Are There No Prisons … No Workhouses …

 

Just Call Me Scrooge

My wife and I just returned from grocery shopping and we had to negotiate the usual line-up of ‘good causes’ vying for our charitable dollars.

Tables at the entrance – cashiers with their hands out for this, that, or other donation and even charity packers for their pet organization.

Last eve the same when I went for some dinner wine – the cashier asks in front of a cast of thousands for money for the local hospital.  I grit my teeth and say no thank you. (this after running the gauntlet of beggars lined up at the entrance and exit of the store).

I am tired of it –plain and simple.

Last week’s big fundraiser at Loblaws was for the Food Bank and we gave generously to that despite my belief that food banks in general are demeaning.  There pitch is that “no one’s plate should be empty at Christmas”.

So what are we to take from that – empty the rest of the year is A-OK?

The first chain store that outlaws begging within its 4 walls can count on me to patronize their store.

I view food – like water and air to be a human right and as such should not depend on charity.  The States use food stamps and I think we should go that type of route.

Here in Ottawa recent studies show that there are some 35 separate organizations tending to the needs of the homeless.  It all seems like just a way to generate employment; the homeless must be outnumbered 3 to 1 .. perhaps more.  

A major story appears in today’s National Post saying there are some 86,000 + Charities in Canada alone and that too many consume most of their charitable income in overhead and fundraising.  In other words – their real motivation if not a scam is to line the pockets of a select few.

According to Revenue Canada statistics my wife and I donate much more than most – we give to our church and through a branch of the church support needy children overseas where real poverty exists.

When there is trouble overseas we give to Red Cross, when crisis at home – to the Salvation Army and for good causes in our local city – to the United Way.

So here is what I suggest, we all band together and when those numerous hands reach out  (unless it is one you know and want to support) – just say “we give to the Red Cross, to the Salvation Army and to United Way ...thank you very much’'.

As I see it…

‘K. D. Galagher’

 

Michaelle and the Francophonie…

 

Last week we learned that our former Gov Gen’l, Michaelle Jean, has been appointed the Secretary General of La Francophonie – a most aptly named organization given its infestation with crooked, human rights abusing leaders of state.

In fairness, the Commonwealth has its share of these bozos but not to the same extent.

From its Web Site, the following:

The International Organisation of La Francophonie was created in 1970. Its mission is to embody the active solidarity between its 77 member states and governments (57 members and 20 observers), which together represent over one-third of the United Nations’ member states and account for a population of over 890 million people, including 220 million French speakers.

Canada supplies three (3) of those 77 member states.

How so, you might well ask? Well there is Canada of course as well as the States Quebec and New Brunswick.  Will Ontario - with its 4% Francophone population - be next?

(When I wrote the above about Ontario - it was more tongue in check,  but minutes later I discovered the following in my additional research on this august body: As of 2004, a government representative from Ontario also attends as part of the Canadian delegation, although Ontario is not yet a participating government in its own right).

How much does Canada pay to support La Francophonie?

Good question – I searched and searched and could not find the answer to this most reasonable question.  All I could find is that in 2013 Canada paid out more than $1 Billion Dollars to a number of La Francophonies’ Member States.

As a guess – I’d bet that next to the Mother Country itself -France, Canada is the Organization’s major benefactor and would not be that surprised to learn that we pay in even more than does France.

Enough said here other than it appears that Jean and the Francophonie make a good match.

By now you have probably guessed that I am somewhat biased against the newly minted Secretary General.  This dates back to her appointment as Governor General when I believed her to be sorely lacking in qualification. To add insult to injury you may recall at that time that there was much speculation that our newest GG was also a separatist like her husband.

But in fairness to the dear woman – this was not entirely her fault but rather that of her benefactor – the Rt. Hon. Paul Marin.  Are you listening sir?

But she secured a subsequent appointment which I  supported;  her June 2010 designation as the UN’s special envoy to Haiti.  Here is what Ms. Jean had to say then:

“ The Time has come for a change of paradigm in Haiti. We have to break away from the logic of assistance, dependency and quasi-trusteeship which has made Haiti a laboratory of all experiences, trials and errors and deficient strategies that have never produced anything that endures.”

I take it that with her latest gig – she must believe she has helped in changing the old paradigm to something new and more sustaining?

And let’s not forget her November 2011 appointment as Chancellor for Ottawa University. 

Does it seem to you as it does to me that once these types get in the public trough it is virtually impossible to get them out?

But my real displeasure in this is in regard to Haita since as mentioned – that was one appointment where I thought Madame Jean might in fact do some good – her being an immigrant from the poor country and now well connected throughout Canada and indeed the world.

So if she thinks her work there is done – as she must since I cannot otherwise fathom how she could move on from that important role – here is what the experts have to say:

NPR New from earlier this year – 4 years after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haita destroying its capital Port au Prince and killing more that 200,000, Haiti looks much the same today as it did then – Nearly 150,000 still live in temporary plastic and plywood structures.

So if Madame Jean thinks her work there is done – she is sorely mistaken.

And where did all the money go that poured into Haiti in those fearful days after the quake.

I am not suggesting Jean has anything to do with that issue since I believe her to be honest if not somewhat naive but I think she could have done a better job and could still if she would just focus on the most important job at hand.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’ 

 

HARPER IS MIA …

 

When it comes to dealing with the West’s Oil.

Andrew Coyne writes a great column in today’s National Post – indeed most of his columns are great – about the Feds being Missing in Action when it comes to the Oil Debate and more particularly the establishment of pipelines to take that oil safely and speedily to both internal and external markets.

Sadly his dithering may have been an even more costly mistake given the recent collapse in the price per barrel.

Everyone is in the fight – the loudest are those opposed – the environmentalists both here in Canada and the United States – oil producing nations such as Saudi Arabia and of course many of our provinces including our two largest Ontario and Quebec – both of whom are have-nots as in $.

It has been said many times but is worth repeating here that Canada’s transfer payments to our 7 have-not and 3 Territories comes from oil money generated primarily in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

So these dear have-nots would rather cut of their collective noses to spite their faces than support the hands that feed them.  No more clichés - I promise.

The recent collapse of in oil prices is also now putting in jeopardy Canada’s next year’s anticipated budget surplus.

Harper has only himself to blame for this.

He and his Government has stood by while everyone else has entered the ‘oil pipeline’ fray.

And dear reader – it is his and only his Government that has the power to deal with this most important issue.

More recently the only thing Canada has had in its favour economically is its resources – primarily its oil and natural gas.  More recently our collapsing dollar has given a much needed lift to the ailing manufacturing sector.

And yet thanks to the Government – this advantage has been squandered.

Why so?

I think Harper and company are afraid of a left wing backlash if he / they were to get dirty so to speak and get directly involved.

But you what – that is what leadership is all about.

And I would be if he had got directly involved – the majority of Canadians would have backed him to the hilt.  Leftist Activists can wallow unemployed in the dark but the most of us – good jobs and warm houses trumps all.

All this said- it is still not too late for Harper to get off his rump and do what is right. Even if it involves invoking the War Measures Act to get those pipelines through and even if it entails posting soldiers along every inch of those lines to protect them from terrorists.

If I was Harper here is what I would do:

I’d go on national television to say to the Canadian People that the time has come to put through our pipelines from Coast to Coast to Coast and to the US Border.

I would mention all of the studies including the McKenzie Pipeline Study that expended decades to no avail.

I would also mention the millions of foreign money coming into Canada to fund the opponents.

I tell Canadians that we are most fortunate to have been able to help the less fortunate areas of Confederation in the past – but that with so many of our Provinces in have-not status and with falling oil revenue the day is quickly coming when these transfers will have to be seriously cut of disbanded with entirely.

I would end the program by saying our very economic survival as a nation is at stake and that accordingly our Government is going to use every ounce of its strength to see that our oil gets to market.

Harper would be guaranteed a majority government in the following election.

But even if he did not – it would be the right thing for him to do as leader and more importantly – the right thing to do for our country.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

  

Where Have All The Tories Gone …

 

Long time passing?

At the federal level Harper is by far the best of the lot but even he and his cohorts cast a shade of pink.

He put the country in great debt and then on the cusp of a surplus – spends every nickel.

Could not some of it gone to reduce the outrageous debt – $600+ billion?

And then the godfather of Reform – none other than the revered Presto Manning has come out for cap and trade.

He who upon election was not going to live at Stornaway, was not going to have a car and driver, was going to renounce the rich MP Pensions etc etc etc until he quickly decided to do otherwise.

And his co pig at the trough – the first Reform MP – Debra Gray too renounced the MP pension – up to the point when she retired - at which time dear debbie pounced on it like red meat.

And now we find ourselves in a Tory Leadership race in Ontario.

The main contender – Christine Elliott leans way to the left.  The only two who may have real Tory credentials are Monte McNaughton and Patrick Brown but it remains to be seen just how deep those credentials go.

You may well say Galagher – you are cutting off your nose to spite your face given that 2/3 rds of Canadians see themselves as left of centre – and you may well be right but for me that is not the issue.

Rather the issue comes down to the fact that Canada is broke – Ontario is broke as are the majority of the other provinces and yet our governments continue to grow and suck more and more money from the private sector where it could be used to create real jobs and real economic growth.

We don’t need more pink and red – rather we need leadership that points out the best government is the least government – one that pays its way and leaves the taxpayer with more of his or her own money.  Today figures indicate that the average taxpayers are paying 50% of their income in various taxes.

No wonder more and more people are opting out of the workforce and living off the avails of others who are more ambitious.

And without someone representing the right side the voter will continue to think that Big Is Better and that the Gravy Train Will Run Forever.

As I have said in other blogs – there are worse things than losing and one of those things is winning without principle.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

 

Another Judge … Another New Law

 

As in an 11 year old native girl now has the legal right to refuse white man’s medicine which would in all probability cure her.

Can you just imagine if the reverse was true – what if an 11 old native girl was denied white man’s medicine which would in all likelihood cure her. 

There would be hell to pay.

But here we have a Judge deciding the Charter of Rights can be interpreted to give the little girl and her parents the right to sign her death certificate and this is just what the medical experts say will happen if she does not receive timely chemo therapy.

The only good that will come out of this is that finally a Judge will have to live publicly with his boneheaded decision.

Not that this good in any way compensates for the girl’s loss of life.  It won’t.

But it will look good on a Judge having to live his life knowing that a decision of his – where he made new law through interpretation –as is their want – has snuffed out a young life.

We have laws on the books now that compel parents and those in parental authority to provide children with the necessities of life. This should be the test applied here and the fact that it is not, is simply a tragedy.

At 11, the girl is far too young to even have a say in this.  If we were dealing with an adult – it would be entirely different – an adult can make such decisions for themselves.

So dear Judge – continue to interpret away but know that there are some dire consequences for your so doing.

As I see it …

‘K.D. Galagher’

 

They Are All In … HIGH DUDGEON.

 

The Generals – both Active and Retired; The Politicians – of all stripes; The Mass Media; and of course - The Man / Woman on the Street.

And exactly what has gotten their collective knickers in a knot – why some poor dude dressed up in pseudo military attire and had the nerve to attend Remembrance Services here in the Nation’s Capital on November 11th. 

I take a different tack – I feel sorry for the poor sod – obviously he is not happy in his own skin and for a moment was trying to be ‘somebody’. 

And in that regard, he got his 15 minutes of fame when interviewed by CBC at the War Memorial.

But he got more than that – he was outed and shamed.  The Police are looking into the possibility of laying Criminal Code charges against him and there are reports he may lose his menial employment consisting of building wooden steps for a local contractor. His marriage could well be in jeopardy too.

But that is not enough for the easily offended – one caller suggested he be put in jail for at least 10 years, another called for him to be forced to undergo basic training to ‘see what the military is all about’. 

Where is their charity … where is their compassion?

I try to think what my late father and his father – my grandfather would have said – veterans of World War 2 and 1 respectively.

I believe they too would have shown sympathy for him – not that they would have approved of what he did, since they would not.  But in the scheme of things such as ISIS creeps cutting off heads and terrorists killing unarmed soldiers here in our own country – his offence is really very small potatoes.

Many have even argued that our safety was threatened by this chap’s mascaraed – but how so - unless he came armed - which he did not. 

And it would be entirely different situation if he impersonated a cop.  Now that would be going too far since the public look to the police for protection.

So let’s call it for what it was – a pathetic little guy who for a few minutes tried unsuccessfully to be someone important. 

It is to pity him not destroy him.

Postscript:  Is it not somewhat ironic that an event where the underlying fear was that a terrorist would be found among them – the only one found was a would be soldier.  And wouldn’t it have been even more ironic had the would be soldier been killed by a jihadist?

I wonder what the chattering classes would have said then?

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

 

Union Government In Canada

 

Over the years, there have been only a few Union Governments where two or more parties have come together to run the affairs of state.  The most famous was the Union Government headed by Robert Borden in 1917 during the latter days of World War One.

But do you happen to know the most recent example of this?

If you guessed this year’s Ontario Election … you’d be absolutely right.

The two parties which came together in victory were the Unions of Ontario’s Public Service and the Liberal Party of Ontario.

And is it not ironic that the term Union Government in our most recent example, contains just that – Unions.

If you are as old as me, you will recall a time when Unions really represented the over-worked and under appreciated – those who often worked under dangerous conditions and for the honour were paid a very modest wage.

Today though, Big Unions represent those who they would once have ridiculed – the overpaid and most privileged civil servant.

You might quibble with my contention that a Union can join forces with a political party and form Government but of course this is exactly what has happened.

Unions are not restrained by nuisance election laws that limit or cap spending and indeed spent multi millions in assisting the Grits to victory. Even the police union piled on against the hapless Tories.

And speaking of the Tories – do you really think anything will change with a new leader.  Look at the numbers: there are 1.5 million on Ontario’s payrolls.  Add spouses, adult children etc. and that number quickly turns into over 3 million all of whom have a vested interest in seeing the current arrangement prevail.

Juxtapose that to the number with the number who actually voted this past June – some 4.5 million or roughly half of the 9 million who were eligible to vote.

So if you start off with 3.5 million bureaucrats and their families in your pocket all anxious to preserve their entitlements -  it becomes virtually impossible to affect the status quo.

It reminds me of the days when the Liberals federally won election after election since they started off with virtually all 75 seats in Quebec along with those ridings in francophone eastern Ontario and northern New Brunswick.  

But the real issue here or should I say issues, is the fact that all of this support is most undemocratic:

• first, why should Unions be able to vote for one party when their membership is made up of voters who support numerous positions.
• but even more sinister, is the fact that when Public Service Unions support tax and spend they are thumbing their collective noses at the voters who are also the Province’s Taxpayers who end up paying the freight. 

So what to call this coalition Government?

What about the Liberal / Union Party of Ontario?

Or better yet, the Union / Liberal Party.

And even better, the Union Party of Ontario since that dear reader -  says it all.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’