Canada’s War On Terror…

 

Let me begin by saying that Canada’s War on Terror is just, though in a couple of important matters, it is misguided.

And also, despite the gloom and doom of the Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum Opposition Parties – our contribution to the war is most modest to the point of almost insignificant.

But it nonetheless is an important symbol.

Where I see us going off the rails first relates to Parliament’s (PM Harper) decision to join the USA in the bombing of Syria.

I say that because what is going on in the Middle East has little to do with Religion – rather it is about power.  The two largest Muslim Sects – the Sunnis and the Shiites are fighting it out to see which becomes dominate.

Whichever one wins out – it will result in misery for both their followers and for innocent bystanders such as the Christians and Jews.

So here we find ourselves about to bomb positions in Syria where these two bad guy groups are battling it out.  In such circumstances, who do we bomb?  And given that whichever one wins out – we lose – what in hell do we hope to achieve by supporting one over the other?

My solution for Syria is very simple; let them battle it out among themselves and then we will deal with the victor.

That said, we do need to help the innocents caught up in this senseless Syrian Slaughter by getting them out to safety and if that entails some bombing to help rescue them - so be it.  

The other mistake our Government is making is in regard to its Terror Bill C51.  As I have said in earlier Blogs – this Bill is so broad that if passed into law, could conceivably catch the Raging Grannies in its web.

Simply stated, we who love Freedom do not have need for a Terrorist Laws that applies to the general public.  Full Stop.

But since 9/11 the West – especially the States has become a virtual police state with numerous anti terrorist organizations tripping over themselves in a bid to invade our common privacy.

We have the criminal code to fall back on when the grannies get out of hand.

That is not to say we in Canada do not need Terrorist Legislation – we do, but solely to apply to those who we currently find ourselves at war with – the Extreme Muslim Groups such as ISIS, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram, etc.

When at war the niceties of Rule of Law must be modified*:

• those caught in acts of terrorism need to be locked up – without trial, until the hostilities cease;
• the same for those caught planning or about to carry out such acts;
• and the same for those who give comfort to the enemy including those who speak or write in favour of their twisted cause.  

*those claiming innocence can have their cases heard behind closed doors by specially appointed Judges and Prosecutors.

I envisage the Terrorist Law being a blanket law containing the above provisions and applying to those groups and members and sympathizers who have declared was on us.  A schedule to the Act, would be kept updated containing the names of the Extreme Muslim Groups at issue.

Some will say my approach is too harsh – but it pales in comparison to the beheadings, burning, raping and the burying of babies alive.

We are at war and we should act accordingly.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

Never, Never Land …

 

I found it on our recent holiday on Anna Maria Island in Florida.

A place where children never grow up.

The children in question did physically age but thanks to retirement and their Shangri-La on the Florida Gulf Coast, many have returned to the those glorious days of their youth.

Pulling wagons along the icing sugar sands, that I would have given my eye teeth for when I was four, they seem oblivious to what grown-ups would think about them back north.

Riding trikes – again the envy of anyone’s youth – with carefree abandon as they leave snake like tracks across the early morning’s pristine beach.

They spend hours building sand castles for their grandchildren, while said grandchildren look on disinterestedly.  

Kites fly overhead attached to strings played out by their elderly masters.

It is preschool days redux.

Some of these reminted youth look so old that they appear to virtually defy medical science to the point where the Grim Reaper would most certainly pass them by for want of a challenge.

But their activities on Anna Maria belie their years.

And off the island as well.

One evening, Anne and I went to a dance at a local park thinking that the music would be from our era of the 50s and 60s or likely earlier.  To our surprise, songs of the 70s and 80s prevailed but the crowd was definitly our vintage and older.

And boy did they dance – crutches, walkers, canes and leg braces cast aside on the edge of the dance floor as the newly minted youth went wild.

It was a sight to behold.

Anne asked me to dance but I joked that the danger from flying false teeth was just too great.

She prevailed though and I was pushed, shoved and knocked around as if we were dancing to 70s acid rock – which to think back – we were.

Will we go back?

Most certainly; it certainly beats growing old with dignity … too boring.

As I saw it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

I almost felt sorry for the poor guy…

 

The guy in question is Jerry Dias, head of Ontario’s new and powerful Union …UNIFOR.

Poor Dias was on local radio bemoaning the fact that he is worried that General Motors might pull out of Ontario and taking with it some 30,000 good paying automotive jobs.

The thinking is that if this was to happen, the likely benefactor will be Mexico with its much cheaper labour force.

Mr. Dias did not sound at all angry but more despondent.  He also felt betrayed by GM for taking Ontario and Canadian Taxpayers’ dollars in the multi billion dollar bailout fallowing the financial collapse of 2008.

Is there no honour?

Well no Jerry there isn’t.  I have said time and time again that ‘Capitalism has no heart – it has no soul’ and will gravitate to where it can make the most money.

And in our case, this could very well be Mexico which already has a growing and robust car industry thanks mainly to a cheap labour supply.

I have for a long time now been an opponent of Corporate Welfare made first famous in the General Election of 1972 by NDP Leader David Lewis.  If I was not a fan of his position then – I certainly soon thereafter came on board.

First off, a welfare payment to one corporation is unfair to other businesses engaged in the same product lines.  Why should one corporate taxpayer be advantaged over another corporate taxpayer by their  same Government?  The answer is of course – they should not.

And second, the loyalty of the corporate welfare bum lasts just as long as it takes to pocket the Government’s cheque.

So why is the Unifor Chief so shocked.

After all, this is what it always comes down to.

This is not said to disparage Big Business – Capitalism, despite the thoughts of the loony left – is the best economic system going. 

Simply stated – despite all its flaws – it is the only system that works.

So let’s go back to 2008 and the Big Business Bailout for the Auto Guys – I was opposed to it – see reason’s First and Second above.

I also knew that what would really work is the following:

• Cheap Hydro Rates … like we used to have;
• An abundant well educated work force;
• Clean, abundant water;
• A safe and clean place in which to live;
• Rule of Law;
• Excellent infrastructure etc etc.

And now add, as we have, – a 20+ % discount on the dollar of our largest customer – the United States of America.

These items will beat handouts 10 times out of 10.  It is just too bad, thanks to the folks at Queen’s Park, that we have lost one of our greatest advantages – cheap hydro power.

As I see it…

’K.D. Galagher’