A Double Entendre…

 

Idle No More …of course.

Before I get to predicting events for 2013, I cannot resist working in this one Blog about what is going on re our Natives – as per above, and in particular, the current hunger strike by Theresa Spence.

Spence:

– the Chief of Northern Ontario’s Attawapiskat First Nations.

- the one whose common law husband Manages the Reserve.

- the one who refused to open the Reserve’s Books to show how nearly $100 million had been spent over the last five (5) years.

- the one who refused a Government of Canada Manager / Auditor admission to the Reserve to get a handle on the apparent mismanagement.

Each year, the Feds ($18 m) and the Province of Ontario ($4.5 million) give approx. $22.5 million to Chief Spence to run her reserve.

That is roughly $16,500 per every man, woman and child.  That’s $66,000 per family of four (4).

Where does that money go? 

Who knows.

The Band also receives substantial revenues from mining interests in the area.

Where does that money go?

Who knows.

So here we have a secretive Chief and her bosom buddy Common Law Band Manager, overseeing millions and millions of dollars yearly, without being accountable to the Feds, to the Province, to the Canadian Taxpayer and not least, to her own poverty stricken band members.

You have to feel sorry for dear Chief Spence.

And, after not allowing Federal Management in to manage the disaster known as Attawapiskat, Chief Spence has the nerve to Blackmail Prime Minister Harper by going on a hunger strike to force a meeting with him.

Now That’s Chutzpah.

If I was the Prime Minister I would most certainly not meet with the dear woman.

She has offered in his stead, to meet with the Governor General and if the Gov Gen was so disposed, I would allow for that.  His is but a ceremonial role most of the time anyway.

The Gov Gen could spend a little time with the Chief passing the pipe and, if nothing else, it would make for a nice photo op.

Moreover from my perspective, Chief Spence is most unlikely to carry this hunger strike to the bitter end.  Simply stated, unlike her subjects up north, she has too much to lose.  She and her common law husband are living like royalty and she is not likely to give that life style up so cavalierly.

So there is Harper’s out, send in the Governor General.

Canada is in for a very difficult time with the activists natives and we need to send a strong message that their disruptive and often illegal antics will no longer be tolerated.

In that regard, we might just as well lbegin with Chief Spence … close down her Reserve and provide her members with some hope at last. 

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

 

  

 

It Is Time For Me To Eat…

 

Humble Pie…

To be more precise…my predictions for 2012.

To sum it up…I stunk the place out.

Last year, I broke my predictions down into five (5) separate headings beginning with what I consider to be my forte – ‘Politics’.

In that regard, I was 10 for 10 – all wrong – each and everyone.

I will summarize the section;

• The Republicans would beat Obama hands down in the November Presidential Election;
• Putin and David Cameron would be forced out of office;
• Bob Rae would become the permanent Liberal Leader, the Wild Rose would win in Alberta and Mulcair would fail in his bid to lead the NDP.
• North Korea would become more friendly and Pakistan would be taken over by its military.

Wrong, Wrong, Wrong !!

What can I say, …I will try harder (safer) for 2013.

I did a little better in the other four categories which I personally consider to be of lesser importance – not in their substance, but in ease of predicting.

Category 2 (Government) … I was 2 out of 3.

• governments of the West (Europe) will continue to slash their spending, even here in Canada.  It would not happen in the United States given it was an Election Year.

Not bad – all in all.

Category 3 (Civil Discourse)…again I rated 2 out of 3.

• riots to continue throughout Europe with some in Canada (e.g. the teachers protest);
• muted riots in the US – (which did not come about in any size).

Category 4 (Economy) …6 out of 7.

• Canada’s economy would continue to outpace the G-7 and our dollar would end higher than its US counterpart;
• Interest rates would stand pat, gold would continue to outperform;
• China’s role would diminish somewhat;
• The West was on the verge of financial collapse but would muddle through one more year;
• Where I was wrong was with respect to Oil continuing to cost over $100 per barrel.  It did not – rather it traded in the $85 to $90 range.

Category 5 (Foreign Affairs) …1 out of 2

• The Islamists will entrench themselves in power in the middle east and the Arab Spring would turn to the Arab Winter;
• Where I was wrong is that I predicted Iran “would meet its comeuppance” in 2012.  It did not.  2013?

So not too bad in categories 2 to 5 but that did not make up for my totalling blowing category 1.

Mark me a D.

My next Blog will include my predictions for 2013 and then I will get back to writing my book for which I have been procrastinating.

First let me do a bit of a dry run:

• those of us who survive to the end of 2013 will all have birthdays in the coming year;
• the liberal party of ontario will elect a new leader;
• Stephen Harper will continue to get bad press;
• Mike Harris will no longer be blamed for the ills of Ontario;
• George Bush will no longer be blamed for the ills of America.

As you can see, My Resolution for 2013, is to get 10 for 10 under the Politics Heading next year.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’ 

 

A Report ….

 

On the four (4) Politicians who most affect us here in our Nation’s Capital – Ottawa.

I will deal with the first two (2) together – first:

• The head occupants of the White House and Queen’s Park, whom I name, Hock and Spit.

Enough said.

The next is our City’s Mayor – Jim Watson.

• Although he is a Liberal, I have slowly become one of his fan’s – he has restored dignity to the Mayor’s Office and, not only that, he has been able to get worthwhile things done.  If he keeps this up, I can see myself voting for him in the next municipal election.  High Praise.

And finally, our Prime Minister, Stephen Harper.

• Simply stated, Mr. Harper is the best Prime Minister I can recall in my lifetime and that dates back to the 1950s and to Louis St. Laurent.
• I am once again proud to be a Canadian.
• That is not to say he would be my first choice to have a beer with – indeed, between he and the the two opposition leaders, I would probably rate Harper last in that category.
• But the guy is a thinker and a doer, he gets things done; in addition, he is not a crook but is a good family man. 
• We are fortunate to have him in office and when he is gone, he will be missed, even by many who now are quick to disparage him.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

 

Don’t Worry … Be Happy

 

According to the United Nations’ World Happiness Report for 2012 the following nations placed in the top eleven:

1.  Denmark; 2. Finland; 3. Norway; 4. The Netherlands; 5. Canada; 6. Switzerland; 7. Sweden; 8. New Zealand; 9. Australia; 10. Ireland, and 11. USA.

Togo finished dead last.

With all the criticism surrounding the UN, maybe with this, it is on to something.

We in the West tend to focus on the annual GDP Rate – the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.  Two Quarters of negative GDP Growth signifies Recession; Three Quarters, a Depression.

Maybe – just maybe, we have been looking at the wrong indicator.

To me, what really matters in one’s life is whether you have your fair share of Happiness.

Your Goal should probably be to sustain happiness in the ups and downs of the GDP;  that is what I believe to be really important. 

But many appear to have lost their way. They tend  to be after The Big Car, The Big House, the Big Job …the Big (insert whatever you will).  While what is really important in life is Not Things but rather, Family, Friends and Health.

Many articles in the media of late, point to the 1950s and 60s as the time when this trend started to take root.  In particular, Women started to leave the home and join the workforce. Families found that financial success required both parents to work and the family unit began to unravel. In the decades since then, this trend has only increased.

And along with that, each successive generation is working harder and longer than the one before it. Workers in the private sector often now work 10 or more hours per day and added to that are atrocious commuting times.  Their children are the hidden casualties of this growing trend.

Workers themselves are burning out – depression and anxiety are running rampant.

As mentioned in earlier Blogs, faced with this, a very large segment of Society has opted out of today’s workforce. They would rather try to survive on subsistence welfare than participate in today’s economy. 

It was not that many years ago when talk of a ‘3 day work week’ made the rounds.  Now people are lucky to hold it to 6 days per week.  And retirement is being put off – often indefinitely.

We as a Society need to take control of this and the UN’s Happiness Index is probably as good a place to start as any.

If we were to give up Things and focused on what is truly of importance – we would all need less – considerably less.  No one should be expected to work longer than 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week and retirement should come no longer than after 30 years of work.  Indeed, I can envisage the  3 day work week plan and retirement 55 being ‘dusted off’ and eventually implemented.

That is not to say any of this would be mandatory – if people want to work longer – that of course would be their privilege to do so – and hopefully they would find their own happiness in so doing.

But the norm would be as I have noted above.

It would include a return to more families having a stay at home parent and indeed this is happening much more than one would think.  People are more and more prepared to give up Things – for other people and along the way – they themselves greatly benefit.  For instance, a greater number of parents are educating their children at home.

And given the equality of the sexes this thankfully means that the stay at home parent can be either the father or the mother without any stigma attached.

“Galagher, have you gone Communist on us?”

Not in the least – I will always believe that Capitalism is the best economic system available and I am confident that it will continue to function quite well within these parameters.

The GDP numbers may not be so awesome but I would leave that to the economists to worry about. Let them suffer anxiety if they wish.

I grant that this Blog may seem to you a little unusual given that it is Christmas Day 2012 but dear reader, the fact that it is Christmas sparked me to write it.

2000 years ago a baby was born to us in a manger with hay for a bed.  He came in to nothing and he went out with nothing and yet throughout his young life here on earth he focused and made us focus on what was and continues to be of true importance.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’