The F35s…One More Time…

 

And most likely, not for the last time.

Most Everyone, appears to be up in arms about the Tory Government’s handling of the F35 purchase; even though no purchase has been made – just a proposal to purchase and one that is now in the process of being withdrawn by the same Tory Government most everyone is complaining about.

So where is the Beef?

You have got me?

Had it been a Liberal Government, a deal would have long ago been signed, sealed and delivered and some conglomerate based in la Belle Province would already have pocketed the money. 

But that is so yesterday.

Now the denizens bitch about what might have been – but wasn’t.

To all of them I say – “get a life’.

But I digress.

The issue here is not What the Tories did – since they did not do all that much.

Rather, the issue is Why our military chose this particular plane in the first place.

And simply stated, they did not choose it either.  Rather NATO did in which admittedly our Military plays a role – albeit a minor one.

So Why did NATO pick the F35? 

Readers – I have no idea whatsoever – all I know is that it did.  And that is good enough for me.

As an side, had the United Nations recommended the purchase, I would have been opposed for that reason alone.

With Tensions on the rise throughout the world and with China beginning to flex its enormous muscles – we in the Western World need a vibrant, fully functioning NATO for the next 100 years and more.  Sadly, to date, it has acted as such in the exception rather than in the norm.

Instead, we have relied upon the United States and before that – Great Britain for our collective defence. But as I have consistently pointed out in previous Blogs, the United States of America is now broke.

Sooner – rather than later, America is going to have to seriously reduce its military spending.  It simply cannot continue to fund its out of control debt/deficit, its expanded Health Care, the needs of a growing elderly population, and its 1 in 3 who are content to live on Welfare while continuing to spend nearly 50% of its budget on Defence.

The Western World via NATO will have to pick up the slack, despite the financial challenges that many of its Members Nations also face.  It must come down to collective pain if we have any hope of preserving our way of life.

It is then simply nonsense for the Government’s critics to call for Tendering the jet purchase process.

It would be like you or I wishing to buy a car X which the Consumers’ Report cites as the best deal on the market.  But in comes your neighbour, who demands that you tender out your purchase. Heaven knows what you would end up with.

That said, there is still a vital role for Western Governments to take into account their own unique situation and needs.  In Canada’s case, I would argue that with such an extensive coastline, we should focus on Ships and Subs.  And when it comes to NATO, we could offer to take a leading role in this important aspect of NATO Defence.

Again, if our Military believes a Ship or Sub is available which will meet their needs and can be purchased ‘off the shelf’  - then that is what should be done.  Not only will it also be cheaper than building our own, it will be available far faster. 

Plus I would rather put my faith in our Military deciding what best suits its needs, than a government procurer.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

Suffer The Little Children …

 

Words are insufficient to describe one’s feelings surrounding yesterday’s massacre of little children at the Sandy Hill Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut, so I won’t even attempt to do so.

I cannot though stop thinking of the terror those little folks felt during their slaughter.

What I want to focus on this morning is the message the President gave which I found to be very moving:

• “Our hearts are broken today”, he said with tears in his eyes and then went on to say, “the majority of those who died were children – beautiful little kids between the ages of five and 10 years old”.
• In regard to America’s corrosive gun culture, he called for “meaningful action” to prevent such shootings from occurring in the future; and regarding the young victims, he had this to say,  
• “They had their entire lives ahead of them – birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own”.

Profound words all.

Regarding his pledge to “take meaningful action” against their corrosive gun culture, I wish him luck but doubt that too much of significance can be done given that the ‘right to bear arms’ is protected in their Constitution. A constitution that was written well over 200 years ago with things changing a little bit since then.

But that said, the time has long past when the average citizen needs to be ‘packing’. Guns should only be available to farmers and to legitimate hunters – i.e.  those who have taken gun possession courses, and hunter safety courses, and have a valid annual hunting licence.  And only then as it relates to hunting rifles and not to handguns nor automatic weapons on any kind.

If any good can come out of this terrible event, serious gun control would be it and I wish the President success on this.

I take a somewhat different view on his statement about what these tiny victims losing out on – birthdays, weddings and the like. Not because I take exception to his statement – not at all – it is a very moving commentary and all of it too true.  But it causes me to focus on the millions of Americans each year that are subject to this self same statement – that is to say, those poor souls who are needlessly aborted for convenience purposes.  Why does the President fail to speak for them as well?

I can tell you why – he is a big proponent of unrestricted abortion.

Yesterday some 20 young children died needlessly at the hands of a pistol carrying madman.  They are truly deserving of our thoughts, prayers and tears.

But so are the countless numbers of healthy aborted babies around the world who also will not be around to celebrate their “birthdays, graduations, weddings, (or) have kids of their own”. 

It is all a great tragedy and one that each of us must live with until the youngest and most defenseless are save to survive.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

The Sky Is Falling ...

So sayeth Chicken Little ?

No, So sayeth the 8 year occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

And, as was the case with C.L., his scare tactics come down to a lot of clucking and no substance.

Why so Galagher?

America is well on its way to a $17 Trillion Dollar Debt or some 100% of its annual GDP.  Moreover, its annual deficit - since the time the Democrats took over the White House, has totalled in the Trillions and continues to rise.  With the advent of their new Health Care in a matter of weeks - these numbers can be expected to climb exponentially.

So what does America need to do and fast - that's right, 'raise taxes and dramatically reduce spending'.

So what does the Fiscal Cliff do - you got it - it 'raises taxes and dramatically reduces spending'.

So what are we missing?  Not a thing - the sooner America falls off that cliff, the better.

Even the Republicans - had they won the recent Presidential Election - were in for a big surprise.  They kept saying they were opposed to more taxes but continually failed to acknowledge the deep hole the US has dug itself into and that cuts alone will not be enough.  Higher taxes are needed in concert with those cuts.

The Dems fearless leader wants tax increases - but just on the rich.  Makes a great sell given that the vast majority of Americans - 95+ % do not find themselves in that exclusive category.  But it won't work - there are not enough rich to make much of a difference.  Plus, that small percentage - the rich - create wealth through the creation of jobs.  Do you seriously think they will hang around and let themselves be the only ones taxed  higher?  In that regard, keep an eye on France where a 75% income tax has been imposed.  Great for Germany and the UK. 

Even the Clff and falling over of same, will not be nearly enough to reverse their debt / deficit buildup:  estimates put the savings from doing so at a mere half Trillion Dollars.  The new costs associated with the Health Care implementation of 2013 itself will exceed those savings.

So what does America need - it needs a few more Cliffs to fall off.

The only reason America has not already been deemed a basket case by the world's investors is the fact that many of those same investors are using the States as a refuge from even greater financial troubles in the EU.  The day is quickly coming when even they will see America for what it is - a sinking life raft.

For now, America's only hope, in the short term, is to take the plunge from the Cliff.

Just don't bet on it happening though, since both the Donkey and the Elephant continue to live in a world of their own - in the Zoo.


As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'