Premier Dalton McGuinty Told Me So .

As a vocal opponent of Dalton McGuinty in the lead up to the recent Ontario Election, I have vowed not to say a disparaging word about him given his stunning electoral victory; i.e. I was obviously out of sinc with my fellow Ontarians.

So in that vain, I want to relate some positive aspects about his new administration.

First on the Economic Front.

During the last Election, the Premier was at pains to promote the excellent job he and his fellow Liberals have done in preserving Ontario's economy and in creating jobs - both black and green jobs. He glossed over the fact that under his stewardship, Ontario had fallen to Have-Not Status but let us not be picky.

So the Good News. Reports out this week indicate that both the United States and Ontario have created about 70,000 full time jobs in October. Oh wait, the United States did but the papers report a negative 70,000 in the case of Ontario. A mere typo I am sure - Premier Dalton McGuinty told me so. Those same newspaper reports show Ontario's jobless numbers increasing but again they are not to be believed.

And Speaking of Green Jobs - you will well remember during the Campaign, Premier McGuinty held a press conference at one the new Green Manufacturers where he stated that Ontario's Green Policies have created 20,000 jobs on the way to 50,000. We were all so proud of our Premier, even when it came out the next day that the company where his news conference was held - was closed for want of business. A mere detail

But want I want to communicate to you today is another misleading newspaper account stating that a Green firm in St. Catharines called Silicon Knights upon receiving a large government grant - just laid off half of its work force. Lies, Lies and more Lies. Again, Premier McGuinty told me so.

As an aside, I really do not understand what has gotten into the media - they are usually so left wing and we should be able to count on them to put our Premier in proper light.

And then there is Hydro. Users began calling into the Talk Radio Stations - some in tears - saying that immediately after Election Day they began to receive letters from Hydro threatening to cut off their power. Many said that they even offered partial payment - since their bills were so high - but Hydro out and out rejected their offers.

Well dear reader, I know what is going on here too. Tories disguised as Hydro Consumers are clogging these shows with their false and misleading statements. Premier McGuinty told me so.

Well that's it for now. Rest assured I will continue to point out these frivolous yet spiteful attacks against our Premier as they continue to come to me attention.

And just remember, when you too come across them - bear in mind they are all false.

Premier McGuinty Told Us So.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galager'

Well So Much For Democracy...

Papandreou collapsed faster than a cheap card table in the face of Germany and France's dictum to drop the Referendum or face immediate expulsion from the EU.

So where does that leave the people of Greece?

Angrier than ever. They will not be allowed a say in the continued loss of their 'entitlements'.

More violence and bloodshed will follow.

As I said yesterday, with such major changes being imposed on Greek Society, it is only proper that its citizens have a direct say in what occurs.

Now they won't.

Not that it matters in regard to the eventual outcome though.

Either way, Greece will have to continue to reel in its spending. And either way - with or without a Referendum, Greece will most likely be dropped from the EU Club.

But at least with a Referendum, the Greek People would have a direct say in their future.

And with that, it would have mitigated the violent fallout and would have help the average Greek person to both accept and positively engage the needed austerity measures.

An opportunity lost.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

Beware of Greek Bearing ...

... A Dagger.

One just stabbed it into the back of his EU Colleagues - as in Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou.

And this just following Europe's months of contortions to reach a financial bailout for their Greek Member State.

Some friend.

But you know what - Papandreou is correct in what he is doing - too bad he let things drift so long before springing his plan; it would have saved much time and wasted energy.

But why do I say the PM is correct? Simply because it is the Democratic Way to do things.

Greece is in turmoil; strikes, riots and demonstrations by its citizens over draconian cuts to jobs, salaries, and pensions.

In a democracy, they should have the right to decide on such major developments via a Referendum.

As an aside, these draconian measures are coming our way too, as I have pointed out in many of my previous Blogs. We had a chance and indeed we still do to a lesser extent - to cushion the blow in regard to our so-called "Entitlements," but if we put it off much longer, we too will soon experience a Greek-like Collapse.

The EU is in shock by this development and are threatening Greece with expulsion.

Bear in Mind though, it would have happened anyway - even with the bailout and assuming Greece went along with it; - in the end, Greece's continuation in the EU Community was destined to failure given its dire economic position.

Now to the Referendum which is to be held within three or four months time.

But you know what ? - it will never be held.

There is no way in hell that Europe will put things on hold for that length of time awaiting Greece's decision.

Europe will move right away to give Greece an ultimatum - go with the Bailout or get the hell out the Union.

Greece will opt for the latter, since Papandreou has now boxed himself in with his Referendum Pledge.

And as I mentioned above, this would have eventually happened in any event; there is no way Europe would want to continue to extend needed future packages to this ailing country.

So Papandreou gets the best deal he can - his approach is democratic and cannot be faulted in that respect. Plus, he is currently vilified by his citizenry for imposing draconian measures and now the acceptance or rejection of those self same measures will fall to the voter for decision where they belong.

If a Referendum is held, it will not be on whether or not to remain in the EU - that decision will be made much sooner and certainly not by the Greeks themselves.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

I Have A Confession To Make...

And I do so at the real risk of having you think less of me .... if that's possible.



As you know, I am not a fan of Jogging - from my perspective it just wrecks one's knees and flattens your feet.



Perhaps it's my Scottish Background but I see most exercise, just the sake of exercise, to be a waste of precious time in the sense that if you have time to run around like a gerbil - why not do something useful like split a few cords of wood?



I know many of you will take great exception to this and I accept that.



But that's the lead-in to my Apology.



So here goes...


Rick Hansen has been in the news over the course of the last couple of days in regard to the 25th Anniversary of his World Sojourn in a Wheelchair. Quite a feat of strength by any standard.


So here is my Confession - I was not all that excited about his Achievement in the first place and continue to feel that way today. It was a waste of time and energy.



So there - think what you will, but I wanted to come clean with you.




And this applies to similar masochistic endeavours such as Terry Fox's run across Canada.




Do it for yourself if you will, but don't expect everyone to hoist you on a pedestal for the doing. It is a useless activity made all the more so by drawing it out.



I cannot deny that much good came of their struggles - millions of dollars were raised in the fight against cancer and spinal injury but did that warrant the glory and idolization that flowed from their running and wheel chairing?



Does it warrant the statutes placed across Canada?



What about real heroes such as Sir Frederick Banting and Dr. Charles Best who, in the 1920s, rather than raising millions of dollars, saved millions of lives through their important discovery of insulin in combating diabetes?


I think that we as a civilization have lost our way in determining who the Real Heroes of Society Are.


And speaking of Real Hereos - what about our young 20 year old soldier killed in Afghistan earlier this week. He never even got to meet his new baby girl saving our sorry butts back here in Canada.


For my money - I will go with Him and the Bantings and Bests of this world and leave the masochists to fellow joggers to cheer on.


I know, I know, ... I am hateful.


But as the younger generation would say - "Bite Me".


As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

























It is quite an accomplishment to roll yourself such a distance, but where I take exception is for the Roller to think he or she is entitled to other peoples' caring - just for the rolling. If Hansen or others had come to me first I would say to them 'if you really want to help others in your situation - go and help them directly or join their associations and do volunteer work'.













If he or she persisted in wanting to roll or walk or run or swim or whatever I'd say "fine" but do it for yourself - as a test for yourself - and not expect others to idolize you just for the doing.













People every day do specular things mostly because it is needed (i.e. useful). They do not expect glory for their actions - although it would not be out of place to give some to them.













But for those who set out to do what I find to be bordering on useless and then expect me to say Wow - that is another thing entirely.

Mirror Mirror On The Wall ...

Whose The Dirtiest Of Them All ?



As in Suppliers & Users of Dirty Oil that is.



At the writing of this Blog, Two Hearings are in progress - one in Europe, the other in Washington, both questioning whether or not to admit "Dirty Oil" from Canada's Oil Sands.



And, let's be frank, other than those engaged in the Oil Industry - world wide - no one particularly likes Oil - you and me included. But what's the Option?



Oil to the world economy, is like Blood to an Individual. It would make about as much sense to replace an ill person's blood with water or cola as it does to think you can successfully replace oil with wind or solar or whatever.



Some day yes - but not now or even in the foreseeable future.



Even those opposed to the Oil Sands, have to admit, albeit grudgingly, the validity of this statement.



But they continue to call our Oil "dirty".



So who is supplying them now.



We'll take Europe first.



About 60% of their oil comes from the Dictatorships of the Middle East. The remaining 40% originates in Russia a country that is slowly but surely slipping back into Totalitarian Rule.



Let's not even get into the Human Rights abuses committed by the Middle Eastern Countries, most notably against their women - but rather look at where Europe's purchase dollars end up. Simply stated - they help fund Islamic Terrorism. The same Terrorism that has raised its ugly head throughout Europe and will continue to increase as Muslim extremism grows.

And Russia. Hardly a reliable source of energy.

Russia has shown itself on several occasions actually and /or threatening to cut off their oil and gas pipelines to Europe for their petty political purposes. If things get tough - as they will, I would not want to be dependent on Putin to come through in the pinch.

Thankfully for us in Canada, the European Move against our "dirty" oil is but an Academic Exercise since we do not export much if any oil to them.

But then there is the United States, where nearly 100% of our Oil Exports go South of the Border.

Key elements there are fighting a planned major Pipeline from Alberta to the Texas Gulf for refining. Some one million barrels per day can be expected to flow through this line proposed by Trans Canada Pipeline.

Many there do not want it - primarily because our oil is dirty and "dirty" in the sense that it is mined via our 'tar sands'. Their secondary complaint is that the flow would be subject to spills that would damage the environment.

Good arguments both if the alternatives were better - but they of course are not.

They too get much of their oil from the Middle East and thus are equally guilty as are the Europeans in funding Terrorism. It is like paying a hit man to kill you.

In the matter of damage to the environment, the United States is also on flimsy ground. Few things are more dangerous to the environment than an Oil Tanker Spill. And 10 or so of these Super Tankers enter US waters each day delivering some 20 million barrels of oil. It is not a question of if, but rather when,one of these Tankers breaks up and spills its contents somewhere along America's coastlines. It has happened before in the case of the Exxon Valdez and will most certainly happen again.

Pipelines are safer. Dirty Oil from Canada does not fund killers.

To the United States we provide a safe and reliable source of their needed life blood.

Studies have shown that our Oil Reserves in Western Canada are equivalent to those of Saudi Arabia.

So what to do if the US does the unexpected and blocks our Oil. They won't of course but let's just pretend for a moment.

We here in Canada would not lose out since we have other customers for our oil exports primarily China and to a lesser extent Japan and India.

Trans Canada Pipeline could easily construct a line from Alberta through to the BC coast for transport to the Far East and that is what it would do if our source of oil export to the south disappeared (it won't remember we are just pretending here since America would not be that stupid).

And unlike the do-gooders in Europe and America who pretend to be 'Clean', China acknowledges that it is 'Dirty' and is not too proud to use our "Dirty Oil".

China knows that to get ahead it needs power - clean, dirty or indifferent and is willing to do what is needed to obtain it.

In that regard, China is not the hypocrit the other two are.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

Harper and Company....

Are doing a lot of Good Things.







Most recently of course, is the way in which they handled the Shipbuilding Contract. That is to say, they did not handle it but kept it at arms' length to insure that it was not subject to political interference as has been the case with all past Governments - Tory and Liberal alike.






Many of us remember Mulroney's fiasco 20 years ago concerning the CF-18 Contract that should have awarded to a Manitoba Company but went to a Quebec one instead. It was one of the major reasons for the birth of the Reform Party.







But less remembered, was the statement made at that time by his then Defence Minister Paul Dick who proffered that in order for a Province to get a piece of any DND Contract it would have to "partner with Quebec".



And of course the Liberals were even worse in pandering to La Belle Province.






But I do not for a minute rejoice in Quebec losing out in this round of contract issuance; I do though see it as being fair - a fair process for a change and fair in the sense that Quebec has always been unfairly favoured.






But that is not all the Tories should be thanked for. Let's look at a few others:




First on the Economy - granted it did extend both the Debt and the Deficit but it was pushed into doing so by the combined weight of the Libs, Dipers and Bloc. If rolls had been reversed, Canada's fiscal position today would be much worse and we would certainly not be fiscally the best amongst the G-7 nations as we currently are.


They have also significantly lowered the GST and Corporate Tax Rate. Both are job creators.




Second in regard to our Traditions / Heritage - they are restoring our links to the British Monarchy which Pierre Elliott was determined to abolish during his corrosive time in Office. In a multicultural world it is nice to have something to unite our combined focus.




Harper's appointment of the current Governor General has restored dignity to that Office. For the first time in years we have an occupant who understands the role's historic importance and acts accordingly.

In the area of Law - the Tories may not be totally correct, but they are well intentioned with their goal of putting the citizen and victim ahead of the interests of the criminal.

They have also devised an all Party process for the appointment of our top Judges. No longer are we stuck with Lawyers with an agenda being appointed to the Top Bench itching to make law as opposed to interpreting law as they should.

In Foreign Affairs - we are once again respected for having our own agenda and for "punching above our weight" (although I personally dislike that analogy). This is especially the case with our support of beleaguered Israel. Currently we are seen by Israel as their main world friend replacing the ever more unreliable USA.

The Bureaucracy - not since Paul Martin and Jean Chretien teamed up to help tame the Civil Service in the mid 90s has a Government attempted to get a handle on its out of control growth. Harper is making such an attempt now. Departments have been given strict reduction targets and the growth is finally beginning to recede.

Democracy - The Tories commitment to increase seat representation amongst Ontario, Alberta and BC, which have been under represented for many years, is also a plus. No other Party has the guts to make this adjustment despite the fact that Democracy demands it.

And last but not least -The Military. Harper has restored our Military which was allowed to languish in decline under countless Administrations - most notably Liberal. The Military has been modernized and continues to receive up-to-date equipment needed to do the job - planes, ships and tanks. We talked about ships and with our huge coastlines it makes imminent sense to have a fully functioning navy / coast guard. I have been a critic of the plan to purchase expensive new planes on the grounds that although they would be nice to have - they would be just too expensive. More recently though the Manufacturer has promised to keep the cost per plan at $65 million rather than the feared price of twice that amount. If that lesser sum can be nailed down - a price that experts say is less than the actual cost of construction, it would be a good deal for Canada. (The less than cost price can be explained by the Manufacturer's need to have volume of production in order to make the whole manufacturing process viable).

So when you start to itemize their list of accomplishments it is quite impressive.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

OBama Is Playing With ...

Matches.

With his support of the Occupy Wall Street Protest.

Since his Election, Obama's main way of Governing is to Blame Someone Else for any (his) Shortcomings.

He has certainly been doing this for sometime now in connection with the Stagnant US Economy and Ballooning Debt / Deficit.

Despite his wasted Expenditures and Harmful Policies, he finds Big Business and the Richest 1% to be to Blame. They have become the villains in the piece and Obama is hoping to ride this wave of Resentment back into the White House next year. It may be good politics for him - but disasterous for his country.

Part of Obama's divisive strategy is to support the Wall Street Protests; to lend them comfort and support. But all this is accomplishing is to split the country even more between those who blame Government for what ails America (i.e. the Tea Partyers) and those who blame the rich ( ie the Leftists represented by the Wall Street Protesting Crowd).

Some - (many) - Commentators, try to compare the two groups but there really is nothing similar about them. The Tea Party holds Government responsible since it sees Run-away Debt to be the cause of America's economic decline while the Wall Street Protesters blame Big Business for this decline. (It goes back to my recent Blog about the "two streets of protest" - Pennsylvania Avenue vs. Wall Street).

As you know, I happen to agree with the Tea Party, i.e. that it is Obama and Company (and Bush before him) that are to blame. State indebtedness is rampant right across the West and is paralysing governments from being able to take needed action.

But I am getting off topic.

One more thing though before I get back to my main message. It is interesting to note, that when the Tea Party was so influential in last November's Congressional Elections - the Left referred to them as being Racist. And yet, the Tea Party's main man today is Herman Cain - a Black Businessman who stands front and centre for the Tea Party Objectives even though he is Black. Rather undercuts the Left's labelling of Racist does it not?

Anyway I started off pointing out the danger in Obama's public support for the Occupy Wall Streeters s0 let's get back to it.

These people might be well intentioned but most are being dubbed. I say that because unlike the Tea Partyers who are middle peaceful America, the Occupiers are composed of a cross section of the Left which includes in their ranks anarchists, those fearful of losing entitlements, as well as the current majority who are simply looking for some attention and good times. It is a combination though that will in the end explode in violence.

And dear reader, make no mistake, that is exactly where these demonstrations are headed. All you need do is Look To Europe.

Right now the demonstrations for the most part have been peaceful - even fun for many. But the agitators are getting their ducks in order and those fearful of losing benefits when government cuts back, are going to get more and more worked up as time goes by. And given the support of their President, their sense of injustice will only intensify.

Look Out - it is coming and will sadly, spread to our fair country as well.

The sooner Obama is gone from office the better but even his going will not stop what is now in motion.

As I see it....

'K.D. Galagher'