You have to marvel at the hubris of the Con government and its media outlet, the National Post. The two allies have teamed up to declare that Canadians and Parliamentarians should not be pursuing the Mulroney/Schrieber... err, misunderstanding or the In and Out... err, misunderstanding; because the focus should be on the economy.
The Con government has been stalling and blocking committees and inquiries on these two issues since well before the declaration that the economy was in the toilet. To now suggest that the issues are not important enough to merit time is a bold declaration that the Cons do not care about ethics or transparency, as the they have boldly touted in the past.
The Cons and Mr. Harper are hypocrits of the highest order.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Ottawa goes Schizo
The citizens of the City of Ottawa had better sit down for a bit and figure where they live. Is it the City of Ottawa or Ottawa, the capital of Canada?
If it is the Nation's Capital, then they had better realize that two of the major tasks of the government of Canada is security and defense. Once they realize that, then maybe they will allow the defense folks to demonstrate and sell defense products to the defense department and the CSIS and to the RCMP and to the many police force across the country who attend major defense trade show.
And if they finally figure out the Ottawa is the nation's capital then they picket defense trade shows to their heart's content but they will not ban them.
But hey, this is a democracy. If Ottawans decide that this is just another pretty city on a river, rather than the nation's capital, then they will not gripe if the Defense Department moves to Kingston where they can be all that they can be; taking thousands of jobs and millions in taxes with them. It would follow. for the same reasons, that the RCMP and CSIS would follow them out of Ottawa.
And just in case you miss the point, I am talking to you, Alex Cullen.
If it is the Nation's Capital, then they had better realize that two of the major tasks of the government of Canada is security and defense. Once they realize that, then maybe they will allow the defense folks to demonstrate and sell defense products to the defense department and the CSIS and to the RCMP and to the many police force across the country who attend major defense trade show.
And if they finally figure out the Ottawa is the nation's capital then they picket defense trade shows to their heart's content but they will not ban them.
But hey, this is a democracy. If Ottawans decide that this is just another pretty city on a river, rather than the nation's capital, then they will not gripe if the Defense Department moves to Kingston where they can be all that they can be; taking thousands of jobs and millions in taxes with them. It would follow. for the same reasons, that the RCMP and CSIS would follow them out of Ottawa.
And just in case you miss the point, I am talking to you, Alex Cullen.
Friday, March 27, 2009
The Cons running out of steam?
How bad does it have to get when Tory Blogger, Stevey Taylor (according to the Hill Times he is very well connected) is relegated to questioning Ignatieff's role in the scandal of the American flag?
The Liberal web site, www.onProbation.ca, was put up earlier this week in Beta form. In other words a work in progress by the programmers. In web programs there is a default item that usually shows up when you indicate there is a language choice available. When you offer English, usually, an English or American flag icon pops up. When you offer French, the French Tricolour flag is shown as an icon.
Taylor, the eagle-eye that he is, noted on the Beta site that the American flag icon was showing and immediately assumed that it was a deep plot by Ignatieff to turn us into Americans and to take away his long-gun.
Wholly crap. You have to be pretty bereft of ideas to sink that low.
Bye, bye, Stevey. Oh btw, you spelled colour wrong.
The Liberal web site, www.onProbation.ca, was put up earlier this week in Beta form. In other words a work in progress by the programmers. In web programs there is a default item that usually shows up when you indicate there is a language choice available. When you offer English, usually, an English or American flag icon pops up. When you offer French, the French Tricolour flag is shown as an icon.
Taylor, the eagle-eye that he is, noted on the Beta site that the American flag icon was showing and immediately assumed that it was a deep plot by Ignatieff to turn us into Americans and to take away his long-gun.
Wholly crap. You have to be pretty bereft of ideas to sink that low.
Bye, bye, Stevey. Oh btw, you spelled colour wrong.
Lisa - the old-line politician
Lisa McLeod, the MPP for Nepean Carleton just couldn't wait to pounce all over the new provincial budget. From her safe chair at Queen's Park where the government is not likely to call an election if the opposition does not support them (contrast that to Ottawa, Lisa), the mighty mouth from Barrhaven chooses to bad mouth everything that moves - but not moos, that would upset her rural vote.
But let's not just centre on poor young Lisa. Her interim boss at Queen's Park, some guy named Runciman or something, has called the budget worthless. He says that the harmonization of the PST with the GST is the right thing to do but giving rebates (to offset the cost) to families under $160,000 per year is a bribe. Is he actually saying that the government should NOT give the rebates. Will he stand in front of a microphone and say that? I doubt it.
But there is another Con, a potential leader of the provincial party, that has a bit of a problem. Christine Elliott MPP is the wife of federal FinMin Jimmy Flaherty. Jim is in favour of the budget. Chrissy hates it. Want to be a fly on the wall in that master bedroom?
Is the provincial budget good? Given the times... yes. Can it be improved? Yes. Is the harmonization a good thing? Yes. Will it reduce costs in Ontario? Yes. It will reduce manufacturing costs and marginal tax rates for business, and will encourage companies to establish and expand in Ontario.
And that is a good thing.
But let's not just centre on poor young Lisa. Her interim boss at Queen's Park, some guy named Runciman or something, has called the budget worthless. He says that the harmonization of the PST with the GST is the right thing to do but giving rebates (to offset the cost) to families under $160,000 per year is a bribe. Is he actually saying that the government should NOT give the rebates. Will he stand in front of a microphone and say that? I doubt it.
But there is another Con, a potential leader of the provincial party, that has a bit of a problem. Christine Elliott MPP is the wife of federal FinMin Jimmy Flaherty. Jim is in favour of the budget. Chrissy hates it. Want to be a fly on the wall in that master bedroom?
Is the provincial budget good? Given the times... yes. Can it be improved? Yes. Is the harmonization a good thing? Yes. Will it reduce costs in Ontario? Yes. It will reduce manufacturing costs and marginal tax rates for business, and will encourage companies to establish and expand in Ontario.
And that is a good thing.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Watching the junkyard
A watchdog is an animal which is trained to watch over something and alert the owners when something is amiss. A budgetary watchdog is a person trained to watch over the budgets and financial statements released by the government and, should something be amiss, alert its owner - the TAXPAYERS OF CANADA.
This Con government has been nothing if not consistent. They have lied about their advertising expenses during the election; they have lied to Canadian about their intent to fold the gun registry; the have blocked committee work (and then blamed the delays on the opposition) and they have delayed their own legislation all the while blaming the Senate for the delays. They even called an election for no reason then blamed the opposition for bills that were dropped due to their election.
Now they are telling the budget watchdog, who is supposed to protect the wallets of Canadians to sit down and shut up. The Auditor General just released a statement saying that she is disappointed that the government will not even provide broad stokes information on who will get the $3 billion slush fund they have set and for what?
The Con government is corrupt. It serves itself and not Canadians. It is passed its shelf life and should resign in disgrace and waddle on back to whence it came.
This Con government has been nothing if not consistent. They have lied about their advertising expenses during the election; they have lied to Canadian about their intent to fold the gun registry; the have blocked committee work (and then blamed the delays on the opposition) and they have delayed their own legislation all the while blaming the Senate for the delays. They even called an election for no reason then blamed the opposition for bills that were dropped due to their election.
Now they are telling the budget watchdog, who is supposed to protect the wallets of Canadians to sit down and shut up. The Auditor General just released a statement saying that she is disappointed that the government will not even provide broad stokes information on who will get the $3 billion slush fund they have set and for what?
The Con government is corrupt. It serves itself and not Canadians. It is passed its shelf life and should resign in disgrace and waddle on back to whence it came.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
PP calls the kettle black
With all the crap that is going on within and around the Federal Con party, I would suggest that the diminutive MP from Nepean Carleton spend a bit more time in self-examination rather than trying to find problems where none exist.
At point is the suggestion from a Liberal lawyer Alf Apps, who is supposedly the next President of the Federal Liberals, that the current funding laws would allow me to donate $1,100 to the federal Liberal Party (the legal limit of donations) and then also donate $1,100 to the leadership campaign of Micky Ignatieff. Since Micky is unopposed, supposedly his campaign costs would be very low, so any balances in his war chest would be given back to the party. This means that, with this loop hold, I could donate $2,200 in 2009.
Let's get a few things straight at the outset. Apps did not suggest that I do this deed, he merely pointed out what I already knew. It is not illegal to do this but it would be a questionable stretching of the rules. I know that. Apps knows that. And so does anyone else with a rudimentary knowledge of political finance.
Which brings us to The Perfect PP. He sees bedbugs where none exist. Rather than asking for any details from Apps, he runs to the nearest CTV microphone to blurt, "The purpose of the law is to prevent donations over $1,100 to any political party, not to allow powerful insiders to flow an extra donation through a leadership campaign into the party. That's what they're doing."
A little birdy told me that PP does not really think that Libs are doing something wrong - he just frosted that he didn't think of it first.
But just to be safe, maybe PP should submit a private members bill to limit donations of any kind, be it leadership campaigns, local association fees, election funding or just plain memberships to a maximum of $1,100 per year.
I bet he hasn't got the gut!
At point is the suggestion from a Liberal lawyer Alf Apps, who is supposedly the next President of the Federal Liberals, that the current funding laws would allow me to donate $1,100 to the federal Liberal Party (the legal limit of donations) and then also donate $1,100 to the leadership campaign of Micky Ignatieff. Since Micky is unopposed, supposedly his campaign costs would be very low, so any balances in his war chest would be given back to the party. This means that, with this loop hold, I could donate $2,200 in 2009.
Let's get a few things straight at the outset. Apps did not suggest that I do this deed, he merely pointed out what I already knew. It is not illegal to do this but it would be a questionable stretching of the rules. I know that. Apps knows that. And so does anyone else with a rudimentary knowledge of political finance.
Which brings us to The Perfect PP. He sees bedbugs where none exist. Rather than asking for any details from Apps, he runs to the nearest CTV microphone to blurt, "The purpose of the law is to prevent donations over $1,100 to any political party, not to allow powerful insiders to flow an extra donation through a leadership campaign into the party. That's what they're doing."
A little birdy told me that PP does not really think that Libs are doing something wrong - he just frosted that he didn't think of it first.
But just to be safe, maybe PP should submit a private members bill to limit donations of any kind, be it leadership campaigns, local association fees, election funding or just plain memberships to a maximum of $1,100 per year.
I bet he hasn't got the gut!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Hill Times On-side?
It is not often that the Hill Times comes out for a Speaker's Ruling, especially if the ruling does not favour Cons. Such was the case, however, this week.
In its editorial, dated March 16th, the Times applauded the ruling by the Speaker to disallow highly partisan insulting shots at Members-opposite during the One-minute Members Statements. It was not just Cons spitting at Libs or NDPers pissing on anything that moved, it was a problem with all parties.
So the Speaker rules that personal attacks are "intended to be provocative", "clearly create disorder" and are "unparliamentary".
Seems right. If you want to act like a schoolyard bully or just a potty mouth, take it outside where liable laws are enforced.
But what does the MP for Nepean Carleton, the Perfect PP, have to say on the issue? He claims that the ruling stifles debate. "Part of democracy is promoting ideas. The other part of democracy is pointing out the flaws in some of those ideas," spews PP.
I am not one to stifle democracy, so here is my advice to Perfect PP. Buzz off!
In its editorial, dated March 16th, the Times applauded the ruling by the Speaker to disallow highly partisan insulting shots at Members-opposite during the One-minute Members Statements. It was not just Cons spitting at Libs or NDPers pissing on anything that moved, it was a problem with all parties.
So the Speaker rules that personal attacks are "intended to be provocative", "clearly create disorder" and are "unparliamentary".
Seems right. If you want to act like a schoolyard bully or just a potty mouth, take it outside where liable laws are enforced.
But what does the MP for Nepean Carleton, the Perfect PP, have to say on the issue? He claims that the ruling stifles debate. "Part of democracy is promoting ideas. The other part of democracy is pointing out the flaws in some of those ideas," spews PP.
I am not one to stifle democracy, so here is my advice to Perfect PP. Buzz off!
Upsetting the Rabid Right
Whatever you do in life, the one thing that you do not want to do is upset the Rabid Right.
The Rabid Right has always labeled liberal as a dirty word. Tax and Spend Liberals. Soft on Crime Liberals. Masters of Entitlements Liberals.
You never hear the Rabid Right mention that liberals brought us our health care system, instituted OAS and CPP, fought off the depression of the 30's, authored Peace Keeping, or any of the hundreds of positive things that Canadians take for granted that were implemented by liberals.
Where, oh where, does the Rabid Right get the moralistic chutzpa to suggest, ney... pontificate, that their crap don't stink. The In and Out Scandal that the Cons are trying to block is just the tip of the iceberg when looking at dirty tricks. Seems that the diminutive Gary Lunn, PC,MP is up to his eyeballs (about 4 foot three at last measurement) in advertising scandals out in BC. Seems that in the last election four or five "third party" groups took out ads that supported the re-election of the Mighty Midget. That should be within the rules except that the third party groups shared another thing in common. There was only one official agent and he was also on the executive of the conservative riding association that supported Lunn. Coincidence? I wonder.
But the Rabid Right in Canada cannot hold a candle to their US siblings. The gloves are off in the land of the free. In the past week or so First Lady Michelle Obama has been publicly called a Bitch; Obama, himself, has been described as a dimwit; the Obama administration has been called ineffective (this after 60 days in office); and it goes on and on.
Maybe it is time for a wake-up call in the camps of the Rabid Right. Maybe they should grow up!
The Rabid Right has always labeled liberal as a dirty word. Tax and Spend Liberals. Soft on Crime Liberals. Masters of Entitlements Liberals.
You never hear the Rabid Right mention that liberals brought us our health care system, instituted OAS and CPP, fought off the depression of the 30's, authored Peace Keeping, or any of the hundreds of positive things that Canadians take for granted that were implemented by liberals.
Where, oh where, does the Rabid Right get the moralistic chutzpa to suggest, ney... pontificate, that their crap don't stink. The In and Out Scandal that the Cons are trying to block is just the tip of the iceberg when looking at dirty tricks. Seems that the diminutive Gary Lunn, PC,MP is up to his eyeballs (about 4 foot three at last measurement) in advertising scandals out in BC. Seems that in the last election four or five "third party" groups took out ads that supported the re-election of the Mighty Midget. That should be within the rules except that the third party groups shared another thing in common. There was only one official agent and he was also on the executive of the conservative riding association that supported Lunn. Coincidence? I wonder.
But the Rabid Right in Canada cannot hold a candle to their US siblings. The gloves are off in the land of the free. In the past week or so First Lady Michelle Obama has been publicly called a Bitch; Obama, himself, has been described as a dimwit; the Obama administration has been called ineffective (this after 60 days in office); and it goes on and on.
Maybe it is time for a wake-up call in the camps of the Rabid Right. Maybe they should grow up!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Fox News. Is it an oxymoron? Or just moronic?
Fox News thinks that it needs to educate Canadians by coming onto our airways. Maybe Fox News needs to better spend its time educating its hosts.
In a recent Red Eye segment (run at 3 AM for those who are up all night worrying about Obama, no doubt), four FOX "celebs" squared off at Canada's military.
At argument was the comment by our General Andrew Leslie that our forces needed some time off after the pull out from Afghanistan in 2011. The General's argument was that we need to rearm and retool after eight years of front line action that has resulted in 116 deaths so far.
But what do these sorry excuses for commentators say? One mocks General Leslie's name as girlish. Another suggests that Canadian soldiers will use the break for a romp on the beaches in white capri pants. A third suggests time of for manicures and pedicures. But the biggest dope of all stated that he was not even aware that Canada was in Afghanistan.
Fox News. What a joke.
In a recent Red Eye segment (run at 3 AM for those who are up all night worrying about Obama, no doubt), four FOX "celebs" squared off at Canada's military.
At argument was the comment by our General Andrew Leslie that our forces needed some time off after the pull out from Afghanistan in 2011. The General's argument was that we need to rearm and retool after eight years of front line action that has resulted in 116 deaths so far.
But what do these sorry excuses for commentators say? One mocks General Leslie's name as girlish. Another suggests that Canadian soldiers will use the break for a romp on the beaches in white capri pants. A third suggests time of for manicures and pedicures. But the biggest dope of all stated that he was not even aware that Canada was in Afghanistan.
Fox News. What a joke.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
What's next from Harper?
Let's get rid of the long gun registry so that we can fight crime. So goes the logic of one of the worst and most divisive Prime Minsters to ever claim the title in Canada.
So what if the police say that the registry helps them fight crime. So what if the registry costs as little as $2 million per year. So what if 95% of gun owners have registered their guns. Harper says screw all of them... he knows best.
Harper is delusional and needs to be recalled.
So what if the police say that the registry helps them fight crime. So what if the registry costs as little as $2 million per year. So what if 95% of gun owners have registered their guns. Harper says screw all of them... he knows best.
Harper is delusional and needs to be recalled.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Harper can't dodge the Dodge
In a recent speech, David Dodge, the former Governor of the Bank of Canada and a former Deputy Minister of Finance has contradicted the government and especially the Prime Minister over budget deficits and how long it will take Canada to emerge from this current economic morass.
The most important difference between Harper and Dodge is that Harper maintains that he has not created any structural deficit for the country. (A structural deficit - of the kind that plagued in the 1980s and early 1990s - is one that persists over the long term even when the economy is healthy and growing.) Dodge maintains that the dumb-ass cut to the GST by the Con government created the conditions for a structural deficit... and he is right.
Readers of this blog will know that the government had a structural debt of $16 billion on January of this year due to the GST cut and higher spending. That deficit was buried in the January budget when Harper stated the deficit would be $34 billion to fight the recession. Anybody with an abacus could have figured out that $18 billion in emergency spending announced in February, when added to the $16 billion in the structural deficit made up the $34 billion.
Harper lied to Canadians.
Dodge (or anyone else, for that matter) for PM.
The most important difference between Harper and Dodge is that Harper maintains that he has not created any structural deficit for the country. (A structural deficit - of the kind that plagued in the 1980s and early 1990s - is one that persists over the long term even when the economy is healthy and growing.) Dodge maintains that the dumb-ass cut to the GST by the Con government created the conditions for a structural deficit... and he is right.
Readers of this blog will know that the government had a structural debt of $16 billion on January of this year due to the GST cut and higher spending. That deficit was buried in the January budget when Harper stated the deficit would be $34 billion to fight the recession. Anybody with an abacus could have figured out that $18 billion in emergency spending announced in February, when added to the $16 billion in the structural deficit made up the $34 billion.
Harper lied to Canadians.
Dodge (or anyone else, for that matter) for PM.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
PP does it again
The voters of Nepean Carleton have a real decision to make in the next federal election. They have to ask themselves if they want an MP who works for them or one who works for himself.
After months of being AWOL during the Ottawa bus strike, The Mighty Mouth of MPs, Pierre Poilievre, has decided that his brand of being helpful is to slag the Premier of the province. Rather than making suggestions to cure this federal morass, he prefers to play politics.
Federal morass, you ask? How can a bus strike be a federal issue. This is the nub of the issue. Because a few OC Transpo buses cross over into Quebec, the service is an inter provincial service... thus falls under federal jurisdiction. There are three municipal bus services that fall under the feds - Ottawa, Gatineau and Windsor.
You want to be helpful, PP? Why don't you suggest that the the law be changed to make the bus servies provincial responsibilities notwithstanding the inter provincial/national components. You make all sorts of exception, including work and safety rules (the pin point of the OC dispute), why not make an exception here; get rid of the problem off Rona's and John's desk and let us get back to worrying about the economy.
After months of being AWOL during the Ottawa bus strike, The Mighty Mouth of MPs, Pierre Poilievre, has decided that his brand of being helpful is to slag the Premier of the province. Rather than making suggestions to cure this federal morass, he prefers to play politics.
Federal morass, you ask? How can a bus strike be a federal issue. This is the nub of the issue. Because a few OC Transpo buses cross over into Quebec, the service is an inter provincial service... thus falls under federal jurisdiction. There are three municipal bus services that fall under the feds - Ottawa, Gatineau and Windsor.
You want to be helpful, PP? Why don't you suggest that the the law be changed to make the bus servies provincial responsibilities notwithstanding the inter provincial/national components. You make all sorts of exception, including work and safety rules (the pin point of the OC dispute), why not make an exception here; get rid of the problem off Rona's and John's desk and let us get back to worrying about the economy.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Who's running this asylum, anyway?
When I went to bed last night I understood that the citizens paid taxes to the city who in turn hired people to provide services to the citizens. By the time I woke up this morning the world had changed.
Seems, in Ottawa that the idea that the citizens paid taxes to the city who in turn hired bus drivers to provide us with a service, was all wrong. According to the drivers and their union bosses, the drivers can do what ever they want to disrupt the services to the citizens and the city can do nothing about it.
The drivers call it "work-to-rule". I call it stupid!
The city hires... so the city should also be able to fire. The drivers do not want to work for the city and its citizens... fire them and get people who do! What about the unions, you may ask? Screw them! They are doing it to us!
Seems, in Ottawa that the idea that the citizens paid taxes to the city who in turn hired bus drivers to provide us with a service, was all wrong. According to the drivers and their union bosses, the drivers can do what ever they want to disrupt the services to the citizens and the city can do nothing about it.The drivers call it "work-to-rule". I call it stupid!
The city hires... so the city should also be able to fire. The drivers do not want to work for the city and its citizens... fire them and get people who do! What about the unions, you may ask? Screw them! They are doing it to us!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Papers, please!
For reasons only known to PM Harpo and his spiritual advisers, Canada is about to be returned to a police state by the Canada's Oh-so-Old-Government (TM). For some ungodly reason, Harpy seems to think that the police, they of the taser, need to ability to arrest you for thinking about crime and holding you in jail for three days without a charge.
This harkens back to the 9/11 period when terrorists were suspected under ever rock and leaf. What is the PM thinking?
Back in 1970, Trudeau implemented the War Measures Act to counter terrorists in Quebec. When the incident was over, the Act was rescinded. Can you imagine what the Cons would have said is a few years later the government re-enacted the Act. They would have burst blood vessels screaming and cursing.
This blows.
This harkens back to the 9/11 period when terrorists were suspected under ever rock and leaf. What is the PM thinking?
Back in 1970, Trudeau implemented the War Measures Act to counter terrorists in Quebec. When the incident was over, the Act was rescinded. Can you imagine what the Cons would have said is a few years later the government re-enacted the Act. They would have burst blood vessels screaming and cursing.
This blows.
Bye, bye, Chrysler
Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out!
I have said it more than once, there is pain in this recession but there is also opportunity.
Chrysler is telling Canadians that they want labour concession, tax relief and billion in handouts from Canada or they will pull out. It is time for the rubber to hit the road.
Chrysler owes Canada countless millions in back taxes. We should take their plants and tooling as payment. Then we turn these assets over to new companies who will use them to build the cars and trucks that we need. We can even give them a billion or two as seed capital.
The new plants will be owned by the government of Canada and lease-to-own to the manufacturers. The workers will be given a stake in the operation in return for NO UNIONS!
We need our own domestic auto industry. Here is our chance.
I have said it more than once, there is pain in this recession but there is also opportunity.
Chrysler is telling Canadians that they want labour concession, tax relief and billion in handouts from Canada or they will pull out. It is time for the rubber to hit the road.
Chrysler owes Canada countless millions in back taxes. We should take their plants and tooling as payment. Then we turn these assets over to new companies who will use them to build the cars and trucks that we need. We can even give them a billion or two as seed capital.
The new plants will be owned by the government of Canada and lease-to-own to the manufacturers. The workers will be given a stake in the operation in return for NO UNIONS!
We need our own domestic auto industry. Here is our chance.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Canada's own "Maxwell Smart"
The PM is starting to sound a bit like Agent 86. "Would you believe...?"
It wasn't too long ago that Harper accused the opposition of being defeatist over the Afghanistan "issue". The goal was to "destroy Al Qaeda, the Taliban, anybody with a gun or who chews non-Canadian gum," according to Himself. Anybody who thought otherwise was "chickenlivered", said He.
Now we hear that Harpo went to the US and told CNN that there is no way that we can win this thing. WHAT? Is His Honour being defeatist? Tell me NO!
What's next Stevey? Are you going to issue visa for Al Qaeda and the Taliban to visit Canada, get some healthcare and send their kids to school? Would you believe...?
Now we hear that Harpo went to the US and told CNN that there is no way that we can win this thing. WHAT? Is His Honour being defeatist? Tell me NO!
What's next Stevey? Are you going to issue visa for Al Qaeda and the Taliban to visit Canada, get some healthcare and send their kids to school? Would you believe...?
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Dissing Obama?
Back on Feb 19, I wrote an entry that highlighted what the rabid right was doing to try and poo-poo the hope that President Obama was raising in the hearts and minds of the average US citizen. This time I want to discuss what Obama is doing and why it is something to encourage rather than criticize.
I have said any times that Canadians (and Americans... and for that matter most Earthlings) consider themselves victims. The government is doing this, the police are doing that - and always the people are the victims.
Part of that mentality comes from losing hope in our institutions. I am the first person to admit that some institutions deserve scorn but maybe, just maybe, we can turn our attitudes and those of the "oppressors" taking charge of our lives, our governments or official, our companies, bosses and co-workers and holding them responsible for their actions and punish them when they transgress.
If a PM lies to us... fire his/her ass. If an MP does not represent us with honour and compassion... recall his/her seat. If a company manager is caught stealing... off to the local jail.
Once we regain control of our country and its institutions then maybe we can become, in our minds, less victimized.
OK, so what does this have to do with Obama? Hope! Dare to hope! Dare to expect your government and institutions to serve you with honour and compassion. Dare to hope that your food is uncontaminated, your water free of E-coli, your children not stalked by perverts and the newspapers tell it as it is ... not as they think it should be.
Obama deals in hope. Canadians need hope. Maybe we need Obama or someone like him?
I have said any times that Canadians (and Americans... and for that matter most Earthlings) consider themselves victims. The government is doing this, the police are doing that - and always the people are the victims.
If a PM lies to us... fire his/her ass. If an MP does not represent us with honour and compassion... recall his/her seat. If a company manager is caught stealing... off to the local jail.
Once we regain control of our country and its institutions then maybe we can become, in our minds, less victimized.
OK, so what does this have to do with Obama? Hope! Dare to hope! Dare to expect your government and institutions to serve you with honour and compassion. Dare to hope that your food is uncontaminated, your water free of E-coli, your children not stalked by perverts and the newspapers tell it as it is ... not as they think it should be.
Obama deals in hope. Canadians need hope. Maybe we need Obama or someone like him?
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