The West is livid with Scotland for releasing one of the Lockerbie bombers back to Libya for compassionate reasons. The felon is dying of cancer and apparently has less than 3 months to live.
From my perspective, Scotland did the right thing. Its actions exemplify how we differ from our enemies and may it ever be so - although the jury is out on this very issue.
The real losers here, in my estimation, are the Libyans given the way they celebrated their compatriot's return. It reminds of the old saying about the leopard and his spots. Libya has proven once again that it cannot be trusted despite its past feeble efforts to convince otherwise.
It also brings to mind Obama's position against torture which I support. If we act like our enemies then the only difference between us and them is in respect to degree.
Now on to Kenya.
Surprise, surprise the Canadian immigrant lady who was standed in Kenya for a few months is suing us - the Canadian taxpayer for 2.5 million dollars. It was Kenya after all that refused her passport.
It is reminiscent of the Arar case. There the USA sent him to Syria - his first country of citizenship where he is allegedly tortured, but it is the Canadian taxpayer he sues and reaps a $10.5 million lottery.
This despite (probably because) of the fact that Canada has the most generous immigration / refugee system in the world - which in itself costs us a bundle. Where does it end?
The messages here are that we, in the West, must retain our compassionate ways to distinguish ourselves from evil but we do not have to be patsies in so doing.
Enough said.
"Galagher"
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
It's About Independence...4 short stories
The basis of Libertarian thought is that the individual should be as free from government and societal interference as possible. In other words, as independent as possible.
The following 4 stories all touch on this theme:
Story 1. A few days ago, the Toronto - Ottawa Via Train caught fire near Richmond just a few miles outside of Ottawa. To be precise, the engine caught fire.
All the passengers were evacuated by the Via personnel without incident. And yet, you should have heard the clamour.
From some of the comments made, you would have thought these passengers went through a living hell. Rather than thank the Via crew for handling the situation so well, all they received were complaints.
I would have thought the incident would have given them something of interest to tell their grandchildren.
But the most bizarre aspect of this was a complaint that not all the directions to pax were given in French albeit it was acknowledged that most were and indeed most of Via staff are Francophone. So here we have an emergency with the staff acting as best they can and everyone gets disembarked safely and the issue of Official Languages gets raised. Can you believe it?
Well our Czar at the Official Languages Commission can and does and has announced that he will be launching an investigation. Makes you want to throw-up.
Bottomline here - the tendency for our citizens to blame others rather than thank their lucky stars that serious injury did not befall them.
Story 2. Today's edition of the National Post announces that a woman in Chicago is suing the local zoo because she slipped and fell due t0 water laying beside the Atlantic bottlenose dolphins aqarium. Imagine!! In her claim she alleges the zoo was negligent because they "recklessly and wilfully trained and encouraged the dolphins to throw water as the spectators..". Sounds pretty serious? In fact that is why spectators go to see the dolphins.
This is just another case where the blame is wrongly placed on others.
Story3. A little different and again in today's Post. The Greyhound Bus Line was fined $1,500 in British Columbia for "forcing passengers to ride for 16 hours in an unheated bus" with temperatures ranging between "-26 and -30 degrees". It does not say whether the passengers in this case sued Greyhound but I would certainly understand it if they did. Here they were trapped on board and deliberately abused. A modest suit would seem to be in order especially given the small fine levied against the bus company.
In this case 'the other party' (i.e. Greyhound) rightly deserves the criticism.
Story 4. This one incenses me the most. A young mother - 25, left her baby in the car a couple of days ago for a few minutes while she bought something in a drug store. Unfortunately it was during the recent heat wave and a passer-by noticed the baby and removed her from the car. The story came to light and all hell broke out. Call-in radio and the local papers were inundated with citizens calling for the young mother's head. Jail was too good for her - at a minimum she should lose her child to Child Welfare.
Child Welfare did investigate the case and quickly concluded the mother was a good mother who had made a bad mistake.
That should have been the end of it, but not so. Two very serious criminal charges have now been laid against her for failing to provide the necessaries of life to her infant daughter. I suspect these charges resulted more from the local society's hue and cry rather than from the incident itself.
I think if these righteous citizens examined themselves for a minute they would see that a little human kindness toward the mother would not be out of the order. We all make mistakes and it is always easier to point at others for their mistakes then it is to recognize our own.
It brings to my mind the words of Jesus - whomsoever is without sin, should cast the first stone.
Enough said.
"Galagher"
The following 4 stories all touch on this theme:
Story 1. A few days ago, the Toronto - Ottawa Via Train caught fire near Richmond just a few miles outside of Ottawa. To be precise, the engine caught fire.
All the passengers were evacuated by the Via personnel without incident. And yet, you should have heard the clamour.
From some of the comments made, you would have thought these passengers went through a living hell. Rather than thank the Via crew for handling the situation so well, all they received were complaints.
I would have thought the incident would have given them something of interest to tell their grandchildren.
But the most bizarre aspect of this was a complaint that not all the directions to pax were given in French albeit it was acknowledged that most were and indeed most of Via staff are Francophone. So here we have an emergency with the staff acting as best they can and everyone gets disembarked safely and the issue of Official Languages gets raised. Can you believe it?
Well our Czar at the Official Languages Commission can and does and has announced that he will be launching an investigation. Makes you want to throw-up.
Bottomline here - the tendency for our citizens to blame others rather than thank their lucky stars that serious injury did not befall them.
Story 2. Today's edition of the National Post announces that a woman in Chicago is suing the local zoo because she slipped and fell due t0 water laying beside the Atlantic bottlenose dolphins aqarium. Imagine!! In her claim she alleges the zoo was negligent because they "recklessly and wilfully trained and encouraged the dolphins to throw water as the spectators..". Sounds pretty serious? In fact that is why spectators go to see the dolphins.
This is just another case where the blame is wrongly placed on others.
Story3. A little different and again in today's Post. The Greyhound Bus Line was fined $1,500 in British Columbia for "forcing passengers to ride for 16 hours in an unheated bus" with temperatures ranging between "-26 and -30 degrees". It does not say whether the passengers in this case sued Greyhound but I would certainly understand it if they did. Here they were trapped on board and deliberately abused. A modest suit would seem to be in order especially given the small fine levied against the bus company.
In this case 'the other party' (i.e. Greyhound) rightly deserves the criticism.
Story 4. This one incenses me the most. A young mother - 25, left her baby in the car a couple of days ago for a few minutes while she bought something in a drug store. Unfortunately it was during the recent heat wave and a passer-by noticed the baby and removed her from the car. The story came to light and all hell broke out. Call-in radio and the local papers were inundated with citizens calling for the young mother's head. Jail was too good for her - at a minimum she should lose her child to Child Welfare.
Child Welfare did investigate the case and quickly concluded the mother was a good mother who had made a bad mistake.
That should have been the end of it, but not so. Two very serious criminal charges have now been laid against her for failing to provide the necessaries of life to her infant daughter. I suspect these charges resulted more from the local society's hue and cry rather than from the incident itself.
I think if these righteous citizens examined themselves for a minute they would see that a little human kindness toward the mother would not be out of the order. We all make mistakes and it is always easier to point at others for their mistakes then it is to recognize our own.
It brings to my mind the words of Jesus - whomsoever is without sin, should cast the first stone.
Enough said.
"Galagher"
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Greater Respect For Columnists
Something different.
In doing my little Blogs I have come to appreciate the work of Columnists who must write their pieces - often on a daily basis to severe time constraints.
But it is not that so much that earns my respect.
They bare their souls - so to speak, by telling the public what they believe and in doing so, open themselves up to criticism. They also can and do injure the feelings of some of those who do not concur with their writings. This must be a heavy toll for them to endure - especially over an extended period of time.
We though, the readers, are forever in their debt - regardless of what their positions may be, since their writings force us to think. The fact that we agree or disagree with them is not the issue.
For me it is much less an issue given my tiny following. But I do find myself second guessing myself often on what people may think of what I write and I struggle with that.
I will though perservere.
Now back to basics.
A friend sent me the following web address dealing with pizza purchasing in 2012. It can be accessed at: http://aclu.org/pizza/images/screen.swf
It's a good laugh but I suspect it is not too far off the mark.
From time to time I have had to go to the bank to arrange a loan - let's say for a new car. I am often surprised by what the bank knows about you - that you do not know or have even forgotten. "It says here that you have a line of credit with a competitor bank - is that true?" Now that you remind me - I guess it is - but I have never used it. Suspicious eyes glare over at you...
So I guess if the pizza purchase is an indicator it will only get worse.
I used to be and for that matter still am quite open when it comes to privacy on the basis of 'I really do not have anything to hide - so let it all hang out". But I am starting to rethink all of this and in that sense the pizza scenario is timely.
Enough said.
"Galagher"
p.s. did I tell you my new car is constantly tracked by satellite. If someone steals it, it can be demobilized and the police sent to aprehend the thiefs. In that sense, it can also be stopped and demobilized from above even if I was driving...K
In doing my little Blogs I have come to appreciate the work of Columnists who must write their pieces - often on a daily basis to severe time constraints.
But it is not that so much that earns my respect.
They bare their souls - so to speak, by telling the public what they believe and in doing so, open themselves up to criticism. They also can and do injure the feelings of some of those who do not concur with their writings. This must be a heavy toll for them to endure - especially over an extended period of time.
We though, the readers, are forever in their debt - regardless of what their positions may be, since their writings force us to think. The fact that we agree or disagree with them is not the issue.
For me it is much less an issue given my tiny following. But I do find myself second guessing myself often on what people may think of what I write and I struggle with that.
I will though perservere.
Now back to basics.
A friend sent me the following web address dealing with pizza purchasing in 2012. It can be accessed at: http://aclu.org/pizza/images/screen.swf
It's a good laugh but I suspect it is not too far off the mark.
From time to time I have had to go to the bank to arrange a loan - let's say for a new car. I am often surprised by what the bank knows about you - that you do not know or have even forgotten. "It says here that you have a line of credit with a competitor bank - is that true?" Now that you remind me - I guess it is - but I have never used it. Suspicious eyes glare over at you...
So I guess if the pizza purchase is an indicator it will only get worse.
I used to be and for that matter still am quite open when it comes to privacy on the basis of 'I really do not have anything to hide - so let it all hang out". But I am starting to rethink all of this and in that sense the pizza scenario is timely.
Enough said.
"Galagher"
p.s. did I tell you my new car is constantly tracked by satellite. If someone steals it, it can be demobilized and the police sent to aprehend the thiefs. In that sense, it can also be stopped and demobilized from above even if I was driving...K
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Post Script to Shareholders Can Also Vote
On August 7, 2009, a day infamous because of Hiroshima, I wrote the above-noted Blog.
A week later there appeared an article in the National Post which agreed with me in that there needs to be a way found to keep the Board of Directors and the Officers of Companies at arms length.
The Post article suggested that Boards of Directors be filled by "professional board members" and I like their idea. I had suggested that officers should not be allowed to own shares in the company and that they should not take part in the Board nomination process. However, anything that will result in an arms length approach I support. Without such, the public is doomed to further abuses of corporate power.
I feel somewhat comforted by this article and hence this post script.
But it also provides an opportunity to reiterate that the Free Market did not let the world down in regard to the recent financial collapse; rather it was the greed and lack of values possessed by those in a position of trust - (read the Madoffs of this world).
We were also let down by the lack of government oversight which should have ensured a level and honest playing field to protect investors / shareholders and beyond that the general public many of whom are now unemployed.
Capitalism has no soul nor feelings, it simply provides a cold and calculating way of doing business. Competition is encouraged and the best survive. And that is the way it should be.
The GMs and Nortels failed on their own and should not be propped up by government. Bombardier falls into that category as well.
The recent announcement, by the Liberal Government of Ontario, to subsidize GM's Chevy Volt to the tune of $10,000 per vehicle is a case in point. Where is the fairness in this, to Ford, Toyota and the others all of which have factories in our country and pay the same taxes and so do their workers. It distorts the process and in the end, results in inferior products being developed by the subsidized company since they are no longer subject to free market constraints. It brought down communism and will bring down GM (again) if this favoured approached continues.
Government has an important role to play in capitalism. It sets the rules for all. For instance, if emission standards are imposed, all manufacturers should be subject to those standards and the free market system will ensure that thsoe standards are met in the most cost effective manner. The public then will decide on best quality.
Those that suggest Capitalism has taken it on the chin are sorely mistaken. It has worked well for us and will continue to do so, if allowed.
More on this later...
"Galagher"
A week later there appeared an article in the National Post which agreed with me in that there needs to be a way found to keep the Board of Directors and the Officers of Companies at arms length.
The Post article suggested that Boards of Directors be filled by "professional board members" and I like their idea. I had suggested that officers should not be allowed to own shares in the company and that they should not take part in the Board nomination process. However, anything that will result in an arms length approach I support. Without such, the public is doomed to further abuses of corporate power.
I feel somewhat comforted by this article and hence this post script.
But it also provides an opportunity to reiterate that the Free Market did not let the world down in regard to the recent financial collapse; rather it was the greed and lack of values possessed by those in a position of trust - (read the Madoffs of this world).
We were also let down by the lack of government oversight which should have ensured a level and honest playing field to protect investors / shareholders and beyond that the general public many of whom are now unemployed.
Capitalism has no soul nor feelings, it simply provides a cold and calculating way of doing business. Competition is encouraged and the best survive. And that is the way it should be.
The GMs and Nortels failed on their own and should not be propped up by government. Bombardier falls into that category as well.
The recent announcement, by the Liberal Government of Ontario, to subsidize GM's Chevy Volt to the tune of $10,000 per vehicle is a case in point. Where is the fairness in this, to Ford, Toyota and the others all of which have factories in our country and pay the same taxes and so do their workers. It distorts the process and in the end, results in inferior products being developed by the subsidized company since they are no longer subject to free market constraints. It brought down communism and will bring down GM (again) if this favoured approached continues.
Government has an important role to play in capitalism. It sets the rules for all. For instance, if emission standards are imposed, all manufacturers should be subject to those standards and the free market system will ensure that thsoe standards are met in the most cost effective manner. The public then will decide on best quality.
Those that suggest Capitalism has taken it on the chin are sorely mistaken. It has worked well for us and will continue to do so, if allowed.
More on this later...
"Galagher"
O'Bama Health Care: Both Sides Are Right
Both sides are also wrong.
Let's deal with where both sides are right - maybe I should be saying 'correct'.
O'Bama / left wing America is correct that too many Americans either lack health care entirely or are under-provided for. For humanity purposes, this simply cannot continue. Everyone is entitled to basic health care.
The Republicans / right wing America is correct that the O'Bama plan is too expensive for America to implement. According to my research, we here in Canada pay 40% of all government revenue (read taxes) toward health care provision and that figure grows each year way beyond the rate of inflation / consumer price index. I also have checked and found that American's concurrently spend about 40% of government revenue on their military.
If they were to move to a Canadian style health care as O'Bama is proposing they would have 80% of their budget dedicated to just heath care and military spending. This can only be addressed in one or two ways or a combination of both: increase in the debt or massive income tax increase.
Now here's where they are both wrong.
First off each side calls the other "fascists / Nazis" when neither side is. Both have their legitimate concerns that need to be respected.
O'Bama's approach is wrong in that it dramatically increases the size of Government and looks to Government to run the new and enhance health care system while you and I know that Government cannot run a first aid station. It replaces private care with public care and as such removes the free market affect of providing timely, efficient and cost-effective care.
The Republican approach is also wrong in that it continues to deny coverage to millions of their fellow Americans. This simply cannot be allowed to continue.
Here's where the Humane Libertarian comes in:
Let's deal with where both sides are right - maybe I should be saying 'correct'.
O'Bama / left wing America is correct that too many Americans either lack health care entirely or are under-provided for. For humanity purposes, this simply cannot continue. Everyone is entitled to basic health care.
The Republicans / right wing America is correct that the O'Bama plan is too expensive for America to implement. According to my research, we here in Canada pay 40% of all government revenue (read taxes) toward health care provision and that figure grows each year way beyond the rate of inflation / consumer price index. I also have checked and found that American's concurrently spend about 40% of government revenue on their military.
If they were to move to a Canadian style health care as O'Bama is proposing they would have 80% of their budget dedicated to just heath care and military spending. This can only be addressed in one or two ways or a combination of both: increase in the debt or massive income tax increase.
Now here's where they are both wrong.
First off each side calls the other "fascists / Nazis" when neither side is. Both have their legitimate concerns that need to be respected.
O'Bama's approach is wrong in that it dramatically increases the size of Government and looks to Government to run the new and enhance health care system while you and I know that Government cannot run a first aid station. It replaces private care with public care and as such removes the free market affect of providing timely, efficient and cost-effective care.
The Republican approach is also wrong in that it continues to deny coverage to millions of their fellow Americans. This simply cannot be allowed to continue.
Here's where the Humane Libertarian comes in:
- Focus on those who lack or have insufficient health coverage (have-nots). Leave the remainder, the vast majority, who are satisfied with their coverage, to continue to obtain it through private sector sources.
- Offer the 'have-nots' a modest core coverage that will not break the bank and that will be provided, wherever possible, via the private sector.
This leaves the private sector approach in tacked - as it should be, while providing care to those who are currently in need (i.e. the humane approach).
To pay for it, cut out redundant programs and increase taxes only as a last resort.
Also, modestly reduce spending on the military. It is obscene that 40% plus of America's budget is consumed in this way. It is also obscene that the free world sits back and let's America do all the heavy lifting (pay the bills with loss of life and expenditure of monies).
More on this later...
"Galagher"
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