“Right now we’re going through a tough period. There is no doubt about it.”
Henry Paulson is a pretty bad liar. As a gonzo Wall Street merchant banker he was respected in the private sector for his forthrightness and drive. These days he’s the US Treasury Secretary, equivalent to Ottawa’s minister of finance. He was directed by the White House to get out in front of American network TV cameras on Sunday to deliver two messages:
(a) Everybody chill. The banking system’s sound, but…
(b) expect more banks to fail and the coming months to be scary.
If he lied better, he’d probably have skipped the second part. To his credit, he didn’t. As Paulson plainly states, the real estate market has not yet hit bottom which means the economy will continue to weaken; financial markets will continue to stress as the credit balloon deflates; and high energy prices make it all worse, harder, deeper, longer.
As many as 90 US banks will go belly up, we expect. The banking system will survive, but America will not be stronger for it. Meanwhile mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are probably just months away from being taken over by Washington, which will make the real estate crisis the worst in world history.
What does this mean for us?
Good news & bad. The bad part you already suspect – our housing market will follow the same trajectory, a fact which is becoming more obvious every day, despite the attempts by companies like Royal LePage to paper it over with saccharin-soaked MLS listings. Also bad is the loss of export markets thanks to a too-high dollar and a moribund America. This means more jobs will disappear and southern Ontario cities will have their industrial guts ripped out as more families meet financial crisis. And even if oil prices decline twenty bucks a barrel, energy costs have already done a number on inflation, which means interest rates may rise before long – just in time to mess up everything a bit further.
The good news is, well, sort of good news. If the situation in the States gets impossible (banks shut for several days to prevent a run on deposits, stock trading suspended to prevent a crash, the American dollar a basket case), some people believe commodity-rich Canada could do well. One is John Riley, head of US-based Cornerstone Investment Services who thinks gold, oil and agricultural commodities could become forms of alternative currency to the Yankee greenback – giving this country a kick while American takes a beating. Sort of.
In order to profit, of course, you’d have to maintain a stake in those things, through direct ownership (gold, for example), or the stock market (energy companies, ag products, resources). What this also suggests is, you don’t want to own bank stocks, US dollar-denominated securities or a position in any of the industrial giants. Ditto for non-essential retailers like Best Buy. Wal-Mart, on the other hand, will be beating business back with a pointed stick.
While a lot of this is conjecture and postering – both by politicians and financial forecasters – the fact remains Canada and the States have been on a years-long debt binge, now crashing. We put too much money in one asset class, real estate, and most of that cash was borrowed. Some consequences have arrived, more are coming.
On the weekend I spent time chatting with a gal recently out of her job as a credit officer with one of the major Canadian banks. Her role was to approve or reject applications for residential mortgages brought to her bank by Toronto mortgage brokers. Most of them, she said, were junk. Borrowers could not prove their incomes and many had revolting credit histories. But the bank’s policy was to lend money based on the asset, not the buyer. “As a result,” she told me, shaking her head, “I was instructed to approve at least $50 million in mortgages for people I knew would not be able to pay.”
By the way, did you know Canadian banks don’t bother sending appraisers any more to inspect most of the houses they finance? They just look up the postal codes, and approve on that basis. Even when it’s no money down. So much for conservative, buttoned-down Canuck bankers. Too bad they forgot this rule: All booms end badly.
Hard to believe our federal government spent three years watching this real estate disaster unfold in slow motion to the south of us, and did nothing until one week ago. When it was too late.
136 comments ↓
You’re right Garth, when you say that Henry Paulson is the equivalent of our Minister of Finance, Jim Flahertyl, Paulson’s mini me of Finance
You’re also correct when you say that Paulson makes for a bad liar.
That’s what sets him apart from Jim Flaherty. Somehow the press in Canada is so lame and inept, that when Flaherty says that income trusts cause tax leakage…they believe him….and his “proof’ contained in 18 pages of blacked out documents…that were so convincing that Flaherty wanted them immediately returned?
The press said nothing? They jouranlaistic instincts were not even aroused. Which presupposes that they have “journalistic instincts” to begin with.
If the Canadian media were covering the US, there would have probably have been no coverage on the Bear Stearns meltdown, IndyMac or anything on the entire sub prime mortgage meltdown.
Those who are in control of Canada’s media are in control of Canada, which is why its headed in a downward direction, like their newsstand sales.
Very informative post as always Garth. It certainly points to the need to exercise some caution and to reach for a salt shaker when any member of the Harper government says anything to try and sooth the average Canadian.
Like any crisis, there are always opportunities for those who think for themselves, rather than blindly following what others say like mindless sheep.
“Those who are in control of Canada’s media are in control of Canada, which is why its headed in a downward direction, like their newsstand sales.”
The truth is out there……Just not in the newspapers.
If we can’t trust them …..We won’t buy them.
As George jr would say “Fool me once…uh..uh…uh”
Real estate values go up and down, and this decline is only of concern for those selling their houses or commercial property now.
Only relatively few people will be directly hurt by a collapsing house market, but those who own houses will not like to see their asset values declining. If they were also hit by the IT drop that will be doubly painful.
How will this scenario benefit the Liberal party in the next election? Obviously some Canadians will be angered at the current Conservative government and vote Liberal out of spite. This is an understandable reaction, and should be exploited by all Liberals. It’s good political strategy.
Countering that situation is Dion’s obviously misguided carbon tax during a time of economic uncertainty. No matter how much he may assure Canadians that his plan will be ‘revenue neutral’ that will not remove their doubt about another tax no matter how it is dressed up.
If the Liberal party were to shelve the carbon tax idea for say a year for after an election, that may be the best political strategy. I think Liberals have enough to run on in an election without a carbon tax.
I have no doubt that Harper will prorogue Parliament when it reconvenes in September, and bring it back in November with a Throne Speech and Budget. If they are defeated in December, we will have an election date some time in late January or early February’09. I don’t think the Liberals can abstain on the next Budget, although the BQ may do that to be mischievous.
If the BQ supported a Conservative budget and shored up the government until the October’09 scheduled election date, that would be disastrous for Parliament and Canada.
“gold, oil and agricultural commodities could become forms of alternative currency to the Yankee greenback”
Interesting hypothisis or would be if there was any chance global demand for commodities stayed strong. When consumers globally are so undersaved and so far in debt demand falls with spending, of which I see only further retraction. I`m still leaning toward Cdn economic calamity following a continuing shrinkage in global demand for Cdn exports.
One thin hope that commodities will replace the US buck,,,, %#@$, what is he smoking lol.
Good post, enjoyed it right done to the end where you made note there has not be a plan presented or options and only one feeble move, “When it was too late”.
Tory times are hard times………
Iran isn’t holding U.S. dollars anymore. There’s talk among some countries to diversify their currency holdings. China will probably slow down after the Olympics. How much U.S. currency are they holding? They can’t keep lending the U.S. money all the time unless they plan to buy U.S. companies on the cheap??
The U.S. has to raise taxes, they can’t keep going the way they have been. The American public have paid for the Iraq war with the loss of American military lives but they haven’t ‘paid’ with hard currency.
I know things look pretty grim right now but things will turn around. I don’t pay too much attention to what Flatulating Flaherty says or the U.S. chi-chi’s.
http://patriotsquestion911.com/
“Hard to believe our federal government spent three years watching this real estate disaster unfold in slow motion to the south of us, and did nothing until one week ago. When it was too late”.
Well said Garth.
Also hard to believe the House of Commons and Senate spent seven years numb/blind/dumb to the disaster and cover-up of 9/11 2001.
It’s not too late to call for an investigation into the murder of 24 Canadians. No investigation yet in Canada. The co-chairs of the official report wrote that CIA withheld information, NORAD and FAA lied under oath.
We went to war for that?
“(b) expect more banks to fail . . .”
Either therawstory.com or rense.com recently ran a report which said that, in the next three years, approx. 6,000 independent banks would sink; excellent banking regulations, no?
“. . . and Freddie Mac are probably just months away from being taken over by Washington, which will make the real estate crisis the worst in world history.”
See link further down!
Carney and harpo have succeeded where previous Lib. govts. failed — harpo and dimdumb spent crazily and have zip to show for it, plus Canada is now spending an extra $1.2 bln. (approx.) which never happened under Chretien.
Something doesn’t quite add up. BTW, Soros is buying gold (I mentioned this previously). At roughly US$1,000 / oz., it would be great to buy and hold bullion for a while.
Forecast is that it’s supposed to reach $6,500 – $7K / oz.; weather forecasts also change daily, much like the wind!
****************************************
See first-hand how Freddie Mac spent some money last year, and possibly this year!
http://tinyurl.com/5ooxsy
*******************************************
Ford has a brand new, top-of-the-line assembly plant in Brazil, but how will these comments be looked upon by dubya’s looloos?
They don’t like them, so it probably is quite close to the truth!
http://tinyurl.com/5kfzjt
Too bad we do not have an MP like George Galloway in our House of Commons.
Listen to him here on the topic Anglo-American foreign policy.
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/375.html
You said: “By the way, did you know Canadian banks don’t bother sending appraisers any more to inspect most of the houses they finance? They just look up the postal codes, and approve on that basis. Even when it’s no money down. So much for conservative, buttoned-down Canuck bankers. Too bad they forgot this rule: All booms end badly.”
Strange, the TD just sent an appraiser to my place in order for me to get a $100,000 line of credit on my house that has a $300,000 mortgage on an assessed value of $850,000. I guess the lesson for me is to buy TD stock.
So your friend is part of the problem. Why is she not publically coming forward with this?
Is it that she is collecting commissions/bonuses on every mortgage she signs?
And then your leader, Stephane Dion wants to bring another new tax to make thing even more expensive – for frivolous things like heating and lighting for homes!
Sounds like there is a disconnect between your constant blogging about people on the verge of losing their homes and your leader’s proposal of making these people’s lives that much more difficult to live.
So, Garth, are you still advocating for this Green Shift (shaft)?
It appears we need more economistics in Ottawa and less political screwups like our present government which stinks of Harris politics which initially screwed Ontario.
Gath i’m glad to see you have the fiscally responsible balls to tell the truth as we’re hard pressed by our present bunch of number (bean counting idiots) crunching lieing varmints, rodents who need Stretch limos to travel in when their asses don’t look any different then the rest of the popualtions but feel they have the power to screw us finacially whenever possible same as our infamous ex Ontaio finace minister who’s only objective is to further his wife’s ambitions and others with unsanctioned contracts.
You think Adscam was big wait till the truth of this government is actually revealed.
At the rate they spend our cash I’ll be lucky if they let me die before the the bill is paid off.
To bad our population doesn’t wakeup to the fact this is not a democratic country we live in but on it’s way t fascism in a very direct and fast path under our present clear and fast paced dictatorial government which belives in muzzles and secrecy.
Screw H—-R and may his next party look like Kim Campbells and Canadians can maybe take back our country.
I wonder how Garth views Ron Paul’s ideas?
http://morris108.wordpress.com/2008/07/19/video-ron-paul-on-the-coming-dollar-crash-and-what-to-do-about-it/
http://morris108.wordpress.com/2008/07/13/flashback-ron-paul-the-law-still-exists-to-confiscate-all-privately-held-gold-in-us/
Happy Hoggin Holidays Garth, did you check out the Dark Knight’s Super Hog yet….it is worth the price of admission. This vital information is good reading and comes easy for you. Quickly (coffee time) aside to the default housing is the mass destruction of many of these vacant homes, people are gutting them and to top it off just ode fashion destruction in both theft and madness…….so it’s now becoming a double whammy. Could it happen here?
I am aware that indexing is based on the annual CPI rate that apparently is calculated by a basket of goods. Is there a list somewhere of this basket of goods? It appears to me that food, energy, utilities and municipal taxes are way above the annualized indexing of CPP abd OAS pensions. Most companies pensions are based on the annual inflation rate. How would one go about changing the list of basket of goods to reflect only the necessities of life rather than a generalized list?
For example I was once told that computer parts were on the list and had declined by 71% in that period, as seniors, computer parts are not on the top of our list of necessities? Can you give me some direction here?
It’s also hard to believe our CONservative federal government spent just nine months in power before they unceremoniously decided to betray Canadian voters and actually CREATE this income trust disaster in our previously Great White North, and have done nothing to correct their treachery and this travesty.
Seems the CONS are quite adept at quickly destroying what works, while they are completely inept at fixing or adjusting what doesn’t.
Boss Hogg, Deceivin’ Stephen, and his Forrest Gump finance minister, Dim Jim, belong in Gitmo with their buddies George W. and You Don’t Know Dick.
The sooner they’re all tossed to the lions, the better.
But I digress…
…who thinks gold, oil and agricultural commodities … ~ Garth
Garth do you think this is why farm values continue to climb in price? Even with the state of agriculture in this country, even with the demise of tobacco in my area, farm land continues to climb in value. Banks have always and continue to be very hard on farmers. When the bank turns a farmer down for the much needed cash to get a crop in following a bad year, the farmer is driven to the FCC, who of course charge higher interest rates. Failing that, there are private loan companies that will give the loan but charge as much as 20% interest. Those companies are quick to foreclose with eviction notice before the closing date (they often have the farm sold) so they can then nail the farmer again with a ‘clean up’ bill before the deed changes hands. It is so sad to see a farm family have their belongings spread all over their front lawn by the Sheriff’s office. Remember, when a farmer has lost his/her ‘job’ the entire family has lost everything immediately.
1)Why do you think farm values keep climbing?
2)Do you think that private loaning companies should be better regulated?
Thank you,
Leasa
Imagine being a Bush appointee? You want to help change things for the better but you are under the control of the MCP.
You feel like Tron, knowing you can be FREE, but the MCP (Mindless Corrupt Politician) has drones monitoring everything to make sure truth is the first and last victim of the MCP’s insane delusion he is a leader.
You wait because you know the MCP’s time is very short now. The MCP, being INSANE cannot accept that reality, so it is still the same ‘Steady as she goes’ course over the edge.
Tick! Tick! Tick!
As many as 90 US banks will go belly up, we expect. The banking system will survive, but America will not be stronger for it. – Garth
I disagree. Japan went through the same problem years ago. They didn’t protect their banks. Call it the survival of the fitest. But once the crud was cleaned out, their system was much the better for it.
They just look up the postal codes, and approve on that basis. Even when it’s no money down. So much for conservative, buttoned-down Canuck bankers. – Garth
Not this new breed of minimalist red tape conservatives. It fits in with their view of small “government.” Remember Mike Harris when he cut provincial water testing and we all know the outcome. The same is true of the conservative bankers cutting out the appraisal. They now feel its unneccessary, and the end result….. disaster.
Its unfortuante that the executives of these banks don’t feel the consequences as they are the ones setting “bank policy.” The ones who suffer, the employees, the shareholders (who need to kick these executive out and stop looking at short term gains) and the poor mortgagees who have been given loans they never should have had.
I’ve been reading where this problem stems from the Reagan years – limited government and deregulation and that the guy who called Americans whiners was instrumental in this process – he’s now resigned from McCain’s campaign.
In other words – the neo-conservative policies DO NOT work, as has been proven. And yet, Harper insists on following that doctrine. Unbelievable.
And then your leader, Stephane Dion wants to bring another new tax to make thing even more expensive – for frivolous things like heating and lighting for homes!
Sounds like there is a disconnect between your constant blogging about people on the verge of losing their homes and your leader’s proposal of making these people’s lives that much more difficult to live.
So, Garth, are you still advocating for this Green Shift (shaft)?
By Catherine on 07.21.08 5:09 am
Meanwhile the Harper government will sit there and watch the U.S. impose a carbon tax on imported oil and watch Canadian’s money end up in the U.S Treasury. Given the choice, I think Canadians will choose Dion’s tax because it will keep the money in Canada and in the pockets of Canadians. There will be a tax regardless, so which one will you choose? Obama has made it clear that he will tax imports that are not taxed domestically.
IS IT REALLY AS BAD AS IT LOOKS?
NO …. IT’S FAR WORSE!
The Great American Nightmare
Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. 07-21-08
http://www.moneyandmarkets.com/Issues.aspx?NewsletterEntryId=1993
Ok Garth, I’m a believer. The financial apocalypse is coming.
Besides saving like mad and making sure all our investments are properly lined up, what can the average person DO about it?
One action more than any other: Kill debt. — Garth
If the Liberal party were to shelve the carbon tax idea for say a year for after an election, that may be the best political strategy. I think Liberals have enough to run on in an election without a carbon tax.
By Steve on 07.21.08 12:02 am
the liberal party should shelve dion. one thing we don’t need is another quebec prime minister.
1)Why do you think farm values keep climbing?
2)Do you think that private loaning companies should be better regulated?
Thank you,
Leasa
By Leasa on 07.21.08 7:35 am
The general consensus is that one area in which profits can be made is in the control of food production.
Monsanto has been working to take control by the patenting of seed and the production of “killer seeds” which will give their genetically altered seed a monopoly.
Other ways of achieving a monopoly is the acquiring of land. The federal government in the 50s debated expropriating small farms and selling them to large corporate farming operations. They determined that politically that would be a disaster and instead they decided to regulate these farms out of business. This policy was relatively successful and during the 1950s and 1960s farms were rapidly abandoned.
The increasing demand by consumers for locally produced food is creating a backlash by those who control the food supply. In the past week our local newspaper has reported on the efforts of the federal government to destroy free range poultry production through unreasonable regulation.
When the government talks about “self-regulation” it means that the most powerful players in a particular industry are given the freedom to regulate the industry. They are clearly in a conflict of interest but they get the power to regulate the industry in their self-interest.
The banks play an important role in transfering control of any industry. They consider big much better. This gives a tremendous advantage to any enterprise that has large capital assets and can influence government policy through concepts such as self-regulation. The relatively smaller farm enterprise must constantly struggle to survive given these more powerful forces which drive up the value of farm land.
The only way that smaller farmers can win the enormous struggle is to work with consumers, who are concerned about the quality of their food, to fight the “capital” interests that seek to control the food supply to achieve non-farm profit.
I am aware that indexing is based on the annual CPI rate that apparently is calculated by a basket of goods. Is there a list somewhere of this basket of goods? It appears to me that food, energy, utilities and municipal taxes are way above the annualized indexing of CPP abd OAS pensions. Most companies pensions are based on the annual inflation rate. How would one go about changing the list of basket of goods to reflect only the necessities of life rather than a generalized list?
For example I was once told that computer parts were on the list and had declined by 71% in that period, as seniors, computer parts are not on the top of our list of necessities? Can you give me some direction here?
By wjp on 07.21.08 7:19 am
WJP – I found one link below from Statscan that shows one table of major components (basket of goods) but I don’t think it’s all inclusive. #3 at the bottom of the table states:
3. The measure of Core Consumer Price Index (CPI) excludes from the All-items CPI the effect of changes in indirect taxes and eight of the most volatile components identified by the Bank of Canada: fruit, fruit preparations and nuts; vegetables and vegetable preparations; mortgage interest cost; natural gas; fuel oil and other fuel; gasoline; inter-city transportation; and tobacco products and smokers’ supplies. For additional information on Core CPI, please consult the Bank of Canada website (www.bankofcanada.ca/en/inflation/index.htm).
http://www.statcan.ca/english/Subjects/Cpi/cpi-en.htm
Yep, all the volatile goodies aren’t included so really the CPI doesn’t reflect the actual increases in basic necessities. Sort of like unemployment stats which don’t include those people who’ve given up looking for a job. As well govt. stats like to point out the number of jobs created within a given period, but down play the number of full time, well paying, jobs lost with those of temporary, Mcdo jobs.
the liberal party should shelve dion. one thing we don’t need is another quebec prime minister.
By warren f on 07.21.08 9:44 am
I wonder if you’d be saying the same thing if Harper were from P.Q.
Garth.Stop stiring up the pot with the doom and gloom syn.because their are people that buy into your outrages com.You have been saying since 2004 that house prices are going down and to put money in the stock market.Apparently your on another planet and i hope most of the population does not agree with you.THANKYOU,DON.
just started reading “Bad Money: Reckless Finance, Failed Politics, and the Global Crisis of American Capitalism” by kevin phillips.
one fact really jumps out in the first chapter. the major component of our economy used to be industry.
do you know what is the biggest money maker today? financial services. i call that money for nothing.
we are increasing our debt, private and publicly, and at the same time decreasing our ability to pay it off.
i see bubbles galore but the net result is that the little guy is screwed.
and dion wants to screw us some more?
By kpn on 07.21.08 10:09 am
Thanks for that info KPN, I will investigate further….
and dion wants to screw us some more?
By warren f on 07.21.08 10:16 am
So you are advocating the Obama plan of taxing our exports then Warren, personally I would rather see the money stay in Canada but to each his/her own!
So you are advocating the Obama plan of taxing our exports then Warren, personally I would rather see the money stay in Canada but to each his/her own!
By wjp on 07.21.08 10:31 am
how can obama tax our exports? maybe his imports. we will still charge the going rate. a rubbish argument.
i think you are saying that dion’s carbon crap will save us money. were you born yesterday?
why doesn’t dion do something real and important like clean up the oceans? now there is a real, proven problem.
trudeau was an economics prof and he screwed us economically. dion will screw us politically.
have fun polishing that turd.
Good morning, back and over in beautiful and lonely Halifax. First forget the word “IF” my dad once told me: If the rabbit would not have stopped to shxt he would of won the race, what’s your point. The point is crystal clear and becoming more so every day, From the day Stephen Harper & Co won a minority government in Canada they had but one goal, have a early election to win a majority government. They have not done anything to look to the future for the Canadian public. Many things have been done behind closed doors at great expense to all taxpayers to shore their grass root support. This we know as do many others who never read this Blog or any political news in depth. PMSH has not moved one inch forward in his quest for supreme power. Why, simple really, the voters have come to believe that their original concerns for Reform/Alliance were true and the new improved name of Conservative is and was a CON job. Also, the mandate of a fixed election date that was so important to Reformers and was finally driven home by the new Reform/Conservatives has allowed most (95%) of the public to believe the election will go as scheduled, as for the other parties they now this and do not want Harper & Co blaming the election on them, unless polling suggests the public wants it big time. So do not ever blame M.Dion, for he is far smarter than that, he can take political heat, Harper can not (hence his foul mouth words on the Green Shift and absence from Ottawa when John McCain came to town…. I am willing to bet a large coffee, if Barach Obama came to town with 2,000 reports and a expected crowd of 50-60,000 plus he would be there with bells on. What Garth has been telling (free of charge) is stop, look and listen, spend your money wisely and pay down your debt and encourage your family to do the same. It is not all doom and gloom but it is sure not rosy. That ladies and gentlemen is sound advice to which Mr. Flaherty should have observed, he along with Harper were given a barrows full of cash and could have played a very conservative game telling Canadians to enjoy life but live within your means until the world is more stable and the US gets back on track. But NO! full speed ahead on the majority train and dam the people of Canada because he has Alberta in his hands and money to spend in Quebec and besides he looked into the mirror and he is KING!
the liberal party should shelve dion. one thing we don’t need is another quebec prime minister.
By warren f on 07.21.08 9:44 am
I wonder if you’d be saying the same thing if Harper were from P.Q.
By kpn on 07.21.08 10:11 am
But Harper sees himself as a Quebec nationalist.
One action more than any other: Kill debt. — Garth
Good advice.
WJP 7:19am
The issue of governments lying about inflation rates for the past decade or so is one being fought in many countries. In Britain for instance the public knows that it is around 10% while the governmet is only calling it 3%. Our own statistics Canada admitted a few years ago to understating inflation by 1% per year over the last decade and of course like any important story it dissappeared in about 48hrs. before the public caught on.
In March I spilled my tea when I heard how inflation in January dropped because new car prices went down 10%!!!! Like your example, how many new cars do we buy? The only way to measure the real inflation rate is to add mortgage rates, all tax increases/decreases, all energy costs for homes and vehicles as well as a basket of basic food items. In other words those things we all have to pay for first before we buy manufacured items. The number derived from those items will generally hold true on a national basis for the inflation in housing and manufactured goods as they are most affected by the price of those things as well. The cost of a place to live is local in nature while the cost of stuff is driven by national and industry factors that scew the overall inflation rates. Good examples are house prices far in excess of inflation while the transer of manufacturing overseas has caused prices of most manufactured items to fall below inflation levels.
The inflation rates are important to us because pensions and other fixed incomes are indexed to it and wage increases generally follow it. Based on official infation rates even the government admits we are further behind where we were twenty years ago. If “real” rates were used instead of the scewed ones we all know we are probably 50% behind in purchasing power. Garths post is about lying till the end and this is one of the biggest lies of all that is affecting us the most.
With most energy costs 25-50% higher than a year ago and inflation in China and other countries making most of the junk we buy these days at 10% how long can the government keep up this lie. I suspect all of the surpluses of the last ten years should have been paid out to cover the real inflation rate to seniors and others. The cons. orgy of spending the last couple of years certainly should have been of the deficet type rather than a public attempt to prevent any future government from helping those whose lives are made miserable by years of lies.
While my knoweledge on economics comes from years of reading business articles I find the best source of information these days unfiltered by the government is a British site independent.co.uk which explains most financial topics in detail and in a way that is farly easy to understand. Maybe someone with more financial experience could explain it better or correct any errors in my thinking.
The only way that smaller farmers can win the enormous struggle is to work with consumers, who are concerned about the quality of their food, to fight the “capital” interests that seek to control the food supply to achieve non-farm profit.
By C. B. Innes on 07.21.08 10:06 am
You’ve hit the nail on the head! We are considered a ‘larger’ producer. You would be amazed at how many calls we’ve had from serious ‘interested’ business groups wanting to buy our farms, market and all.
The federal government of today is making it much much harder for CND farms (especially in Ont. and eastward) to survive. I have in recent months posted what is going on. The latest disaster waiting to happen is the fact that the government now wants to fire all federal inspectors related to food safety and give the responsibility to the corporations to monitor themselves. What a dangerous wacko idea! IN light of the millions this government has recently devoted to China’s food safety program, I think this recent move is perhaps to create our own toxic food getting onto the market, thus making China not look so bad. Cynical? Yes, but that’s the way it looks.
I thought this government understood the need to continue to grow safe clean food for our own. You have no idea how disappointed I am to see agriculture decline under this government.
My problem is that no matter what government has power in this country, this will not change. How many sick people do we need in order for conglomerates like Dole, Chiquita, the Gov. of China, etc. to be satisfied?
GRRRR!
Now we have our provincial government on a ‘trade mission’ to China. As usual it will be all one way…the wrong way.
Got to run…
Leasa
the article for C.B.
Ottawa washes hands of food safety
Companies to do own inspections under new plan
Sarah Schmidt, Canwest News Service Published: Saturday, July 12, 2008
OTTAWA – A government plan to transfer key parts of food inspection to industry so companies can police themselves will put the health of Canadians at risk, according to leading food safety experts who have reviewed the confidential blueprint.
The plan, drafted by Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and approved by the Treasury Board, details sweeping changes to food inspection.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is also ending funding to producers to test cattle for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, or mad cow disease) as part of a surveillance program, the document indicates, a move expected to save the agency about $24-million over the next three years.
The new system, part of a push to trim the agency’s budget by 5%, was approved last November, but a public announcement “has been deferred owing to significant communications risks,” according to the confidential Treasury Board document obtained by Canwest News Service.
The document, addressed to the president of the agency, details how the inspection of meat and meat products will downgrade agency inspectors to an “oversight role, allowing industry to implement food safety control programs and to manage key risks.”
The inspection of animal feed mills will undergo the same changes “to reduce the need for ongoing CFIA inspection and would shift CFIA’s role to oversight and verification of industry outcomes.”
For the certification of commercial seed, “this means shifting the program delivery of seed certification, including inspection, to an industry-led third party.”
Leading food safety experts, who reviewed the document, say the plan is a recipe for disaster.
“They’re moving towards the U. S. model, where the inspectors don’t actually do the inspection, they just oversee and the companies actually do the inspection. That’s a really dangerous thing,” said Michael Hansen, a North American authority on BSE and senior scientist with the New York-based Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports.
Mr. Hansen, who in the past has been invited by parliamentary committees to testify as an expert on food-safety issues, says the end of the BSE reimbursement program is of “highest concern.”
A leading Canadian academic specializing in food-risk management called the cuts “unfathomable” because Canada continues to find BSEpositive animals and is one of the few countries in the world where BSE is on the increase.
The expert, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there is near unanimous agreement among public health experts that “the greatest risks” of new emerging infectious disease are related to animal products and food.
Avian Influenza, SARS, BSE and Ebola “are just the tip of an iceberg,” he said.
“Reducing food safety controls at this time could be disastrous if there is an outbreak of a new food-borne disease.”
Here is what the CONS have done for our economy since they came to power.
“Despite a robust domestic consumer demand, Canada’s economy shrunk for the first quarter this year – it’s first quarterly decline since 2003.
The reason: The United States. Simply put, Canada’s exports to its No. 1 trading partner dropped significantly since the onset of the credit crunch and subprime mortgage crisis last summer.
The Bank of Canada has slashed interest rates by 150 basis points since December, and a shrinking GDP only gives incentive for another dollar-damaging cut.
But unlike the United States, Canada has a wealth of oil and uranium reserves – and demand for both commodities are at historic highs.”
Using our natural reserves to bail us out of this economic mess is mortgaging our childrens’ future and letting one region of the country thrive while another gets all the Mcjobs and falls into a recession.
Regional economics that pit one part of our Canada against another seems to be a cornerstone policy of the Harpo-clowns.
Paroguing parliament totally fits the “go nowhere-do nothing agenda” that has been killing our economy since January 23, 2006.
Harper times really are tough times for all of us.
have fun polishing that turd.
By warren f on 07.21.08 10:53 am
I would even bother, you obviously have not been paying attention to Mr. Obama’s environmental plans. Therefore I will allow you to wallow in your ignorance, enough just to say that if the oil sands has a carbon tax in Canada, he will not impose one on oil imported from that source.
Some interesting information about how the shifting economics is impacting consumer behaviour in the United States. I think we will see many of the same shifts in Canada.
http://finance.sympatico.msn.ca/investing/news/businessnews/article.aspx?cp-documentid=8768174
By William Dahl on 07.21.08 11:32 am
Thanks William, I will look up that site, according to the Bank of Canada site, a basket of goods has risen by 25% over the past ten years. Since some of my pension income is in U.S. dollars, my income has suffered a hit due to our high dollar, something I cannot blame on the government, however, I would agree that when I calculate the increases based on your outline, I am definetly behind the eight ball…I suspect it will only get worse in the next few years. I have been writing both the Liberals when they were in power and the CPC, but as you can guess, one might as well bang ones head against a concrete wall. Representation on this issue is non existent by either party mainly I suspect because it isn’t an issue for the party leadersand after all, they are the ones who control the agenda and the vote.
Is it that she is collecting commissions/bonuses on every mortgage she signs?
By Catherine on 07.21.08 4:55 am
If she works for the big banks … I doubt it. They get paid a straight salary for doing a certain amount of business. The incentive…. the door if they don’t.
As for the executives, that’s a different matter altogether as their bonuses, which are usually more than their fixed pay, depend on profit.
Maybe someone with more financial experience could explain it
By William Dahl on 07.21.08 11:32 am
This suits your question and has been said before.
From what I gather from wjp he has more financial experience than our guru Garth. I myself spent my apprenticeship on Howe Street and the VSE.
wjp has noted as long as the current system is in place we have no where to go but down. The issues all boil down to corruption. It is no longer a government for the people it`s a government against the people. Not only do they falsely report inflation by discounting big screen tvs but as previously noted they mislead other important indictors like unemployment rates. When Ontario created 30,000 jobs just before the last provincial election credit was given to McQuinty when in fact is was tax payers and their dime that created the jobs. Hardly an indicator of an improving economy that these stats are sold to the public as.
Garth knows a lot more than he`ll let on about, he is after all an MP and must preserve that position. Usually in Cdn politics that is done at all costs. I don`t judge Garth as strongly as I do most MP`s simply because he has the courage to keep this blog open to all so those of us that look at things in a non-partisan way can occasionally inject a little truth into the story.
The truth is most hiring over the last several years was public service. Inflation was out of control the first year housing went to double digit increases. Crime stats do not include crime per se, it might only include the number of cases each officer handles while leaving out unreported and unsolved. Child support is by far `not` the most important thing to a child of divorce. The gun registry was created with and used as a slush fund. add in the 80 points not to vote Tory and the picture forms.
The government has many ways to spin things to make it look like it`s doing a good job but when a majority of Cdns are worried about bankruptcy and the only life raft is globally priced commodities that rely on global demand this country is in big trouble.
The `none of the above` has more support than any of the political parties. When it grows to more than all of them put together more politicians will start telling the truth which btw Garth is out ahead in by simply flirting with it every now and again as he did in this post. In the end it will be the only way out for government will be to deal with none of the above. Economic conditions are well on the way to force the changes required.
The GST is illegal which makes out federal government illegal, no authority to govern this country as they have abandoned the rule of law.
Bottom line, the government lies abut everything and will not fix itself for two reasons, it`s not capable and our power broker politicians like it this way as the rule of law hinders corruption.
Now you know why the Conservatives really don`t like Garth, he puts too much truth in his posts and allows too much to be in response for the standard deceive and deny government mantra.
how can obama tax our exports? maybe his imports. we will still charge the going rate. a rubbish argument.
By warren f on 07.21.08 10:53 am
Lets say the going rate for a barrel of oil is $140. That’s how much we charge for it.
Now when it gets to the border, which option would you choose:
Adding another $10 for the Green Shift, which goes into Ottawa’s pockets so they can give us tax cuts: and because we’ve added a green tax no additional charges from Mr. Obama;
or:
The US adding an additional $10 because we didn’t charge a green tax; money that goes into the US. Treasury, no doubt to subsidise their oil industry through the change?
Either way, the end US consumer pays $150/barrel.
Warren F., you sound an awful lot like Harry S. He’s in the penatly box!
I’ve been reading where this problem stems from the Reagan years – limited government and deregulation and that the guy who called Americans whiners was instrumental in this process – he’s now resigned from McCain’s campaign.
In other words – the neo-conservative policies DO NOT work, as has been proven. And yet, Harper insists on following that doctrine. Unbelievable.
By slg on 07.21.08 9:08 am
slg – its part of Harper’s plan as exposed by Tom Flanagan. Too bad more Canadians aren’t aware of it.
‘Turning the Screws’
Bean spiller: Tom Flanagan, former Harper chief of staff. Give up on social programs, says Harper budget.
By Murray Dobbin
Published: March 4, 2008
TheTyee.ca
Harper’s Conservatives in their latest budget have taken their lead from the Bush administration. They are simultaneously increasing the military’s budget and cutting government revenue to set the stage for future cuts to social programs.
Just like Bush, who also came into office with the “problem” of huge budget surpluses, Harper is well on his way to achieving the neo-con objective of permanently hobbling government’s ability to fund anything but the military. Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform and a dedicated Bushite, might have been speaking for Harper when he said “My goal is to cut government in half in 25 years, to get it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub.”
Previously announced Conservative tax cuts will mean an annual loss of government revenue of $40.2 billion by 2012-2013. Economist Erin Weir has commented, “It is striking that the tax cuts will cost as much as it currently costs to run the government of Canada’s entire non-military side.”
The tax free savings plan announced in the February budget will, through its compounding effects, mean another erosion of government revenue. Initially involving only small amounts, in twenty years this plan is estimated to cost the government $3 billion each year. Since poor and middle class families are mostly heavily indebted and not in a position to save, the rich are the most likely beneficiaries of the plan.
Impossible dreams?
A national childcare program, a housing program for the estimated 250,000 Canadians living on the streets, pharmacare — these are meant to become impossible dreams. More, though, is apparently in the gun sights of the Harper Conservatives. Government revenues as a per cent of GDP are to drop to levels that existed before the establishment of key programs like medicare, so these programs too will appear increasingly unaffordable.
Former Harper chief of staff Tom Flanagan recently praised the Conservative government for pulling off “quite a performance,” achieving radical changes with successive revenue cuts without ever tipping their hand about what they were up to. Flanagan described the Conservatives as “turning the screws on the federal government.” and “boxing in the ability of the federal government to come up with new program ideas . . .”
To read further:
http://thetyee.ca/Views/2008/03/04/Flanagan/
if the oil sands has a carbon tax in Canada, he will not impose one on oil imported from that source.
By wjp on 07.21.08 11:53 am
It seems the danger stated in an Obama tax is the loss of US sales. As oil is a globally priced commodity it will still sell as the world demand for energy will not drop off much even in a collapsing commodity market. The objection that BC will not let a pipeline through without the same taxing structure is beyond the wildest dreams. BC would welcome one and offshore loading infrastructure for our own oil to the point we`d probably put up some money.
I`m not sure how it`s viewed out east but another tax isn`t going to solve global warming and as broke consumers to switch to a green economy is another pipe dream.
It will take a global Hoover project like the one I`ve outlined. Short of cold fusion it will take something like a 0 emission global transportation system. If that`s not the answer and taxes forcing a broke consumer to go green isn`t then what is?
What has Charles done with all the critical thinkers?
http://poppavox.blogspot.com/
Another classic example of media lies.
The article “green shift doesn’t discriminate” from the National Post or where I read it in the National Newswatch is spin and lies at its best.
This just proves what my professer in my college statistics class said, “within the right parameters any number can be changed to any other number”.
Hard to believe our federal government spent three years watching this real estate disaster unfold in slow motion to the south of us, and did nothing until one week ago. When it was too late.
Or perhaps this is exactly what the neo-Con, dictatorial, suppressive CPC government wanted. Keep the people subservient through unsupportable debt.
I become wistful and a little angry when confronted by our latest,financial, melt-down .
Had the Liberals been in charge we would have ridden out this maelstrom as we have so many times before in the last decade .
The Liberals would never have allowed 40,year mortgages with zero equity .
We would have dodged the bullet .
If you are a long time reader of Garth’s you will know this to be true .
His advice is golden .
Even if Garth was not finance minister he still would have had input into the situation .
“Reducing food safety controls at this time could be disastrous if there is an outbreak of a new food-borne disease.”
By Leasa on 07.21.08 11:44 am
Thanks for posting that Leasa. I’ve been meaning to do a search for that article after having read it several days ago. The topic wasn’t timely then, however.
From what I’ve read, the con position re the Cdn Wheat Board is similiar to what CBI spoke of earlier. They want to dismantle it and allow the big giants like Cargill to control it, thus ultimately paying the farmers less for their product. In other words, conguer and divide. IIRC, the majority of farmers voted against the CWB’s dissolution, but Harper still says he’ll go to any length to kill the CWB.
So your friend is part of the problem. Why is she not publically coming forward with this?
Is it that she is collecting commissions/bonuses on every mortgage she signs?
By Catherine on 07.21.08 4:55 am
…..and your point is_______________???
The expert, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there is near unanimous agreement among public health experts that “the greatest risks” of new emerging infectious disease are related to animal products and food.
Avian Influenza, SARS, BSE and Ebola “are just the tip of an iceberg,” he said.
“Reducing food safety controls at this time could be disastrous if there is an outbreak of a new food-borne disease.”
By Leasa on 07.21.08 11:44 am
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Leasa, There is another issue on food safety that has been covered up from the git go. In the Willy Picton case in B.C. no one will admit or allow any discussion or investigation into whether the Picton pig packing house ever diverted some of the murder victims body parts to be sold in their meat market instead of being fed to their hogs.
THIS MUST BE CLEARED UP WITH A JUDICIAL INQUIRY REGARDLESS OF HOW DEVASTATING AND DEMORALIZING THIS SUSPECTED HORRENDOUS POSSIBLE COVER UP IS! THIS WHOLE ISSUE IS A TIME BOMB BOTH POLITICALLY AND JUDICIALLY. IF PROPER SLAUGHTERHOUSE INSPECTIONS WERE BEING PERFORMED, THAT WRETCHED SITUATION WOULD NOT HAVE PROCEEDED TO THE DEGREE IT DID.
WILLY PICTON WAS NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO HAVE DONE WHAT WAS DONE WITHOUT HELP AND COLLUSION.
THE POLICE HAVE NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO DISCLOSE THE FULL DETAILS OF WHAT THEY KNOW PENDING FURTHER TRIALS.
WAS HUMAN FLESH MARKETED AS PORK? COME CLEAN WITH ALL THE DETAILS AND RESTORE FULL MEAT INSPECTIONS NOW!
What a dangerous wacko idea! IN light of the millions this government has recently devoted to China’s food safety program, I think this recent move is perhaps to create our own toxic food getting onto the market, thus making China not look so bad. Cynical? Yes, but that’s the way it looks.
I thought this government understood the need to continue to grow safe clean food for our own. You have no idea how disappointed I am to see agriculture decline under this government.
By Leasa on 07.21.08 11:35 am
Leasa – its not only China, it’s part of the SPP. The cons want to lower our standards in agriculture to those of the USA & eventually Mexico, and probably beyond. Pesticides anyone!!
At least in the EU, their position, it seems is to increase the standards in not only agriculture but in other areas. I certainly don’t agree with everything that’s going on in the EU, however.
I watched a program the other evening, a repeat I believe, about British farmers, primarily cattle, IIRC. Partly because of BSE and govt. regulations, the industry has been decimated. I forget the number of meat imports from countries as far away as S. America, but the percentage was extremely high. Farms are being bought out by wealthy city dwellers as weekend retreats, etc. Anyone happen to see that program? Might have been on PBS or CBC. Sad.
William Dahl on 07.21.08 11:32 am and all
The wildest story yet, I believe they will try and peddle any fantasy off on the Cdn public..
Sry I don`t have a link but it was on MSM.
Apparently Cdns are insulated from this global economic meltdown for 2 reasons.
a; `we are a commodities based economy.`
Our economy is based on global demand which is dropping off and that insulates us???
b; `US problems will not migrate north because Cdns consumers are not as debt ridden as our US counterparts.`
Cdns owe $100B on credit cards, Americans owe $1T, per capita, the same.
Cdn debt from credit cards to car loans to mortgages is equal now to what Americans owed before their housing took the plunge. If anyone has a link I`d like to see where they got their numbers from, out of their,,, I imagine
Unfortunately it`s not only the US but all the developed countries that are on the downward slide, again so much for global demand, so much for insulation.
By Leasa on 07.21.08 11:35 am
Thanks Leasa, we are so far down the food chain, pardon the pun, it is only a short Harper/Bush time until all past regulations are scrapped. And some people wonder where Harper’s election War Chest is really coming from!
How many remember 1980-82? Was Canada ‘insulated’ then from the Global effects of the U.S. going down the tubes after writing off billions in bad loans to foreign countries?
That was the resultant ‘adjustment’ from going off the Gold Standard and replacing it with printing presses and oil. BRILLIANT!
KPN…I think if you could dig deep enough you’d find that Cargill IS the CND Wheat Board.
http://www.cwb.ca/dom/db/buying/sales_process/accredit.nsf/webaccexpreg/78874A603A0F760386256E14006DE7E3?OpenDocument&CategRegion=Latin%20America%20and%20the%20Caribbean
They have a huge influence on price setting via; the Wheat Board. I think if the average CND could have a look into the bowels of both organizations, we’d be weeks trying to wash the stench off.
As of this year the C.W.B. will not be shipping grains to third world countries via; CND charity. Instead this government has come up with a scheme to teach these people to grow their own? I heard on rep. say they felt the Cargill was somehow at the bottom of this…at any rate, the CND farmers lose again.
What I’d like to know, and I know I’ll never really know…why the love fest with China? Both federal governments (Libs & Cons) have been arse kissing with China for the last decade…why? Why are/were we giving China ‘aid’ when they are so filthy rich (the last ten years) that they could subsidize gas for their population and build an army that would scare the crap out of any sane person?
Why are we giving Canada to China? Even the U.S. is going down this path to China…what’s up? It’s a filthy country…vile human rights records, toxic…yet we continue to sell our souls to them. Why?
Leasa
A little boy goes to his dad and asks, ‘What is Politics?’
Dad says, ‘Well son, let me try to explain it this way:
I am the head of the family, so call me The Prime Minister.
Your mother is the administrator of the money, so we call her the Government.
We are here to take care of your needs, so we will call you the People.
The nanny, we will consider her the Working Class.
And your baby brother, we will call him the Future.
Now think about that and see if it makes sense.’
So the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what Dad has said.
Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check on him.
He finds that the baby has severely soiled his diaper.
So the little boy goes to his parents’ room and finds his mother asleep.
Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the nanny’s room. Finding the door locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed with the nanny.
He gives up and goes back to bed.
The next morning, the little boy say’s to his father, ‘Dad, I think I understand the concept of politics now.’
The father says, ‘Good, son, tell me in your own words what you think politics is all about.’
The little boy replies, ‘The Prime Minister is screwing the Working Class while the Government is sound asleep. The People are being ignored and the Future is in deep shit.
The Government against the people:
In a Canadian Mad Cow lawsuit, producers seek $7 billion and $100 million in punitive damages due to “negligent regulatory policy”. Who pays? You pay.
Meanwhile there are Canadian reports of shifting meat and food inspection onto the industry and cutting back on Mad Cow test incentives.
Cutting corners on meat inspection by Paula Simons Canwest News Services
Who pays? You pay. Will there be another lawsuit down the line due to negligent regulatory policy?
Sooner or later, you’d think that people would start asking why governments are put in place. Is it to create problems that create lawsuits that the people have to pay for? Haven’t we had enough?
he US adding an additional $10 because we didn’t charge a green tax; money that goes into the US. Treasury, no doubt to subsidise their oil industry through the change?
Either way, the end US consumer pays $150/barrel.
Warren F., you sound an awful lot like Harry S. He’s in the penatly box!
By James- Chatham on 07.21.08 12:23 pm
bottom line is we get 140 a barrel. what the americans do afterwards is their business. dion wants a piece of that action.
if dion simply charged a resource tax i wouldn’t complain as much. at least he would be taxing the very wealthy.
this carbon stuff is pure bunk, a new low in politics.
it is sad to see any money grubbing politician going after someone’s money and it is always the little guy’s money.
The little boy replies, ‘The Prime Minister is screwing the Working Class while the Government is sound asleep. The People are being ignored and the Future is in deep shit.
By kpn on 07.21.08 2:16 pm
Sooner or later, you’d think that people would start asking why governments are put in place. Is it to create problems that create lawsuits that the people have to pay for? Haven’t we had enough?
By Pecked to Death by Ducks on 07.21.08 2:21 pm
Along with the majority block of the electorate that refuse to participate in this sham I`ve had enough.
`none of the above` is all I can do, what can you do?
I’ve had two messages blocked today.
So long, PARD-INERS!
I blocked one which was a repeat of an article posted here some time ago. The other may be in the filter, and I will check. — Garth
KPN…I think if you could dig deep enough you’d find that Cargill IS the CND Wheat Board.
By Leasa on 07.21.08 1:56 pm
Leasa – check out the link below –
The Canadian Wheat Board’s Last Stand?
Farmers fear that proposed changes in the CWB will mean that farmers lose out and transnationals cash in.
………..
When asked who stands to benefit from proposed changes to the CWB, Slomp is brief and to the point. She names the four biggest players in the global grain trade: Cargill, Bunge, ADM (Archer Daniels Midland) and Louis Dreyfus. In its statement, the CWB warns that removing its single-desk function would have a crippling effect on Canadian farmers, while boosting the power of transnationals. Control would fall to companies whose “focus is quite naturally on the most profitable way to make the sale…[and who] are necessarily indifferent to whether the grain needed for the sale comes from Argentina, America or Ukraine.”
http://www.dominionpaper.ca/agriculture/2006/11/30/the_canadi.html
So if the US refuses to use this filthy product it becomes virtually worthless.
By Men With Hats on 07.21.08 2:34 pm
As oil is a globally priced commodity it`ll only mean the US will get its oil from farther abroad while Canada sells its oil farther abroad driving the price up even further.
Increasing the costs this way will have a very noticeable impact on affordable price and therefore consumption.
I suspect this is the reasoning behind using oil from a different source and not any noticeable decline in oil sands production as it would have none, other than already noted affordable price at $150/barrel +.
Considering we`re looking at peak oil I think its a very good plan.
I’m surprised at the number of people that have bought into the “40 year mortgage/nothing down” plan. We were in the market for a house last year, and compared the difference between monthly payments (between 40 yrs and 25 yrs). Wasn’t really that much of a difference in monthly payments, but WOW what a difference in interest over the course of the mortgage (not to mention an extra 15 years of it). We ended up not buying because prices here (Saskatoon) were/are still out of this world for housing that is in my amateur opinion, substandard. There are a lot of worried speculators here, because the market has somewhat flattened out, despite what you will read on local Real Estate Board sites.
Pretty sad when a dual income family of two adults (with a military pension to boot), who make in excess of 140K in yearly salaries are priced out of the market… I guess that should tell you what state the Canadian housing market is in right now. We aren’t buying, and frankly like Garth says, we are dumping and paying off what little debt we’ve got left. I’m not a doomsday type of person, but it’s better to have your ducks in a row, as I don’t believe for a moment that anybody has a solution for what is happening to the U.S. and Canada, not to mention, what is to come the next few years.
While I’m not a Liberal, I do enjoy reading your blog, Garth, thanks for doing it. It’s refreshing to see someone who is willing to say what he thinks.
Along with the majority block of the electorate that refuse to participate in this sham I`ve had enough.
`none of the above` is all I can do, what can you do?
By got rope? on 07.21.08 2:39 pm
Hey there “Got”…
While I understand your frustration, I cannot help but think this attitude is a large part of our governmental problem.
My belief is simple. If you do not participate, you have no right to complain. Even if you vote “independent”, or for a “fringe party”, it is still critical to maintain a democracy through participation.
As long as the hyper-partisans out number the mainstream thinkers at the ballot box, we will continue to see degradation of our democracy. Add to that, the huge philosophical swings like we are presently experiencing with the Harperites, and the danger of non-participation are clear – to me at least.
I also think that the majority are not participating through laziness. They get the time off to vote if working, but would rather catch a couple of extra’s at happy hour than exercise their democratic duty.
Unless there is a serious issue – say, a war for example, then the electorate will not participate, as status quo is acceptable. For example, threaten bringing in conscription, and I bet you that those not wanting to get drafted will be more motivated to participate.
There are places like Australia, where you MUST vote. It is the law. If you do not vote, a penalty is applied. While they have recently dumped their right wing leader recently, so are not immune to partisanship, their rate of participation is high, and I doubt anyone can blame someone else for a bad government voted in.
Personally, in the last couple of elections, I have voted Rhino, Marijuana Party, and Greens – not in that order. I do live in a “safe” Liberal riding, and rather than show them my support, have chosen to show support of concepts the large parties did not address. At least my opinion has been “counted”.
Please continue to participate. Please continue to show the interest. I do not agree with all your views, but at least you are not as apathetic as the non-voters…YET!
I get a kick out of comments as to Harper and Flaherty being big liars. Hey, Chrétien was a huge liar – a role model for aspiring politicians. He promised to remove the GST and then said “it’s in the red book”. He also fluffed over the Ad Scam. He fluffed over all the gun registry. He fluffed over David Dingwall’s abuse of his expense account, CRA forgave Radwanski’s half-million in back taxes – all on Chrétien’s watch. Martin promised lots of revenues to cities for transit and infrastructure – never happened. Martin produced a back-ended budget (blackmail – vote for us and then the money will flow). I have news for you – all politicians are self-serving liars.
Who pays? You pay. Will there be another lawsuit down the line due to negligent regulatory policy?
Sooner or later, you’d think that people would start asking why governments are put in place. Is it to create problems that create lawsuits that the people have to pay for? Haven’t we had enough?
By Pecked to Death by Ducks on 07.21.08 2:21 pm
********************************
The researchers need to examine the source of BSE in relation to the Chronic Wasting Disease in wild deer (ungulates) which appears to be nearly identical. Has this disease been around a lot longer than previously thought. What information can be gleaned from the First Nations “oral histories” that would confirm this postulation? Sometimes it may pay early dividends to think and act outside the box of rigorous protocols and practices!
Along with the majority block of the electorate that refuse to participate in this sham I`ve had enough.
`none of the above` is all I can do, what can you do?
By got rope? on 07.21.08 2:39 pm
Rope – I shall be voting Liberal as I’ve seen how this neocon govt. has acted in its almost 3 yrs in power with a minority govt. I don’t think they’ll ever achieve a majority, even tho they, apparently, are going to change their tactics somewhat during the next parliament, according to the pundits. Harper and the cons may change their outward image, but not their ideology. I’d rather have a Lib. minority. Someone mentioned earlier that Trudeau was a professor and look what he did to the economy. Well Trudeau was rich & that was 30-40 yrs ago. Dion is not the same as Trudeau. I that Dion is the most honest & sincere leader that I’ve seen since Stanfield. Re rebuffed some in his party that were calling for an election, calmed internal party conflicts, has weathered the unrelenting attacks on him by not only the neocons, but by the NDP, without lowering his principles. He’s also put his career on the line with his Green Shift plan. Who is more principled, I ask, Harper, Layton or Dion?
We’re being hit by the latest tropical storm. Not worried. We sure needed the rain. After H. Juan we’re prepared & DH last week bought a small generator, enough to keep our freezer & fridge going on 2 hr. intervals.
“Reducing food safety controls at this time could be disastrous if there is an outbreak of a new food-borne disease.”
By Leasa on 07.21.08 11:44 am
Leasa – my husband and I buy only Canadian produce if we can. I live in rural Ontario (East) – farming area. We shop at the local stands the farmers have up (and oh boy does it taste better). There is also a farmers’ market in our town every Saturday morning. If Canadians would make the effort to buy ONLY Canadian produce, perhaps the government will get the message.
I wonder if Harper is giving in to US demands. When John Howard was PM of Australia, the US wanted him to dismantle the Australian wheat board – he told the US – NO.
Too much of a coincidence if you ask me.
Leasa – you support a party that is only interested in the big corporate conglomerates, including farming.
Farmers have been fighting – and I think we should all help them with their fight – buy Canadian only folks. Otherwise, how can farmers compete with big corporate America.
I don’t want to have to worry about where my food comes from, if there will be outbreaks of ecoli, etc.
And Harper’s non-plan for food safety is truly a worry.
By Conspiracy Theory on 07.21.08 1:25 pm
Well that’s a theory that I can’t buy. They could not pass human flesh off as pork, it wouldn’t smell the same or taste the same and the consumer would know. However, I remember there was concern that the criminal(s) may have fed the pigs human flesh. That idea as far as I know was dropped by the media at least. What a sad story. Leasa
Oops should have said we were hit by the remnants of the last tropical storm but there’s another on its way. Gather most of eastern Canada has experienced lots of rain, which we needed.
Along with the majority block of the electorate that refuse to participate in this sham I`ve had enough.
`none of the above` is all I can do, what can you do?
By got rope? on 07.21.08 2:39 pm
I couldn’t agree with you more, but your question is so relevant, it is virtually unanswerable. It will take a revolution at the ballot box…and I am not sure what that would even accomplish. An independent government, an appointed government by the provinces, both would take a willingness on the part of present politicians to give up their place at the well….neither leader in the two main parties have the fortitude to do that. The only MP that has that kind of internal fortitude is Garth but without company, it would be an exercise in futility. It would take a coalition of a number of MPs to lead, to be independent, to enlighten the general population and at this point there are just to many people who vote based on nothing more than party alligence. How does one break that, through devastation of the economic system. Then people will have to look for alternatives. Sad we have to go this route…but inevitable I think…
This just in:
Fan He, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the conference that his country’s government is tiring of IMF advice that does little more than echo U.S. complaints about how the Communist regime runs the world’s fastest-growing major economy. “If the fund doesn’t deliver, it will be marginalized, it will disappear,” he said. His government has compiled international reserves of almost $2-trillion, at least in part to help survive another Asian crisis without having to worry about loans from Western powers. “We have the confidence to live without the fund.”
http://www.reportonbusiness.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080721.wrimf21/BNStory/Business/home
So, Garth I ask again…what is it with China? We’ve had two successive governments pander to this abusive regime. We just gave them another $20 mil. for their food safety program (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). We give them welfare while they subsidize gas for their population, build up their army to the point any sane person should be terrified of, and now they’ve built up a reserve of $2 trillion. Why are we continuing to support this regime? Do you know?
Leasa
On price of gold:
Coincidentally, as a past customer of
Westdale Jewellers in Hamilton, I just got a call to tell me they have been basing their prices for gold on their old costs of $600. per oz. but as of July 26th, they will be increasing their prices based on the current price of about $900. per oz. They said that they expect gold to rise to $1,500. around December.
And then your leader, Stephane Dion wants to bring another new tax to make thing even more expensive – for frivolous things like heating and lighting for homes!
Sounds like there is a disconnect between your constant blogging about people on the verge of losing their homes and your leader’s proposal of making these people’s lives that much more difficult to live.
So, Garth, are you still advocating for this Green Shift (shaft)?
By Catherine on 07.21.08 5:09 am
You never give up do you Catherine? Always ready to doctor up a lie.
Sad!
Regards,
KPN:
Thanks for the link to the excellent article in the Tyee. It is right on!
http://thetyee.ca/Views/2008/03/04/Flanagan/
I think it’s worse than wht your saying Garth. There are rumours flying. “Profits are privatized but losses are socialized.”
It seems to me there’s no point in warning Canadians of what Harper is up to – deeds are done already aren’t they? Is there hope? I’m just asking.
Good posts, Leasa, C. B. Innes, KPN, with thanks as that’s all very informative. Seems deregulation, loss of consumer protection from the big corrupt boys, methodical destruction of social services under false pretenses – all done deals? Am I wrong? Again, I’m just asking.
Canada Wheat Board is now under the thumb of the corrupt and moments from being toast, right? It’s run by the big boys already and Harper’s illegal muzzles helped?
Universal public healthcare has been preyed upon, MDS part of HRG comes to mind. Others have posted the path to destruction successfully started a long time ago. Blow up hospitals, fire nurses, allow privatization to seep in, cut budgets.. lie. Harper’s job is the planned ‘final blows’. I was reading the item about MDS suing Atomic Energy for $1.6B – of course a search of them goes right to HRG and all of Harper’s buddies in Calgary. Do you realize how big MDS is and how many dozens of companies it is, all monopolizing our healthcare dollars? Maybe I’m wrong, but a wider search turns up the fact that the purposeful hobbling of our healthcare system is all but complete, thanks in large part to masterful corporations like MDS who appear to control everyday faction of our health costs, all lab tests in AB?, interests in ultrasound co., fingers in the vaccine biz, private hospitals, the isotopes, and an endless list of health and care services, homes, clinics, and everything purposely getting pricier.. and their own investment company? I’m just asking, as the many MDS co’s proudly advertize their efforts that seem to say they continue to make inroads into unravelling, invading and taking over our public healthcare dollars. They’re proud of it. This is all no secret. We’re all just in denial, or deprived of worthy news. At least this one large Canadian company, and presumably others? are rolling in all our healthcare bucks, but it’s a U.S. and larger multi-national interest, vast and on the fast track for over 10 years ++. Any lay person with the time, and able to search the who’s who will be able to see that it’s all but over for public healthcare, isn’t it? Or can it be saved. I found that CUPE for instance, keeps info posted, and some others like the Council of Canadians and some political party sites. Good for them. I hope it’s not too late. We gotta get Harper out, and find politicians who promise they will revive our universal and public healthcare, and politicians who will stand up and protect Canada from having our resources and everything else we have stripped down to basics or less. WJP, Got Rope? William Dahl, Calberta, Bill-M all good reading, keep up the info, much appreciated by me at least, and I’m just the one on the steep learning curve. What about busy moms and dads? How can they get real news. I hope they are all concerned enough about their kids to try to figure out what’s going on. Let’s get away from corrupt politicians who cater to mega business and lie to the real people. This 30 years of neocon economic fallacy is enough. Harper is the tail end. Cut it off.
Just a thought…
A great gulf, however, has been opened between man’s material advance and his social and moral progress, a gulf in which he may one day be lost if it is not closed or narrowed.
Lester B. Pearson
“WAS HUMAN FLESH MARKETED AS PORK? COME CLEAN WITH ALL THE DETAILS AND RESTORE FULL MEAT INSPECTIONS NOW!”
BY CONSPIRACY THEORY 1:25 PM
Theory,
Yuck. That’s far more ominous than me silently wondering about the pork itself during those times.
Good point Theory, and I agree with your demands, although I may skip lunch today.
_ _ _
KPN, great joke. I’ll send it around.
I’m surprised at the number of people that have bought into the “40 year mortgage/nothing down” plan. We were in the market for a house last year, and compared the difference between monthly payments (between 40 yrs and 25 yrs). Wasn’t really that much of a difference in monthly payments, but WOW what a difference in interest over the course of the mortgage (not to mention an extra 15 years of it). We ended up not buying because prices here (Saskatoon) were/are still out of this world for housing that is in my amateur opinion, substandard. There are a lot of worried speculators here, because the market has somewhat flattened out, despite what you will read on local Real Estate Board sites.
By R Smith on 07.21.08 3:28 pm
Back in the old DOS days we used a program that confirmed what you say. We saved bundles of $ in interest. There are many free, online, mtg. calculators. Hard to believe there are so many uninformed buyers out there. Back then I tried to convince my elder sis to do as we did & told her how much interest they’d save. Their mtg. wasn’t much, but they paid for 25 yrs. They were more than happy to max out their credit cards, all the while she cried poor. He & she have a VERY small pension, no savings or investments & are basically relying on CPP & OAS to live on. BUT, they’re still buying. When I call my sis, her DH says she’s out pumping up the economy
By R Smith on 07.21.08 3:28 pm
I am in your boat, so hopefully it is big enough. My spouse and I both work. We live in Vancouver suburb. Lived pretty cheap for the last 5 years to save enough for 20% down payment. Have a bit more then that now and the prices have gone up too fast for us to consider buying into this market until either our wages go up accordingly, or house prices decrease somewhat to make owning more affordable then renting. For our scrimping and saving we have been punished with a mortgage system that has allowed prices to balloon with 0%-5% down payments. I cannot understand how paying more is costing less to some people. I believe the biggest problem is due to so many people not caring about the big picture but only care about what it costs on a month to month payment.
Hi maurice on 07.21.08 5:47 am
Hi PYOTR PETROBITCH on 07.21.08 9:32 am
Hi kpn on 07.21.08 12:35 pm
Hi got rope? on 07.21.08 12:44 pm
Thanks for your links.
Have you or others seen these links/shows?
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: truth about the Bush presidency 2. 6min50sec.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz6kG11Ek1w&feature=related
Robert Newman’s History of Oil ( 1 of 9 ) all 9 parts, is about 45min.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQhhrzHKMhI
America: Freedom to Fascism – Director’s Authorized Version 111min
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1656880303867390173
AMERICA: Freedom To Fascism. Aaron Russo Interview. 36min
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3254488777215293198&q=&hl=en
Fascist America, in 10 Easy Steps
By Naomi Wolf, Chelsea Green Publishing. Posted April 28, 2007.
artical.
http://www.alternet.org/story/51150/
Talk by Naomi Wolf – The End of America
47min.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjALf12PAWc
Plato’s: ‘Allegory of the Cave’.
audio, with modern images. 7min.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ei7LqbYb8M&feature=related
Zeitgeist Addendum [ II ] trailer – released in Oct. 2008. 2min41sec.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r6-o1lpJHU
Zeitgeist – The Movie. ~2hours
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/
Bill Clinton at Zeitgeist ’07. 38min
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43sUEFcD4Ro&feature=related
ZEITGEIST – The Movie :: The Omissions
7 1/2min
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koZYbAhL858&feature=related
2008 ELECTIONS WILL BE CANCELLED.
7 1/2min
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=0bNDPioifrU&feature=related
PMSH is Bushes best buddy/puppet!
Remember the secrative, treasones SPP deal PMSh signed to harmonize starndards and laws in the usa/Canada/mexico.
PMSH is not working for you and your familys. He don’t even care about his own kids future in our only planet.
PMSH new laws will take away our ability to find out on the WWW very soon!
PMSH has ordered electronic voting machines and electronic vote counting machines for Canada.
You have heard of HACKERS!
Have you been paying attention?
Are you well informed?
Are you a critical-thinker?
What kind of world do you and your family want to try and survive in???
What are you doing, and going to do, to help make this world a place worth living in for everyone, including you and your family?
To all you who still Dont believe that New world order Exist. 3min
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CLMtXSlL-I&feature=related
Ronald Regan Cryptic speech FULL VERSION! 29sec.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GEqLbgKK3Y&NR=1
Have you seen this WARNING from 1961? (few min.)
http://www.sonyclassics.com/whywefight/main.html
GOT ROPE 1;33pm
That is the big bomb about to go off that no one wants to talk about. I read somewhere near 3-4 trillion in unsecured credit card debt worldwide. In the Independent a couple of weeks ago an article suggested that it be treated for what it is and like third world debt and write it off before it gets written off dragging everyone with it. Most of it will never be paid anyway. So far real estate problems have been local in nature rather than national but when this one goes off it will affect markets in even stable areas. As you pointed out in an earlier post as well as Garth, this is the end game where the rich suck every last penny out of the world before we create something new.
The only countries that will survive will be those who first cast off the old rules and replace them with new. To prevent this happening again those whose unsecured debt is written off should never be allowed to get a credit card again except a prepaid one. Countries like Britain and polititions like Obama are changing the rules to reduce foreclosures and bankruptsies as they are wise enough to know that the length of recovery is directly proportional to the number of bankrupts we create going down. In other words at the rate the U.S. is going it will take decades to recover unless they declare amnesty.
BTW I don’t recomend trying to vote none of the above. I asked when I got my ballet last time why my candidate none of the above wasn’t on it and was then treated like a terrorist for suggesting none of the candidates was worthy of my vote. Although a couple of sympathetic people figured I was just nuts luckily.
How does one break that, through devastation of the economic system. Then people will have to look for alternatives. Sad we have to go this route…but inevitable I think…
By wjp on 07.21.08 3:55 pm
Devastation, exactly and it is sad but then most responses to pointing out our government is a failed institution results in the need to get out and vote, like it`s actually done some good over the course of my life.
International investors twigged in back in 2002 but even after months of pointing out the failings of successive federal governments here the call is still for another time wasting election.
I think those thoughts only come from those that have a vested interest or those that know what the future holds and is maintaining some irrational hope government will fix itself.
Oh well, I guess we`ll either all go down together or the country will break up. I like you can`t see any other paths opening up, as you say, inevitable…
Stephen Harper accused of being a RACIST.
PM ignoring Khadr because he’s ‘brown-skinned’: Elmasry
Harper says Canada must leave the case in U.S. hands
Last Updated: Monday, July 21, 2008 | 6:00 PM ET The Canadian Press
The leader of one of Canada’s largest Islamic groups accused Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Monday of being indifferent to Omar Khadr’s plight because he’s “brown-skinned” and a Muslim.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/07/21/khadr-elmasry.html
BTW I don’t recomend trying to vote none of the above. I asked when I got my ballet last time why my candidate none of the above wasn’t on it and was then treated like a terrorist for suggesting none of the candidates was worthy of my vote. Although a couple of sympathetic people figured I was just nuts luckily.
By William Dahl on 07.21.08 5:37 pm
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Willy Dahl, I think it should be an open box to print in the name of who ever you know would be an honest representative for you and your neighbors! But that would scare the Bee Hayzus out of “the powers that be”!
By slg on 07.21.08 3:46 pm
I was once a buy local type of person. Since B.C. has got our carbon tax I have realized that eating locally grown produce is bad for the environment. B.C. grown produce trucked to the store is subject to the carbon tax. California grown and other foreign grown produce is exempt from the carbon tax. My definiton of why the exemption is the carbon footprint must be so small to truck food thousands of miles compared to the trucking of food hundreds of miles. So to reduce my carbon footprint I am now only eating foreign grown food. Save the environment all, and eat foreign.
*****please forward widely*** PICKET TO EXPOSE SHAM OF IMMIGRATION MINISTER’S C-50 “CONSULTATIONS” Tuesday, July 22, 200811amPark Hyatt Hotel4 Avenue Road (Avenue Road and Bloor) On Monday and Tuesday of this week, Immigration Minister Diane Finleywill be in Toronto conducting consultations on the implementation ofBill C-50. These so-called ‘consultations’ behind closed doors at thePark Hyatt Hotel with what she calls “key stakeholders”. Communitygroups and agencies, such as OCASI and others, have been deniedaccess to these consultations, leading us to believe the only ‘keystakeholder’ that matters to Finley is big business. On June 18th, the Harper government passed Bill C-50 even though themajority of members of Parliament opposed it. This was done byslipping immigration changes into a budget bill and then virtuallyforcing the Liberal Party into abstaining by threatening an electionif the bill was defeated. Now the government is holding sham”consultations” about implementing Bill C 50 to give these anti-democratic maneuvers a figleaf of “transparency” despite the factthat many immigrant and refugee rights organizations opposed the billfrom the start. Bill C-50 is an amendment to the Immigrant and Refugee Protection Act(IRPA) that will supposedly address the backlog of applications.Instead, Bill C-50 puts a greater amount of power in the hands of theImmigration Minister, giving her the ability to arbitrarily rejectapplicants – including putting quotas on applicants from areas of theworld she may consider ‘undesirable’. This undemocratic move aims tosneaks in significant changes that will perpetuate a restrictive,exploitative, and racist immigration policy in Canada. Bill C-50 further legitimizes the use of human beings as a form ofindentured labour and further legalizes racist discrimination throughimmigration policy. With Bill C-50 we will likely see more temporarywork permit programs, thus ensuring greater exploitation of migrantsas they are simply used as disposable commodities to fill the labourneeds of corporate Canada, tossed aside as those needs are filled. We have a better idea: NO ONE IS ILLEGAL!STATUS FOR ALL!SCRAP BILL C-50! Contact nooneisillegal@riseup.net for more information
Be careful who you read and their biases before making any judgment about truth in journalism:
Civitas Society
Civitas Society is a low-key but influential Conservative group in Canada with close ties to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
In its last annual report filed with the government, Mr. Harper’s chief of staff, Ian Brodie, is listed as a director and Mr. Brodie attended the group’s annual conference in May 2006 held at the luxurious Brookstreet Hotel in the Kanata high-tech research park of the Canadian capital, Ottawa.
The Civitas Soceity has been described as “a society for conservative and libertarian academics, think-tankers, lobbyists and journalists.”
Members include Brian Lee Crowley, president of the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies, a conservative, free-market think tank in eastern Canada, and a member of the advisory Board of the Frontier Institute for Public Policy in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Montreal Economic Institute president Michel Kelly-Gagnon is also a member of Civitas.
The group’s current president is Lorne Gunter, a columnist with the right-wing national paper, National Post, launched by media mogul Conrad Black and now owned by the Asper family, which also owns the CanWest Global media empire in Canada.
Its annual meeting held in Ottawa in early May 2006, was intended to be “private”. But journalist Elizabeth Thompson of the Montreal Gazette, covered the meeting from the lobby of the hotel, and reported that one of the guest speakers was American pollster and former Newt Gingrich associate, Frank Luntz, whose speech “Massaging the Coservative Message for Voters” offered Civitas members tips on how to obtain a majority for Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party in the next federal elections in Canada.
Thompson reported, “Introducing Mr. Luntz yesterday, former Reform party leader Preston Manning praised the work Mr. Luntz had done for him several years ago. During his speech, Mr. Luntz mentioned that he had met with Mr. Harper — whom he referred to on a first-name basis — Friday and had posed for a picture together.”
The Civitas Society does not appear to have its own web site.
– includes:
Calgary School
Fraser Institute
Frontier Institute for Public Policy
Meaning of Civitas:
In the history of the Roman empire, civitas (pl. civitates) mainly referred to the condition of Roman citizenship. It was also used to describe a type of settlement.
As the empire grew, inhabitants of the outlying Roman provinces would either be classed as dediticii, meaning capitulants, or be treated as client kingdoms with some independence guaranteed through treaties. The latter group were known as civitates foederate and were exempt from paying tribute or the rule of Roman Law.
Prestigious and economically important settlements such as Massilia and Messana are examples of occupied regions granted semi-autonomy during the Roman Republic. The new, Romanised urban settlements of these client tribes were also called civitates and were usually re-founded close to the site of an old, pre-Roman capital. At Cirencester for example, the Romans made use of the army base that originally oversaw the nearby tribal oppidum to create a civitas.
….in other words, imperialism.
Liberal bias in the country? Like hell.
MacKenzie Institute
“this is the end game where the rich suck every last penny out of the world before we create something new”
BY WILLIAM DAHL 07.21.08 5:37 PM
William, sounds like a plan.. change the rules, leave the rich stranded – hmm, well, except for the good ones.
Serious biz first, then the nonsense and stuff of this world after.
Spoof, or variation on a theme. Portrays an up-to-date Jesus as office manager and Satan as one of the underlings. Quite funny — about four minutes long!
http://glumbert.com/media/jesusoffice
Speaking of spoofs, Monty Python’s Life of Brian was a complete spoof of Hollywood’s biblical state, and the film gave its own quirky view on the rise of organized religion throughout the world (George Harrison of The Beatles financed the film).
When it was released in 1979, it was immediately branded as ‘blasphemous’, and banned by different countries across the world, and yet — the film is a riot, as long as one has an open mind!
Sue Jones-Davies, the actress who was Graham Chapman’s (Brian) opposite in the film, is now the mayor of Aberystwyth, Wales and has called for the ban to be dispensed with — people there have NEVER seen it, and it’s almost thirty years old! Talk of narrow-minded bigots!
****************************************
Bill, 7:56 am
G’day, Bill and all. Rumor has it that hairless will be promoted to become someone’s bowel — possibly a cadaver, but further updates later!
****************************************
WW from The Okanagan Sunday:
“If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito.” — Anita Roddick
Both Sandy and I will be voting Liberal in the election, as both of us WANT to get Canada back on track — reduce reliance on the US, and increase trade with other countries.
Central Canada is losing it’s auto sector jobs; in BC, there have been at least 12,000 forestry workers let go, because of the high-loonie-is-good policy, yet CRAP has not bothered to help those let go one bit.
CRAP is the major hindrance of this country; CRAP has to, and will go.
****************************************
What has Charles done with all the critical thinkers?
got rope?, 12:44 pm
Hello, Got rope?. Not sure if you mean me, but nevertheless the question you posed is valid.
The vast majority of folk are simply caught up in their own lives, keeping themselves busy and, as Garth says, staying debt-free. Above all, stay debt-free.
All politics aside, it really isn’t that hard to run a country PROVIDED there is a general consensus it quite reasonably.
Switzerland used to be a fairly good example of that, but apparently things have changed there, and not for the better.
Someone — John Duddy, perhaps (thanks if it was you, John!) — spoke of George Galloway, British MP who calls it as he sees it, so here is a short video clip; following are further msm lies — one of Israel’s poodles, Gordon Brown, PM.
Israel already has (at least) 150 nukes, whereas Iran and Iraq have zilch. Could be closer to WWIII than previously anticipated.
http://tinyurl.com/6qvtjr
http://tinyurl.com/6ha3cq
Barb
That all depends on which opposition parties are willing to stop tweeking he system and develope a new set of rules to deal with everyday life and the world. Every once in a while in history there comes a time like now for a visionary group to change the world for better or worse when it has crumbled under the weight of corruption. Unfortunately in the past because of isolation it usually got worse. This time with instant communication there is a posibility however faint that we can do better but it wil take everything from redrawing up our tax system to abandoning most corporations to redoing globalism to include everyone under one set of rules with an even playing field where each country can seek out that which they do best.
I don’t wear rose colloured glasses so I won’t hold my breath but the opportunity is there if we want to take it.
It may be time to say ‘Ciao’ to Garth’s blog soon; supposedly, Canada might lose internet freedom in a couple of years.
http://tinyurl.com/68w4cc
Has anyone noticed that Jack Layton has completely disappeared off of the radar? I am seriously considering talking to the NDP to see where they stand on my concerns. I lost all faith in the grits years ago and like I have said many times here…I have serious reservations with the Tories. Harper is carrying the ball the Liberals started rolling on the issues I have mentioned here today. That makes me very afraid for my country and the safety and well-being of us all.
In other words…I’m pissed.
I would also seriously love to here what Garth thinks, re: the arse kissing of China in light of what we know today.
Leasa
Martin produced a back-ended budget (blackmail – vote for us and then the money will flow). I have news for you – all politicians are self-serving liars.
By forevergreen2000 on 07.21.08 3:34 pm
Dear Forevergreen
I guess it is easier to say what you are against than what you believe in.
No one on this blog (other than the Conservative Death Star) supports the status quo except you. All politicians are bad – so don’t vote?
A paraphrase of your comment.
This leads us nowhere.
However, we think, we challenge, therefore, we are.
If we adopt a grassroots challenge to all politics “as usual” and use it wisely we can benefit.
In any case, the malcontent is wrong. The reduction in income tax was effective on budget night in 2005. The proof was in the Harper government having to pass a ways and means motion to raise it again in 2006. Income tax marginal rates are now exactly where they were when Paul Martin was prime minister. — Garth
On price of gold:
Coincidentally, as a past customer of
Westdale Jewellers in Hamilton, I just got a call to tell me they have been basing their prices for gold on their old costs of $600. per oz. but as of July 26th, they will be increasing their prices based on the current price of about $900. per oz. They said that they expect gold to rise to $1,500. around December.
By Pat. G. on 07.21.08 4:05 pm
Guess I’m always too late Pat. My DH’s grandmother and her daughter gave me many pieces of 22ct gold jewelery years ago. Unfortunately, the first time I wore a piece I lost it. Since then, I gave most of the pieces away to my 2 SIL’s as I wasn’t wearing it after I retired. Wanted them to remain in the French side of the family. I still have several pieces tho, but couldn’t bear to melt them down as they are very old & of beautiful craftmanship. I’ve also several pieces of Danish & Norwegian sterling silver, with engraving going back 100+ yrs. – family heirlooms. I’ve only 1 niece to leave them. She’s too young to appreciate them now. Several years ago I gave her a lovely silver jewelery box and later found it lying on her bedroom floor, like an old discarded doll. Her Mom was rather disgusted too. I learned several mos ago that my youngest bro has been buying gold in small quantities for years. Smart cookie.
Hey Garth,
I’ve been scouring the CMHC website looking for that figure you placed in an earlier entry – how 62% of recent mortages were 40 year. Can you help me out? I need it for a source.
You certainly won’t get it from CMHC. That was from the mortgage brokerage industry, and I will look through my notes when I return to my office. I am told the figure was 37% last year, climbing to just over 60% by this summer. — Garth
LEASA
FYI
Jack Layton is spending a couple of weeks in the Yukon checking out climate change first hand. Where is Harper? Checking out the burgers in Alberta. YAH I would be afraid too if my leader showed how little he cares.
http://www.globeinvestor.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080721.wscotiaoutlook0721/GIStory/
Canada well-placed to weather economic storm: Scotiabank
You have posted this same message, and this link, 5 times in the last few hours. I put it up once, along with a message about Scotia and is both relevant and worrisome. Now I’m worried about you. — Garth
“the opportunity is there if we want to take it”
BY WILLIAM DAHL 07.21.08 7:47 PM
William,
Whatever brave politicians want to get out front and propose logical changes, have a big three part job. Sound ideas, beat down the liars, then get elected and fix things.
The ideas and changes necessary, per your suggestions, will re-level the field and protect the innocent. Seems we were once there but we let it slip. Years of propaganda sold us on total free enterpriser. We’ve been trained to think laissez-faire is best. Reversing the ultra-capitalist propaganda will have some easy parts, some hard. The easy part: ultimately free enterprise has inevitably failed because the wealth gets too accumulated and continues that way. So here we are, that’s good, we’ve got proof. The corporation is the new bad king. The hard part: we’ve all been trained to think that the only alternative is communism. Boo !! So, resistive knee-jerking will occur because people who can’t wrap their heads around truth and compromise won’t understand that we can accumulate wealth and spread it a bit more evenly at the same time. Moderation. The truth is that our economic keys are moderation, just like mom said. We’ve been there, and it seems through history we venture off to the extremes from time to time, led by greedy, dumb, corrupt leaders.
Third part of the job is to just plain get elected and start the ball of honesty rolling, and get some common sense going. We can certainly feed and care for all of us, and work hard and make lots of money, without the extremes of communism and whatever you want to call this present, extreme free enterprise, failed freak show we’re in now.
We need some politicians with guts.
Garth and Dion come to mind.
By keith phibbs on 07.21.08 6:39 pm
Keith – gotta keep those 3rd world migrant workers to supply cheap labour for the Tar Sands. While I agree that we have to adapt our immigration qualifications to Canada’s needs, this bill is all about meeting Alberta & Sask’s needs. If IIRC the Min of Immigration said we need more Dr’s or some such. What a blatant liar she is. She well knows yhat medical certification is strictly under prov. jurisdiction. But, the cons always rely upon the naivety/ignorance of the populace & the lack of intelligent reporting of the MSM.
Leasa,
You’ve made many postings today, and I thought this one might have been the subject of one of them. Unfortunately not. I’d be interested in your view on it:
Such doom and gloom from a politican. Should we cut our wrists now or on the weekend?
These booms and busts have happened before and they will happen again. don’t go spastic.
On a lighter note – hope no one takes offence. I, especially relate to 7 & 8, but 11 I understand. My DH just sent this to me.
As You Slide Down the Banister of Life, Remember
1. Jim Baker and Jimmy Swaggert have writtena an impressive new book. It’s called ‘Ministers Do More Than Lay People’
2. Transvestite: A guy who likes to eat, drink and be Mary.
3. The difference between the Pope and your boss, the Pope only expects you to kiss his ring.
4. My mind works like lightning, One brilliant flash and it is gone.
5. The only time the world beats a path to your door is if you’re in the bathroom.
6. I hate sex in the movies. Tried it once. The seat folded up, the drink spilled and that ice, well, it really chilled the mood.
7. It used to be only death and taxes. Now, of course, there’s shipping and handling, too.
8. A husband is someone who, after taking the trash out, gives the impression that he just cleaned the whole house.
9. My next house will have no kitchen – just Vending machines and a large trash can.
10. A blonde said, ‘I was worried that my Mechanic might try to rip me off. I was relieved when he told me all I needed was turn signal fluid.’
11. Definition of a teenager? God’s punishment…for enjoying sex.
12. As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point the wrong way.
Have a good ‘nite all.
A pic and write-up of the new USAF F-22 Raptor. Boeing and Lockheed built it, and cost US$71 million.
http://tinyurl.com/5o6mb6
Leasa:
Re: Control of the Cdn. Wheat Board
Thanks for the link.
Found this there:
2007 CWB Producer Survey
68% said they believed the CWB was run by a board of directors, not the federal government
68% also said they believed the federal government has more to say over what happens at the CWB than do farmers.
82% agreed that the fact that the government appoints people to the CWB board of directors means it is still trying to control the CWB.
52% said they believed the CWB would be more effective on behalf of farmers if it had no links to the federal government
http://www.cwb.ca/public/en/newsroom/releases/2007/062107.jsp
Harper did say he would “walk over” anybody who stands in the way of its agenda to dismantle the single desk marketing system:
http://www.cwb.ca/public/en/newsroom/releases/2008/062308.jsp
This is spite of Supreme court rulings that he could not.
Why are we giving massive aid to China? Harper said he would not sacrifice principles for the almighty buck (or words to that effect). Maybe China buys wheat from Cargill? Anyway, it has to be trade related. They expect China to be a big market. What do you think?
Leasa:
Dee suggests maybe China plans to buy U.S. companies on the cheap. Maybe China will buy Cargill, Leasa. No end of possibilities here! LQ
BARB @KPN
WELL SAID!!!!
KPN:
I learned through the same experience you’ve had. Anything of real value is best saved until after grandchildren reach adulthood or given to the parents in trust. Kids today (and even their parents) often don’t appreciate craftsmanship or antiques. When they hit the late thirties or forties, they really start to appreciate things.
Enjoy your beautiful things while you can.
This time with instant communication there is a posibility however faint that we can do better but it wil take everything from redrawing up our tax system to abandoning most corporations to redoing globalism to include everyone under one set of rules with an even playing field where each country can seek out that which they do best.
.
By William Dahl on 07.21.08 7:47 pm
We`ve actually had a bit of discussion on what the possibilities are. I suggested a nominated federal government that gives no advantage to any political party or region of Canada. It didn`t get a cool reception from all but a few but then this is an elected federal MP blog so that is to be expected.
I would think that the old reform call of reform or else rolling through interested parties out west might have gotten a little more attention that being called losers. If we were losers we wouldn`t care what happens to very young confederation but then we can`t let our part of Canada go down the tubes with the status quo.
I have no doubt that the west will separate unless the drastic changes we need are at least open for discussion. The changes that will soon be forced by economic conditions will not be pleasant and we are only months away from what might be the slipperiest slope since the great slide. More and more none of the above, more and more western separatists, more and more people hanging on a thin economic thread and more and more people noticing how things keep getting worse with one federal government after the next.
Garth recognizes that something must change and so does the LPC, that`s why Garth rarely gets in political hot water. Putting down a large part of the Cdn population as losers was only a distraction to avert attention to the growing realization that the federal government is broken beyond repair, which is why there is no plan to fix it.
Did you know of all the parliamentary system world wide our has had the least reform. It is also rated as one of the most corrupt in the free world by one study however they didn`t supply enough stats on categories to make too much noise about.
lol, if you wanted to tweak it or even make an attempt to fix it where would you start? The feds have abandon the rule of law, broken the rules of confederation making our government illegitimate, pretty much descrying much of the generation that will be outnumbered by seniors while continuing the decades tradition of concentrating more and more power in the PMO while becoming virtually unaccountable and unaccessible to the people, unless you really believe the next or any election will change anything more than ad agencies.
Even if some critical thinker came up with a plan to eventually fix it, it would fail due to rampant partisanship.
Yes the federal government does need a major overhaul, however as the gov is incapable of repairing itself it must be replaced in order to address the serious problems this country has of which you mentioned some.
They expect China to be a big market. What do you think?
By Pat. G. on 07.21.08 9:45 pm
The Conservatives know the only hope for the Cdn commodities based econ0omy is global demand coming from mainly China. A few kisses to keep the orders coming in is SOP but I`m afraid it just won`t work. China has ramped up it`s purchases of raw resources and other commodities not due to global demand but a need to keep their $1.5 trillion sovereign wealth fund working and the need to shore up lost resources due to the earthquake. Chinese officials in charge of it have been tasked with a 10% return on investments so I don`t think we`ll see a lot more of it go to commodities futures as global demand is on the skids.
The idea promoted by Ottawa that China will continue to increase demand is not based in any facts, just a wish and a prayer. In fact as the developed world slows down China will slow down at a faster rate as the market that provides growth nationally relies on global demand and they yet have enough personal wealth or borrowing power to continue to expand. In fact I`ve been predicting a serious contraction in China as the government uses this time to stabilize the mostly unregulated growth that has occurred over the last few years. Further to that thought I predict the Chinese government will institute some major social changes to keep a stalled population busy. With the potential future possibilities of something like free speech moving the population to a happier place a slowdown would take second place. Besides it would elevate the stature of China internationally and this is just if not more important to China as any other country.
lol, That`s what I think Pat.
C. B. Innes 07.21.08 10:06 a.m.
Just went back and read you post re feds trying to regulate free-range poultry production through unreasonable regulation
Thanks for your logical explanation. This is similar to what they are trying to do to the Canadian Wheat Board and for the same reasons.
Leasa: 07.20.08 11:35 a.m.
“The federal government wants to fire all federal inspectors related to food safety and give the responsibility to the corporations to monitor themselves.”
-Again, Harper wants small government and low taxes! Remember Mike Harris’ “manageable risk” when it came to water
quality in Ontario. Same small government, small-minded philosophy and now Harper has Harris’ old neo-con M.P.P’s in his cabinet to help him force these beliefs on the whole country.
The neo-cons don’t care!. We can look after our individual selves. All we need is TAX CUTS!
I get a kick out of comments as to Harper and Flaherty being big liars. Hey, Chrétien was a huge liar. – …. He fluffed over David Dingwall’s abuse of his expense account, …
By forevergreen2000 on 07.21.08 3:34 pm
Forevergreen,
Your partisanship is showing through. You have just referred to some of the biggest lies of the last election, namely Dingwall’s ALLEGED abuses of his expense account. This had legs ONLY because of CONSERVATIVE(HARPER’S) LIES. This was typical neo-con gutter politics. You have conveniently overlooked the fact that Dingwall was not only exonerated but won an unlawful dismissal award as well. Dingwall was indeed “entitled to his entitlements”.
The lies were as follows.
The Conservatives claimed that a two day seminar for 24 mint personnel was really a $5800 dinner for two. They also claimed that an eleven day business trip was really a one day travel charge. Without these two falsehoods this story would not have had legs.
As if this weren’t bad enough, when Dingwall was awarded damages for “unlawful dismissal” BY THE COURTS, Harper further accused the Liberals of paying him off. This, of course was a third big lie. And you have the audacity to complain about Harper being called a liar!
By supporting these lies does this make you a liar too? or a hypocrite? On the other hand if you didn’t bother to check this out then it speaks to your credibility or lack of it. (Ref:Vancouver Sun “Chicanery”, Tuesday February 07, 2006.)
On a lighter note – hope no one takes offence. I, especially relate to 7 & 8, but 11 I understand. My DH just sent this to me.
4. My mind works like lightning, One brilliant flash and it is gone.
7. It used to be only death and taxes. Now, of course, there’s shipping and handling, too.
?????????????????????????????????
Number 4. You forgot the clap of thunder or did it cause the “Sometimers” You know it is like temporary Alzheimers!
Number 7. You forgot that there 3 things assured in life: Death, Taxes, and Change. And it is usually short changed!
And I notice you want to out do David Letterman. Your’s is a top twelve list?
“I don’t think supply management will take a hit,” Mr. Fortier said
By Dube on 07.21.08 9:31 pm
Should have read: “I don’t think.”
In a recent letter that I wrote that was published I made reference to the fact that one day our children will be drinking powder from China, mixed with water here at home and it will be ‘Product of Canada Milk’, fresh milk from our local dairy will be but a memory for us the parents of those children. This latest meeting on ‘commercial barriers’ is just another step toward that reality. Once this door is opened you cannot shut it. We will have no idea where our milk and dairy is coming from, just as we still have no clue as to the origin of the latest salmonella outbreak imported on vegetables.
We need more public awareness. The population of Canada just had the shock of realizing that made in Canada products contain wheat gluten and whole wheat from China, given the fact that this product recently killed many of our pets should be a wake up call to tighten what comes across that border not make it even more loosey-goosey.
Unless there is a massive public outcry no government of today or tomorrow in Canada will realize the harm they are doing or care about it.
Leasa
What do you think?
By Pat. G. on 07.21.08 9:45 pm
I think when he turned down our own Canadian Hort. Council for a measly $2 million over 5 years and in the same year gave China ANOTHER $20 million for their food safety initiative…he did sacrifice principle. And, you can bet that the almighty buck and powerful lobbyists are behind it. If I get time later I will have more to say…
Leasa
Leasa,
you keep on twisting two and two without putting them together. You complain about government not doing anything to help the little guy/farm, but can’t quite hoist in the fact that no one does less for minor interests than your beloved “Conservatives.”
Face it, Leasa, your neo-Republicans are all about corporate interests and leaving the hindman to the devil: two plus two does equal four. So why are you a CPC partisan who could never vote Liberal? If the government you adore screws you, shut your eyes and think of the “Conservative” philosphy.
Your non-partisan conscience,
By Herb on 07.22.08 8:11 am
Just a quick note: Herb, I am a complex person. I have not signed blood oath to anyone. I have stated my well thought out reasons as to why I cannot in good conscience support the liberals. I do/did support the CPC on crime, especially on crimes against children (however, in reading my daily news, I do not see a change with this new legislation). There are many things I stood with the CPC on and felt proud of it. However, I am gravely disappointed on a few fronts and even if it means that my membership card may be declined, I feel I must be true to myself and honest and be vocal on these issues. As Garth can attest; this kind of shit can get you in a lot of bad books. If these weren’t such serious issues I have been raising for this past few months it would be different. I still feel as though I am a CPC member, albeit a little less welcome. On that note, Herb, what would change on my concerns under Mr. Dion’s leadership? His government got the balls rolling on this, the CPC got into the game…now which party would look the other way on all this dangerous corporate greed, and actually take the balls out of play?
Leasa ~ and that’s just the way it is.
By Pat. G. on 07.21.08 11:19 pm
…and this is how we got into the water problems especially at Walkerton. WE always allowed townships to monitor themselves, and it was on Harris’s watch that the e-coli hit the fan. WE still to this date do not have mandatory well testing and municipalities monitor themselves. Even in rural areas next to wrecking yards and livestock, there is no well testing. It’s every man for himself. This is the mess that our future holds with all food products.
Leasa
. I do/did support the CPC on crime, especially on crimes against children (however, in reading my daily news, I do not see a change with this new legislation).
By Leasa on 07.22.08 10:58 am
=================================
The Tackling Violent Crime Act is trumped by The Young “Re-offenders” Act, so nothing has changed, business as usual! Until we deal with marauding juveniles armed with automatic firing medium caliber weapons like the criminals they are, expect no change.
The original intent of the Young Offenders Act was to prevent a teenager from getting a criminal record and publicity for a first offense through miss adventure and/or wrong association, there by giving them a second chance. What we have failed to recognize and deal effectively with is the repeat offenders with no intention of correction and rehabilitation. These are the ones that must lose the protection of the Juvenile Offenders Status.
Armed drug dealers, and gangs need to be dealt with severely, period, regardless of age, race, religion, nationality, or what ever. Murderers must be dealt with even more clearly. If you take a life whether by design or wanton carelessness, you should be permanently evicted to an Arctic Island. The dead lost their privileges, and so should the perpetrators, but not at the expense of the tax payers!
“Has anyone noticed that Jack Layton has completely disappeared off of the radar? [...] I lost all faith in the grits years ago and like I have said many times here [...] I have serious reservations with the Tories. Harper is carrying the ball the Liberals started rolling on the issues I have mentioned here today. That makes me very afraid for my country and the safety and well-being of us all. In other words…I’m pissed.
BY LEASA 07.21.08 7:59 PM
Hi Leasa,
Thanks for all the food, farm, safety and China posts. I only wish that sort of thing was on every Canadian’s radar. You have a good perspective and it shows.
Our concerns are the same, but we’ve had opposite voting tendencies. I wasn’t enthused about Chretian and have since figured out why.. although at the time I thought he was harmless. Who the person is.. matters. I was nauseous over Mulroney and knew why. Martin wasn’t strong, but since my gut told me Harper was enormous trouble, that was an instinct call. He appeared to be a liar and a con, and has proven himself.
Back to Martin for a second, I think he and Chretian made some incredible errors, but those were the early stages and I think they would eventually regret cutting back dollars or signing agreements. It’s been written that Martin signed the SPP never thinking in a million years that Harper would get ahold of it, and the rumour that even Chretian told him not to. Likely it all boils down to who someone is. Who is that leader and what does he stand for? How do we find out?
Your question about Jack.. Jack sorta bothered me, but that has now grown to a much larger distrust. Hubby always distrusted Jack, a lot. Looks like hubby was right. Layton made some sort of deal with Harper. Writers have speculated about that. Layton could only have done the deal for personal gain in political stature, and for no other reason such as helping we the people. Now I think Layton realizes that people remember – it was he, who put us in this mess three years ago – and that his motive was improper. That says a lot. He hobbled his own party in the process and that makes him unlikely to garner much support.
Being from the west, we saw the inner workings and slow hijacking of the PC Tories by the two ultra right parties. It was astonishing, but it was masterfully done. It was basically done businesslike, which is code for lying. There is at least one website to this day dedicated to the fact that the Conservative re-naming was done illegally. I feel sorry for Tories as they are party-less. But in light of that fact that Liberals were burned by a few idiots, bureaucrats, and some leftover old conservatives, not too sorry.
What we have now is a “new” right wing party that made a decision long ago, to say one thing and mean another, just to get in power. They also have a devastating set of ideas and methods that will destroy what you and I want. That’s just fact now, and we have to live with that. You’ve rejected them, but I hope you consider that it’s not always the party.. it’s usually the person or persons with influence. Is there not some part of your gut that wonders about Dion? Do you wonder sometimes, if you could just focus on him as a man, could you see past the party. What if the party has changed enough that it has sufficiently cleaned house and is back to basics?
You lost the old fashioned Tory party. For people who spent decades glaring at “Liberals” I’d like to say one thing.. Liberals are Canadians, and not the silly stereotypes that opposing political types use as their mantra. It was all hype, but it’s very instilled to dislike the opposing party. But it is possible to switch sides, when you let your common sense rule. I just wanted to say that Leasa, because I think you have a lot of common sense, but you have a set of anti-liberal party values that.. aren’t needed now. Times have changed. People have changed. And often the stereotype was really quite wrong. And if you re-investigated some of your past reasons, remember that you and I were often lied to, so sometimes our impressions were wrong, and we need to let go of past, incorrect information we had long believed.
“and this is how we got into the water problems”
BY LEASA 07.22.08 11:07 AM
I worry about my elderly in-laws who live in the deep SW of Ontario farm country. Their town has constant boil water alerts and I’ve often wondered if the water is what precipitated one of them having a devastating infection two years ago. It’s one of the main reasons I would never move there.. [and the pollution from Detroit, etc.]
The original intent of the Young Offenders Act was to prevent a teenager from getting a criminal record
Is there any justice? on 07.22.08 1:35 pm
Wrong, the reof act was created to avoid adding to the already escalating youth crime activity statistics.
I spoke with the RCMP shortly after it became an act. I asked them if there was a new direction in dealing with juvies and what changes they made.
“We quit arresting them” was the answer.
The proof of what I say is the increasing youth problems years after it became an act.
Either the Liberals were lying about the purpose or they simply `didn`t get it done`.
Such a surprise we still have the two noble choices in what to believe.
Why did they need to hide the crime stats, because they knew with the increased unconstitutional use of sole custody more yoa`s would be produced. The group I belong to told the Liberals what the results of both sole custody and the new/old YOA would be.
You`d think the Liberals would have the stones to stand up and say, we`ve screwed up a whole generation of our youth`.
Guess all the stones in Ottawa are on the outside of the building.
By the way, did you know Canadian banks don’t bother sending appraisers any more to inspect most of the houses they finance? They just look up the postal codes, and approve on that basis. Even when it’s no money down.
Just wanted to let you know that this is a flat out lie, especially in Alberta. Every single home from the big banks has had an appraiser and has resulted in a few sales not going through. Where do you come up with these falsehoods?
From the v-p, mortgages of a major bank. — Garth
On the weekend I spent time chatting with a gal recently out of her job as a credit officer with one of the major Canadian banks….As a result,” she told me, shaking her head, “I was instructed to approve at least $50 million in mortgages for people I knew would not be able to pay.”
Read between the lines Garth. She was out of a job, because she wasn’t doing her job. She was fired because she was approving loans she shouldn’t have approved. And besides, it’s not up to one person to approve a loan. It goes through a lot more checks than you’ve have some of these uninformed reading your site believe.
Actually, not. And I’m pretty sure I know this biz better than you, unless you are a loans officer or a broker. Do tell. — Garth
Hard to know whether Garth or Carmen have it right. There’s no way to know if Garth knows “this biz better” than her, or anyone else. Then you add in that Garth is busilly stoking his “real estate meltdown” take and he’s not likely an entirely unbiased commentator.
We’ll know in a couple of years what actually happened, right?