Staying Calm

Now I will make you laugh by telling you that I wrote the last two blogs after I had done my Oprah/Deepak meditation. The current 21 day theme is Miraculous Relationships and as always we are supposed to find our inner self which is “pure joy and love”. Irony to write that our premier is an asshole and that I am spitting mad?

But I wrote it out of pure love, my dear readers, pure love for my fellow man and the civilization that I envision for us. Do not be like Jon Snow who flipped out on Daenerys in the finale as she explained her vision of a whole world of peace and freedom.

It is possible to have a country that not only aspires to high values and social justice but achieves these things. Our political system allows corporations to have too much influence over politicians by the amount of contributions they are able to make to campaigns thus putting the government and politicians under extreme obligation. Case in point, SNC Lavalin and our current prime minister. No country is perfect but some work harder at it than others. I would like Canada to walk the talk and not just be a pretty face attempting to fool the world into believing the heart is there. Trudeau has thrown too many good people under the bus when political interests took precedence over principle.  I will never get over it.

Why I am Concerned

Many years ago I would have discussions with my boss about what the state of the project was in and if there was a particular area that I had concerns about I would say “I am worried . . . “.  Dave would correct me and say “don’t say worried, say concerned”. It was his job to worry! 

Yesterday I wrote a heartfelt blog about the things that concern me. To be more specific, I am concerned that individuals focus on what is good for them and ignore the rest of the “debris” around them. Those who continue to advocate the oil sands and put out Facebook and Instagram messages denying that there are concerns really annoy me (to say the least). On the other hand, those environmentalists who bash the oil sands unequivocally also irritate me. What I would like to see is a balance wherein folks can continue to work in the oil sands BUT at the same time I would like to see more vocal indications from the companies that they are also working towards developing more sustainable energy avenues. As well, I would like to get a semi-annual statement from the industry on how many new trees are being planted as part of recovery plans for the area and what other recovery initiatives are being done.

That is just an example of a hot button issue here in Alberta.

I am afraid I cannot speak of our current premier with anything like civility as I think he is a F’ing asshole who is simply working at self-aggrandizement. Not one single act of his has in any way been motivated to help the PEOPLE of this province. He has catered to business, first, last and always. Have you seen a company go to the polling booth? He has reduced corporate taxes, he has revoked Labour Standards laws (reducing minimum wage, taking away overtime pay, lowering minimum age for workers – hey, let’s bring back child labour). He has revoked Workers’ Compensation for farm workers because why should farmers have to insure their employees to the same level as other businesses? Once again a Conservative government is trying to break unions because why should a nurse, teacher, civil servant, police officer, fireman or EMS worker have to have the same benefits as lying, cheating, thieving politicians who can’t keep their dicks in their pants?

Next time you vote you should do your homework and see if you actual ARE better off with a conservative rather than a “socialist” government. And for crying out loud DO NOT embarrass yourself by making the same mistake as a flipping American who equates socialism with communism. Elementary history lesson in high school should have taught you that and if that isn’t good enough check out a Scandinavian country and contrast it with China. 

Yes, I get spitting mad sometimes but you know what – it does get the old juices flowing!

Look Away

If you are uncomfortable talking, listening or thinking about politics – look away.

If you feel you are not directly impacted by shutting down Gay-Straight alliances – look away.

If you think climate change is not affecting your life – look away.

If you think that “sticks and stones don’t break any bones” – look away.

If you think that what happens elsewhere does not affect you – look away.

If you think a moral compass is not important in those who govern – look away.

If your child isn’t bullied and you don’t need to be concerned about Johnny next door – look away.

If the only thing that matters is your own cosy life – look away.

That’s what the German population did in the 1920’s and surprise, surprise, the world could not long look away, but only after millions of people (Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, political dissidents) were exterminated. Every single citizen’s actions and voice matters no matter how uncomfortable you may feel. A citizen should be informed about every aspect of daily life, not just YOUR life, but of those all around you; in your home, your community, your province, country and the world. Perhaps we cannot always see that what we are doing makes a difference, but being silent, or looking away, is not a good response.

I’m just saying.

Real Politics

Getting down to brass tacks on politics so let us start with this question, “have you ever seen a corporation stroll into a voting booth?”  I would be surprised if anyone answered yes. Yet how often do you hear politicians laying on the gravy for corporate “incentives” or “tax cuts”? Every time they do that they are also eroding the individual’s pay cheque. If corporations get tax breaks the government has to make up that deficit somehow and the first place they look is adding it on to the individual tax payer either in an actual income tax increase or some other levy.

The UCP candidate is promising to eliminate the carbon tax (which is 5% in Alberta and all revenue goes back into Energy Efficiency initiatives not regular revenue). At the same time he wants to bring back health care premiums of $98 / month which is roughly $1,200 a year. The carbon tax impacts the average person at no more than $500 / year and each person gets a rebate of $300 per year. That is just one of the ways in which the UCP will end up slamming the individual with higher taxes.

I have taken an informal poll of my family and friends asking them “in what way has the NDP affected your income ADVERSELY in the last 4 years?” and not a one has been able to come up with an example. Business owners will be quick to bring up the minimum wage increase (again this is something that the UCP will decrease) and my response to that is that living in Canada business owners ought to be able to rely on good Canadian workers who are given a decent LIVING wage and not a wage that keeps them in abject poverty. We are not a third world country and if you cannot sustain your business by paying your employees a decent wage you should not be in business. End of.

My comments may be unpalatable to many people (business owner or not) but I stick to my opinion on this because “this is 2019” and we SHOULD be a civilized society.

Real Life

We are having both provincial and federal elections this year. The provincial one has been ramped up for a few weeks now and I am already (no surprise to anyone) cheesed off with the bias of media. It is beyond enough when so-called journalists wrinkle their nose when they speak about the NDP or Rachel Notley (so much so that I really want to slap their face). That is just the beginning; then we have the silence and shutout of the NDP while they give free airspace to that flipping (and I am being super polite and restrained here) lying asshole who shall remain nameless (no free airspace for him).

Yes, I get caught up in my politics, no question. I have always been passionate and engaged in politics, a true family legacy. When my brothers come around the roof almost rises with the raised voices and an outsider may actually believe that we are arguing and fighting while all the time we are virtually agreeing with each other. We are enjoying ourselves to the max. I recall once having a rip-roaring discussion with the husband of a friend (and actually I consider the husband a friend also J ), we were not agreeing with each other but we were having a really good time arguing. Marie came out thinking that I was being beleaguered and I grinned at her and said “Pshaw Marie, you never met my dad, Paul is an amateur beside him!” and then turned back to continue our “discussion”. Ah, good times!

To be continued . . .

Integrity - where art thou?

I will tell you where it isn’t – in our Prime Minister and the Liberal party. I lost respect for him last year when he threw the Sears employees under the bus by saying “we will not address bankruptcy laws” and therefore allowing the management to get millions of dollars in bonuses while the workers lost their paycheques. That clearly showed where his interests lay – with corporations and no people.

After the testimony of Jody Wilson-Raybould I would be amazed if anyone actually doubted her side of the story. I watched several hours of her being tested and I found it despicable how the Liberals tried to intimidate her and besmirch her. I was pleased to hear (and of course realized that there was a political agenda to the comment) that the female Conservative who questioned her said she “completely believed her”. I was annoyed that the two rows of bottom headlines on CBC obliterated the names of the MPs speaking. The only person I recognized was Nathan Cullen but I don’t know if he actually got to question her (as I said while I watched about 2 hours I did not watch the whole thing; I have it taped so can watch more today).

Jody Wilson-Raybould came across as someone with an incredibly high degree of integrity (which has been much touted over these past few months) as well as extremely intelligent. I got that sense that her staff were very loyal to her and respected her. She is not someone you can bully and our Prime Minister has learned that to his detriment. Trudeau did not come out of this smelling like a rose but rather a skunk. I have absolutely no doubt that he attempted to have the Attorney General interfere in the SNC Lavalin affair and when he didn’t get what he wanted he pushed her out of the AG position and tried to put in someone who would do his bidding.

This reeks on so many levels but the bottom line proves once again that the Liberal and Conservative parties owe corporations big time for their political donations and it is perhaps time that an evaluation be made as to how much money a corporation can spend in donations to political parties. I am thankful that the NDP is completely funded by personal donations only; they have long ago severed any ties with unions so don’t go there with me.

Integrity – thy name is Jody Wilson-Raybould – a new heroine for the people!

 

https://globalnews.ca/news/5007305/analysis-trudeau-brand-jody-wilson-raybould-testimony/

https://globalnews.ca/news/5006450/jody-wilson-raybould-testimony-transcript/

 

Political Pundits' Stupidity

I happened to look at a video of Rachel Notley making some comments about the Red Deer Hospital and the need for funding to upgrade and made the mistake of reading the comments below the article. There were 20 comments and only one was positive. The other comments showed the absolute ignorance of the writers not only about the positive benefits that have occurred over the last four years but also about the history of the previous 44 year regime of the Conservatives. Their legacy is appalling and Kenney’s plans are more of the same – regressive politics and spending, punitive measures to those who can least afford it (youth and service industry workers).

But what should I care since these idiots are only shooting themselves not in the foot but in their heads. Can anyone point out to me what the average person has gained through the Conservative government? The tax breaks have not come to the individual but to corporations and if you think that has meant more hiring you are in error once again.

People are complaining about the carbon tax but what you end up paying with this tax is minimal compared with Kenney’s promise to bring back health care fees. Gee, what would I rather pay – a tax that I can control via my consumption of natural gas or a fixed monthly fee of $50 for health care? Now that fixed fee would be $600 / year . . . my carbon tax works out to about $250 / year . . . but wait, I actually get all of that back because I am retired and therefore low income.

Just a tiny lesson on COSTS . . .

Sorry but I am a little incensed by these jerks’ comments – I decided to edit myself as I didn’t want to fall to their level.

Denmark, World War II and Xenophobia

The other day John mentioned a program he had watched which mentioned that there was a Danish outfit of SS, a fact which shocked me. I have looked for more information on Danes involved in the SS via Google but have not found anything which gives numbers – as I recall John said there were about 6,000.  It’s not a lot but it’s still a lot more than I had any idea of.

As a Dane I have taken pride in Denmark’s role in rescuing their Jews and I have often cited the book “Countrymen” by Bo Lindgaard as a definitive work on this matter. But as the old Proverb says “Pride goeth before a fall”. I write this forward so you can see where my mindset is; I feel that I am a very tolerant and understanding person who does not want to discriminate against a people.

I can, however, be judgmental on an individual level against persons and to that end I would like to give you my take on this Shamima Begum.  I have seen several interviews with her and I have listened to political discussions regarding her. My take is that she is radicalized, has no remorse and is in fact a danger to her native born country. I feel that the British Government has done the correct thing in denying her entry into the UK since I believe she has the potential to radicalize others and cause trouble inside the UK. I listened very carefully to two experts who were on Amanpour & Co. last night and their consensus was that she was indeed a danger to the UK.

So how can a 19 year old woman be a danger . . . well, she says herself that she was fully cognizant of what she was getting into when she left the UK at age 15 to marry an ISIS fighter and in the interview she says the bombing in Manchester was no different that the women and children being bombed in Syria. I found when listening and looking at her that she had zero empathy for the Brits, and I mean ZERO EMPATHY. To me that is a big red flag that says this woman has no feelings except those in which she has become immersed in through the radicalization process. I am by no means and expert on this, but I am very good at reading people and I feel certain that she is a definite danger.

I feel very sad that there are many people like Shamima out there who may never recover their sanity and empathy for ALL PEOPLE.

I really cannot say what is going to become of our world in this cesspool of xenophobia and refusal to understand or even listen to each other. It is worrisome, sad and wrong.

Populism, Nationalism and other Isms

We are living in a volatile time and often I feel disturbed by what we hear on the news not just here in Canada but in America and around the globe. I remember when I was campaigning back in 1993 one of my colleagues said to me that I should remember that in hard times people are looking for someone to blame and someone to save them.

Slogans can be handy things for politicians but it is also what one can call “word whiskers” that tickle the ear. It is remarkably easy to get a group of people to switch from being an audience to becoming a mob. We only have to look at history to know this is a fact.

I hope that readers will always take a second or even third look and listen before they are swayed in doing something that perhaps isn’t the norm for them. At the end of the day I always err on the side of the positive and have faith that most people are good and just want to be happy.

We shall see.

George Washington

I have started back on my online course on the American Revolution and hope to finish it soon. The other day the session was on George Washington and I got some more insight into this American icon of virtue I had read “Potomac Squire” by Elswyth Thane a couple of years ago and this session only verified what a really remarkable man Washington was and how protective he was about his reputation.

One of the reasons why I took this particular course was because I was very interested in understanding their beloved constitution and the obsession with their amendments, particular the second amendment. For those living under a bushel that is the one that gives every citizen the right to bear arms. I would suggested that 250 years later maybe America could take a look at that one and say:

“Let’s join the rest of the industrialized world and say no to bearing arms, after all, we are the greatest country in the world so why should we need protection from each other?”

I don’t know what George Washington would think about that but he was a sensible man and I feel certain that he would be appalled at individuals being allowed to own assault rifles. Below are 2 articles which seem to agree with my thoughts.

https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/feb/20/facebook-posts/did-george-washington-offer-support-individual-gun/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/made-by-history/wp/2018/02/22/what-the-second-amendment-really-meant-to-the-founders/?noredirect=on

Three Weeks In

Is it possible that we are three weeks in to the new year? I still have chocolates left over from Christmas so I am dubious!

On Saturday we happened to turn on the news in the middle of Individual One’s speech on compromise. I am anxious this morning to find out if this will go through as I, despite not being American, am deeply concerned about all the poor people who have gone unpaid for four weeks, some of whom will not get paid for their job loss because they are contractors. It seemed that this could go through the Senate without having to go through Congress but even so I would hope that the Democrats would approve this compromise as I believe it is the first time in his life he has backed down (albeit not much). I thought he spoke well and I felt the deal was pretty good.

We shall see later this morning I am sure.

Political Analyst?

I watch The View on a regular basis and almost every day Meghan McCain calls herself a political analyst. Today she annoyed the heck out of me when she started to rant about “using a broad brush” when speaking about anything. However she was once again being reactionary because it was about Republicans. I had to put it on pause and rant to Mom saying (for the thousandths time) that she was not an analyst at all. How can she possibly object to using a broad brush when she, last week, claimed that the whole Democratic Party was going socialist because they voted in Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a congresswoman? One rookie congresswoman is going to make all of the Democratic Party into a socialist party? I’d like to see that and can you imagine her (Alexandria) taking on Nancy Pelosi?

Meghan you are not an analyst when you never see two sides of the political spectrum. I have yet to hear you say one good thing about a Democrat and to me that speaks of bias, not analysis.

I laughing told Mom “I am a Meghan McCain analyst”.

 

Political Pundit

I would not call myself a political pundit (pundit meaning an expert in a particular subject or field who is frequently called on to give opinions about it to the public) but I do follow politics closely and have done so for most of my adult life. 

Here’s how I see yesterday’s American election; while the Democrats got some major victories and took back Congress they are going to have to think long and hard about how they conduct themselves during the next two years. I don’t think it would be wise for them to call up a bunch of “investigations” nor would it be wise to alienate the Republicans by using their tactics against them. In other words I believe their wisest course would be to operate on the high that Michelle Obama spoke about during their campaigning days. At the same time the Democrats need to decide exactly what all they’re going to represent as a cohesive unit which means either going whole hog left or just left of centre (which has been the norm as this socialist sees things).

Beyond Democrat strategy what I took away from the election of yesterday was that America is truly suffering from all of this divisiveness that has been created by the man in the White House. It is horrendous to see a nation like America fall victim to the worst elements of populism which is going to be extremely difficult to turn around in the future.

I think it behooves all nations to take a very critical look at history and make some sort of analysis as to how it is that countries around the world are swinging to the extreme right for uncivilized reasons. The refugee crises around the world is in part a cause; but is it also a symptom? Why are religions having such a strong influence on politics in this era? And linked with religion, why are reproductive (aka abortion) rights being reconsidered?

I remember during my campaigning days having a discussion with some people in my caucus and I go back to a particular answer around similar questions as the above. “Look to the source of the problem, it is almost always a question of poverty.” Ahh. Despite economists and statisticians saying that the economies around the world are doing well (and that they can now go ahead and raise interest rates yet again) the true facts are that many people are unemployed and have actually fallen off the Employment Insurance rolls and may not have been able to quality for social welfare so they are completely off the radar when compiling statistics. Too often we rely on “experts” opinions or analyses when we should really making our own personal observations via our circle and community.

People listen too much to others then react without having done their own personal reflection. In other words, engage brain before acting out. 

Did I say that loud enough?

Open Minds

A sign of intelligence is having an open mind.  People who are set in their beliefs and who resist even hearing another person’s point of view is never going to grow intellectually.  Sitting across from someone and “listening” with a stone face does not fool me, or any other bright person, for a second.  In my case I will be making my own assessment of the person across from me and recognizing that I am dealing with an idiot. 

Did I say that out loud?  Well, in virtual reality, yes.  (TONGUE-IN-CHEEK, PEOPLE, TONGUE-IN-CHEEK)

https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/01/29/carol-dweck-mindset/

Recent polls have shown that a large percentage of voters have a single issue mindset when they go to the voting booth.  This appears to have been one of the reasons why Donald Trump won the American election; he appealed to individuals’ single issues. For some it was immigration, for others the economy, yet others “draining the swamp” and so on.  Similar voting practices are occurring here in Canada and it is rather a disturbing trend of narrow thinking. 

When we elect our government it is important to recognize that it will be governing for a 4 to 5 year term therefore a single issue should not be the only criteria on how you choose your candidate.  To pick Mr. Jones because he is anti (or pro) LGBTQ is hardly a sound reason for choosing him.  What else does Mr. Jones stand for?  Does he believe that corporate taxes should be raised or lowered, does he believe that spending on infrastructure, health care and education are solid investments or should we cut, cut, cut?  If we cut, cut, cut what ARE we getting for our personal tax dollars?  Does he use the word “entitlement” a lot?  How does he feel about privatization of utilities that have long been paid and supported by taxpayers?  Has he ever used the term “corporate welfare”?  Does the voter know what corporate welfare is?

Voting is a serious business to some voters and it is very disturbing to hear how many young people are so disillusioned by government that they don’t feel voting will change anything.  Voting is something our ancestors fought long and hard to gain as a right and it is tragic to think that anyone would forego that right when every vote counts.  To not speak out by not casting your vote you are still complicit in what occurs.  There is really no neutral ground.  No action is still an action.

“You are today where your thoughts have brought you. 
You will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.”  James Allen

Why Populism?

June was all about friends and the softer side of life but now I would like to philosophize a bit on the rougher side of what the world is experiencing.

We have had 18 months of “the new guy” in the White House (as Whoopi Goldberg names him) and those of us who live outside of the USA may count ourselves blessed that he is not our leader.  However, we are being impacted every day not just by the overwhelming media coverage but also by the decisions that are being made over the border many of which have long range and long term implications.

One that I would like to review is what is termed the populist movement.  This is something that is happening all over the world and naturally I can understand many of the reasons why countries, cultures and people want to protect what is “theirs”.  I don’t believe there is an easy answer or even one single answer as to how to overcome those feelings of xenophobia and protectionism.  One of the first steps would be to actually understand why people feel threatened by foreigners entering their country.

Things that come to mind would be the economics since the people entering the country are claiming refugee status.  Long-time taxpayers loath giving anything away to anyone (particularly the right wingers – but that’s a whole other conversation) but they are especially incensed by those asking for help who have given not one iota to the country’s economy.  Now many not only are asking for money, apartments, food and such but are asking far above (and getting) what a senior citizen receives or even a single parent who has been in the country all their lives.  Of course people will be cheesed off at this “money handout” no one more so than Europeans.  When even the Scandinavians are getting fed up you know something has to give.

Another area that really upsets people is the fact that so many refugees refuse to integrate into the country.  Not only do they refuse to integrate they also want to impose their own culture on others.  Denmark went into an uproar when Muslims wanted to ban ham sandwiches from school cafeterias.  First of all, the pork industry is huge in Denmark and Danes love their meat but secondly DO NOT TAKE THINGS AWAY FROM A DANE.  A ham sandwich is not going to kill anyone so NO, that is not going to happen.

These are two strong reasons why “populism” is growing in Europe and making inroads in America and Canada.  I don’t say they are justified.  I just recognize them as triggers of outrage for many.  I also want to add that while I use the word “many” I honestly have no idea what the percentage is.  Is it 20% who won’t integrate or is it 80%?  How many people in Canada feel the sway of populism?  What is the tipping point?

“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”  George Santayana

Lying Awake and Getting Cheesed Off

Lying wide awake most of the night I had the usual jumble of thoughts in my head.  When I say Usual I am talking about the New Normal we are apparently forced to live in.  I wonder if everything that has transpired this year is simply dust in our eyes to keep us distracted from the real issue the people of the world – the Salt of the Earth people – are facing?

So here it is; harassment in high places, populism in all forms and worldwide, political correctness in extreme forms, the idiocy of the Man Who Shall Not Be Named (good clean coal, are you kidding anyone?) and on and on it goes.  I don’t care to comment on any of this right now.

What is really important and has been for the last decade is the ever widening gap of the 1% and the once thriving middle class.  Oxfam just came out with the latest statistics on the money growth from 2017 and guess what, the 1% got 82% of the new money!  Corporate tax evasion has never been higher and the burden of running the country is still squarely on the shoulders of middle class people whose income is shrinking rather than growing. 

Our finance minister is still holding his portfolio despite his breaking of the rules regarding his wealth, our prime minister won‘t comment on the Paradise Papers, he won’t take action on corporate pension fraud (think Sears), he talks like all the other corporate honchos “we take harassment issues very seriously” and I can speak from personal experience that those words are a total copout and mean absolutely nothing.  Those who were victims in my personal experience were let go while the “perps” kept their jobs.  I’m thinking about Kent Hehr – why is he still in caucus?

For the last 6 months we have heard daily about some dickhead not keeping his hands to himself but I am tired of it.  I want to hear about people’s outrage at not making ends meet while rich people and corporations evade their civic duty in paying their GD taxes in proportion to the money they earn.  A person earning $50,000 pays 34% in income (never mind the other things they pay for such as CPP and EI which – having paid them – they are shamed into thinking they are “entitlements”).  Corporate taxes average 20% and that is after some incredible deductions and some corporations pay nothing because despite doing the majority of their business in Canada they have situated their head office in Ireland or elsewhere (Tim Hortons). 

Wy Socialism is a Four Letter Word

When I tell people that I am a Socialist they generally feel speechless, confused and/or alarmed.  All their lives they have been told by media as well as colleagues, family members and others that socialism is a bad thing and not to be tolerated in Canada.  I admit that I was given to understand by my parents that socialism was a good thing but they also gave me the full story of why conservatives and liberals were not good for the ordinary Canadian.  And then I was told to read the newspaper and make up my own mind.  I was 14 at the time.

It’s true that Scandinavians are innately socialist as long ago as the Viking era.  I was rather surprised to learn that fact and am grateful for my mother in translating from the Danish encyclopedia.  There are 13 volumes in my set (going up to 1939) and written in extraordinary detail.  While I can read Danish from the magazines are lesser books I find reading the encyclopedia challenging because it is “intellectual words” which naturally we do not speak in our house on a daily basis.  We speak common Danish.  When we talk politics it is a scramble with mostly English in it.  I give you this information so you will understand that I am open and honest – I am getting my information second hand from Mom although I frequently ask to see the book so I can make sure it’s what she told me. 
As I have said in past blogs, I do urge folks to look up each of the Scandinavian countries’ websites and review their political section.  As well, a very interesting book on the Danes rescue of Jews is found in the book “Countrymen” by Bo Lindgaard which is currently on the bargain shelf at Chapters for about $10.  It explains a lot of the political part of being an occupied country during WWII but more importantly it explains the Danish way of feeling about anyone who is a Danish citizen regardless of ethnic background.  I often say of myself “don’t give me something and then take it away” which is very much a Danish thing.

I am in correspondence with several of my Danish cousins and one day Laust and I were talking on the phone and I had to laugh a little when he said “I pay my taxes with joy”.  I said while I don’t pay my taxes with joy I pay them because they are my responsibility as a Canadian citizen.  If I want health care, infrastructure, schools and so on it behooves me to pay for it.  I never skirt my taxes or try to cheat, it just isn’t worth it for me to feel dishonest.  Most Danes feel the same way although they love to complain about the taxes; at the same time they would rather pay their taxes than lose the things the taxes pay for.  In this regard I think it is worthwhile to read “The Almost Nearly Perfect People” by Michael Booth.  While much of what he writes annoys me because he is fairly derogatory about the Danes’ he does make some points that are relevant when it comes to taxes and the Danish and other Scandinavians’ attitude.

Something that irritates the heck out of me when discussing social programs is the phrase “whose going to pay for it?”  Well, you are of course but why do you have to ask when you already pay for so much crap in our system.  Why would you begrudge $100 or so for abortion when the alternative could be a child born in poverty and then you will pay how many thousands of dollars for 18 years of social services?  (Forget the pro-life stance, it will only irritate me more).

The 4 letter word is really something that the media creates via their corporate owners since they don’t want to pay their fair share of taxes.  If they did we would likely be able to fund free college educations, fund infrastructure in rural areas, keep schools and hospitals current and so much more.  But hey, why would we need these things in the 21^st century.  Let’s just fall further and behind European countries who actually know what they are doing.

Another re-think moment.

Political Anger Management

Two weeks ago Justin Trudeau threw 18,000 Sears employees under the bus when he made the statement that he would not be reconsidering the bankruptcy laws.  This relates to the fact that those at the front of the line, the bank get their payout, the executives get their multi-million dollar bonuses (and why would a bankrupt company give the executives bonuses for going bankrupt?) and then the employees will NOT get their pensions because the fund was “underfunded” – when the truth is the American owners have syphoned the funds into the States over the last few years.  Shameful, absolutely shameful.

This is by no means the first pension fund that has been so-called “underfunded”.  This has been going on for decades.  Why has nothing been done to correct this problem.  Neither the Conservatives nor the Liberals have made any effort to protect the ordinary Canadian.  We already have a crisis with respect to pensions in Canada; people who believe they have pensions are suddenly left with nothing but the CPP and Old Age – the cumulative total (at maximum) is approximately $1,500 with some folks qualifying for a Supplement that can bump up their monthly stipend to $1,800.  And we know how far that will go in a month.

Linking my outrage at Trudeau I am also extremely vexed concerning our Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s shenanigans.  It seems completely false to believe that he was “misdirected” by the Conflict of Interest Commissioner.  First of all he’s not exactly stupid, he’s been in politics for some time and must know the rules.  If he didn’t he has no business being a Minister of Finance.  Meanwhile the company that was not in the blind trust is also a pension management fund and then he goes and tries to push through a tax reform bill that alters the way pensions are managed?  Umm, who can believe that he was ignorant of all of this – something that benefits him?  Again, shameful that he isn’t suspended at the very least – but no he goes on his merry way.

Lastly the Paradise Papers have me so angry I can hardly type!  Three former Prime Minister have tax havens.  How shameful that these rogues will avoid paying taxes while the tax payers are paying their pensions!  How greedy are these people?  And many more in Trudeau’s circle are doing the same thing.  Beyond disgusting that this is allowed, this is actually legal.  Why?  Because we continue to vote in 1%’ers with some sort of deluded idea that they are going to protect ordinary Canadians? 

 

IT IS TIME FOR PEOPLE TO WAKE UP AND SMELL THE B.S. WE ARE FED BY MEDIA.  WE NEED TO BE OUR OWN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS AND LOOK AT THE HARD FACTS, THE PAST RECORD THAT ALLOWS CORPORATIONS AND RICH INDIVIDUALS TO AVOID TAXES.  CURRENTLY APPROXIMATELY 90% OF THE FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS ARE COMING IN FROM ORDINARY CANADIANS.  YES, ORDINARY CANADIAN LIKE YOU AND ME, OUR LITTLE LEGS ARE CARRYING THE COUNTRY AND WE KNOW WE DO NOT HAVE 90% OF THE WEALTH IN THIS COUNTRY (AND NOW WE KNOW FOR SURE OUT OF IT AS WEL).  ARE BACKS ARE BREAKING UNDER THIS BURDEN.

IT’S TIME FOR A NEW PARTY THAT IS DEDICATED TO THE PEOPLE.  IT’S TIME WE ALL TAKE A MORE SERIOUS LOOK AT THE NDP AGENDA, THEIR IDEAS, AND THEIR WILL TO HELP ORDINARY CANADIANS. 

I URGE EVERYONE TO DO A SERIOUS RE-THINK OF WHAT THEY WANT FOR THEIR FUTURE AS WELL AS THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.

Forget Politics - Remember History

I have wanted to steer clear of politics and negative blogging but I feel I must speak out about the recent turn of events in the United States.  I am talking about Trump’s banning of certain media from his White House briefings; The New York Times and other respectable media outlets are being banned because Trump perceives them to be against him.  He calls their reporting “fake news” among other things.

No matter what your political leaning may be or whether you are American, Canadian,  Western European or any other nationality,  I think you MUST see that not having Free Press is a terrible blow to Democracy.  This move of Trump's may only be the tip of the iceberg which this government is rolling out so it is vital for everyone to stand up and protest.  This is no time for anyone to poo poo about what is going on here.  This is no time to be lazy, oblivious, ignorant or “above it all”. 

Just reflect back on any of the books or films you may have seen with respect to what went on in Germany in the 1930’s.  Perhaps you may have heard stories from your parents or grandparents who lived in these times, even as I have.  This wasn’t pretend, these things really happened and the really alarming part about how the Nazis and Hitler came to power was that middle class Germans never dreamed that their society would take such a horrendous turn.  They thought they could get rid of Hitler and the Nazis, that it was just a momentary blip in the political stream.  Suddenly though Germans were afraid of THEMSELVES.  If you read no other book this year, read “Every Man Dies Alone” by Hans Fallalda.  If you can, then read “Countrymen” by Bo Lidegaard.

I know social media currently is an avenue to have your say but this too may be shut down.  Perhaps not a literal shutting down but if a person writes something and one or two days later uniformed men come to take you away . . . you see what I mean?  These things can happen, may even be happening now.  A better way to voice your concerns is to write or call your elected representatives.  All of them.  And when you vote be really sure that you know who you are voting for.  Don’t be fooled by those who tickle your ears.  Don’t go down the slippery slope of hate and fear. 

Make a stand for what is right.  We may not all believe in the same things but surely we all believe that vilifying people who are different from us is wrong.  And most of all surely we believe that killing is wrong.  Whether we are in Canada, the United States, Europe or elsewhere, right minded people must be strong and must speak up for democratic rights.  Free speech and freedom of the press are unalienable rights in the Western world.

Make a stand for what is right, please.

“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”  George Santayana

Blue Noise

It’s been a crazy month since the inauguration of President Trump.  All the tweets, the media responses to the tweets, the executive orders and more media furor over the decisions is difficult enough to wade through but then social media goes stark raving mad.  I understand I am not the only one who is experiencing a form of battle fatigue with all this nonsense.  Hence the blogging went quiet for a while in order for me to sort through all this “experience”.

Ultimately I have come to the conclusion that minimizing social media access would be a positive step and avoiding comments as much as possible would be ideal.  Unfortunately I am not the sort of person that can let too much stupidity go unnoticed but I am now practicing mental biting of tongue.  I must say that I enjoyed hearing Dawna Friesen of Global News speak out for journalists in the days just following the inauguration where she explained that journalists had never had to tread through this territory before.  I’ve already lost track of what incident it was that caused the furor but it doesn’t really matter.  There’s been fodder every single day since he took office.  Can anyone imagine 4 years of this?

Having discussed the Blue Noise as I am calling it I hope I can avoid going down this path again at least for the foreseeable future!