Our National Papers have been actively following the story of a Registered Nurse (RN) charged with the murder of a dozen nursing home elderlies under her care.
With Euthanasia the new norm ...and more and more countries opting to make it legal, it is not surprising that the numbers of assisted suicide (legal murder) are snowballing.
This causes me to wonder if the above-noted RN is simply a bit ahead of the curve and that one day soon she will be seen as the Matron Saint of this abhorrent practice.
I say that since current polling indicates that a majority is in favour of it.
That's what brings me back to today's title regarding Legalized Gambling.
For years, governments professed to abhor all aspects of gambling and the 'unsavory' people who engaged in this 'immoral practice'.
But that was then - today is now... where cash strapped governments are only too willing to dirty their hands in this. I laugh out loud when I see a small gambling outfit - i.e. not pre-blessed by government, prosecuted to the full extent of the law for the temerity to ...well..gamble.
It seems to me that governments' ire has more to do with it losing profits than it does with any concern for morality.
Simply stated, how in hell can government claim to fight against 'illegal gambling' when it is up to its collective armpits in this tawdry business. Of course it can't.
To be clear, as a Libertarian, I am not opposed to an individual gambling - heck I have succumbed to buying the odd lotto ticket and in my younger years went occasionally to the track with a $20 Bill in my pocket. It's just that I do not see it to be governments' role to be actively involved in it.
But what is clear ...whether it reigns in money from a plethora of lotteries or from skimming off profits from legal casinos, governments come out it Winning Big Time.
So what does this have to do with Euthanasia?
Well it wasn't that long ago when one of government's most important jobs was to protect the lives and welfare of its citizens...all of them. Why laws have been on the books from time immoral to outlaw murder and since the time Before Christ, Doctors have pledged to 'do no harm to their patients'.
Again, that was then and today is now.
I am particularly concerned because I am near the top of the Baby Boom and as such, am fully conscious of the fact that government health care systems will not be able to cope with our aging populace.
What better way to deal with our influx than by seeing us prematurely 'offed'. Not only will the heirs rejoice, but governments will save Big Bucks in the process while basking in the knowledge that the bulk of the populace is supportive.
And do not think for a minute the dirty deed will be limited to oldies - in many countries where Euthanasia is legal it applies equally to the infirm as well as to children.
As I have said before, either life is sacred or it is not. Once you give into Assisted Murder you are Gambling on it being judiciously applied. It won't be.
Why I'd even say you can safely Bet On It.
As I see it...
'K.D. Galagher'
Saturday, January 14, 2017
Thursday, January 12, 2017
IT BRINGS OUT THE LIBERTARIAN IN ME...
That is to say, the latest craze going the rounds is to provide safe injection sites for drug users and even more recently, to provide vending machines to dispense...free drug paraphernalia.
This is in addition to supplying addicts with Free Methadone which costs our taxpayers close to $200 Million Dollars per year.
Nothing though for drug treatment. (Talk about coming at a social problem from the wrong end).
I say this since, as a Libertarian, I defend the individual's right to do what he/she wants when it comes to their own person as long as their actions do not hurt others including unborn babies. So, if an individual wants to take drugs,... that is their decision, but don't expect society to either assist them in their activity or pay for their habit.
The same with Tobacco, if you insist on smoking - go to it, even though I personally would not smoke and even though the evils of smoking have been well and truly documented.
Free Will includes the right to do what others perceive to be not in your best interest.
For example, the other day a friend of mine put forward the old adage that smokers should be denied government funded health care because they have compromised their own health through their reckless behaviour.
There are lots of reasons available to refute this suggestion many of which I have set-out in earlier Blogs, so I will simply focus on the main one...if you value freedom, as I do, you do not want Big Government or any Government for that matter telling you or me what you or I can do / not do with respect to our own personal welfare.
That kind of paternalism is only appropriate in the rearing of young children by their parents.
More recently, the glare of Government is coming to rest on the issue of Obesity. Again I say, if someone wants to eat themselves into poor health ...that is their business. The Government has no place in their mouths or in their stomachs.
And dear Readers, this intrusive role began in the 1970s with the mandatory requirement to wear seatbelts. Governments got away with it then and have ever since looked for new ways to meddle and interfere with one's own personal rights.
And of course realize, Governments usually have good reasons to support any of their proferred restrictions - certainly seatbelt use does save lives, and restrictions on what one can / cannot eat will have positive health effects... But again it comes at the expense of an individual's Personal Free-Will.
And it is an expense I personally am not prepared to pay.
Its a slippery slope ...seat belts today, smoking tomorrow, what you can/cannot eat the next day, helmets.... and one day no doubt we'll all be required to try to get around in a plastic bubble.
Once a right is lost...it is lost forever.
So is there a Role for Government in all of this?
Of course... and it is an important one. In fact, it is two-fold:
First - Education.
Government to me has a responsibility to its citizens to identify the pros and cons of various activities. For instance, they have certainly done a magnificent job in explaining the dangers attached to smoking. Smokers can no longer say that they were not pre-warned when they succumb to lung cancer. Same with druggies, they too know the harmful effects of taking street drugs.
For those who heed the warnings..good for them. For those who don't ... they are adults and are entitled to do what they wish... again as long as it does not injure others.
Second - Treatment
Governments' other important role is to provide timely and effective treatment when it comes to activities that addict - most notably street drug use. If after advertising the ill-effects of drug use an individual still succumbs to its usage, Governments need to have in place treatment centres to help those who try to shake their addictions. But it needs to be treatment ... and not enabling.
These two important roles, in turn, will help empower Society to raise the overall health and welfare of its members.
It will also leave intact the individual's right of free will.
As I see it...
'K.D. Galagher'
This is in addition to supplying addicts with Free Methadone which costs our taxpayers close to $200 Million Dollars per year.
Nothing though for drug treatment. (Talk about coming at a social problem from the wrong end).
I say this since, as a Libertarian, I defend the individual's right to do what he/she wants when it comes to their own person as long as their actions do not hurt others including unborn babies. So, if an individual wants to take drugs,... that is their decision, but don't expect society to either assist them in their activity or pay for their habit.
The same with Tobacco, if you insist on smoking - go to it, even though I personally would not smoke and even though the evils of smoking have been well and truly documented.
Free Will includes the right to do what others perceive to be not in your best interest.
For example, the other day a friend of mine put forward the old adage that smokers should be denied government funded health care because they have compromised their own health through their reckless behaviour.
There are lots of reasons available to refute this suggestion many of which I have set-out in earlier Blogs, so I will simply focus on the main one...if you value freedom, as I do, you do not want Big Government or any Government for that matter telling you or me what you or I can do / not do with respect to our own personal welfare.
That kind of paternalism is only appropriate in the rearing of young children by their parents.
More recently, the glare of Government is coming to rest on the issue of Obesity. Again I say, if someone wants to eat themselves into poor health ...that is their business. The Government has no place in their mouths or in their stomachs.
And dear Readers, this intrusive role began in the 1970s with the mandatory requirement to wear seatbelts. Governments got away with it then and have ever since looked for new ways to meddle and interfere with one's own personal rights.
And of course realize, Governments usually have good reasons to support any of their proferred restrictions - certainly seatbelt use does save lives, and restrictions on what one can / cannot eat will have positive health effects... But again it comes at the expense of an individual's Personal Free-Will.
And it is an expense I personally am not prepared to pay.
Its a slippery slope ...seat belts today, smoking tomorrow, what you can/cannot eat the next day, helmets.... and one day no doubt we'll all be required to try to get around in a plastic bubble.
Once a right is lost...it is lost forever.
So is there a Role for Government in all of this?
Of course... and it is an important one. In fact, it is two-fold:
First - Education.
Government to me has a responsibility to its citizens to identify the pros and cons of various activities. For instance, they have certainly done a magnificent job in explaining the dangers attached to smoking. Smokers can no longer say that they were not pre-warned when they succumb to lung cancer. Same with druggies, they too know the harmful effects of taking street drugs.
For those who heed the warnings..good for them. For those who don't ... they are adults and are entitled to do what they wish... again as long as it does not injure others.
Second - Treatment
Governments' other important role is to provide timely and effective treatment when it comes to activities that addict - most notably street drug use. If after advertising the ill-effects of drug use an individual still succumbs to its usage, Governments need to have in place treatment centres to help those who try to shake their addictions. But it needs to be treatment ... and not enabling.
These two important roles, in turn, will help empower Society to raise the overall health and welfare of its members.
It will also leave intact the individual's right of free will.
As I see it...
'K.D. Galagher'
Saturday, January 7, 2017
GOVERNMENT BY TWEET...
THE TRUMPSTER IS ABOUT TO COME TO POWER.
And the Progressives are beside themselves.
And nice to see that they are no longer calling the shots...at least in America.
I won't recite the litany of reasons I have for saying this since like many of you, I am getting tired of rehashing their (the Progressives') shortcomings but for now let's just say things cannot really get much worse even under a Trump Administration.
Trump has placed Conservatives in all the key spots...several being his rivals from last year's Republican Race. And to a person, they are smart and accomplished people. No 'yes' men and women..rather they each have the gravitas to stand up to The Donald when they think he is wrong.
And as today's Title signals, we be doubly blessed since we'll know what's on the Prez's mind almost instantaneously from his ubiquitous Tweets.
The lame Media will not know what to focus on since the 'news via tweets' will be coming so fast and furious, they will have little time to process one before another 'mock outrage' takes its place.
Like many of you too, I am sick and tired of politicians saying one thing to get elected and then doing the opposite when in power. And though there will no doubt be some of that with Trump, it will be by happenstance rather than by cynical design.
But make no mistake, Changes are coming and as a student of politics I can hardly wait.
And the Changes that are about to come are not simply due to a change in Parties ...that is to say from Democrat to Republican...it goes way beyond that, since the GOP had itself become just a lighter version of the Donkey.
This time the Change has more to do with the Average Man taking his / her rightful place back from the Self Appointed Elites. And that is how it should be; Democracy is about the Will of the People not that of succumbing to the wishes of a select self-absorbed few.
Lunch-bucket issues will prevail over esoterical nonsense.
But regardless of whether you are a Trump fan or not, the next 4 years are guaranteed to be anything but boring.
As I see it...
'K.D. Galagher'
And the Progressives are beside themselves.
And nice to see that they are no longer calling the shots...at least in America.
I won't recite the litany of reasons I have for saying this since like many of you, I am getting tired of rehashing their (the Progressives') shortcomings but for now let's just say things cannot really get much worse even under a Trump Administration.
Trump has placed Conservatives in all the key spots...several being his rivals from last year's Republican Race. And to a person, they are smart and accomplished people. No 'yes' men and women..rather they each have the gravitas to stand up to The Donald when they think he is wrong.
And as today's Title signals, we be doubly blessed since we'll know what's on the Prez's mind almost instantaneously from his ubiquitous Tweets.
The lame Media will not know what to focus on since the 'news via tweets' will be coming so fast and furious, they will have little time to process one before another 'mock outrage' takes its place.
Like many of you too, I am sick and tired of politicians saying one thing to get elected and then doing the opposite when in power. And though there will no doubt be some of that with Trump, it will be by happenstance rather than by cynical design.
But make no mistake, Changes are coming and as a student of politics I can hardly wait.
And the Changes that are about to come are not simply due to a change in Parties ...that is to say from Democrat to Republican...it goes way beyond that, since the GOP had itself become just a lighter version of the Donkey.
This time the Change has more to do with the Average Man taking his / her rightful place back from the Self Appointed Elites. And that is how it should be; Democracy is about the Will of the People not that of succumbing to the wishes of a select self-absorbed few.
Lunch-bucket issues will prevail over esoterical nonsense.
But regardless of whether you are a Trump fan or not, the next 4 years are guaranteed to be anything but boring.
As I see it...
'K.D. Galagher'
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
MY PROGNOSTICATIONS FOR 2017
But before I get into it, a note of thanks to you- the Reader.
A year ago I promised to focus mainly on items of international interest / import and since doing so, Readership has nearly doubled. At the end of last year I had a grand total of 50,000 reads since I began this Blog a few years back, today that number stands at over 90,000.
So I will continue to stick with the international focus for the coming year.
In some ways, 2017 will be a replay of last year - the world will continue to spiral out of control but due to two very different personages - Obama and Trump, we are guaranteed some significant changes.
1. On the international front and due to Obama's negligent dithering, Syria will become almost peaceful in 2017. "Good news" you say ! Hardly, what it means is that with Russia's and Iran's backing.. the Syrian Henchman al Assad can now rule Syria again with a iron hand. No freedom, No Human Rights, No Humanity. But...Peace.
2. Trump, on the other-hand, is coming to power on a pledge to keep the US out of foreign entanglements and to play nice with brutal leaders such as Vladd Putin. Fortunately, The Donald is not built that way (see final line below), and soon the two will be at each others' throats. And that applies to other dictators and bullies around the world who mistakenly may think Obama's pacificisty has rubbed off on Trump.
Here are some other important areas which will see notable changes in approach between these two:
3. Climate Change, Green Energy, and such will take a back-burner in importance in the United States thereby saving American's $ Billions of Dollars in wasted time, effort and especially money.
4. Business is back. Trump's policy of reducing Business Tax from 35% to 15% will provide a huge stimulus to the American Economy resulting in jobs, jobs, jobs.
5. The American Dollar will be strong throughout 2017 compared to other currencies.
6. The Keystone XL Pipeline will finally get Presidential approval.
7. Changes are coming to Obama Care but the big one will see business get out from under paying the high cost of health care for their full time employees. This in turn will reverse the trend, over the last 8 years, in the spectacular growth in part-time workers at the expense of full-time.
8. Given the Religious Community's support for Trump in the recent Election - something of significance will be given to them. Certainly we will see the de-funding of Planned Parenthood and likely much more.
9. The Wall will go up on the southern border with Mexico and Trump will find ways to wrest $ from their neighbour to the south to help pay for it. Will it though stop tunneling? Because it won't stop migration from sea and air..but it will help.
10. Trump is also on record as promising vast investiture in infrastructure. It won't happen - the Democrats have doubled the national debt to over 20 Trillion Dollars - that's Trillion with a T. The fact is the US is broke and it will take years of righting the Ship of State before infrastructure $ can be freed-up.
11. On Free Trade, Trump has indicated that he will rewrite them in favour of American interests. Here again I hopeful that common sense prevails for a couple of reasons: first, america is no wilting violet when it comes to negotiating such agreements and second, protectionism does not work all you end up with is more expensive and yet inferior goods and services. If Trump does persist with his nonsensical plan, we will all suffer, most especially the United States.
Other Predictions Regardless of Trump:
12. Gold will tread water where it currently is - $1,100 per oz range.
13. Oil will tread water too at the mid $50 dollar a barrel range even though OPEC members have promised to cut production to force the cost per barrel up. This group makes Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves look like Choirboys...you can't trust them.
14. I mentioned Syria will see peace breakout and all for the wrong reasons. But Iraq will continue to see much division and bloodshed. The southern part of Iraq which is Shia will be spared since they will be protected by Shia Iran. The Sunnis middle will continue to be the target of the Shiites and will foreshadow the day when the Middle East will see open warfare between Sunnis and Shia Muslims. The northern part of Iraq occupied by the Kurds will see unrest until the day comes when the Kurds are given their own country...and that day is not far off. In fact, you will soon see the current Iraq divided into three separate countries - the Kurdish north, the Sunnis middle and the Shia south and although that is unlikely to happen before the end of 2017 it will certainly be evident to all at year's end that this is the direction things are headed.
15. 2017 will see ISIS and similar Murderous Barbarians without any land holdings in the Middle East. The Caliphate will have to await another time. Their terror will now fully morph into guerrilla warfare throughout many parts of the world - more car bombs, lone gunmen, and the such. It will not be pretty.
16. Russia and Iran have replaced the US role in the middle east and more conquests can be expected...Libya anyone? As long as NATO is parked in the former satellites of the Soviet Union, Russia will refrain from attacking them militarily. I am though worried about the Ukraine which is not a NATO member and which does not appear to have sufficient support from that organization. I would expect Putin to try more mischief there during this coming year.
17. Sunnis Nations such as Saudi Arabia will intensify their efforts to obtain nuclear weapons.
18. Germany's Angela Merkel is toast and won't survive this year's national election. She is blamed for the chaos caused to her country via the invitation to 1 million + unvetted Muslim Refugees in 2015 and 2016.
19. The EU will continue to totter which is too bad since a strong united European Union is needed to fend off an aggressive Russia, a totalitarian Giant - China, and a large pockets of hostile Islamists.
20. A strong NATO is needed now more than ever given the fallout from #19. Trump threatened at one point to leave NATO...which is crazy talk and then demanded correctly that NATO countries pay their fare share. Of its 28 member nations only 4 or so pay the recommended 2% GDP on their military. If NATO does not step up to the plate so to speak, things will go from bad to worse for freedom loving peoples of the world. My guess is that the membership will start paying up in this coming year. Plus I would have it change its name from North Atlantic Treaty Association to the North, South, East and West Treaty Association and expand membership to such countries as India, Japan, Australia and South Korea.
21. The British economy will decline and its pound drop even more from the effects of moving out of the EU. Won't be a good place to invest in 2017.
22. China - will continue to threaten its neighbours. It will also focus especially on Taiwan given Taiwan's President recent friendly chat with Donald Trump. I do not think it will go so far as to invade Taiwan... at least in 2017.
-----------------
So Predictions, Predictions, but one thing is certain, with The Donald at the helm of the Free World, ... 2017 will certainly be a most interesting year.
And nothing, dear Reader, is certain as per the following passage I read in the papers over Christmas:
The mainstream press and the politicians take Trump literally but not seriously,,,while the electorate takes Trump seriously but not literally.
As I see it...
'K.D. Galagher'
A year ago I promised to focus mainly on items of international interest / import and since doing so, Readership has nearly doubled. At the end of last year I had a grand total of 50,000 reads since I began this Blog a few years back, today that number stands at over 90,000.
So I will continue to stick with the international focus for the coming year.
In some ways, 2017 will be a replay of last year - the world will continue to spiral out of control but due to two very different personages - Obama and Trump, we are guaranteed some significant changes.
1. On the international front and due to Obama's negligent dithering, Syria will become almost peaceful in 2017. "Good news" you say ! Hardly, what it means is that with Russia's and Iran's backing.. the Syrian Henchman al Assad can now rule Syria again with a iron hand. No freedom, No Human Rights, No Humanity. But...Peace.
2. Trump, on the other-hand, is coming to power on a pledge to keep the US out of foreign entanglements and to play nice with brutal leaders such as Vladd Putin. Fortunately, The Donald is not built that way (see final line below), and soon the two will be at each others' throats. And that applies to other dictators and bullies around the world who mistakenly may think Obama's pacificisty has rubbed off on Trump.
Here are some other important areas which will see notable changes in approach between these two:
3. Climate Change, Green Energy, and such will take a back-burner in importance in the United States thereby saving American's $ Billions of Dollars in wasted time, effort and especially money.
4. Business is back. Trump's policy of reducing Business Tax from 35% to 15% will provide a huge stimulus to the American Economy resulting in jobs, jobs, jobs.
5. The American Dollar will be strong throughout 2017 compared to other currencies.
6. The Keystone XL Pipeline will finally get Presidential approval.
7. Changes are coming to Obama Care but the big one will see business get out from under paying the high cost of health care for their full time employees. This in turn will reverse the trend, over the last 8 years, in the spectacular growth in part-time workers at the expense of full-time.
8. Given the Religious Community's support for Trump in the recent Election - something of significance will be given to them. Certainly we will see the de-funding of Planned Parenthood and likely much more.
9. The Wall will go up on the southern border with Mexico and Trump will find ways to wrest $ from their neighbour to the south to help pay for it. Will it though stop tunneling? Because it won't stop migration from sea and air..but it will help.
10. Trump is also on record as promising vast investiture in infrastructure. It won't happen - the Democrats have doubled the national debt to over 20 Trillion Dollars - that's Trillion with a T. The fact is the US is broke and it will take years of righting the Ship of State before infrastructure $ can be freed-up.
11. On Free Trade, Trump has indicated that he will rewrite them in favour of American interests. Here again I hopeful that common sense prevails for a couple of reasons: first, america is no wilting violet when it comes to negotiating such agreements and second, protectionism does not work all you end up with is more expensive and yet inferior goods and services. If Trump does persist with his nonsensical plan, we will all suffer, most especially the United States.
Other Predictions Regardless of Trump:
12. Gold will tread water where it currently is - $1,100 per oz range.
13. Oil will tread water too at the mid $50 dollar a barrel range even though OPEC members have promised to cut production to force the cost per barrel up. This group makes Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves look like Choirboys...you can't trust them.
14. I mentioned Syria will see peace breakout and all for the wrong reasons. But Iraq will continue to see much division and bloodshed. The southern part of Iraq which is Shia will be spared since they will be protected by Shia Iran. The Sunnis middle will continue to be the target of the Shiites and will foreshadow the day when the Middle East will see open warfare between Sunnis and Shia Muslims. The northern part of Iraq occupied by the Kurds will see unrest until the day comes when the Kurds are given their own country...and that day is not far off. In fact, you will soon see the current Iraq divided into three separate countries - the Kurdish north, the Sunnis middle and the Shia south and although that is unlikely to happen before the end of 2017 it will certainly be evident to all at year's end that this is the direction things are headed.
15. 2017 will see ISIS and similar Murderous Barbarians without any land holdings in the Middle East. The Caliphate will have to await another time. Their terror will now fully morph into guerrilla warfare throughout many parts of the world - more car bombs, lone gunmen, and the such. It will not be pretty.
16. Russia and Iran have replaced the US role in the middle east and more conquests can be expected...Libya anyone? As long as NATO is parked in the former satellites of the Soviet Union, Russia will refrain from attacking them militarily. I am though worried about the Ukraine which is not a NATO member and which does not appear to have sufficient support from that organization. I would expect Putin to try more mischief there during this coming year.
17. Sunnis Nations such as Saudi Arabia will intensify their efforts to obtain nuclear weapons.
18. Germany's Angela Merkel is toast and won't survive this year's national election. She is blamed for the chaos caused to her country via the invitation to 1 million + unvetted Muslim Refugees in 2015 and 2016.
19. The EU will continue to totter which is too bad since a strong united European Union is needed to fend off an aggressive Russia, a totalitarian Giant - China, and a large pockets of hostile Islamists.
20. A strong NATO is needed now more than ever given the fallout from #19. Trump threatened at one point to leave NATO...which is crazy talk and then demanded correctly that NATO countries pay their fare share. Of its 28 member nations only 4 or so pay the recommended 2% GDP on their military. If NATO does not step up to the plate so to speak, things will go from bad to worse for freedom loving peoples of the world. My guess is that the membership will start paying up in this coming year. Plus I would have it change its name from North Atlantic Treaty Association to the North, South, East and West Treaty Association and expand membership to such countries as India, Japan, Australia and South Korea.
21. The British economy will decline and its pound drop even more from the effects of moving out of the EU. Won't be a good place to invest in 2017.
22. China - will continue to threaten its neighbours. It will also focus especially on Taiwan given Taiwan's President recent friendly chat with Donald Trump. I do not think it will go so far as to invade Taiwan... at least in 2017.
-----------------
So Predictions, Predictions, but one thing is certain, with The Donald at the helm of the Free World, ... 2017 will certainly be a most interesting year.
And nothing, dear Reader, is certain as per the following passage I read in the papers over Christmas:
The mainstream press and the politicians take Trump literally but not seriously,,,while the electorate takes Trump seriously but not literally.
As I see it...
'K.D. Galagher'
Friday, December 30, 2016
A Review of My Predictions for 2016
2016 has been quite a year and as it is about to come to an end, it's time to review my predictions from this past January.
Below you will find the complete text with my comments in bold:
Below you will find the complete text with my comments in bold:
We’ll have some fun doing it since I have sworn off Canada and its inferior governments; just international issues of import for us now. The same approach for 2017, with no elections forthcoming, things will stay the same for our Canada...in other words 'abysmal'
In no particular order, following are my predictions on a number of international fronts:
1. Oil will begin to recover over the course of the year’s second half (i.e. up to $50 per bar); it cannot go much lower and because low oil costs will eventually spur international markets which in turn will increase demand for the black gold; Good one... oil has risen significantly over this year and currently hovers in the low $50 dollar range.
2. Speaking of Gold, it too will recover since the Western World continues to spend far too much – going further and further into debt while at the same time quite enamored with monetary easing – that is to say – the printing of money without a corresponding rise in GDP to support it; Not as good although the price did go up but only by a hundred dollars or so per oz. The day of reckoning has only been postponed...
3. Obama will continue his descent in the polls as more and more Americans come to the realization that he is a Charlatan; Big miss. Obama's personal approval ratings held although approval for the job he did fell. One of the great mysterys of our time. Bottom-line though ...I blew it.
4. Trump will finally fade out and Marco Rubio will win the Republican nod; Another miss though I am in good company.
5. Hillary will take the Democratic crown assuming that she is not charged criminally for her cavalier treatment of top secret Government Emails. (It is unlikely she will be charged but that is not to say – she should not be. If it was you or me – you can bet charges would be laid); Got that one correct but no big deal since there were only a handful of Dems running for the roses.
6. So who will win the US November Presidential Election? … you will have to await the end of this;
7. Russians head for the polls in September to elect their DUMA – (Parliament) at which time Putin’s party will make substantive gains given his high personal popularity. Shows you what military aggression can do for one’s popularity; It did.. in fact his party received a 'Super Majority'
8. Angela Merkel will see her popularity continue to decline due to the way she has handled the refugee situation – that is to say, Germans believe too many refugees are being admitted to their country. Her re-election in 2017 is very much in jeopardy; Her numbers as predicted declined over 2016 and more on this when I do my predictions for 2017. A hint though ...'she is toast'.
9. NATO will keep Putin / the Russians in check along the Eastern European Border; Again I am correct - finally 2016 saw NATO come to life. Too bad it did not entrench itself into the Middle East too.
10. He will continue to be active in the Middle East in support of Bashar al Assad thereby helping to ensure continued turmoil in that part of the world; Right again. al Assad is back in total control of his country thanks to his main man ...Vladd Putin.
11. ISIS will finally be pushed off the lands they now hold in Syria and Iraq. The combination of air strikes and ground troop action is beginning to take a heavy toll on them which they will not be able to withstand much longer; Another win for me. Realize at the time of writing the so-called experts were saying that ISIS could not be defeated without US boots on the ground. It was nonsense. Sadly though, ISIS and their Ilk are not through yet.... await my 2017 predictions.
12. ISIS will though be replaced by numerous other Islamic Extremist Groups throughout the Middle East and Many Parts of Africa. True peace will have to await the time of moderate Muslims taking control and that dear reader will not happen over the course of this New Year. It means that Islamic Terrorist Attacks will continue unabated throughout the World; See my comments in #11.
13. Even more problematic for the Muslim Countries is the fact that relations between their two major factions - the Sunnis and the Shiites, is breaking down. This deterioration will continue over 2016 and if not brought under control over the next few years will have very grave consequences for that part of the world; We are seeing the signs of this more and more. With the Russia, Iran, and Syria Axis (ie supporters of Shittes) it is a matter of time before there is all out conflict with the Sunnis. That dear reader will be the fight of the century.
14. An important aspect of this risk is the fact that Iran has been given clearance by the United States to complete the building of its atomic bomb. It is hard to imagine that Israel and now Saudi Arabia will sit back and let that happen but I do not see any action on their part against Iran in 2016. Saudi Arabia will though focus on arming itself as it now realizes it cannot depend upon Uncle Sam or should I say Uncle Barack; All these latter predictions are inter-related and they are all truisms. I have said on numerous occasions that the biggest danger for the middle east is Iran and sadly it has not only been Putin's Russia lending them a helping hand but also the little guy in the White House. I don't even think as of today he realizes the mess he has made of things. History will not be kind to him.
15. In many respects, 2016 will appear like 2015 and 2014 before it; Boy I got that one wrong...2016 was far worse.
16. And the winner is …. Marco Rubio. Another miss...but again I was in good company since I cannot recall anyone at the beginning of 2016 predicting a win for The Donald. If nothing else he will make the coming 2017 and the following 3 years most interesting.
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All and all I don't think I did too bad. I will get my predictions for 2017 out to you over the next few days. In the meantime, Happy New Year.
'K.D. Galagher'
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All and all I don't think I did too bad. I will get my predictions for 2017 out to you over the next few days. In the meantime, Happy New Year.
'K.D. Galagher'
ARMAGEDDON...
NOTE: Today, Jan. 17/17, I read an article by the renowned columnist Robert Sibley. In it he agrees with much of what I have written below but adds a certain dimension to the issue. I will use his own words -
- "If I didn't know better, I'd be tempted to dust off the Book of Revelation and update myself on ....the End of Days."
- We might do better to look at a long-dead German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsch to gain some understanding of why things are falling apart."
- In the 19th Century Nietzsch wrote "The story I have to tell is the history of the next 2 centuries with wars such as have never happened on earth."
- Sibley points out that although Nietzsch was an Atheist himself, he foresaw the crisis of culture that would follow the collapse of the Christian Value System. Nietzsch warned of the "total collapse of all values" during the 21st Century....that is to say, in our present Century.
Is It Upon Us?
The Bible mentions many times about the end of humanity's time here on earth and how violent things will be. Some of those passages predict it will begin in the Middle East which has suffered so much in both death and destruction over the course of the last several years.
Could this be the foretelling of the end?
Luke 21:20-28(NIV)
20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 25 On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
I leave it to each of you to interpret what the above means for you personally but what is indisputable is the fact that evil has been let loose in that special part of the world.
Let's start with the recent betrayal of Israel ...the region's only Democracy ..by President Obama, aka the little guy in the white house.
For the life of me, I cannot understand why the Jews attract so much wrath. Have they not suffered enough?
Even though I am retired, I have said many times that I would be prepared to pick up arms to help Israel if the need for such ever came about and if they were prepared to accept my help.
In a recent blog, I wrote about the parallel between the assassination of the Russian Ambassador to Turkey this month and the assassination of the Arch Duke in 1914. The Middle East was a tinderbox then.. as it is now...but today the weapon of choice is the unforgiving Nuclear Bomb.
And now Russia has replaced the United States as the Power in the Middle East. Allied with it are Iran, (which has sworn to erase Israel from the face of the earth) and Syria, which has just finished killing nearly a half million of its own citizens and displaced millions more.
Hardly foreshadows a safe and secure future for Israel or for that matter the rest of us.
That said, I do not know if the end is truly at hand but I can tell you that the signs certainly point in that direction.
As I see it...
'K.D. Galagher'
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
YOUNG TRUDEAU..A YEAR END REVIEW.
A year ago I swore off Blogging about my home country Canada since it was obvious to me that with Justin Trudeau's then election as our Prime Minister and with our key Provincial Governments in Liberal / New Democratic hands, we were no longer a world player but rather had become a pedestrian backwater.
I did though promise at that time that I looked forward to providing a 2016 year end review ...report card if you will...on the Young Lad's first year in power.
Here goes:
I did though promise at that time that I looked forward to providing a 2016 year end review ...report card if you will...on the Young Lad's first year in power.
Here goes:
- YT at the outset made it clear that he would not tolerate anyone in his caucus speaking out in favour of term limits for abortion even up to just before the point of birth. He kept his pledge and is therefore entitled to an F-
- He promised to make Euthanasia legal (aka legal Murder) and he did. Again another F-
- He promised to take Canada out of NATO led military action in the Middle East and he did - bringing home Canada's meagre jet offering. Fortunately they were so few in number (6) that few noticed especially ISIS. F
- Young Trudeau has made it clear that he has no stomach for a hot war, in fact his Minister of Defence recently stated Canada has no responsibility to come to the aid of those innocent poor souls being slaughtered daily in the Middle East. The two would rather focus on UN Peacekeeping even though the UN couldn't keep the peace between such friendlies as Australia and New Zealand. (Note to YT - there has to be peace in order to be able to keep it). F
- He promised to work with the Provinces to bring in wasteful Cap and Trade and he did. Another F
- He promised to end very modest income splitting ($2k max) between spouses and he did. F
- He promised to reduce income taxes for the middle class by 1.5% and he did but his cap and trade levies will quickly absorb that puny gain. C+
- He promised to reduce / rollback contribution room in Tax Free Savings Accounts from $10,000 to $5,000 per year and he did. F
- He promised to bring in a budget deficit of $10 Billion dollars ...and he did score an.. F and then upon attaining office tripled it. F-
- He is in the process of legalizing Marijuana as per his election promise. (ie. the war against marijuana was lost over 50 years ago). B+
- He approved 2 out of 3 pipeline applications though the question remains whether he will allow any of them to be built...so for now a: B
- He has excelled at being a photogenic high-flyer (great hair and teeth). A+
- In the aftermath of last year's report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission wrt to Canada's Aboriginals and its nearly 100 Recommendations - YT is busy with the MMsN demanded by the report as in: 1. More Money; 2. More Autonomy; with, 3. No Accountability. D-
- At the end of last year and the beginning of 2016 Trudeau brought 25,000 Muslim Syrian Refugees into Canada and pledged to bring in another similar number before the end of 2016. These was done and is being done without proper screening even though ISIS brags about their numbers infiltrating these mass movements. Helping these poor souls is good - but facilitating the corrosive plans and objectives of ISIS is not. E
- YT said during last year's election that that election would be the last one run employing 'first past the post' ....F, thankfully, it now appears that he is backtracking on his promise...B
- On Health Care he was going to reverse the Harper Conservatives' plan to reduce indexing on future Health Care transfers to the Provinces from 6 % to 3% ... thankfully he backtracked on that pledge too ...B
- His other major backtrack was with respect to Harper's Security Legislation which Trudeau promised to repeal ... he did not, rather he embraced it...B
All and all, not an auspicious first year for the Young-un.
As I see it...
'K. D. Galagher'
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