knew we were in trouble.
By SUE on 06.25.08 2:38 pm
Gord, Sue said shit.
By ML on 06.25.08 2:24 pm
OH yes…the House is in recess. Don’t you guys go on vacation about now? L
Dear Garth
So I thought what are we going to do for all those people in our country suffering from runaway costs? Under the current government we are boxed into market forces – and no help. Gas prices, new heating prices for electricity, natural gas, heating oil, food this is the perfect storm for middle and low income people and of course seniors.
Now today it is stark but what happens next January – in the coldest month of the year? Costs rise substantially for heating, food and I suspect gasoline. I think we need to anticipate the strain of what is happening now and react to the January future and answer what can we do?
I know it is short term but people live for today and react to what is happening to them now. So I wonder has M. Dion thought about now – that is next January?
By sheila on 06.25.08 2:09 pm,
The Wheat Board is not just “government.” It has members elected by farmers. The government prohibited those members from debating the issue and fired members who publicly took a position. That is not fair nor democratic but not surprising when it comes to the culture of the new Conservatives.
During the merger they used party funds to promote the merger and prohibited anyone from accessing membership lists or funds in order to promote the opposing view. They used the money that was collected to promote the rebuilding of the Progressive Conservative Party to promote their side and refused to return the money of those who did not want to financially support the new party and its hard right wing ideology.
Just remember that when your friendly right wing farmers start looking for government handouts when they discover that they cannot compete with the government subsidized U.S. competition you better be willing to tell them that they made their choice and have to live with it even if it means losing the farm.
Remember that there will be no “choice” because once the Wheat Board is gone there will be no choice but to deal in a global market with basically three buyers who control the market. These middlemen will co-opt most of the profit.
These companies are behind the push to get rid of the Wheat Board and there is no doubt they have convinced some farmers to support their position through a well financed propaganda campaign.
Re: Toxic Tomatoes. The media stopped reporting on the serious illnesses when it hit 400. The reason they cannot trace the origin is because it is these same conglomerates that are building world food monopolies (thanks to free trade) that source the product from all over the globe and pack it in their ‘brand’ boxes in various locations. The box all has the same printing regardless of where the product actually came from.
Enter the Ontario/Canadian farmer. We have to have 100% traceability of our product. If there is ever (which there hasn’t been in over 20 years) a problem with my product, I can tell you by name who on my staff handled it, exactly when it was harvested, exactly when it was shipped and not only the field it was harvested from but pinpoint the section of the field it came from. That is part of my mandatory food safety program.
The conglomerates exploit the poor by buying from the source that has the cheapest forced labour going. They also do not have the cost of implementing any food safety standards and can use any chemical that has ever been made which again cuts costs dramatically.
That imported tomato is hard because it is picked green to endure the thousands of miles it often has to travel to get to your market. On the way it is gassed to force it to turn red and often depending on the country of origin it is also fumigated to kill any bugs that may be riding along. ON the more sensitive products that are subject to spoilage easier, they may be radiated to kill all bacteria to force it to stay ‘fresh looking’. Cool eh?
About 10 years ago a huge corporation out of California called and wanted to pay us a friendly visit. Of course we obliged. They wanted us to pack our product in their boxes and felt that we should be honoured and happy to accept the pittance they were offering. We refused and before the representative left, he warned us “we don’t mind if you sell a small amount of this product, but if you get too big we will be all over you.” There was no way that our beautiful Ontario product was going to go in a box that said ‘Product of U.S.A.
Anyway, you get the idea.
Leasa
“In other words, I encourage anyone to buy yourself one of these marvels. You’ll get a lot more out of your computer time, and Harper will hate you for knowing even more.”
BY BARB THE PROOF-READER ON 06.25.08 1:04 PM
From one apple user to another, Barb…you hit the nail on the head.
Also wanted to highlight the discussion about marketing and advertising having an impact on how we make purchases. Apple would be the leader in the computer market were it not for being buried by Gates gargantuan marketing. Goes to show that we should make independent purchasing decisions based on consumer reports and experience. Sure apples cost more than lemons, but the resulting ease of use saves time and money.
Now Gates is using his billions to pretend to be a philanthropist – all the while he’s joined up with the Rockefellers, Monsanto et al to control world food supply with their Seed Bank in the arctic. Magnificent marketing to be viewed as a philanthropist while creating a worldwide monopoly in seeds!
Supporting local small producers and heritage seeds movement will be the only way to combat this monopoly.
C. B. Innes, I was referring to the fact that you called PMSH a dictator for wanting to challenge a judge’s ruling on the Canadian Wheat Board, when, in this case, what he is standing up for is freedom of choice, not one non-negotiable political point of view.
By sheila on 06.25.08 2:09 pm
What Stephen Harper is challenging is the judge’s ruling that he could not prevent the members of the Wheat Board from taking part in the campaign to get rid of it.
You either don’t understand the issue or you are trying to distort it.
Stephen Harper silenced those best able to present the position of the Wheat Board to farmers. He dictated the terms of the referendum and who could participate in the debate. That is being a dictator.
Where and when did the PM say he was not moving any members? I recallre said most Ministers were hittingtheir stride and a big change wanst necessary. Your distortion of his words just proves that you are as political as everybody else and your claims of not spinning are.. well misguided at best.
In Saskatoon Friday. Look it up. — Garth
By brain on 06.25.08 1:08 pm
Brain,
Thank you for one of the most comprehensive, yet concise, summary of Harper’s performance. It is chock full of verifiable information.
You never cease to amaze.
Bernanke didn’t move rates, ‘threat of inflation from stronger economy’.
All the numbers are pointing to stagflation and recession.
Is anyone else as surprised?
In other words, I encourage anyone to buy yourself one of these marvels. You’ll get a lot more out of your computer time, and Harper will hate you for knowing even more.
By barb the proof-reader on 06.25.08 1:04 pm
So, Barb, did you buy a Mac?
Unfortunately, over the years I have lost most of my computer knoweledge. I just haven’t kept up. Thankfully DH is an IT professional so he sets everything up for me, most of our family & friends. I never have a virus & rarely an unwanted email. My youngest bro is a Mac lover.
Just read a few of Harry’s Gord, you’ll get the idea…LMAO…
By jwp on 06.25.08 4:05 pm
Actually, Harry’s comments make it through, I’m interested in seeing what get’s deleted.
Gord.
“One more thing if the GREEN SH*T PLAN is so good why didnt you Liberals bring down the Government and take it to the PEOPLE?
ROD
By rod on 06.25.08 2:12 am”
Dion is too smart to play into Harper’s agenda. By introducing the Green Shift now, and using the summer for discussion, debate, input and concensus Dion not only compliments the intelligence of Canadians, he can also demonstrate how a REAL leader raises critical issues with the public.
Wait until the fall… Dion has staked out his turf with his integrated Green Shift plan that integrates environmental, social justice, and economic policy. It is a masterful piece of work that is gaining more and more support each day across the country.
Harper is doing his typical pouting, stomping feet routine, and has gone into hiding and will not debate Dion one-on-one…he knows Dion’s plan is far superior to anything that the Conservatives have created over the past 2.5 years of their ‘do nothing’ tenure in office.
Dion will pick his time in the fall. If we are lucky maybe Elections Canada will conclude their initial investigation, discover cause, and bring in the RCMP to file criminal charges against various Conservative Party members this summer.
An action like that would trigger an election as soon as the HOC resumes in the fall.
Harper’s cabinet shuffle today was a non issue. He has left Dim Jim where he was and really did not elevate Prentice. That suggests to me that Harper knows that the knives are beginning to come out in the shadows around him. Prentice is the best person the Conservatives have…and one of the few somewhat independent voices left. As such, Prentice is the only real contender for the Conservative leadership should the quiet ‘dump Harper’ movement pick up steam.
Herr Harper is worried alright…. the little dictator will soon get what all little dictators get…. a boot out the door.
Why is Stephane Dion so pig headed? What’s he trying to prove? Maurice Strong may be proud of his latest protege – but most of us see him for what he is – and it’s not positive.
By Catherine on 06.25.08 4:53 am
….Catherine – speaking for others now? How arrogant of you.
Sheila: Do you really think there will be freedom is the huge American conglomerats get the say? Do you not think there’s a reason that former Australian PM (right-wing conservative) told the US to rub salt when the “US asked” Australia to dismantle its wheat board? Wake up. Oh, by the way, it was a Conservative government that set up the Wheat Board many years ago….interesting.
Gee Garth, what a way to debate – calling you names and attack and attack – how impressive.
Harry S – you’re trying to get people riled up – it’s so obvious. Iggy talking about immigration is sensible. You can’t have every member of caucus talking about the same thing, one thing only – that would be dumb.
At least the Liberals are well versed and understand different topics. Can’t say that for the CPC caucus….all they can say is what Harper tells them to say…pretty pitiful.
Lease – I agree about buying Ontario – we do as much as we can, but we also need to buy Canadian – it’s only fair.
C. B. Innes, I was referring to the fact that you called PMSH a dictator for wanting to challenge a judge’s ruling on the Canadian Wheat Board, when, in this case, what he is standing up for is freedom of choice, not one non-negotiable political point of view.
By sheila on 06.25.08 2:09 pm
What Stephen Harper is challenging is the judge’s ruling that he could not prevent the members of the Wheat Board from taking part in the campaign to get rid of it.
You either don’t understand the issue or you are trying to distort it.
Stephen Harper silenced those best able to present the position of the Wheat Board to farmers. He dictated the terms of the referendum and who could participate in the debate. That is being a dictator.
By C. B. Innes on 06.25.08 4:56 pm
CBI – rational people understand what you say but, as I said to someone earlier today, they are wasting their time trying to debate with Sheila. If she were told by Harper that black is white, she would not question the statement. She is ‘totally’ indoctrinated (brainwashed).
From Wikipedia
Noam Chomsky remarks, “For those who stubbornly seek freedom, there can be no more urgent task than to come to understand the mechanisms and practices of indoctrination. These are easy to perceive in the totalitarian societies, much less so in the system of ‘brainwashing under freedom’ to which we are subjected and which all too often we serve as willing or unwitting instruments.”[2]
Robert Jay Lifton argues[3] that the objective of phrases or slogans like “blood for oil,” or “cut and run,” is not to continue reflective conversations but to replace them with emotionally appealing phrases. This technique is called the thought-terminating cliché.
garth refers to the racist reformers? that is absolute crap with no basis.
we should put ’slimy’ in front of the word politician from now on!
the reform party was the least slimy!
Tell Reformers Pierre Poilievre and Tom Lukiwski. — Garth
I see Harry is tripping on the Brown Acis again. Iggy is going to cross the floor eh Harry? Must be true because Harry thinks so. So what do say Unoho, Observant, Haary S, you tripping again?
Hey Harry, exactly how many socket puppets do you use? And haven’t tried to post that silly photoshop of yours here?
Come on Harry, stop hiding, stand proud and tell us who you are, or are you just another gutless/spineless CPC Trollie?
Please I made my living that way for many years…don’t you think every Canadian Bank is speculating?
By jwp on 06.25.08 4:19 pm
Okay,however this does not excuse the speculator/speculative industry .
Everyone knows bank profits are tremendous and out of whack in comparison to the services provided .
“Members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have agreed in large part that speculators in the commodities market are the culprits for skyrocketing costs.
“We believe that the market is in equilibrium. The price is disconnected from fundamentals. It is not a problem of supply,” Khelil said.
Western powers however have mainly blamed inadequate oil supply in the market for higher energy prices.
So it is not only my POV .
“It is Harper that is trying to trample the decisions of farmers as expressed by their duly elected board members.
By TS on 06.25.08 9:38 am
TS, its a waste of time trying to reason with the likes of Sheila. She is totally indoctrinated in her total free market approach a la Repugs (and Harper’s gang) in the US who supported Bush & many who still do, even tho the Repug policies were constrary to their best interests.
By kpn on 06.25.08 10:03 am”
Thanks KPN…. you’re right of course! I suppose it’s not so much trying to present anything logical to folks like Sheila, Catherine, Harry S., Janice and the other Conservative trolls that spew their slime in the blog… it’s more to express a reasoned point of view so that infrequent visitors to Garth’s blog don’t take anything that the trolls say seriously.
By DEB PROTHERO 4:50 PM
Hi Deb,
I agree 100 percent on all points. I enjoy your posts, BTW.
I was a bit surprised (shouldn’t be by now) to find Bill had hooked up with the Rockers, and I pondered but dismissed if he’d had good-ulterior motives.. realized he had Melinda going to the annual Bilderberger meetings. Well, I guess money and power and monopolies always corrupt. We’ve been told that all our lives. And, we know it instinctively, we see it every day.. so why do we still fall for it all. Stuck I guess. We are measurably the dumbest animals. Me too, because it WAS those fantastic Mac ads that grabbed me, but thank goodness, because the Mac is the best purchase I’ve ever made. My second problem with me, is that I’m on my way to …… Walmart. Shame on me. I haven’t recycled yet today either.
(but I am going in order to buy my own tomato plant.. hmm, probably from Bill’s seeds)
two guys in a young party make the whole racist?
what is your excuse for sheila copps and svend robinson? a liar and a thief! are all liberals liars and thieves?
Both your guys are sitting MPs. Both were defended by their leader. And since when was Mr. Robinson a Liberal? — Garth
Hey Harry, exactly how many socket puppets do you use? And haven’t tried to post that silly photoshop of yours here?
Come on Harry, stop hiding, stand proud and tell us who you are, or are you just another gutless/spineless CPC Trollie?
By Zorpheous on 06.25.08 5:52 pm
…………….
I urge every denizen of this fine forum to visit your colourful and lively blog to see what is not posted here.
Go here to see it all:
http://www.haloscan.com/comments/zorpheous/3097281157965744625/
(Btw .. it’s not my photoshop)
garth refers to the racist reformers? that is absolute crap with no basis.
we should put ’slimy’ in front of the word politician from now on!
the reform party was the least slimy!
Tell Reformers Pierre Poilievre and Tom Lukiwski. — Garth
By warren f on 06.25.08 5:49 pm
Wolfgang Droege ran several meetings for the Reformers in Ontario(Toronto)in the early 80’s .
In 1992, Droege’s connections with racist organizations led to his expulsion from the Reform Party of Canada.
Like attracts like to my mind .
Droege was later murdered in a love triangle killing .
Leasa, I am curious from a purely technical standpoint how you accomplish the degree of traceability that you’ve described (something I’d like to add to my toolkit of interesting-yet-little-known facts to disperse at parties and family gatherings). The little stickers that one finds on produce nowadays don’t seem to contain anything more than a product code to assist the cashier – certainly not as much as say a barcode or RFID tag, and if such more complete tags were placed on a flat or one of those large crates of apples, I would think that such containers would hold items from heterogeneous sources within a farmer’s overall operation. Furthermore, once unpacked at the grocers, any degree of traceability would be further diluted. As a youth, I’ve picked tomatoes, strawberries, peppers, and the like to earn pocket money, and as you’ve described, things have certainly advanced.
As for the radiation, etc., I can accept use of that to kill such things as bugs in grain and E-coli on produce, but the gassing to colourize tomatoes crosses my line. We have had a conversation on tomatoes in the past, and I am happy to report that I’ve now found a tasty domestic brand that competes with the flavourful Israeli organics that I had been buying, and according to the label, is grown almost within my mother’s own back yard. In my books, taste beats aesthetics every time!
By KPN 5:36 PM
Hi KPN,
It was after a long battle with Norton/Symantec. I spent 22 hours on the phone with India.
With the new Mac it (for now) doesn’t need antivirus. And it does everything so easily. It’s fast, and leaves me unstressed. I never read a manual.. learned intuitively. The Mac teaches you what do do. No more frustrations. It even tells jokes and reads to me!
I like to save stuff, too, and I’m finding I don’t hesitate to save and file.. not only that, but it retrieves my notes fast. The best part – I can make any type bigger with a click.
Ain’t it great to have summer weather? Okay, NOW I’m off to the store.
Stephen Harper silenced those best able to present the position of the Wheat Board to farmers. He dictated the terms of the referendum and who could participate in the debate. That is being a dictator.
By C. B. Innes on 06.25.08 4:56 pm
Is it just me or does anybody else here think C.B. should move to South Korea and find out what a real dictator is like? Get a grip on life there buddy, your starting to lose perspective.
Gord.
Anyway, you get the idea.
Leasa
By Leasa on 06.25.08 4:50 pm
I definitely do Leasa. I was on a gardening list for about 15 years and understand what is happening in the industry. Some of the gardeners were journalists, some scientists, etc. & we discussed GMO, Monsanto and big agri business. Its encouraging to hear that there are increasingly more people supporting locally grown foods. I know it might not be commercially viable, but I’d love to see more heritage tomatoes offered by farmers. They are so much tastier than the hybridized onces. Next spring I’m going back to growing my own heritage tom plants. I used to keep seeds from one year to the next. I usually buy my seeds from Pine Tree Garden Seeds in Maine because they offer small quantities, at a good price, for a home gardener.
Lets all wishe for a good gardening season.
Too many Gords . We have Gord D.,Gord G .and just plain ol’ Gord .No offense Gord.
. . . Just the right amount of sex.
Reminds me of the Emerson, Lake and Palmer song — “Still, You Turn Me On”!
****************************************
It would be interesting to know where the individual wealth was increasing. —
Leasa, 7:33 am
Hello Leasa.
My guess is that the rich are becoming a lot more filthy rich, as the middle class sinks into the poorhouse and shortly, will vanish forever.
Witness the lolly given to the Cdn. and US current crop of CEOs, CFOs etc.
****************************************
The issue is one of trust, . . . sheila, 2:03 pm
Without any shadow of doubt whatsoever, harpo has consistently proven, time and time again, he can never, ever be trusted. NEVER. The same holds true of CRAP.
Jim Travers’ column today is an example of this — “PM confusing bullying with leadership”.
Not quite. harpo knows precisely what he is doing, and now realizes that his dream of a majority govt. is one that will never materialize, so he has nothing to lose — he may as well put us into a fiscal abyss.
Cdns. all over are waking up to the fact this country is fast becoming a ‘ratshit country’ (halfwit hairy’s moniker); all the Libs. need do is accentuate what changes can and should be made, instead of spending $1.2 bln. / year on maintaining our troops in pointless wars in Iraq and Af’stan — just like dubya has done.
****************************************
For now, last but not least — El Joko
TEACHER’S BUCKWHEAT?
A teacher in a one-room school house arrives one morning to find a nice red apple on her desk with a tag tied to it saying T.O.T.
Knowing that she had some not-so-nice pranksters in her class, she cautiously asked ‘Can someone explain what T.O.T. means?’
Mary in the front row raised her hand to explain it means ‘To Our Teacher.’
The next morning the teacher finds a bigger and prettier apple than the day before. This time there is a tag with T.O.T.W.L. written on it.
She asks for an explanation for this note and little Johnny waves his hand to explain ‘That means ‘To Our Teacher With Love’.
The next morning she arrives to find a great big watermelon sitting on her desk with a tag saying ‘F.U.C.K.’
Her jaw drops and she screams, ‘Who can explain this?’
Little Buckwheat in the back row raises his hand and says, dat means ‘From Us Colored Kids’.
So…it’s a great challenge by Dion. One that Harper will ignore. And, it’s one that will enhance Dion’s image. If the debate happens, Dion will win… and Harper knows it.
By TS on 06.25.08 9:47 am
I believe you are wrong because Dion’s record as a debater is lousy. You just have to go back to the leadership debates to determine his lack of debating ability especially in English. He sure the hell didn’t win for his debating skills. On the contrary, the only reason he did win the leadership was the push to prevent Ignatieff from winning. I often wonder now how many Liberals regret that tactic. Besides Dion is still not a popular leader especially in his home province of Quebec about the only thing that is keeping the polls close is the Liberal brand itself. I would even say that the Liberals would be considerable in the lead if either Ignatieff or Rae were leader. Perhaps this will happen after the upcoming election.
you disavow svend. i don’t blame you.
calling someone a racist is a serious slur, very difficult to defend. i do not not know what those guys did to be called racist.
all i know is that i am in no way a racist and i supported the reform party.
i am also against multi culturalism, but i guess that makes me a racist? wanting to protect my heritage? wanting to protect wages and my culture?
the globalists have a very firm grip on all the politician’s nuts!
I do not disavow Mr. Robinson. He simply was never a Liberal. As for you, just wanting to protect your heritage and being against multiculturalism would, I say, make you an outstanding Reformer. — Garth
Stephen Harper silenced those best able to present the position of the Wheat Board to farmers. He dictated the terms of the referendum and who could participate in the debate. That is being a dictator.
By C. B. Innes on 06.25.08 4:56 pm
Is it just me or does anyone else here think C.B. should move to North Korea and find out what a real dictator acts like.
Gord.
Enron is still reverberating through the markets long after its demise . The 2,000, loophole, enacted under strong lobbying by the Enron trading company before its spectacular collapse, exempted energy traders who deal electronically from US regulation against price manipulation.
Traders were allowed to deal in oil without taking physical possession of the commodity, so US speculators have since been able to rapidly buy and sell futures contracts on electronic markets run out of London and Dubai.
According to New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, a former boss of Wall Street titan Goldman Sachs, the real price of oil based on the laws of supply and demand should be 60-80 dollars a barrel — rather than nearly 140 dollars.
The Enron loophole was dealt with partially in a recently passed Farm Bill, but Obama said he would go further by requiring all US oil contracts to be traded on regulated exchanges where suspected manipulation can be monitored.
The position staked out by Democrats put them in alliance with Saudi Arabia and other producers of the OPEC cartel, who argue that unregulated speculators are the driving force behind rocketing oil prices.
After announcing a Saudi output boost at an emergency energy summit in Jeddah, King Abdullah Sunday railed against speculators,
McCain’s campaign said the Republican had already backed legislative action against speculative trading, which had failed to get through the Senate, and pointed to a speech he gave in Houston last Tuesday.
McCain had said the “reckless wagering” of traders and hedge funds could “distort the market, drive prices beyond rational limits, and put the investments and pensions of millions of Americans at risk.”
“Where we find such abuses, they need to be swiftly punished,”
Is it just me or does anyone else here think C.B. should move to North Korea and find out what a real dictator acts like.
Gord.
By Gord G. on 06.25.08 6:49 pm
Right after you move to Mynamar .
Well if Dion ever becomes PM he will certainly expedite your doomsday prediction with his “tax on everything.”
That otta sell your books and make you happy.
By Janice on 06.25.08 12:05 am
Maybe you could enlighten us on what kind of plan you could support with the costing of such?
For example the CPC is planning to regulate emissions, would you support that? If so, what costs do you anticipate those who are regulated would pass on to the consumer, if any?
I can understand your reluctance to embrace the plan by Mr. Dion, but what would you support in it’s place?
By jwp on 06.25.08 9:04 am
Comments are deleted that are vile, vulgar or utterly pointless. — Garth
No they aren’t. You delete those that disagree with you but your allies’ you certainly don’t. Try reading a few, like men with hats. You can’t say his aren’t vile and vulgar or actually have a point.
If I deleted points of view I disagree with, you would be less than a cloud of electrons. — Garth
By Janice on 06.25.08 11:09 am
I see about 2 hours after I asked you questions you have the time to take shots at Garth…maybe today you could answer the questions I posed to you at 9:04 am…Thank you.
By jwp on 06.25.08 12:33 pm
THIS IS MY THIRD REQUEST TO YOU, JANICE, WOULD YOU PLEASE ANSWER MY QUESTIONS IN MY 9:04AM POST WHICH I HAVE INCLUDED HERE FOR YOU.
Is it just me or does anyone else here think C.B. should move to North Korea and find out what a real dictator acts like.
Gord.
By Gord G. on 06.25.08 6:49 pm
To be honest Gord, C.B. is the most balanced and fair poster I have found on this site. If we were all as fair, and I admit I am not, we would all be more non partisan. I would suggest if you took a poll from both CPC supporters and Liberal supporter, I think you would find they agree with me.
Have you seen the little piggies
Crawling in the dirt?
And for all the little piggies
Life is getting worse
Always having dirt to play around in
Have you seen the bigger piggies
In their starched white shirts?
You will find the bigger piggies
Stirring up the dirt
Always have clean shirts to play around in
In their styes with all their packing
They don’t care what goes on around
In their lives there’s something lacking
What they need’s a damn good whacking
Everywhere there’s lots of piggies
Living piggy lives
You can see them out for dinner
With their piggy wives
Clutching forks and knives to eat their bacon .
Beatles White Album
Why is Stephane Dion so pig headed? What’s he trying to prove? Maurice Strong may be proud of his latest protege – but most of us see him for what he is – and it’s not positive.
By Catherine on 06.25.08 4:53 am
Catherine, I assume you mean cons. I, and many others do not agree with your assessment.
By kpn on 06.25.08 9:14 am
And I and many others don’t agree with Stephane Dion’s tax grab.
Anyway – Stephane Dion has had many, many chances to debate his opponents – it’s called an election. And what did Stephane Dion do – why he sat on his hands.
And do you know who the architect was of the UN Kyoto Protocol – it was Maurice Strong. And Maurice Strong makes his home in China. And Maurice Strong is the Liberals’ godfather.
When someone who governs Canada is not open to understand Canadians frustration – who are you? It begs the question has Stephen Harper understood Canada outside of Alberta?
You can play to your base but you need to make new inroads to people that are honest and sincere.
I think it is interesting that the P.M. is not polling well with women.
In the 2006 election the offer of a $ 100 per month child care credit appealed to stay at home mothers and working mothers. Not opening up the books on the program, Mr. Harper introduced a taxable baby bonus that does not address child care. But he did promise corporate daycare spaces. Women are still waiting.
The Prime Minister needs to understand the difference between truth and consequences.
Women understand the difference between truth and lies. They deal with that raising their kids every day. If these truths become evident we cannot ignore that his policy not only undermines child poverty but child care at the root level.
I have seen a lot of conversation about wealth transfer and a huge protest for stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Stealing? To me, it raises the spectre of the Dickens novel of the scrooge who valued money over the value of human suffering.
I guess what I read today that was most disturbing, that pillar of Conservative opinion, the Western Standard comment not about the plan, but somehow Canadians buying into the Green Shift plan would support welfare recipients; those that do not pull their weight and don’t deserve it. (To paraphrase as their unabridged thoughts were bigoted).
I don’t understand that one could look at the Green Shift plan and criticize it because it transfers a small amount of wealth to those who need it most. You now seniors, middle and lower incomer earners.
Their view is so greedy. I cannot understand their attitude. And by the way, it does not play well with women Mr. Harper.
Right after you move to Mynamar .
By Men With Hats on 06.25.08 7:03 pm
Ah, the military angle, is that why the CONS are still in office, the Libs are afraid of Hillier and Dallaire?
Gord.
“Who other than government, being the only group elected by the people, has either the moral authority or resources to make the “best decisions” for ALL OF US?
“Just a thought.” –By elias on 06.25.08 3:53 pm
You mean to tell me that the government that you trash consistently, the only group resently elected by the people, is making the best decisions for ALL OF US?
Huh?
You say, “They are not using the moral authority and resources that they have properly.” Precisely my point.
Are you referring to a government that you approve of that comes in through the democratic process, or ANY government.
Your statement did not make that clear.
We have cries of “dictatorship” all over the place here about our elected government to whom who ascribe ultimate authority.
I don’t put any government on that pedestal, because all power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Yet you are willing to give all ultimate authority to the state?
If you want a civilized society
Man with Hats,
“… the real price of oil based on the laws of supply and demand should be 60-80 dollars a barrel — rather than nearly 140 dollars.”
Thanks for that citation. It’s nice to have one’s lay suspicions confirmed by someone who has worked in the field and knows the score.
if i go to a different country i respect their customs, no arguments. now when immigrants come to canada we are forced, by law, to respect their customs! who is behind this campaign?
third world workers will work like hell for little money because they do not have that opportunity in their native country. can canadians compete? what does that do to wages across the board? remember the good old days when people had a steady job, women didn’t have to work, children were raised by the parents, and you could afford a home (with little property tax)?
why is it so important for canada’s population to increase through immigration? to decrease wages? to create more pollution? to use up more arable land for housing? to dilute the canadian culture? to pay more taxes?
we have been sold out in a massive way.
We were all immigrants. Get over it. — Garth
By warren f on 06.25.08 7:28 pm
Hate to tell you Warren but the people of Canada are behind this, you may not agree but you are obviously in the minority otherwise we would be the racist country you would like to see!
Tell me what kind of people would fit into your Canada, all white, all from England? Would you ban Irish? Where do the native people fit in your Canada?
I guess according to you, they are the only ones entitled to live here and we must all follow their customs…
In the 2006 election the offer of a $ 100 per month child care credit appealed to stay at home mothers and working mothers. Not opening up the books on the program, Mr. Harper introduced a taxable baby bonus that does not address child care. But he did promise corporate daycare spaces. Women are still waiting.
By Bonnie N BC on 06.25.08 7:13 pm
The Libs sweetened the pot and added a $350.00 child tax credit, I didn’t see anything about universal child care in the plan though.
I remember voting for the libs in 2 elections when my kids were small, they got majorities and yet failed to follow through on any of it. I now realize it’s an impossible task, universal child care is one of those things that the Libs were using to get themselves elected, looks like Garth has them looking at other solutions now.
I don’t think the Green Shift is going to be any easier to implement than the universal child care thingy was, but I do fear it will drive me into the poor house.
Gord.
By sheila on 06.25.08 7:22 pm
Two questions:
1. Will you support an Independent government in Canada.
2. Are you by chance Harry’s wife?
Anyway – Stephane Dion has had many, many chances to debate his opponents – it’s called an election. And what did Stephane Dion do – why he sat on his hands.
And do you know who the architect was of the UN Kyoto Protocol – it was Maurice Strong. And Maurice Strong makes his home in China. And Maurice Strong is the Liberals’ godfather.
By Catherine on 06.25.08 7:11 pm
I thought questions posed by Opposition parties in the HoC were supposed to be answered by the governing party. I guess you haven’t paid attention Catherine. None of your conbot heads will respond with an honest answer. Their only answer is to lie and smear anyone who dares ask them a question, or blame the liberals for their inadequacies. They are an embarrassment to Canadians. So much for their transparancy, accountability, etc. They have proven in 2.5 yrs to be far worse than the Libs were during their last 13 yrs in power. If you don’t believe me, read what even the con papers are saying about their undemocratic and nasty tactics.
I know Catherine, your just another brainwashed Harperite.
I urge every denizen of this fine forum to visit your colourful and lively blog to see what is not posted here.
Harry, why should they visit my blog? They can easily see that you’re an idiot here without having to visit my place. I also have no need or desire to steal hits from Garth’s Place.
The other questions still remain Harry;
1) how many sock puppets do you use to troll the blogosphere?
2) why don’t you post your link to that photo you try to slop off at my place here.
Come on Harry, stop hiding. stand tall and tell us who you are. Or is it that you really are ashamed of your behavour and actions and feel the need to hide?
my grandfathers were irish and english, grandmothers were american and irish. that is the basis of what canada is/was.
we are all africans when it comes to word games.
Like I said, you make an outstanding Reformer. — Garth
Green Shift cartoon funny.
http://www.torontosun.com/Comment/home.html
We were all immigrants.
Don’t thinkso a few of us were actually born in Canada, witch makes us Canadians not immigrants.
Immigrants are Canadians, too. — Garth
This will give a much clearer understanding of Af’stan. Rest of comments from whatreallyhappened.com; capitals are mine.
“Any sane occupying government’s military would declare victory and leave.
“Unfortunately, sanity is not one of the qualities by which the Bush administration will be judged by history (NEITHER IS HARPER’S).
“What might work, at least to some degree, would be an outreach to, and rapprochement with, the Taliban, because that is the only road to peace in this country.
“It is the logical, sensible thing to do, which is why the US rejects this approach out of hand.”
http://tinyurl.com/4qzuht
****************************************
Virginia hydro customers face 18% hike, natural gas 35%.
As well, chemical companies are jacking their rates up again.
http://tinyurl.com/3z2rdt
****************************************
Heard something this morning to the effect that a new rail line will run from Sask. to Prince Rupert, to transport and export potash worldwide.
Cost is around half a billion to get everything organized, but not too sure about the figures.
ooops spelling error
which instead of witch
sorry
Stephen Harper silenced those best able to present the position of the Wheat Board to farmers. He dictated the terms of the referendum and who could participate in the debate. That is being a dictator.
By C. B. Innes on 06.25.08 4:56 pm
Is it just me or does anyone else here think C.B. should move to North Korea and find out what a real dictator acts like.
Gord.
By Gord G. on 06.25.08 6:49 pm
We can be all thankful that we have a constitution and a court system that puts a check on dictators or we might end up in a similar situation to North Korea. The other checks and balances that are supposed to protect us from dictatorship have recently been failing, including our Parliament.
Gord G,
“Is it just me or does anyone else here think C.B. should move to North Korea and find out what a real dictator acts like.”
It’s just you.
What is it about le petit capuchin en vert that drives some of the posters here into splenetic spasms? – is it the possibility that he might just be incorruptible yet forgiving of others? Does he make the rest of us feel humbled by his quiet earnest demeanour? I can’t say I agree with every position he has taken, but I don’t sense an ounce of meanness in Mr. Dion.
Warren: Because we are not reproducing ourselves. Therefore immigration is necessary if you care to maintain the standard of living you are used to.
And by the way women didn’t have to work but many wanted to and were scorned.
If you and your partner only have 2 children all you have done is maintained the status quo. Look around and see all those couples who prefer not to reproduce–perhaps you would like a law that forces reproduction.
Catherine: And do you know who the architect is of this oil “crisis”–the instability throughout the Middle East?
And who makes his home in the biggest oil gluttons? Why it is George W. Bush, the Godfather of the Conservative Republican Party of Canada.
Libs are afraid of Hillier and Dallaire?
Gord.
By Gord G. on 06.25.08 7:18 pm
Hillier was appointed by the Liberals and Dllaire is a Liberal senator .
Your point is ?
Van: So if, as you state, Dion is such a lousy debater, why is Harper not anxious to have the debate?
Perhaps he knows his arguments are weak?
Perhaps he knows that Dion presented himself very well?
Perhaps he is afraid of losing?
To By sheila of 06.25.08 8:00 am
I’d go for option ‘C’: inept dictator.
We were all immigrants. Get over it. — Garth
By warren f on 06.25.08 7:28 pm
Without immigration Canada would have a zero growth rate .
For example, Canada’s natural growth rate is 0.3% while its overall growth rate is 0.9%, due to Canada’s open immigration policies. In the U.S., the natural growth rate is 0.6% and overall growth is 0.9%. The growth rate of a country provides demographers and geographers with a good contemporary variable for current growth and for comparison between countries or regions. For most purposes, the overall growth rate is the more frequently utilized.
The growth rate can be used to determine a country or region or even the planet’s “doubling time,” which tells us how long it will take for a country’s current population to double. This length of time is determined by dividing the growth rate into 70. The number 70 comes from the natural log of 2, which is .70.
Given Canada’s overall growth of 0.9% in the year 2006, we divide 70 by .9 (from the 0.9%) and yield a value of 77.7 years. Thus, in 2083, if the current rate of growth remains constant, Canada’s population will double from its current 33 million to 66 million.
However, if we look at the U.S. Census Bureau’s International Data Base Summary Demographic Data for Canada, we see that Canada’s overall growth rate is expected to decline to 0.6% by 2025. With a growth rate of 0.6% in 2025, Canada’s population would take about 117 years to double (70 / 0.6 = 116.666).
Hope this helps .
Harper looks quite proud of himself in the photo op with a BC Liberal MP and an unelected MP.
What a concept. So, now does this mean that you can be an MP without being a candidate on the voters’ ballot?
Democracy seems to be switching gears; this is what Harper forgot to tell us Canadians.
Don’t worry, be happy, Harper will find someone to fit his Ministries.
Maybe I still have a chance at being an MP.
Thanks for that citation. It’s nice to have one’s lay suspicions confirmed by someone who has worked in the field and knows the score.
By Herb on 06.25.08 7:25 pm
Welcome Herb .
By Judy on 06.25.08 8:46 pm
Hi Judy, If Mr. Dion was serious about wanting to debate, why is he refusing to debate Jack Layton and Liz May? He knows the Prime Minister is not going to spend his time debating campaign style while he has a country to run. It would be more appropriate for the leaders of the Opposition to thrash it out. Why is Mr. Dion refusing?
Leasa
Gee, because neither will ever run the country? Just guessing. — Garth
Hillier was appointed by the Liberals and Dllaire is a Liberal senator .
Your point is ?
By Men With Hats on 06.25.08 8:43 pm
Because that’s about as political as our military is ever going to get and you want to equate them with the Junta in Myanmar with Harper being the head honcho, wasn’t that what the Myanmar crack was all about?
Gord.
C. B. Innes, to say that the one who makes the wording of a referendum for farmers makes that person a dictator is absurd.
Would you say that the people who frame the wording of the polls that we are bombarded with continually are dictators?
You distort the whole exercise of giving greater autonomy and freedom for farmers with dictatorship. It is a complete distortion.
Why don’t you allow farmers to grow up?
You know as well as I know that maturity comes with the acceptance of responsibility. And people can only accept responsibility for decisions that they are allowed to make for themselves.
A parent who never allows his child to eventually make his or her own decisions keeps that child in a perpetual state of immaturity and childhood.
You cannot take responsibility where you have no authority. If you give a person or a group some responsibility, then they may make wrong decisions, that is true, but at leaast they will then learn from it, because they will have nobody to blame but themselves. They must take responsibility for that decision, and grow up.
What happens, though, when the state blunders in the decisions that it makes on behalf of others? Then the entire people who are never empowered to make decisions for themselves will clearly blame the government for their mistakes, causing others untold suffering by their blunders.
This is why we have become a nation of whiners, complainers who are constantly bitching and blaming others. We have given away so much of our authority to government to make decisions for us that we incessantly whine and complain, just like you do repeatedly here on this blog.
This is a sign of immaturity, and has nothing to do with taking responsibility and taking charge of your own life for a change, and quit looking to the government to be your ultimate solution to problems that it cannot solve, because all governments can do is legislate in a way that will help some, but often hurt and offend others.
We just saw a perfect example in the recent apology to the Native people owhere the government THOUGHT that they knew what was best for the Natives! What a tragic error and blunder that has caused untold suffering for thousands.
We are still picking up the pieces for this. For years, the government in Ottawa thought that they knew best, and would not even give the Native population a vote for many years, never mind make them a part of the decision-making process with the inherent right to self-determination.
It is time to grow up. The Native population wants self-determination like everybody else, and like many farmers want today. Who has the right to deny them this freedom to determine their destiny by the choices that they make?
This whole concept of the “Great White Father in Ottawa” has been a disaster, and you know it.
Similarly, with giving more autonomy to the provinces, and especially the giving of “nation” status to the Quebecois, we were told that this would mean the end of Canada if we give more autonomy to Quebec.
Now that the Quebecois have been acknowledged by Parliament to be a nation withing the nation of Canada, has the sky fallen in because the federal government gave up its monopoly?
Calling the Quebecois a “nation” within the nation of Canada has done more to defuse separatism in Canada than all of the centralized government approaches and the sponsorship programs that the Liberal party put together between 1993 and 2006.
Do you really think that centralized government is the answer to fulfill the deepest aspirations of the people groups within Canada?
It is only a free people who can mature, because a free people can make decisions for themselves, and take responsibility for those decisions.
Some people on this forum have compared me to Ayn Rand, but this is not the case. I am not calling for anarchy and chos. I am not saying we need no government, but I am saying that “they govern best who govern least.”
A strong society will be made up of a people who are self-governed, and who know how to control themselves, without depending upon the state to make all of their decisions from the cradle to the grave, or from the womb to the tomb.
Now many farmers are similarly simply asking for the right to determine their own strategy for marketing. If they err, they alone will bear the consequences, but that is how people mature, not by keeping them in a state of infancy and dependency all of their lives.
I pity people like yourself who incessantly whine and complain about government, and still advocate that we need a strong centralized government with monopolistic powers.
People will never grow up to become interdependent with such an approach.
Freedom is what makes life an adventure. People need to be allowed to dream, to explore, to be creative, to go beyond their present limitations, and to take responsibility for their decisions. That is what makes life an exciting adventure, and removes limitations on human potential.
That is the only way they will ever grow up, and stop blaming others, and start to achieve their full potential where the state becomes a servant rather than a master who makes all their decisions for them.
I work with people in the High Arctic, in fact the two most northern communities of Canada, Grise Fiord and Resolute Bay. The original peoples of those communities were relocated under an ill-advised relocation policy of the federal government back in 1953.
It was poorly planned and ill-conceived, but the government thought that they knew best for the Inuit who suffered immensely, especially in the 20 years or so after 1953, and some died of a broken heart because of a government bureaucrat’s blunder who thought he knew best.
The Inuit are now starting to be able to make their own decisions, with a level of autonomy with their own territorial government in Nunavut. For those who accept the challenge, their dreams can now become true, moreso than in the past when their lives were totally controlled by the govenment, and they had no decision-making power at all.
You know that these top-down approaches never work, and that the Great White Father in Ottawa is not the solution for everybody.
In fact the recent apology to the residential school victims is proof positive that the centralized government approach frequently errs, and causes untold suffering for others.
If people make mistakes, at least it will be their decisions, and they will have nobody else to blame. But if the government continues to insist on a monopoly power, they will continue to be blamed and to be criticized like we are seeing an epidemic of because our people are not free and responsible enough.
This Wheat Board issue is just one micocosm of a much larger issue, which we can see clearly is whether strong governments are centralized with a top-down approach, or whether they empower people to make decisions, and de-centralize power as much as possible in an interdependent world where we all recognize that our own success is dependent on working together and taking responsibility, not in blaming Ottawa for everything because they decide far to much already, and control too much of our everyday lives.
The Liberal approach is to centralize power, and that got us nowhere. And you want to return to that?
Anyone who voices support for the Harper government obviously is totally lacking in intelligence and scruples…….pretty much sums up their personalities in whole!
By Dube on 06.25.08 6:23 pm
Hi Dube, We work with a Food Technology Company which helped us develop our food safety initiative. An important part of our traceability we developed on our own and the Tech. company loved it.
The first step, is dividing your fields into smaller lots and each lot is marked with a letter. Next we have a large map of all the land we grow on and the lots are marked out on it. On the map we use dry erasable markers to mark what happened in each lot. For example, if we harvested red leaf lettuce in lot C, it is recorded in a log, date coded and the code is marked on each box.
Next, our employees fill out daily time sheets where they circle the jobs that they did that day and record their hours.
The last step is that the grocery stores are not supposed to mix product on shelves from different sources.
So, let’s say I need to recall red leaf lettuce. I would put the recall out on code (example) B-2, or if they put the recall out, they would call me and say ‘we have a problem with your leaf lettuce, I would ask for the code marked on the case. I would know that B-2 was harvested last Monday and I would know which employees handled the product from the time sheets. The code would also tell me where on my farm the lettuce came from. Then we could trace if in fact the problem came from this farm and if it did, what caused it.
It sounds complicated but is very simple in practice.
Leasa
Barb;
Thanks, I watch for your posts too!
Too bad you don’t have a local nursery to buy tomato plants at. I got my plants at two different local nurseries and they were the same price as WalMart advertised. Sometimes its just a matter of having the discipline not to go there.
When I am forced to choose a mass retailer, I try to go to Canadian Tire or Zellers which at least have some Canadian products.
Got my first Apple in 1984 – its still in the garage in case someone starts a museum. Heck I could throw open the doors of my garage and charge a nickel to see the old machine! I made my purchase decision by reading consumer reports and also partially because I was in the publishing business back then. Macs are so easy to use and were miles ahead on customer service – in 24 years, I’ve never seen the blue screen of death that PC users talk about nor have I ever spent a nickel on repairs.
Gee, because neither will ever run the country? Just guessing. — Garth
Never say never Garth. If the Liberals and Conservatives make enough people angry, we could find ourselves saying Prime Minister Layton. Happened in Ontario once…we woke to the shock of Premiere Rae.
Gosh, almost be worth seeing the gob smacked faces. LOL
By warren f on 06.25.08 7:28 pm
Warren, when was the last time YOU went out to the field to pick?
Out here in BC (I can’t speak for anywhere else) farmers watch crops wither in the field if migrant workers are not brought in. Why is that? Because our people will NOT DO IT!
As a kid in Ontario, I picked apples, berries peaches and any other fruit as it paid something better than nothing.
To day it is “below” our spoiled brats to do likewise.
Could this be because we have given them too many material products as “advertised” to us to do???
The answer to that is up to you.
Unless our kids do the work it is only right to bring in migrants. If you must complain about it and want it to end—-SEND YOURS OUT TO WORK THE FIELDS or what you have to say is racist.
I don’t think the Green Shift is going to be any easier to implement than the universal child care thingy was, but I do fear it will drive me into the poor house.
Gord.
By Gord G. on 06.25.08 7:42 pm
Gord, I thought I used the extreme to provide the example of the Western Standard.
But it seems you think every political party will bting ruin to your house.
What do you really think? Can we solve this problem with the jolt of higher and more volatile prices on the things we need?
I mean this in earnest.
“I believe you are wrong because Dion’s record as a debater is lousy. You just have to go back to the leadership debates to determine his lack of debating ability especially in English. He sure the hell didn’t win for his debating skills. On the contrary, the only reason he did win the leadership was the push to prevent Ignatieff from winning. I often wonder now how many Liberals regret that tactic. Besides Dion is still not a popular leader especially in his home province of Quebec about the only thing that is keeping the polls close is the Liberal brand itself. I would even say that the Liberals would be considerable in the lead if either Ignatieff or Rae were leader. Perhaps this will happen after the upcoming election.
By Van on 06.25.08 6:36 pm”
Van, I think you confuse sound bite sparring with a real debate.
Dion can be a very impassioned, logical and factual speaker when he addresses things from the heart. His handling of the Clarity Act in Quebec was an example of outstanding debating talent. He took on the best of the sovereignists and destroyed them with factual, logical data and arguments.
Leadership ‘debates’ by their nature are more like drive by sound bites – content tends to be at the surface of an issue.
What Dion has challenged Harper to do is to DEBATE him one-on-one about environmental policy initiatives. This would involve presenting factual, logical arguments that support stated positions – on an IN-DEPTH basis. You do not score points or win real debates with clever phrases or attacking your opposition. You win real debates by proving your position through fact and logic. That is exactly why Dion has challenged Harper to an ‘adult’ debate – rather than the childish, boorish retorts that Harper has made famous in the HOC.
What I would love to see is a panel of environmental experts, NOT JOURNALISTS, pose questions to Dion and Harper and actually score their responses based on the facts and logic presented. Then I would like that expert panel of environmentalists to provide Canadians with real-time feedback after the debate on the relative merits of the two positions presented, and who in their opinion presented the best overall logic and proof to support their plan.
I have no doubt that Dion would bury Harper in a TRUE debate.
“The Liberal approach is to centralize power, and that got us nowhere. And you want to return to that?
By sheila on 06.25.08 9:28 pm”
Sheila, and exactly what kind of planet do you think we are living on sweetie? Your claim that ‘centralized power got us nowhere’ is an unsubstantiated piece of drivel.
Strong centralized governments in Canada created national policies like our universal health care, unemployment insurance, and our national railway system just to name a few. We could have had the Kelowna Accord and a national day care program too…instead we got Herr Harper and his view of Canada as a loosely strung together group of parochial provincial governments all doing their own thing.
Why are countries like China roaring ahead? It’s not because of cheap labour. It’s about a national government that has created and is implementing an integrated economic development plan including the construction of transportation infrastruture, power generation, and educational systems.
The only way to compete effectively on the world stage is to have a coordinated, integrated set of national strategies.
Canada should be doing better. What is holding us back is the fact that we do not have a strategic industrial plan… we have no strategic energy plan (the NEP was Trudeau’s attempt at one – failed as it was at least it was an attempt)… we have no strategic education and research plan.
Most countries in the world do not allow 100% foreign ownership of key strategic industries. We are stupid and allow it, and as a result we suffer from a ‘branch plant’ mentality – where the majority of major decisions that affect our economy are not made in this country.
We have short-sighted provinces like Alberta that cheerfully ship natural resources out of the country with no attempt to add value and build a manufacturing industry. Alberta could have a huge petro-chemical manufacturing industry. Instead all of those jobs and all of the value-added economic benefits are derived in the United States in the ‘chemical alley’ around Houston.
Oil will be gone in another 40 to 50 years and what will short-sighted provinces like Alberta be left with? Memories of a once properous past.
Canada needs a strong central government with vision. It needs a strong central government that is willing to rise to the challenge of stewardship of the economy with strategic industrial policy initiatives. We need a strong central government to ensure social justice for all, and to ensure health and living standards that are in keeping with the potential of this fabulous country.
What we have now is a disgrace and an embarrassment. We deserve much, much more.
DUBE, LEASA, a question for each of you.
Dube – Which tomato type? Leasa, what county (prov?) ..just in case my family is nearby there. I tried to buy a tomato plant today but couldn’t find one. Late in season because I was traveling (I always get a late start.)
Hubby grew up on his parent’s/grandparent’s tomato farm in SW Ont. In Calgary we’ve found over time that the slippage in finding any decent produce has narrowed our choice dramatically. Now even the produce back home is lousy ‘greenhouse’ hydroponic – tasteless. His late grandparent’s wouldn’t approve.
Mansbridge ran a segment on the what if’s of running out of oil. That’ll scare the dinner crowd.
Shiela.
To equate the forced migration of the Inuit from the eastern shore of Hudson’s Bay to Resolute Bay with the creation of the Canadian Wheat Board demonstrates that you have the brains of a gnat and a shallowness of knowledge of our economic history that is less than that of a tarsands tailings pond.
When you can come back with a precis of the reasons for the creation of the CWB, including statistics of the wheat and barley prices prairie farmers received in the 20 years before its creation and the following 20 years – with a comparison to those received by Ontario and Quebec farmers in the same period, than I will retract my indictment of you as an ignorant shill for multinational agribusiness.
First a comment on Steve Jobs and Apple. Yes Apple computers work well and the company was a real innovator by introducing the now-ubiquitous mouse and windows-style operating system. But Apple was/is as much a monopoly in its own realm as Microsoft. While Microsoft hammered the competition through sheer inertia of its marketing, Apple applied an across-the-board horizontal monopoly on everything associated with its product: computer, hardware accessories, operating system, software were all controlled from end-to-end. No third parties without some sort of royalty arrangement. Microsoft, on the other hand, started out as just an operating system. Any hardware manufacturer could produce any peripheral, any software developer could produce any application. It was only much later that Microsoft used its capital to buy out most of the competition, but still only on the software side.
Next, the seedbank. I thought that was a project initiated by the Norwegian government to safeguard our heritage?
http://sandersresearch.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=922
Good Lord, it’s quite a good thing that ‘Dion sat on his hands’ during the silly non confidence votes harper was dangling.
Harper would have loved to have an election before all the scandals surfaced.
I’m an older woman and can’t remember them all; but I’ll report what I remember:
Tempting Cadman to vote for New Government
Bernier’s private life is nobody’s business
Firing Ms Brown
Firing the wheat board CEO
Firing Ambrose
Firing Elections Canada
Letting Zaccaredeelie resign rather than fire him for obstructing justice.
Ooh, already, my brain is over taxed.
Canada has been screwed, so to speak. Does this mean F”’k”? not sure if it’s the same thing as we were once led to believe as Christians.
It was a strawberry tomato about the size of its namesake; I like to take a half dozen or so in my lunch each day. I’d tell you the brand name but I just checked my recycling bin and I must have already disposed of the plastic packaging from the last container I bought. The Israeli tomatoes were plum tomatoes of about the same. Most others look good, but are either watery and flavourless, or as hard as a softball and taste like paper mache to me.
Any conservative thinker does not have to worry about being sent to, or enter the poor house;
You can talk to Harper and he may choose to make you the next greatest unelected MP and then, if you are a good listener, you can be elevated to a ministerial position within the New government.
I’m feeling quite positive that you are worried about the green shift for nothing.
Canada needs a strong central government — that is willing to rise to the challenge of stewardship of the economy with strategic industrial policy initiatives —- to ensure social justice for all, and to ensure health and living standards that are in keeping with the potential of this fabulous country.
What we have now is a disgrace and an embarrassment
BY TS ON 06.25.08 10:00 PM
_____________________________________
T.S,
For the record, this S.heila seems particularly bent on using the neocon tool box, don’t you think?
As for your comments: “We have short-sighted provinces like Alberta that cheerfully ship natural resources out of the country with no attempt to add value and build a manufacturing industry. Alberta could have a huge petro-chemical manufacturing industry. Instead all of those jobs and all of the value-added economic benefits are derived in the U.S. — what will short-sighted provinces like Alberta be left with?”
As a 30 year Calgarian, I just couldn’t agree with you more, but my neighbours keep electing these greedy clowns. Propaganda works well, eh!?
Busy running the country .That’s a laugh.
You meanm running Canada into the ground don’t you .
If you haven’t noticed Parliament is adjourned for the summer break .
A debate could be arranged in a matter of hours if he only had the balls .
Harpo is a gutless weasel just like all his supporters .
Man, you are so stupid .
Who dresses you in the morning ? Idiot!!
Leasa: Why have a debate of 3 who actually believe in climate change, when the 4th , the Denier, is afraid of coming up short on facts and policy?
Is Bernier really that simple-minded?
He actually stated that the documents were not bar-coded so were of little importance—yet, the government says it had to contact NATO allies to inform them of this insignificant shopping list that nobody missed? Who is lying?
And he remembers bringing the documents to her house but doesn’t remember leaving them there?
He’s a twit at best—at worst, a liar.
And his Daddy says he was “trapped”
Now which nasty, wannabe Minister would have wanted to see Maxime whipped and properly humiliated???
Heard something this morning to the effect that a new rail line will run from Sask. to Prince Rupert, to transport and export potash worldwide.
Cost is around half a billion to get everything organized, but not too sure about the figures.
By Charles Oxley on 06.25.08 8:02 pm
That’s funny, the line was built as the Grand Trunk Pacific before WWI between Winnipeg and Prince Rupert. Check it out, it was engineered to the highest standard for high-speeed running, and most of the railbed is still in use to this day. The eastern posrtion built as the National Transcontinental from Winnipeg to Quebec, is only torn up between Nakina and Kapuskasing.
Read your history – the people who don’t know their own history are doomed to repeat it.
THIS IS MY THIRD REQUEST TO YOU, JANICE, WOULD YOU PLEASE ANSWER MY QUESTIONS IN MY 9:04AM POST WHICH I HAVE INCLUDED HERE FOR YOU.
By jwp on 06.25.08 7:03 pm
Whoa, you don’t have to yell. Some people do have lives outside of Garth Turners blog.
I support pollution emissions limits. Those who don’t comply are fined exponentially with subsequent infractions. There may be some price increase on things but I will have a choice where and what to buy in order to get the best value. Similar to the auto industry. Emissions standards were imposed and life went on, I had choices.
With Dion’s plan everything and everybody is taxed. The electricity, gas, heating fuel, industry, everything that has carbon. I have no choice. Everything is taxed and every price goes up. Even if I wanted to change my lifestyle I have no options when it comes to heating my home or turning on the lights. I can’t put a windmill or nuclear power plant in my back yard.
Here’s the problem. The libs signed this Kyoto thing and did absolutely nothing to achieve any of the emissions goals. During their 13 years in office they could have encouraged new technologies for efficient vehicles so that they are common and affordable. They could have encourage development of alternative energy sources such as nuclear. They could have set emissions standards that were reasonable and industry would be well on the way to meeting them now. They did nothing except put energuide stickers on washing machines. Even now the Dion plan does not have emissions limits or targets. So I am going to pay the price and polluters don’t have to do anything, just pass the increase on to me because I won’t have any options.
As far as the income tax thing, I don’t trust Dion at all. He will bring in $15B and spend $15B to make it revenue neutral. That doesn’t mean we all get proportionately the same tax returned. It means he will spend it on his programs that he thinks will get him the most votes.
Harper already has given income tax cuts. The 2006 return we got $2200 back. In 2007 we got $5700 back with the same income. I didn’t mind that at all.
So I’m am quite concerned about liberal promises. We’ve lived through them before, barely. Like the NEP, which btw, its interesting to see Garth defend the NEP now. He was in the government that scrapped it. It must have been really difficult for him to not stand up to Mulroney and tell him he was doing the wrong thing. You know, with his principles and such.
First a comment on Steve Jobs and Apple. Yes Apple computers work well and the company was a real innovator by introducing the now-ubiquitous mouse and windows-style operating system.
Apple is a lot like Sony was with Betamax. They are very proprietary and brook no competition. There have been a couple of times over the years where they almost went under. They were saved by virtue of the fact that they are innovators and seem to keep coming up with the next great idea.
Frankly, supporting them in a corporate environment (I have about 35 of them) is more difficult by miles than supporting a PC. There are very few experts out there, too.
William Laidlaw,
your 10:09 to Sheila: BRAVO!
What do you really think? Can we solve this problem with the jolt of higher and more volatile prices on the things we need?
I mean this in earnest.
By Bonnie N BC on 06.25.08 9:38 pm
I really don’t believe in AGW, so I don’t think raising prices will help with the problem, because I don’t think the problem exists. We should use technology not taxation. Money for the pollution stuff, no money for the AGW stuff. Direct it to clean up the oceans and rivers, sewage plants, all that kind of stuff. I’m tired of this doomsday cult sucking up the money that could be used for worth while projects.
As far as politics goes, I just try to say objective and vote for the party whose platform I can trust and reflects my values.
Gord.
Hey Dube;
Jobs and Apple did have that issue about a horizontal monopoly, I agree. Still it was and is the better system.
As for the seed bank: here is a different point of view on it
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=7529
Norway’s involvement happens to be an interesting slant – they owned the island. Looking at the situation critically though we see the partners are all ones who are more interested in monopolies. Monsanto seeds are going to be sold on the African continent by Kofi Annan who they’ve just hired specifically to get the anti-GM governments out of the way or onside. This would be all fine and good if GM seeds were going to be given to African farmers however what good is a gift that won’t multiply. Those farmers will be forever beholden to Monsanto, every year. No hope of self-sufficiency.
The World Bank’s getting in the game too and going to force GM on Africa. Is that because Developed World farmers have decided against GM so let’s force it on the Third World?
ummm, I smell a rat. Prove me wrong, I’d rather not be so cynical.
For those of you not old enough to remember why the Wheat Board was formed in the first place, it was that grain companies refused to pay farmers what their grain was worth. Individuals are powerless one on one with corporations. With the Wheat Marketing Board they gained bargaining power. Some of my recollections are from my first 6 years of life in a Prairie grain elevator where my Dad was an agent doing the buying.
Now I will predict what will happen if Harper has his way and abolishes the Wheat Board. Farmers will again get less than the true value for their product, and large agri-corporations will then buy up the bankrupt single family farms at auctions. Those former single family farmers will end up as employees working for corporations that do not care about how badly they depleat the soil, over spray, and over fertilize, plus remove all non productive land shrubs/bushes. (That is where many insect eating birds nest and hide)
This was the subject of a CBC Radio interview during the evening of 12 June’08 (listened while driving back from London,Ont).
Harper is all about large corporate entities not individual entrepreneurs.
Too many Gords . We have Gord D.,Gord G .and just plain ol’ Gord .No offense Gord.
By Men With Hats on 06.25.08 6:35 pm
No offense taken.
Gord
By sheila on 06.25.08 9:15 am
I’m just not sure how to handle you. At first, I was blown away by how incredibly brainwashed you are. Then, I became incredibly pissed. (so much for standards of cleanly speech and feigned manners) At present, I’d say you’ve been hanging around some political cult, brainswashed by 770AM Calgary radio with beliefs that are so utterly disfunctional, its hard to know where to begin the de-programming. You’re not just ignorant, you’re extraordinarily offensive in your own right to which, after all is said and done, hardly inspires anyone to remotely care about whether or not you really do get it in life.
Nevertheless…
Perhaps you’d like to debate a western grain farmer on the issue instead of putting words in their mouths.
Try me on for size.
Keep in mind that I’m in no mood to be civil this morning as some idiot up and decided its Stalinist to sell grain as a farmer elected and run group/block/monopoly with over 70% of Canada’s historic customers being nationalist nations (trading as a block as well) over the decades themselves while in the same breath, hypocritically considered it principled in a democracy to appoint CWB directors and CEO’s over farmer elect and chop CWB funding at its knee’s for the blatant systematic destruction of the wheatboard that the U.S. had been trying to destroy ever since it was invented, these days, so U.S. grain handling monopolies (Cargill, ADM, Monsanto to name a few) can take over what Canadians have traditionally done with the wheat pool… in the same way Cargill did with meat packers and feed lots in Canada with their now majority owned market share of the Beef industry.
Apparently you’ve missed the fact that not one election has been held for CWB directors since Harper took over. So far, there are 8 farmer elected board members left of which the other 6 directors have been appointed by Harper
to replace the ones Harpers agricultural ministers have fired or forced out. The appointed Aussie lobbyist CEO replacing the farmer elect CEO Harpers minister fired is the future of the governments handling of the CWB in the future.
In short, the CWB is hanging on by a thread.
Apparently an expert who knows nothing about the simple ideology of bargaining (buying or selling) as a monopoly/team/group/union with a refusal to understand the concept of power in numbers and shared will, goal and plan, has it that trading as a monopoly isn’t in the interest of farmers… to become a monopoly themselves to compete with foreign interests who want nothing more than to own and control the entire agrigculture and food processing sector in general and by that, I mean specifically U.S. multinational corporations.
The “expert” has it instead, that farmers should compete against each other and run domestic prices into the ground, bad cheques and all, or in times where U.S. multinational grain handlers, manufacturers, fert and chem corps monopolies walk in and own our market overnight (geez, in some sectors they already own lion share of market share and it just keeps growing for them and say goodbye to our tax base with every single percentage), that the destruction of the wheatboard is somehow the best way to go.
Gotta say, I’m a bit miffed by reading the words of someone who wishes to destroy as every other fool does, that which she does not understand, with no wherewithall as to ask why the CWB ever existed in the first place, or what would happen if the CWB was destroyed. Ugly words I read this morning with ugly labels that amount to nothing more than propagandistic spin and lies, words that threaten the existence of not just my way of life but those of my own neighbors, peers, and townfolk in rural areas across the west if actually believed so please forgive me, Sheila, if I don’t bring much in the way of love and kind in debate unless you wish to actually debate with fact based reality. (unless of course, being a false teacher/liar works for you and those “beliefs” of yours)
If you had actually tried Shiela, you would quickly see “who really benefits” in a decision to destroy the board. But if you can’t try, please, next time, kindly keep your so called truths to yourself.
Here’s a sampling of your own dribble.
“but I am saying that “they govern best who govern least.”” – Sheila
Ranks right up there with “the road to hell is paved with the best of intentions”. (hate to break it to those who believe that one to be true, its the opposite. Its paved with bad intentions. Looks good, sounds nice, just isn’t true) Your statement is a total falacy if not a bald faced lie. Those who govern best do whats best for their constituents. Period! If it means the breakup of powerful monopolies who price fix to gouge the producer/consumer, i.e., corporate regulations instead of the the “deregulatin’ let the good times roll” govy we see today, so be it. If it means environmental regulations, so be it, unless you like the great lakes to be to polluted to drink again, (are any clean enough to risk it now?) or like living in the mountains with no trees left, or like climate change that does more than cause droughts and sun burn… or worse. War. Famine. Chaotic markets. And unless you like having no social nets for families where if one finds themselves unemployed, they lose their home (cause we all know, “it’ll never happen to you”). And if we don’t have money and lose our health, we’ll simply die. Pay as you go is the way to go, no need for medicare, lets put that monetary value on life, put a $$$ tag on everything priceless such as the environment & life, gotta make money, let the market forces dictate the future and let the good times roll! Whoopie, good government is less government!!!
Only an incredibly dense, naive, ignorant, brainwashed, or outright liar would believe such a thing as “smaller government is better government”, Sheila. While were at it, lets get rid of the police force and the courts, eh? “Smaller is better”, Shiela said so.
“A strong society will be made up of a people who are self-governed, and who know how to control themselves, without depending upon the state to make all of their decisions from the cradle to the grave, or from the womb to the tomb.” – Shiela
Only an idiot would believe that any society full of seniors, infants, children, handicapped and unemployed would believe that they are capable of self governance, self sustainability and self control. The society you speak of is one that would kill the middle aged, the ill and eat their own young. One would have to have literal rocks in their head to believe such tripe. Its obvious to me that a “pay as you go” society works for you where money is our God, a highly materialistic society that looks down on those who are have nots, where one need not think about breeding unless they pull 6 figures. And if this is not the case and you say you really do believe in a Christian God, read those words again and tell us all why you think the Christian words of the bible don’t apply to your own, that its apples and furniture, “lets just let everyone do what they want, pay as you go, self sufficiency is the way, that top down is disfunctional.” It is obvious to me that you are completely and utterly oblivous to the concept of “oneness”.
“Now many farmers are similarly simply asking for the right to determine their own strategy for marketing. If they err, they alone will bear the consequences, but that is how people mature, not by keeping them in a state of infancy and dependency all of their lives.” – Sheila
It is infantile to regress from a superior system to one that is inferior and since it is a democracy, and since there are common goals, it is infantile to think that there should be no inequality. To believe that “many” as you put it is the majority, the truth of it is that about 15% of the farmers near the border believe they can flog their grain south of the border with some twisted belief that the U.S. will buy it without a peep from farmers abroad that will holler loudly to Canadian farmers dumping on their markets forcing the price to go down. In the world of U.S./Canadian subsidies, there are dumb assed farmers who still believe that this is an option.
In essence, there are some farmers around the border, millionaires who want to become billionaires, who can’t see past their own noses from their own self centered pride, greed and values such as your own who want the CWB to be destroyed so that they can be the few to survive the many who will not. Keep this in mind, slowpoke, as this is a democracy. Such self centred and feeble weakminded people are the minority, not the majority and I take great offense to a “minority” goverment who is going to tell me and my kin how to do business “or else”.
“I pity people like yourself who incessantly whine and complain about government, and still advocate that we need a strong centralized government with monopolistic powers.” – Shiela
Speak for yourself. To support Harper is to support a monopolistic power with but one goal. To decentralize federal powers to facilitate the U.S. takeover of Canada’s economic sectors. Its sad that folks such as yourself are so slow to catch on.
“People will never grow up to become interdependent with such an approach.
Freedom is what makes life an adventure. People need to be allowed to dream, to explore, to be creative, to go beyond their present limitations, and to take responsibility for their decisions. That is what makes life an exciting adventure, and removes limitations on human potential.” – Shiela
Sounds like the dullard line, “I’ll try anything once!” As a rule, they try cocaine, or guns, or sleeping with someones wife and overdose, catch a disease or a bullet and end up in a box. Some freedom.
Please, spare us the lecture on freedom as being a licence to do whatever we like. The reality of it is that freedom only comes from self control and to set free, the imprisoned will of others (and there’s a right way and a wrong way to do it), that there is no such thing as controlling others much as some try, or we end up becoming slaves unto ourselves.
“That is the only way they will ever grow up, and stop blaming others, and start to achieve their full potential where the state becomes a servant rather than a master who makes all their decisions for them.” – Shiela
What in the world makes you believe farmers don’t have that now? Do you seriously believe that the only crop that can be grown in the prairies is grain? A farmer’s freedom is as simple as the choice of seed. Yes, farmers must sell their grain to the Wheat board, thats how it is. And we know why that is, as it secures a good international market price and a cheque that won’t bounce. Do you see farmers switching crops because of low prices? Do you see grain farmers belly aching because its hard times?
Its boon times, girly. Wake up! So brainwashed… and for all your talk of the inuit and federal sins of the past, Wake up!!! Natives are self governing!! Its not 1953!!!!!
“You know that these top-down approaches never work, and that the Great White Father in Ottawa is not the solution for everybody.” – Sheila
Every person for themselves, dependent or no, pay as you go, no protection of human rights by law, by enforcement or by constitution, everyone should do what they want is the solution, is that it? No need for leaders, lets scrap the top three commandments while were at it, Sheila has a better way.
“If people make mistakes, at least it will be their decisions, and they will have nobody else to blame. But if the government continues to insist on a monopoly power, they will continue to be blamed and to be criticized like we are seeing an epidemic of because our people are not free and responsible enough.” – Sheila
I see… so its about being blameless. The nation of Canada isn’t free and responsible enough according to the monopolistic control of the feds, that the government is operated by people with no soul, with hearts that don’t beat. We got it, Sheila, thanks so much for clearing that up. Lets not confuse the system with those who run it, shall we? Please? Can you at least make that one distinction?
“This Wheat Board issue is just one micocosm of a much larger issue, which we can see clearly is whether strong governments are centralized with a top-down approach, or whether they empower people to make decisions, and de-centralize power as much as possible in an interdependent world where we all recognize that our own success is dependent on working together and taking responsibility, not in blaming Ottawa for everything because they decide far to much already, and control too much of our everyday lives.” – Shiela
This isn’t about freedom, slowpoke. We’ve got our freedoms and our human rights enshrined in the charter and laws that are heavily influenced by that charter, don’t ever forget it. What its actually about girl wonder, is the allocation of resources, the protection and expansion of market share, the ideology and breakdown of ownership, the breakdown of powers from feds/provinces/municpalities/FN’s and last but not least, MARKET SHARE. All in all, its primarily about ownership including the abilities (responsibility,accountability, sustainability, suceptability…) don’t ever forget it.
“The Liberal approach is to centralize power, and that got us nowhere. And you want to return to that?” – Sheila
By sheila on 06.25.08 9:28 pm
Yeah, just shit all over the natural governing political party that has been a huge part of what this nation is today. Thanks a bunch. If this nation isn’t good enough for you, move to the U.S. where its so “free”. Don’t let the border slam you on your way out.
What we have now is a disgrace and an embarrassment. We deserve much, much more.
By TS on 06.25.08 10:00 pm
Bravo, TS. Well said.
Why are countries like China roaring ahead? It’s not because of cheap labour. It’s about a national government that has created and is implementing an integrated economic development plan including the construction of transportation infrastruture, power generation, and educational systems.
Pretty easy to do when you can throw people that disagree with your policies in jail.
Democracy is a bit messier and I like it like that, thank you very much.
Catherine: And do you know who the architect is of this oil “crisis”–the instability throughout the Middle East?
And who makes his home in the biggest oil gluttons? Why it is George W. Bush, the Godfather of the Conservative Republican Party of Canada.
By Judy on 06.25.08 8:42 pm
Sweetie, China will surpass USA (if they haven’t done yet) in their oil hunger.
And sweetie, USA actually did something about their emissions – while your Liberal leaders signed the damn Kyoto and did NOTHING!
So Judy – maybe you want us to sell out to China and adopt their human rights practices?
By Janice on 06.25.08 10:47 pm
Thank you for your response, I apologize for yelling….I think Mr. Harper campaign on those tax cuts so getting them was expected, although not all were so fortunate as you. Being retired and having set up our incomes so that we would both be in the lowest tax bracket did not allow us to gain any advantage to split our incomes.
The one thing I did not understand from your post is what will the costs be to the taxpayer to clean up as you have described it. Mr. Harper’s plan calls for regulation on industry. I would like to know what his plan will cost the taxpayer as well.
“Why are countries like China roaring ahead? It’s not because of cheap labour. It’s about a national government that has created and is implementing an integrated economic development plan including the construction of transportation infrastruture, power generation, and educational systems.” –TS
Strange that you should use China as a model of a strong central government that is doing well.
The United Nations has condemned China for its sordid human rights violations. This government has on is record the shameful Tianamen Square Massacre that squashed the new generations quest for democracy, and the suppression of human freedom continues to this day in that highly centralized government.
Human rights violations in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) remain systematic and widespread. The Chinese government continues to suppress dissenting opinions and maintains political control over the legal system, resulting in an arbitrary and sometimes abusive judicial regime.
The lack of accountability of the government and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) means that abuses by officials often go unchecked. The most common types of abuses, including arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment of prisoners, severe restrictions on freedom of expression and association and violations specific to women.
During the past two years, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of the death penalty in China. Defendants can be put to death for criminal offenses, including nonviolent property crimes such as theft, embezzlement and forgery.
Defendants do not always have access to lawyers, and when a lawyer is available, he or she usually has no more than one or two days to prepare a defense. Death sentences have been imposed based on forced confessions and are often decided in advance of the trial by “adjudication committees,” thereby circumventing defendants’ rights to a fair and public hearing and presumption of innocence.
http://www.clearharmony.net/articles/200504/26071.html
http://www.clearharmony.net/articles/200504/26071.html
But this seems to present little or no problem to you, TS. You still use China as a fine example of a strong central government.
What amazes me is that people on here end up agreeing with TS, and do not think through what he (or she) is actually saying with regards to the type of government that he or she eulogizes.
Simply amazing.
Thanks for the heads up on this. I’d only heard about the seed bank on a cursory level, the reports given in a positive light. In principle, it still should be a good thing, but according to your source it appears that in practice there might be some hijacking of the idea going on. Following the same pattern of dumping that we saw with pesticides, asbestos, and all other manner of things that we don’t want here – and the attitude towards such folks that Romeo Dallaire so accurately exposed.
What amazes me is that people on here end up agreeing with TS, and do not think through what he (or she) is actually saying with regards to the type of government that he or she eulogizes.
Simply amazing.
By sheila on 06.26.08 6:45 am
I don’t know why you would be amazed, 30% of those who vote are going to vote CPC, 30 % Liberal, and they have no time to even consider the issues as they are way to busy trying to survive. The 5-10% who do think critically will decide the election. I don’t think things have changed all that much through the years, just the party names.
Now if we were to abolish the party system and people had to vote for the best candidate in their riding only, we might see a whole new ball game, and that is why I support Independent MPs, along with the fact that when MPs all vote along party lines, democracy is denied.
By sheila on 06.25.08 9:28 pm,
Don’t try to twist what I said. It may be a trick that works with some but it does not work here. Harper framed a dishonest question with regard to the Wheat Board issue just like the Quebec separatists did in the last referendum. He also tried, like the Quebec separatists, to limit opposition by prohibiting the participation of those best able to argue against his agenda.
This was a blatant attempt to manipulate the issue in his favour. When the courts ruled that this was illegal he indicated the intention to “walk over” anyone who defied him and I that would include the justice system.
This suggests to me that he now considers himself “above the law” and when a leader considers himself not confined by the law he becomes a dictator.
The sad thing is that our Parliament has given him every confidence that he can exercise the absolute power of dictatorship. He has been able to get his legislation passed and he has been able to ignore the will of Parliament on a variety of issues. In several ways he is even more of a dictator than Jean Chretien.
Now that the courts have de
JWP, I am afraid that I have to agree with you this time. Our present party system with its confrontation-adversary approach is not working, and is in itself a big part of our problem.
Thanks for sharing.
If you and your partner only have 2 children all you have done is maintained the status quo. Look around and see all those couples who prefer not to reproduce–perhaps you would like a law that forces reproduction.
By Judy on 06.25.08 8:38 pm
i have done my quota. why is it a mantra that the population must increase to maintain our higher (actually lower) standard of living?
the fact is that a higher population leads to inflation and fewer resources per capita.
when was the greatest advance made by the workers in england and effectively ended feudalism? it was after a huge depopulation caused by the plague.
look at canada now. it is a welfare state. why can’t everybody have a decent job and not need ndp housing?
the unemployment numbers are cooked because if you can’t find a job after 3 months you are no longer part of the statistic.
what happened to the accumulated wealth of past canadians?
a new phenomena is young kids looking for handouts at traffic lights. wonder why?
there seems to be five times the traffic on the roads. yet the pols need to raise taxes to build more roads?
in a modern country i don’t think more is better.
By A.R.Wainwright on 06.25.08 9:36 pm
Hi AR, Not all of today’s kids are afraid to work. We still hire all local. True, in the first week we do have a lot of ‘turn-over’ but we keep hiring local. By the second week the kids have settled in and we usually end up with a good crew who are happy to be here. We often have kids return every summer as they work their way through school. It’s not an easy job, especially in the heat, but we pay well and give lots of breaks. There have been a few years though where the staff didn’t settle in, didn’t get along, smoked their pot in the field etc. that we toyed with the idea of bringing our labour in.
However, we like the idea of helping our own economy and helping local kids who are not afraid of work. If they can work here…they can achieve anything! We have watched some of our kids become detectives, dentists, police officers, teachers etc. Many of them still drop in to say hi.
Leasa
By Judy on 06.25.08 10:36 pm
Hey Judy…we all know that Mr. Dion is not a master debater and he can use the practice. I mean…he has to learn not to shout “that’s not fair” and “do you think it’s easy to set priorities?”
He should learn to take on the kittens before wrestling the lion. No?
Leasa
By brain on 06.25.08 11:59 pm
Wow!
Brain,
great demolition of the anti-CWB movement in your 11:59.
Have you considered the possibility that Sheila is neither an idiot, ignoramus nor innocent, but merely a dedicated neo-Republican party worker whose task is to raise cane on Garth’s dangeroulsy-successful blog?
Shelia: I’m flattered you have seen fit to read my infrequent postings. The guys (I presume they are men) who run the CPC death star should give you a raise for your clever database skills (are you using Filemaker or MS Access to keep a tab on us Liberals?)
For the record, I disagree with many, but not all, of “this governments” positions. However, being democratically elected by a MINORITY of people, they do have the moral authority, with the backing of Parliament, to introduce and pass laws. The same can be said of the Liberals, the NDP or even (and I hate to say it) the Block.
It may also shock you to hear me say that I am also far more inclined to trust Harper to “do the right thing” than an unelected and unaccountable corporate CEO who only has the best interest of his/her bank account in mind.
Yes, I stand by my position – democratically elected governments are the ONLY group with the moral grounding and resources to make decisions which are best for ALL of us. That is not to say that they consistently make good decisions.
My point is that this myopic belief that “individuals” are better placed to know what’s best for them is beside the point. Of course I know what’s best FOR ME. However, I have no clue as to what is best for YOU, or for the guy down the street or for 32 million other Canadians I never even met and to whom I am not accountable.
Furthermore, what is in an individual’s best interest may be diametrically opposed to societies best interests. For example, it may be in TOXICO’S best interest (i.e. it will save them money) to dump toxic waste into Lake Winnipeg, but that is hardly in anybody else’s best interest.
Therefore, the ONLY group with the moral authority and resources to make those decisions are democratically elected governments.
As a great Liberal once said; however, “the government has no business in the bedrooms of the nation.” This is a simple reflection of the fact that government need not intervene in all things. This great Liberal also introduced a legal document to ensure that governments, even democratically elected governments, do not exercise their authority in such a way as to run rough shod over the rights, liberties and freedoms of individuals. Perhaps you’ve heard of this document – its called the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. (weren’t you “freedom loving CONs going to rip that document up to protect us from “activist judges”?).
Much of the push for “individual freedom” on the part of the neoCON movement is actually an attempt to circumvent the moral authority of democratically elected government by corporate interests who don’t give a rat’s ass about the rights of individuals. These groups wish to permit a handful of powerful, unelected and unaccountable “individuals” (i.e. CEO’s) to make the decisions as to what is best for the rest of us. I don’t trust CEO’s to make decisions as to what is best for shareholders, let alone “the rest of us” (remember ENRON?)
Bottom line: who would you trust to do the right thing for Canadian society – the parliament of Canada democratically elected by the people of Canada – or a handful of unelected and unaccountable CEO’s who’s only concern is their bank account balances?
Leasa: If what you say is true and Harper believes Dion a “weak debater”, why then is Steve so afraid of a debate?
Perhaps because he knows his policy is weak?
No?
Warren: If we are not reproducing ourselves, eventually the number of Canadians who are retired and drawing pensions and not contributing to the work force will outnumber those who are.
How can the country’s economy sustain itself? The net population will continue to decrease under your scenario. Perhaps decrease until we are at net zero???
Catherine: You mean Bush’s obsolete intensity based targets?
How bout George’s plan for drilling in sensitive areas–allowing for drilling in ocean areas beyond the limits already legislated. This plan will give the U.S. another 10 years of oil. Then what will his plan be?
These guys are lame—they want to expand the use of oil and raze the countryside.
Do you actually agree with this?
Dahling.
Now which nasty, wannabe Minister would have wanted to see Maxime whipped and properly humiliated???
BY JUDY ON 06.25.08 10:45 PM
Judy,
He was whipped and properly humiliated. But then he broke it off after a year.
Last year it was the Hells Angels’ boobs who showed up at Rideau Hall. This year it’s the Paradis Riders.
Fortier. Paradis and Moore. Curly Larry and Moe.
By definition, anyone who sits in a Stephen Harper cabinet is a stooge.
Operative word: sits.
Why does Michael Fortier look like he just got away with robbing a bank? Is it because he is unelected or is it because as former Minister of Public Works he did actually rob a bank?
Let the Paradis Riders roll.
By Judy on 06.26.08 9:53 am
Think on this Judy: if you were a politician, would you give credibility to the opponents ideas by engaging in a summer long debate? Nah, didn’t think so. However, Mr. Dion does need the practice. He should take Layton and May up on the offer. Bet he won’t. Bet as an experienced politician he knew Mr. Harper would say no…
Judy,
He was whipped and properly humiliated. But then he broke it off after a year.
By barb the proof-reader on 06.26.08 11:06 am
LMAO……
“The sad thing is that our Parliament has given him (PMSH) every confidence that he can exercise the absolute power of dictatorship. He has been able to get his legislation passed and he has been able to ignore the will of Parliament on a variety of issues.” — C. B. Innes on 06.26.08 8:08 am
C. B. Innes, you are way over the top. As a former Progressive Conservative, I take it that you must have voted for Brian Mulroney. Was he a dictator too as well as Jean Chretien.
In any case, your language is intemperate, and does nothing to facilitate real communication. A saner approach is given by Elias below:
“It may also shock you to hear me say that I am also far more inclined to trust Harper to ‘do the right thing’ than an unelected and unaccountable corporate CEO who only has the best interest of his/her bank account in mind…
“Bottom line: who would you trust to do the right thing for Canadian society – the parliament of Canada democratically elected by the people of Canada – or a handful of unelected and unaccountable CEO’s who’s only concern is their bank account balances?” –By Elias on 06.26.08 9:16 am
I agree with Elias that an unelected CEO is far more likely to be dictatorial than any elected parliamentarian, even those with whom we may disagree.
Your language is intemperate, and I used to think you were temperate, but your loose labelling of elected prime ministers as “dictators” undermines your credibility.
Relax, take a deep breath, and cool the rhetoric!
By Herb on 06.26.08 8:58 am
Yeah… got a bit hot with it, but its a sensitive issue for me Herb. Its just too close to home. There is simply too much at stake to let someone with words like that go unchecked.
Either way, this skirt can take it. Sheila’s good at bad mouthing others and getting all in the gutter like personal about it, she can take what she’s been dishing out, get to know how it feels to be on the recieving end.
And yeah, I considered the possibility of her being someone other than “common”, on a political payroll with an agenda to fulfill, but her whims on the spiritual don’t fit (or fly) with such a plant. If she’s paid, its money poorly spent.
I’d say at this point that she’s a combination of too stupid/ignorant/naive to be a good liar if she was but its still remotely possible. Truth be told, double standards within her most certainly exist.
I’d say she’s from out west, around the Calgary area if I had to bet money on it (there really is a propagandistic radio station there with a major AM signal of which people tune into what props them up, the same way a drunk reaches for that liquid crutch to support themselves) and her limited programming in terms of political slant likely originated there. My guess is the only thing saving her from true embarrassment at this point is her naivety (which comes from youth, I’d say shes in her idealistic uneducated and unread 20’s).
And if she’s dumb enough to think she can play some Christian spiritual self righteous trump card on this site, she can think again. Some of us aren’t amateur pretenders with such beliefs. Isaiah, Paul… even Jesus didn’t pull any verbal punches when it came to humility (mind you, JC served it up in peaceful, loving fashion, it was his way). She can expect similar edges on the swords/truths used here by myself and others on this site if she continues to be dumb enough to claim the high road while in the gutter.
What amazes me is that people on here end up agreeing with TS, and do not think through what he (or she) is actually saying with regards to the type of government that he or she eulogizes.
Simply amazing.
By sheila on 06.26.08 6:45 am
Sheila,
I suggest you read Brain’s posting of 11:59 pm several times , slowly, giving it a chance to sink in.
If it does sink in then, maybe, you can begin to re-establish your credibility.
Gord O
By sheila on 06.26.08 3:47 pm,
Since I never lived in Brian Mulroney’s riding I never voted for him nor would I have voted for him as party leader. I admit that I did continue to vote for the party with him as leader and lived to regret it and voted for Peter MacKay and lived to regret that as well. It is possible to learn from experience.
You only see “intemperate language” in others but never in yourself or those you follow. It is too bad. You come across as an intelligent person but one fully indoctrinated by ideology. Maybe some day you will fall from your ivory tower.
Warren: If we are not reproducing ourselves, eventually the number of Canadians who are retired and drawing pensions and not contributing to the work force will outnumber those who are.
How can the country’s economy sustain itself? The net population will continue to decrease under your scenario. Perhaps decrease until we are at net zero???
By Judy on 06.26.08 9:57 am
i am not saying zero immigration but much, much less.
we have a large baby boom population. it is a problem we can work thru without massive immigration. i think it is a minor problem compared to lower wages, increased pollution, arable land consumption, cluttered roadways.
we are actually helping the usa to create more refugees by ratcheting up the wars around the world. why isn’t that an issue for the liberals.
china is trying to lower it’s population. why? to lower the chinese standard of living? in fact it is going up, with massive pollution from industry.
we on the other hand are trying to increase our population, thru immigration and our standard of living is going down.
why aren’t more canadians having children? i think the main reason is we cannot afford to. who wants to send their toddler off to some stranger at the daycare because they have to work to maintain a certain standard of living?
in france they give out huge cash payouts to people when they have children. it shouldn’t be that way. people used to have large families in canada as a rule, especially in quebec.
“Have you considered the possibility that Sheila is neither an idiot, ignoramus nor innocent, but merely a dedicated neo-Republican party worker whose task is to raise cane on Garth’s dangeroulsy-successful blog?” –By Herb on 06.26.08 8:58 am
“And yeah, I considered the possibility of her being someone other than ‘common’, on a political payroll with an agenda to fulfill, but her whims on the spiritual don’t fit (or fly) with such a plant. If she’s paid, its money poorly spent.” –By brain on 06.26.08 4:04 pm
Herb and brain, surely you jest!
You flatter me with surmisings that I must be some kind of a paid politicial operative and make self-serving judgments about me as if you knew what you were talking about, when I am none of the stereotypes you propose.
I am not the member of any political party, and I speak only for myself, and I simply call it as I see it.
If you read all of my posts, you will see that I am opposed to the political partisanship in ALL political parties–the CONS, the Libs, the Bloc and the NDP.
While I am opposed to the social engineering aspects of Dion’s carbon tax inasmuch as it manipulates human behaviour through rewards and punishments, as if we were children, and treats us like Pavlov’s dogs, I must say that I still have a personal respect for M. Dion as a person, and would agree that he is in many ways more of a gentleman that PMSH.
I am also opposed to the political attack ads that the CONS have come out with to counter this latest announcement by Dion, and if I didn’t oppose the method of control behind this carbon tax so much, I might have leaned towards Dion simply on the basis of his being a gentleman and a man of obvious sincerity.
Our whole system is based on partisanship, and caters to an approach where we often talk past each other rather than to each other.
I am not like the bloggers around here who blindly support the CONS. If you look on Garth’s latest entry, you will find that I commended him for his sane approach in encouraging caution in view of our present situation.
I fully realize that this is only one person’s opinion, and I speak only for myself, and I respect your right to hold a different point of view. It is the ad hominem attacks and name-calling that I cannot stand, something that I don’t think you will find any evidence that I have ever done.
I attack the issues, but not the person, and we need to all grow up where we can encourage a healthy debate on the issues without putting down the person just because of their opinion. That mentality is not compatible with a free society.
Herb and brain, have a good week-end, and i wish you well in all future endeavours.
You obviously don’t know me from your comments, but that doesn’t keep you from making judgments and innuendos. How about doing coffee sometime?
And yes, if any political party ever did hire me, they would indeed find the money poorly spent, because they would soon see that I don’t necessarily tow the party line for any politician, or any party. I simply call it as I see it.
Have a good week-end!
You only see “intemperate language” in others but never in yourself or those you follow. It is too bad. You come across as an intelligent person but one fully indoctrinated by ideology. Maybe some day you will fall from your ivory tower. –By C. B. Innes on 06.26.08 5:35 pm
C. B. Innes, you and I both have somehting in common, in that we did for a season vote for the same party, even though I never had a party membership except for a very brief stint when I supported Jean Charest.
That might give you a little background on where I am coming from, and perhaps we should end this by focussing more on what we have in common. Where my comments have been too strident in making a point, I do not mean to be personal.
I believe that you are an honest man who stands up for what he believes in, and I admire that in you.
All the best to you!
“My guess is the only thing saving her from true embarrassment at this point is her naivety (which comes from youth, I’d say shes in her idealistic uneducated and unread 20’s).” –By brain on 06.26.08 4:04 pm
Here is the strongest proof yet that while you are not reluctant to make judgments about somebody you know nothing about, you completely miss the mark on my age and experience. Your guess is not only off target, but completely off the wall.
Just to give you a clue, I am part of the baby boom generation, and I graduated from the University of Alberta in 1975, and did post-graduate work in 1976.
“I’d say she’s from out west, around the Calgary area if I had to bet money on it (there really is a propagandistic radio station there with a major AM signal of which people tune into what props them up, the same way a drunk reaches for that liquid crutch to support themselves) and her limited programming in terms of political slant likely originated there.”
First, it is sad that you should stereotype somebody by their geographical location. That leads to all kinds of errors in judgment and tarring everybody from a particular geography with the same brush. Sad, really.
The fact is that I presently live in the province of Manitoba, just south of Winnipeg.
To judge a person by the city that they come from, however, is reprehensible, and a violation of every human beings right to be known personally before they are judged.
Get to know a person, and base your assessments on personal, relational knowledge, but judging people that you do not know is a big part of the problem, and is not any part of the solution.
We need less judgmental attitudes to address the issues we all face jointly and interdependently.
So Judy – maybe you want us to sell out to China and adopt their human rights practices?
By Catherine on 06.26.08 5:04 am
It is stupid “closers” like the one above that negate anything read prior. Why not try a little more respect of others who think differently than you? You may be surprised, and get some back. You reap what you sow.
RE: tomatoes — Thanks, Leasa for that information about how you track your produce. It is very reassuring.
We have had our own garden for years, and have 5 different tomato plants, all purchased at the Waterloo Farmer’s market–the only place I buy plants and produce. I like the 100 km. diet idea.
Now all I need to find out, is how to harvest and keep seeds for future years.
“I suggest you read Brain’s posting of 11:59 pm several times , slowly, giving it a chance to sink in.
“If it does sink in then, maybe, you can begin to re-establish your credibility.” By Gord on 06.26.08 5:05 pm
“If this nation isn’t good enough for you, move to the U.S. where its so ‘free’. Don’t let the border slam you on your way out.” –By brain on 06.25.08 11:59 pm
Gord, brain’s response is proof positive that he or she does not really want a dialogue. He or she hopes that I will move away.
This is proof that they do not want to interact with people that they disagree with, but want to have everything in their own way, and a government that sanctions only one point of view.
This is not the Canadian way–to tell people that you disagree with to move away.
How are humans ever going to grow up and learn to get along if they don’t want to discuss or to understand somebody tha they don’t agree with, or who challenges their own ideological views?
Folks, we really do need to grow up, and here is a truism. Maturity comes with the acceptance of responsibility.
People never grow up until they are allowed to make decisions for which they must accept responsibility. Otherwise, they will stay in their immature state of dependency on centralist solutions that offer no creativity, and in which the government is the parent, and the average Joe Citizen is forever the child who whines and complains that his parents do not gradually allow him to grow up, and to make more and more of his own decisions.
Lest I be misunderstood,I am not talking about individualism here.
I realize full well the advantages of community, of networking, of connecting with others in order to achieve common goals that we cannot achieve as individuals.
All that I am saying is that if we give people more freedom, they will have more responsibility to make the right decisions, and to engage in community projects for the common good.
When it comes to addressing the problems in our inner cities, for example, volunteer efforts by motivated and caring citizens and volunteer organizations do more than all of the government programs and bureaucracies combined. And a wise politician will recognize that, and look for solutions at the grassroots level rather than the top-down decisions where one size is supposed to fit all, and many people simply fall through the cracks.
In a democracy, we will only have better governments when we have better human beings who put something into society, and don’t simply take something out, and we will only have better human beings when people have more freedom, and must take the primary responsibility for the self-governing and the managing of their lives, and to have compassion and altruism for the less fortunate.
Garth,
1. Sounds like the economy is in a mess, let’s get this carbon tax in place right away to save our jobs and wealth
2. A $1,700 cab ride is repulsive, no doubt, but not even close to what Liberal MPs have done – taking their drivers on worldwide junkets at $1,000 per night hotels, awarding $50,000 untendered contracts to their girlfriends, taking money from taxpayers and giving it to Liberal friendly ad firms to recycle back into the Liberal party
3. The ills of the Ontario economy are largely due to issues south of the border and to Dalton McGuinty’s massive tax increases, too bad you don’t have the brass ones to criticize a fellow Librano.
Why do you not have the brass ones to publish notes under just one name, tough guy? You are a lot smaller than you appear. — Garth