Needed A Truck...Bought A Cadillac

My wife and I live with our cat Snick on a small hobby farm where having a truck is most handy.

My current truck a 2007 Ford Ranger is on lease and the lease expires at the end of this month. It has been a good vehicle and my only complaint is that it is very hard on gas. This is the second pick-up truck that I have owned or leased.

And, they have certainly come in handy. Our kids and friends have found them to be most helpful as well.

Just yesterday, I went to town with my son-in-law to purchase lumber for a deck my son-in-law is kindly building us. Some of the boards totalled 16' and the truck to them without complaint. Anyway, they always seem to come in handy.

That is why I started several months ago to find a replacement truck to my Ranger.

I looked at several "used" models but could not seem to find the 'right one'. One used car dealer was so honest with me that he suggested I buy new since new trucks were selling for about the same price as older models. I started looking at new.

And, I found the perfect one. It too was red - a colour I get teased about from time to time due to my right-wing bent. It too was a Ranger but had more features than my current truck and sold for the same price as under my current lease. It was a no-brainer - this new Ranger was made for me.

Rather than tell the dealer I'd buy it then and there, I told him I would think about it over the weekend and let him know "first thing on Monday".

Then I got thinking. I did not want another truck regardless of how convenient it was around our farm; I wanted a car - and I wanted one with all the 'bells and whistles'.

Saturday I was off to see the local cadillac dealer. I picked one out and he let me take it home over night. My wife loved it too but she was quick to point out that I was so much like my late father who also loved nice cars. A week before he died, he told me that he was thinking of buying a new buick. This despite the fact that he was living in a nursing home and that his doctor had taken his licence away some five years earlier.

So I asked my father the obvious question: "what would you do with a new car that you were not allowed to drive?" Without missing a beat, he replied: "I'd sit in it".

You know, I understood what he was saying, there is nothing in life better than sitting in a new car - with that new car smell. It even beats driving it. I told my father he should go for it and he might well have done so if his worn out heart had gone on a little longer.

The next day, I took the cadillac back whereupon I broke all rules - I told the salesman immediately how much I loved the car. No hard sell for me.

So here I am, with a car that I really don't need and I truck that I do need but will be returning to the ford dealer in a matter of days. It really makes no sense, but life is often like that.

Did I mention, my cadillac is the colour 'blue'.

"Galagher"

Shareholders Can Also Vote

Soon I will devote one of these 'blogs' to the matter of capitalism and liberal distain for it. But today, I would like to reflect on how corporate shareholders, in common with election voters, are also ignored.

In earlier blogs, I have mentioned the fact that as a result of voter apathy, the voting % in democracies is in steep decline save for Australia where voting has been made mandatory and which I do not subscribe. I attribute much of this apathy to politicians ignoring the wishes of their electorates and I believe much the same can be said in the case of corporations.

In the latter case, you have officers (cabinet) that run the company, a board of directors (read Parliament) that appoint the officers and of course the shareholders (read voters) that elect the board. I guess you could even extend this analogy to say that the minions working for the corporation mirror the government's bureaucracy.

As in the case of democracies, the shareholder on paper is king. He or she has the power to replace the Board of Directors. In practice, the number of shareholders is huge and widespread in public corporations, and as a consequence, a few major shareholders can control everything despite the fact that % wise they do not hold a majority of the outstanding sahres. They do though decide the make-up of the Board and thereby decide who is hired to be the key Officers. The ordinary Shareholder, like the ordinary Voter is disregarded.

What's the result?

I am glad you asked.

Millions of dollars get syphoned off in outlandish salaries but even more in unearned bonuses. The figures are simply staggering, even in the case of companies which have failed to realize profits.

This is unadulerated greed then leads to other sinister ventures like the asset-backed paper fiasco. Money, money, money and to hell with who gets hurt.

Do you see the link?

In the case of democracies, too many politicians spend the taxpayers' money without regard. Corporations do the same thing with their shareholders' money. In both cases our way of life is adversely affected.

If Capitalism gets undermined so to does Democracy.

Solutions?

I am not sure what the total solution is but I do know that it does not involve government taking ownership positions in our companies.

Here though are some thoughts:

• First, make it mandatory that Officers and their families be precluded from holding shares in the companies they run;
• Bonuses should have a know cap and, in the oridinary course of events, only be paid when the company shows an annual profit;
• Bonuses must be submitted to the annual meeting of shareholders for their approval;
• Membership on a Board be time limited - e.g. no more than 5 years.

More on this later...

"Galagher"

Ottawa's Mayor Larry O'Brien - Ciminal or Victim

The subject for today's Blog is a no brainer given that tomorrow at 10 a.m. the verdict comes down on whether our Mayor is guilty of influence peddling and conspiring to adversely influence the outcome of an Election. Not exactly the wording from the Criminal Code but in essence this describes the two charges against Mayor O'Brien.



A little history.



Shortly after he was elected Mayor 3 years ago, the above charges were laid against O'Brien. The complaint came from one of the Mayor's competitor's for the Mayor's Chair - a light weight by the name of Kilrea. Kilrea and O'Brien represented the right wing of the spectrum so the two met where it was alleged that O'Brien offered the former a spot on the National Parole Board if he would drop out of the race and leave O'Brien to collect all the right of centre votes. Interestingly enough, when questioned about this in Court - Kilrea denied that such a deal was even offered to him by O'Brien.



Also of interest is the fact the Union representing the City Workers pressed for the charges to be laid as well as the fact that the first Prosecutor asked to prosecute the case turned it down saying there was no case to prosecute.



Enter Liberal Queen's Park to press for prosecution which then eventually leads to tomorrow's expected verdict.

I voted for O'Brien, but am not a fan of his so my comments are not at all biased in his favour. He campaigned on a "zero tax increases" and then promptly voted along with his left wing leaning Council to have them increased. Be that as it may, he did not deserve - but more importantly, his voters did not deserve having these charges laid.

I have been involved in politics since I was 11 or 12 years old. Even then I think I knew that if a politician was doing his job, he would enter into such arrangements, as are being alleged.. It comes under the heading of 'Just Doing His Job'. Indeed, countless policitians have done just that on many, many occasions, one of the more recent being Harper's offer to a Liberal MP from BC to become his Industry Minister.

In his particular case, O'Brien denies having made such a promise to Kilrea and, as mentioned, by Kilrea's own testimony he supports O'Brien's position.

Most with an IQ of over 100, with even minimal interest in Ottawa City politics, expect a not guilty verdict tomorrow. But regardless, the damage has been done and what might otherwise have occurred on the municipal scene - as voted for by Ottawa's citizens, has been lost forever.

The only winners here are the City Union and Queen's Park.

I heard someone call in to a radio talk show to say that 'yes, charges should have been laid: against all of those who insisted that O'Brien be charged."

Amen to that.


"Galagher"

Where Have All The Libertarians Gone...long time passing

As a self-professed Libertarian, I often wonder what it will take to have people reclaim responsibility for themselves. Too many blame others for their circumstance and look to government for solutions rather than starting with themselves.


North America was founded by Libertarians although that term did not exist at the time. They were self-reliant and if they did need help from others, they looked to their neighbours or to family.


That was then.


Today, the ties that bound family have broken or frayed and neighbours too often are distant or entirely anonymous.


The former self-reliant citizen now depends completely on the system for his or her welfare. The State has become omnipotent.

Europe has succumbed entirely, - as has Canada, where I suspect 2/3 rds of our population finds itself in the dependent category. Only the USA remains the battle-ground between the two approaches and it is currently split evenly - 50/50, with the dependents in ascendancy.

There are a host of reasons for this outcome including urbanization, universal social programs, breakdown of the family, decline in religion, and, most important, the never ending growth in government.

Why is this bad?

With dependency comes apathy. Is it any wonder that voting levels are in steep decline? More important though, it replaces the need to think. Indeed, why bother thinking when the government will and does do it for you?

The government tells you the ozone layer is disintegrating, that global cooling and / or warming is occurring, that climate change is upon us or whatever the flavour of the month is and you - the citizen must immediately do whatever is asked, without giving it thought. And most of us do.

We are regulated and legislated to death. Soon you will need a permit or licence to breathe. And the public response - zilch. All the while government continues to grow.

Being on the heavy side I used to joke that some day government would tell McDonald's how much fat they could put in their hamburgers. I thought that a bit off the wall but now it has happend.

Even more bizarre, in Europe they have imposed a tax on cow flatulence and I have read where the tax is likely to be levied here in North America soon. Who'd want to be the enforcer of that tax?

If America loses in its fight to retain a semblance of liberatianism, and it looks as though it will, we will have lost.

If that occurs, the future will not be worth experiencing.


"Galagher"

post script: in my blog about a new way to calculate civil servant salaries, one of my readers commented that my suggestion was "terrible". She of course was married to a civil servant. When I asked her if my analysis was correct- she quickly admitted it was. Kudos for her honesty. (I was thinking though - another possible approach to determining government salaries would be to establish a % of its private sector equivalent e.g. 60 - 70% - more on that later... G)

Anti-Power - A Rant

Last evening my wife and I were out for dinner with two other couples during which my wife mentioned to one of the fellows that I had started a Blog. His response, I think understandably, was 'a place for him to rant'.

My wife tried to assure him that I tried to avoid ranting but I suspect it fell on deaf ears.

That aside, my note today is pure, unadulterated rant.

In our local city paper today appears a column by one of its notorious left-wing loons. Today she wastes her space by villifying nuclear as a suitable power source. In so doing she mentally adds nuclear to the dustbin of history along with the fossil fuels as perveyors of power to heat and light our homes and run our industries.

What's left?

Well the usual suspects - solar, wind, and water, but of course these are nowhere near sufficient to meet the demand.

What would they have us do?

Reduce our 'greedy' need for power by spiking the cost of power to unimaginable heights.

And what would this accomplish?

Less employment and a severe reduction in our standard of living. In short, less enjoyment of life.

Indeed, I believe these Loons are not a very happy lot - the only thing they take pleasure in is making the rest as unhappy as they are.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?

Give the free market its head. If one source of power gets too expensive, market mechanisms will kick in to find affordable alternatives. This may or may not entail nuclear, but let the marker decide the proper route to go. This is how things have worked so well in the past and will continue to work unless the politically correct get to decide otherwise.

And Government has a very important role in this. It must ensure that any potential damage to our environment is kept to an absolute mininum.

Progress and protection of the environment are not mutually exclusive.


"Galagher"

Eli - A Hard Working Politician

On a very positive note.

Last evening I attended a neighbourhood meeting in regard to concerns that a couple were offending the City's Zoning Bylaws with their establishment of a paint ball operation.

I won't get into the issues raised but suffice to say, the neighbours - especially those in close proximity of the p.b.o., were most upset.

Rather the point of today's Blog is to highlight the work ethic of our area's City Coucillor, Mr. Eli El-Chantiry.

Mr. El-Chantiry took time from his busy schedule to attend this evening meeting. Realize here that our city is cleaning up from torrential rains which flooded many its homes, some of which are located in this ward and accordingly, Mr. El-Chantiry is in very high demand. However he had made a promise to attend the meeting and he followed through on that promise.

Even though I have had lots of experience dealing with smaller town councils, I have had little contact with city councillors and in this regard was most impressed with how Eli conducted himself last evening. (I had heard by the grapevine that he was a hardworking councillor but this was my first hand experience in seeing him in action). He was thoughtful and most sympathetic to the concerns expressed to him. He was most knowledgeable on the issues surrounding this matter and was forthcoming in his assessment of what should be done. All present were visibly impressed with him, including the writer.

What amazed me even more was the fact that Eli could actively participate in the meeting all the while he kept fielding and sending messages on his blackberry. It made me wonder if this guy ever relaxed. He's a work-horse.

More to the point, Mr. El-Chantiry represents the very best in a politician. Too often we lump them together and say such things as they (politicians) are only in it for themselves. They lie, mislead, and obfuscate; and those are some of the nicer things said.

It is refreshing therefore to see that there are still politicians like Eli for whom service to their public is still very much their life's mission.

Bravo Eli.


"Galagher"

An Idea To Control Civil Servant Wages / Benefits

In former years, wages and benefits for bureaucrats were to be less than those of the private sector on the understanding that the civil servant had greater job security. Today, the government worker has the best of both worlds.

When I say "bureacrat", I am referring to everyone who is paid from the public purse, at all three levels of government: departmental employees; teachers; police / fire; nurses; armed forces; etc. etc.

It has reached the point where it has gotten totally out of hand and these wages / benefits are in desparate need of being reined in - if for no other reason than to help reduce the ever-increasing tax load. I could give lots of examples but we all know in our own lives how out of whack things have become.

In a very real sense, the only party not present when negotiations take place between the government and the employees is the taxpayer and he or she is the only one that has actual money on the line. The employees present their claim for an increase, the government replies, a settlement is eventually reached and the citizen is stuck with the bill.

No doubt many of you who fall into the civil servant class are squirming with this analysis however, I too am a civil servant but I see the unfairness of expecting the hapless taxpayer to always pay up.

So what's the answer?

I like things simple - so I have come up with a very simple approach:

• Determine pay on the basis of multiples of the average mininum wage. New employees, summer students would receive pay at the first level - that is to say at minimum wage - say $9.00 per hour.
• Level 2 bureaucrats would receive 1.5 x the minimum wage or $13.50 per hour and this would continue until the Deputy Minister level - say level 11 where he or she would be paid 6 x the minimum wage or $54 which would total over $100,000 per year.
• There would be no more negotiations between two parties neither or whom have a stake in the outcome. As the minimum wage increased, so would the bureaucrats salary.
• Accordingly, Unions and various other Employee Associations would no longer be needed.
• Pensions would accrue in the same manner they do in the private sector. That is to say, Employees would be expected to contribute to their own RRSP and the government would match their contributions in accordance with the private sector standard.
• No more gold plated pensions that the humble taxpayer can only dream about and yet he is paying for it.

I was visiting friends in Belleville on the weekend - a chap I grew up with. His charming wife raised a very good question: "what happens when the government needs to hire professionals - such as lawyers or doctors, - they are going to expect more in remumeration?"

Good point, I countered - in such cases the need for such services would be tendered out on contract - just the same as if the government was buying pencils or toilet paper.

More on this later.

"Galagher"