A LOOK AHEAD TO 2018.....

OKAY WITH 2017 NICELY BEHIND US, LET'S LOOK AHEAD AND TRY TO DETERMINE WHAT'S IN STORE FOR US IN 2018.

AS FOR ME, I BELIEVE IT WILL BE MORE OF THE SAME.

IN OUR COUNTRY CANADA, OUR PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU WILL CONTINUE TO PROMOTE EVERY PROGRESSIVE POLICY THAT COMES DOWM THE PIKE.  AND IN DOING SO, HE WILL KEEP CANADA AN IRRELEVANCE ON THE WORLD STAGE.  MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR US CANADIANS WE WILL CONTINUE TO FALL SHORT OF OUR POTENTIAL.

THE COUNTRY TO OUR SOUTH, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WILL CONTINUE TO BE SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE WITH THE PROGRESSIVE LEFT HATING EVERYTHING TRUMP DOES OR DOES NOT DO... THEY SIMPLY HATE TRUMP.  FULL STOP. 

LIKE CANADA, EUROPE TOO WILL BUSY ITSELF WITH THE MUNDANE AND IN SO DOING WILL LEAVE THE HEAVY LIFTING ON THE WORLD STAGE TO THE UNITED STATES, CHINA AND RUSSIA. 

THE MIDDLE EAST, NOW THAT IT HAS BROKEN THE YOKE OF ISIS AND ITS WISH FOR A CALIPHATE, WILL CONTINUE TO WALLOW IN CHAOS.  RUSSIA AND IRAN WILL SEE TO THAT BY WORKING TOGETHER TO KEEP THIS AREA OF THE WORLD OFF-BALANCE.  THE US HAS BEEN RENDERED NEUTERED HERE FOR THE TIME-BEING. 

RUSSIA WILL LOOK FOR ANY OPPORTUNITY TO POUNCE ON FORMER USSR STATES SHOULD ONE OR MORE OF THEM SHOW SIGNS OF WEAKNESS.  NATO WILL HAVE TO KEEP ON BEING VIGILANTE. 

CHINA WILL CONTINUE TO FLEX ITS MUSCLES.

OKAY, ENOUGH OF MOTHERHOOD, NOW SOME SPECIFICS WHICH WILL INCLUDE MY OWN RATING OF BETWEEN 1 AND 3 IN REGARD TO LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY.


SO LET'S START WITH MY LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND WORK OUR WAY UP:

MY CITY OF OTTAWA will see our quadrennial Election (every 4 yrs)  FOR COUNCIL AND MAYOR TAKE PLACE THIS FALL. 

I do not know how many Councillors we have nor do I know many of their names.  I do know that the Councillor for my area is Allan Hubley and the Councillor for the area where I recently lived , Eli El-Chantiry are both are good guys and will win re-election easily.  The real action, as always, is the contest for Mayor and we in Ottawa have a good one.  Pundits joke that our Mayor Jim Watson would come to the 'opening of an envelope' if only asked. 

In his last election he gained over 76% of the popular vote and should do very well again in 2018.  Some 'heavy duty' names are being bandied around as potential opponents and although this may well reduce Watson's margin of victory should one or more decide to run... they will not threaten his ongoing reign.   My Rating 1:3  i.e. easy to predict

MY PROVINCE OF ONTARIO  will also see an Election in 2018..by law, it must be called no later than the 7th of June.

The Liberal Government under the Premiership of Kathleen Wynne and before her, Dalton McGuinty is one of the worst, if not the worst in Ontario History.  When the Liberals took power in 2003 Ontario was the economic engine of Canada, today it is a basket case labelled a 'Have Not Province'  and relying upon the largess of its sister provinces to help us pay the bills racked up by our out-of-control Liberals.  Our Province's Debt has gone up from $110 Billion in 2003 and today stands at $312 Billion.  Close to a 300% increase in just 14 years.  Unbelievable but true.

Also unbelievable but true is the fact that a sizable minority of Ontario's voters still plan to vote Liberal in the upcoming Election. The Liberals will lose though to the Progressive Conservatives under the anemic leadership of Patrick Brown.  It remains to be seen whether the Liberals will come in 3rd behind the New Democratic Party.   Rating 1:3.

• Plus I predict that both the Liberal Leader and the NDP Leader will not survive the year.   Rating  3:3

MY COUNTRY CANADA  Unfortunately Canada is not having an Election this year, I say 'unfortunately' since we have been led for 2 years by Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who sports the good looks of his mother, as well, it appears, he inherited her hippie brain.   Nothing wrong with that per se, but it does not make for good leadership.

 A few prediction involving Young Trudeau's Government for 2018:

1. His Finance Minister appointed along with great expectations will lose his post this year plus he will be through with politics.   Ratings 1:3 and 2:3
2. Liberal popularity will continue to remain flat.  Over the course of 2016 Party support stood at approx 47% which in our country is considered very high and guarantees majority government status. Today, at the beginning of 2018, their support is in the mid 30s with some reputable polls showing a Conservative victory if an Election were to be held now. The Conservative support at approximately 33% will rise over the course of the year.     Ratings  2:3 and 2:3.
3. The current NAFTA Trade Talks between Canada, the US and Mexico will continue to spin its wheels resulting in no successful conclusion in 2018.   Rating  2:3.
4. There is even a good chance that President Trump will actually pull out of these NAFTA TALKS.  There are two major reasons for this: first Trump foolishly prides himself on being an isolationist and it follows that he is not an admirer of Trade Pacts.  Second, our Prime Minister has laced these talks with demands that have zip to do with Free Trade: things like Measures to Fight Climate Change, as well as Native, Gender, and Human Rights.  With mid-term elections coming at the end of this year, I predict he will pull the plug on these talks.   Rating 3:3
5. Like their Liberal Cousins in Ontario, the Federal Liberals love Debt and Deficits.  Trudeau campaigned on actually running an annual debt of $10 Billion during his administration.  Upon attaining office, he up the anty to $30 Billion per year.  I predict that his misguided policy will continue unabated throughout 2018 and beyond.    Rating 1:3.                          (The Conservative Party does not have clean hands here either.  They were the Governing Party during the 10 years prior to Trudeau and during that time added over $150 Billion Dollars to the National Debt.)
6. Canada has large pools of in-ground oil especially in the Province of Alberta and to a lesser extent Saskatchewan.  The big problem we have is that we lack sufficient pipelines to take our oil to market.  Trudeau professes to support pipeline construction...albeit reluctantly, but I do not see any new pipeline construction for this coming year even though oil is one of the few pluses our country has economically speaking.    Rating 1:3

The United States of America   Our neighbour to the south.

Their Big Issues for 2018, as I see them, include the following:  Obama Care, Major Infrastructure Spending, Immigration Reform, Military Rebuild, North Korea, Iran, the Wall, Trump's Survival and November`s Congressional Elections:

1. Obama Care will limp around if for no other reason than the Democrats will await the outcome of November's Congressional Elections.  It is going to take the 2 Parties working together to undo the damage done to their health system.   Rating 1.5 : 3
2. Infrastructure Spending will not occur on any serious scale since America is broke and the Republicans have to overspend in the neglected area of Defence.  They cannot do both.  (There is away they can do both - ie privatize Infrastructure Projects but that too won't happen.)   Rating 2.5 : 3
3. Improvements to their Immigration System will continue over the year to the consternation of the Dems.  That said, with the Congressional Elections in November, Democratic opposition will be noticeably muted.   Rating 1.5 : 3
4. Military Spending will continue to rise, again to the chagrin of the Democrats.  Trump will find the money which when you think about it is a little out of character for a person who claims to be an isolationist.  Rating 1.5: 3
5. North Korea will continue to be the world's primary evil doer. I predict that its Leader...The Yung-un, will not survive the year.  (I know I can hear many of you now saying that I predicted this would happen last year...to which I say, one of these years I will be right).   Rating 2.5 :3 
6. Iran may not be the primary evil doer as I have classed North Korea but it remains this year, as it has for many years past the most dangerous country in the world. As an Ally of Russia it is virtually untouchable in the immediate future.  The only faint hope in the short term is that its own people rise up and replace their twisted Theocracy.  I predict it will not happen this year.   Rating 2:3
7. The Wall is going to continue to be built despite recent mutterings by Trump`s Chief of Staff that they are having second thoughts.  Kelly may well be having second thoughts but Trump is not.  If he wants to keep his job, Kelly needs to be more careful with his gratuitous ramblings.  Rating 2:3
8. Trump will not last the year ...so many believe.  They of course said the same thing throughout 2017.  When we usher in 2019, the world will do so along with President Trump.   Rating .5:3 (that`s point five out of three)
9. Finally, I`d be remiss if I did not include something here about the November Elections.  To be quite frank with you I do not know how these Elections will turn out.  It is too far in the future.  I do know that as of right now everything is up for grabs.  I am a strong believer in polls and as such await the polling numbers that come out in the days leading up to Election Day.  I will though venture some guesses - First that the House of Representatives will retain a Republican Majority,  Rating 1.5:3    And although I personally hope not, the Democrats will regain majority status in the Senate. Rating 2:3   

Europe including Great Britain

This will be the final area that I will pontificate on.  Other countries in the news such as China, Russia, Iran and so on have been covered more or less indirectly above.

• Europe Generally will polarize between the alt right and ISIS and their ilk.  Although both sides are loathsome, the former`s rise is directly due to the Terror inflicted by the latter.  This has been allowed to happen by Europe`s open borders and its inability to prevent cultural ghettos.  It will be much more bloody than last year.   Rating 1:3
•  The days of majority government are over for the foreseeable future.  Rating 1:3
• The Prime Minister of Great Britain and the Chancellor of Germany have no future and are just marking time.  They may well make it through this year but will not be around when 2019 comes to an end.   No Rating
• As noted above, for the most part Europe is a non-player even though it is needed more than ever with the rise of China and Russia and the financial troubles of the USA.  Sooner or later they will have to get off their collective duffs and join the fray but it ain`t going to happen in 2018.  No Rating

So there you have my thoughts ...gloomy as they may be, for the coming year.  They relate to Leadership throughout the world which too often is found wanting. 

But for individual families and friends, especially those living in the West, things are pretty darn good and will stay that way over 2018 and beyond.  We are collectively so fortunate.

So keep the faith, love God and your fellows and don't forget those who have so much less than we do.

As I See It...   

'K.D. Galagher'

MY ANNUAL LOOK-BACK... AT 2017...

From the perspective of my New Year's Predictions.

This always provides me with some trepidation as you might well imagine...and where I blew it...I will 'man-up' to having done so.

As a reminder, my focus for this past year's prognostications continued to be on matters of international interest / import given that the promise of our Prime Minister of 2 years to "Bring Canada Back",  has actually taken us out of play in the World Arena. 

I have included my Blog from a year ago in its entirety and where I have felt it necessary, have included comments in bold italics.

Here Goes:

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.   I blew it here, not because peace did not break out in Syria...it did, but it came about as a result of a coalition between Russia (Putin) and the United States (Trump) that defeated the ISIS army and its desired Caliphate.  That said, I was not totally wrong either since Russia / Putin is well entrenched in the affairs of Syria and indeed in much of the Middle East due to Obama's ineptitude.

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.  Again I believe I read this one correctly. Trump may well be a loose cannon but he does not suffer gladly thugs and henchmen (even though many of you will say he is one himself).  In regard to Putin, I blew it here since I thought that by now they'd be at each others' throats but this will come about if Putin tries any funny business in the olde Eastern Europe.  More on this in by coming Blog for 2018.

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.  The Donald pulled out of the Paris Accord, need I say more.

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.  I hit this one on the mark albeit the reduction in tax was somewhat less than I had predicted.  This is the reason that the DOW Jones rose over 7,000 points over the course of 2017...a simply staggering number.  And it will go even higher for the foreseeable future.  

5.  The American Dollar will be strong throughout 2017 compared to other currencies.  Mostly true.

6.  The Keystone XL Pipeline will finally get Presidential approval. It happened this past March.  It will mean thousands of jobs for America and will bring the day closer for North America to be energy self-sufficient. 

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.   I am going to say I blew it big time here because I thought Trump and the Republicans would deep six O.C. but they were not able to.  Plus, I do not think what they were suggesting as a replacement was any better.   It is obvious that it will take Dems and Rep working together to fix things but the likelihood of that happening does not seem to be in the cards.

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. The Trump administration is indeed more Religion Friendly and funding for Planned Parenthood was scotched. 

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.  The Wall is going up and illegal migration is way down some say by as much as 70+%.  Once the Wall is completed, it will drop even further.  A country that cannot or will not police its borders is not protecting its citizens.  Trump has yet to say how he will have Mexico pay for the Wall but I suspect this will still come about. 

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.   This one will have to be left for 2018 too since Trump is still on record saying he will accomplish this.  With the Debt so high and more big money being spent on the Military, I still see this as unlikely to happen.

11.  On Free Trade, Trump has indicated that he will rewrite them in favour of American interests. Here again I am 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.   The Jury is also still out on this one and the outcome will have to await into 2018.  Reports though indicate that negotiations are strained.  The only true free-trader amongst the 3 countries appears to be Mexico. Now that tells us something.

Other Predictions Regardless of Trump:

12.  Gold will tread water where it currently is - $1,100 per oz range.   Gold averaged slightly higher ...$1,200 per oz but no one grew rich in investing in gold over the course of 2017. As we enter 2018 it is creeping higher so we'll see if it has legs after a long period of moving sideways.

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.  Again true, since oil averaged in the $50 range throughout 2017.  As we enter 2018 it is beginning to enter into the 60 dollar range due to the populace rising up in Iran.


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.
Another I 'blew it'.  ISIS stands defeated as an army but trouble galore awaits Iraq for 2018 and beyond. I did not predict a breakup of Iraq in 2017 and am not going to suggest it for the coming year but I am convinced that a long lasting peace there awaits such a division.

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.    True, True, True.

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.  Mostly true.  Putin is still trying to destabilize Ukraine but has his hands full trying to insert himself deeper into the politics of the Middle East.

17.  Sunnis Nations such as Saudi Arabia will intensify their efforts to obtain nuclear weapons.  True as per the report of the Washington based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS).  I might suggest to this organization that it find another acronym.  In addition, Saudi Arabia announced in 2017 that it is planning to build 16 Nuclear Reactors at a cost of over $80 Billion Dollars.  A new Nuclear Armament Race has begun thanks to Iran and North Korea.  

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.   Sort of blew it... but the September 24th Election left Ms. Merkel in minority government status.  Into 2018 she is still desperately trying to mend together a coalition.  I still believe time is running out for Germany's 'Mutti'.

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. Again True.  The Big Three, Britain (well into leaving the EU) Germany (preoccupied with seeking a working Government) and France (testing Government run by a non-traditional Party) is a recipe for disaster.  The EU, like our Canada is happy to take a back seat to Russia, China and the United States. 

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. Trump did indeed change his tune saying now that NATO is indeed a vital organization to world peace.  He has outed member nations for not paying their fair share and although I had trouble finding hard data, at least more and more members are promising to expend more on their defence budgets.  Time will tell.  I did not predict a name change or membership enhancement for NATO...merely that that would make sense and I believe in the not too distant future this will indeed happen since with the rise of China, the United States can no longer play Policeman for the world even with a diminished NATO.

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.  At the beginning of 2017 the Pound Sterling could purchase 82.03 cents US.  It declined all year and by year's end was down to 73.55 cents US.  It is not likely to do any better in 2018 and quite possibly even worse.

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.   As we end 2017, China is a big a threat as ever to its neighbours and beyond.  Fortunately for it, the world's attention has been focused on the antics of North Korea allowing China to fad into the background.  I was wrong to even think that China would invade Taiwan and believe this will hold for the coming year.  As its military power continues to grow however, I would not be too comfortable if I was Taiwanese.  

                                    -----------------

There is one other prediction I made later in the year that did not come to fruition either and that was my statement to the effect that the Yung-un of North Korea would not survive to see the New Year.  He did and I was wrong.  Maybe the olde saw 'The Devil Takes Care Of His Own' is alive and well. 

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.     Check

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.  

Bottom-line:  I do not think I did very well in regard to my above predictions.  You can grade me if you wish.  Hopefully I will be able to redeem myself in 2018 !!

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

PART TWO ...JUSTIN'S BROKEN ELECTION PROMISES...

AT  LAST !!   SORRY  ABOUT  THAT.

THE TRUTH IS I HAVE NOT BEEN THAT ANXIOUS TO GET INTO THIS; I AM SIMPLY FED UP WITH THE ANTICS OF THE PROGRESSIVES AND YOUNG TRUDEAU IS VERY MUCH OF THAT PERSUASION.

I AM GOING TO TACKLE THIS PART BY SUMMING UP WHAT THE YOUNG FELLA HAS DONE, IN A GENERAL SENSE, OVER THE COURSE OF HIS FIRST TWO (2) YEARS IN POWER. 

IF YOU BELIEVE I AM TOO GENERAL PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME FOR SPECIFICS WHICH I WILL BE GLAD TO PROVIDE TO YOU 'CHAPTER AND VERSE'.  I ALSO PROMISE TO PUBLISH SOME OF THE BETTER ONES RECEIVED.

So here goes:

1. He purports to run a free, open, and transparent Government and yet he does not allow his Members to have beliefs in keeping with their consciences such as being Pro-life.
2. He is on track to have his Government run deficits well into the late 20's and beyond.  If you are in your 50s it will rest solely with your children and their children to pay of his Debt.  And heaven help Canada if Interest Rates start to go up as go up they will.
3. He is far too sympathetic with the Islamist Jihadists...let me count the ways...
4. He is decimating the fighting ability of our Armed Forces...for instance Canada is still relying upon its Sea King Helicopters that should have been put out to pasture well over 30 years ago. The truth is Progressives have no use for military spending. 
5. He has not met a Pipeline that he likes and yet it is by far the safest way to port oil and, simply stated, Canada is shooting itself in the foot by keeping its oil in the ground.  You can just see the smiles on the faces of the Saudis.
6. He has swallowed the cool-aide by becoming one of the world's greatest proponents for 'Climate Change Funding'.  Here we are talking about a harmless, colourless, odourless gas that trees need to breathe-in to produce oxygen.  With so much forest, Canada is a net contributor of oxygen.  His stand is costing our Country $billions and $billions of $dollars and all for nought.
7. He professes to believe in Free Trade and yet he does everything in his power to scuttle the chances for such. Take his insistence on introducing non-free trade provisions into the North American Free Trade Negotiations such a gender equality, environmental objectives, human rights and the like.  He did the same thing in his failed talks with China and he ungraciously turned his back on Pacific Rim Trade Talks*. We cannot even have free trade with our self due to the barriers between our 10 Provinces. 
8. He reneged on his Election Promise to reduce the Small Business Tax and then compounded it by recently imposing new requirements that severely limit the deductions Small Business can claim.  Progressives hate Business and to them 'Profit' is a bad word.  You have to wonder who they think pays their inflated salaries and benefits.
9. He gets sucked in by every Aboriginal Demand no matter how silly. For instance, he naively accepted all 94 Recommendations of the Native's Truth and Reconciliation Commission...one of which Trudeau's promise to have Pope Francis apologize for Residential Schools.  Note to YT, ...the Residential Schools were a matter of Government Policy.  Note to Natives, ...until you collectively look into the mirror for someone to blame, you are never going to progress.
10. The Young Feller is quite uneasy about calling Female Genital Mutilation a Barbaric Practice.  You just cannot make this stuff up.   Here is what another great columnist had to say about this abhorrent practice:

Use the term 'Barbaric'

Candice Malcolm is spot-on as she usually is on any subject in her recent column on female genital mutilation.  If this is not a barbaric practice, then I would love to know what is?

If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his gang cannot use the word "barbaric" to describe this disgusting attack on young women, it says a lot about them and their morals.

Anything to with Sharia law, including FGM, honour killings, forced marriages, face coverings etc should be strongly criticized in documentation given to prospective individuals immigrating to Canada.  

It should be emphasized that these inhumane ideas will not be tolerated in Canada.


*Re number 7 ...could it be Trudeau's walk out on the Pacific Trade deal and the China rebuke are connected?   More on this in an upcoming Blog. 

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

JUSTIN TRUDEAU'S YEAR END REVIEW...A TWO PARTER.

At the beginning of this year I promised to do a Year-End Review in relation to the job Young Trudeau did throughout 2017.

Here is that review.

But first and just for the record, I also promised then not to deal with anything regarding YT or his Government over the course of 2017 for the simple reason that whatever they did / did not do... would matter a hoot in the scheme of World Affairs.

And for the most part I kept that promise finally breaking down in recent weeks in the face of mounting YT Stupidities.

I begin my year-end assessment with highly regarded columnist Andrew Coyne's year-end non-interview with the Young-guy:

December 20, 2017 11:00 PM

I seem to have been passed over, once again, for one of those “exclusive” year-end interviews Prime Minister Trudeau gives to CTV, Global News, TVA etc. etc. But I am not one to let a little thing like that stop me. Herewith my own exclusive interview with the prime minister, minus the prime minister.

Prime Minister, thank you for this. Might I just start with the news of the day? With regard to your holidays on the Aga Khan’s private island in the Caribbean, you’ve been found by the ethics commissioner to have broken the conflict of interest law in four places. Yet you face no penalties of any kind. You’ve said the decision should give Canadians confidence in the process. Why?

You claim you accepted his hospitality because he was a “close family friend.” Yet the ethics commissioner found you hadn’t seen him in 30 years, but for a hug at your father’s funeral. She seems quite clear the Aga Khan’s interest in you had more to do with your official position and his dealings with the government you lead. If she could see that, why couldn’t you?

While we are on the subject of conflicts of interest, you’ve defended your finance minister, Bill Morneau, in the matter of his ownership, through a numbered company, of shares in his family’s pension management firm, which stood to benefit from changes to pension rules he introduced. Your defence is that he worked with the ethics commissioner and followed her advice. Why didn’t you?

The revelation that Morneau, rather than divest the shares as required, kept them inside a private corporation, where he would pay less tax on them, came just as your government was proposing to crack down on people who set up private corporations to avoid tax — though not in ways that would affect him. Or you, for that matter, notwithstanding your own use of private corporations. Did it not occur to you this might look a bit, I don’t know, two-faced? Or did you think no one would notice?

The opposition is demanding Morneau disclose what else he holds inside his numbered companies. Will he? Will you? More broadly, how does your affinity for private fundraisers with Chinese billionaires and private island holidays with other billionaires, not to say your own wealth, square with your professed devotion to the interests and concerns of the middle class?

Talking of billionaires, you’ve set great stock in developing a warm personal relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, notwithstanding your many political differences. You went so far as to participate in a photo-op showcasing the president’s commitment to women in business, even as he was accused of having sexually assaulted a number of women. A senior adviser, meanwhile, claimed to be kindred spirits with Steve Bannon. Leaving aside questions of taste, what is the evidence this campaign has paid off?

Negotiations on “updating” NAFTA seem to be going nowhere. What is your plan B in the event the talks collapse altogether? How does your failure to secure alternative trade arrangements, with either the Trans-Pacific Partnership or China, fit with that?

The China initiative foundered on your attempt to impose upon China the latest Liberal party orthodoxy in matters of gender rights and the environment. Yet you seem less concerned about China’s predations on our soil — greenlighting Chinese takeovers of Canadian firms without proper security reviews, even signalling a willingness to discuss an extradition treaty. Just what is your bottom line when it comes to trade with China?

The U.S. has just slashed its effective corporate tax rate almost in half, among other significant changes that experts say eliminates our competitive advantage. How will you respond? Is it time for fundamental tax reform?

If you had to do it all over, would you still have kicked those Liberal senators out of caucus?
With regard to defence, the platform promised two, mutually incompatible things: that you would hold an “open and transparent” competition to replace the fleet of CF-18 fighter jets, and that you would not choose the F-35. Which of those is still operative?

Cancelling a plan to buy Boeing planes as a temporary stopgap, you said you would not do business with companies that were “suing us,” by which you meant Boeing’s complaint before the U.S. International Trade Commission with regard to Bombardier’s C-Series passenger jet. How is the C-Series, now majority-owned by Airbus and to be assembled in Alabama, “us”?

The fall economic statement showed revenues for the current fiscal year at almost exactly the level projected in the Conservatives’ last budget. Yet instead of a small surplus, as the Conservatives had it, the government is running a deficit of roughly $20 billion. In the past you’ve blamed the Tories for the deficit, but it’s pretty clear now it’s your own work, isn’t it?

Your government has broken several important promises from the platform on which you campaigned in the past election, notably on electoral reform and balanced budgets. No doubt you will make new promises in the next election campaign. Why should Canadians believe you would be any more likely to keep them?
                                                               ...............................

Next... Part Two and His Broken Election Promises.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

MECCA

The non-religious definition of which is as follows:

• a place that attracts people of a particular group or with a particular interest
  
  

In that light, our country is a Mecca for Islamic Terrorists.

Non-Canadian Readers will find it hard to believe what I am about to tell you.

The going rate here in Canada for a confessed Islamic Terrorist is Ten Million Dollars.  This is what our country paid to Omar Khadr who confessed to killing an American Medic and Blinding one of his Comrades in a firefight in Afghanistan.

Why so you might well ask?

A Canadian Judge ruled that Canada marginally participated in an illegal interrogation of Khadr when he was a prisoner at Quantomino Bay in Cuba. It was enough though to warrant our Government to shower largess upon this Terrorist Killer.

Other similar big payouts have occurred here based upon equally suspect reasoning.

Too bad some of those windfalls did not reach the hands of those Allied Soldiers who were injured or to the families of those who lost love-ones at the hands of these inhuman jihadists.

But things are not getting better.  With the collapse of the ISIS Caliphate their fighters are like rats leave the sinking ship...so to speak and are returning to their native lands.

Including Canada.

Where we should be arresting them and keeping them from harming our citizenry, Canada welcomes them with open loving arms ...offering them rehabilitation and substantive living benefits.

But this does not surprise us Canadians since our soft on terrorists Prime Minister had the gall to chastise the previous Conservative Government for referring to Female Genital Mutilation as being a Barbarous Act...at that time he cold -heartily proclaimed that such language "did not convey responsible neutrality".

As you enter New York Harbour you find the Statute of Liberty which contains the famous quotation by Emma Lazarus:

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me."

The following could well be posted for the ISIS Returnees to Canada:

"Give us your ISIS baby killers, their rapists and their choppers off of heads, and we'll welcome them with open arms and most generous hospitality".

Only in Canada ....Pity.

As I see it...


'K.D. Galagher'

IS CHINA A WORTHY FREE TRADE PARTNER ?

JUST INCLUDING THE NAME CHINA IN A HEADLINE ENSURES THAT THAT COUNTRY BECOMES A MAJOR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN FOR MY BLOG'S READERSHIP.

IT IS ALWAYS GOOD FOR MY NUMBERS WHICH RECENTLY SURPASSED 120,000.

NOW BACK TO TODAY'S TOPIC.

No Group of Seven Nation has entered into a Free Trade Agreement with China though our country's Leader, Young Justin Trudeau made an unsuccessful attempt to do so this past week.

In fact, YT was sent home packing by Chinese President Xi King-pin with his proverbial tail between his legs.

What did the Young-un do to attract such a negative reaction from Xi...why he insisted that if a Free Trade Agreement was to be agreed upon between Canada and China, a host of Human Rights Provisions would have to be included.  

Trudeau was right to have tried to obtain an Agreement with China or with any other country for that matter since it leads to better products at cheaper prices and a general rise in employment in the Exporter and Importer Country alike.  This is especially vital to us since 85 % of our  Export Trade is with the United States and that country, under The Donald, is retreating into isolation. 

So we here in Canada desperately need to branch out and seek other world markets.

So it defies logic that Trudeau would attempt to add matters related to Human Rights when he knew or ought to have known that his demands would doom any such Free Trade Agreement with China  to failure.  YT did the same thing earlier this year at the launch of Free Trade Renewal between Canada, the United States and Mexico and not surprisingly, those talks are going very poorly.

This Fall, he inexplicably snubbed the Trans Pacific Free Trade Negotiations.  He is making Trump look like a piker when it comes to seeking isolation for his country.


Maybe this is because Trudeau, like his father before him, has not one tittle of business acumen flowing through his progressive veins.

You and I know, as the world grows smaller, freer trade has been instrumental in raising millions out of poverty. I will not though belabour explaining further why Free Trade is so advantageous to exporter and importer alike.  Nor will I get into stating again what true Free Trade consists of, rather, I wish to focus the balance of this Blog on why it is wrong to burden Free Trade Talks with Human Rights Issues and the like.

Admittedly, there is no doubt that China is one of the most evil nations when it comes to abusing its citizenry rights and Trudeau received much criticism at home here for even trying to negotiate with such an evil entity.

But, if Canada and the other Group of Seven Members were to only trade with fellow Democratic Countries that honour the Rule of Law, they would be limited to a number less than 30 bearing in mind there are nearly 200 member countries in the United Nations.

The West has to keep in mind that when people are starving, the last thing they worry about are their Human Rights... Trade though provides the way and means to raise those peoples out of poverty.  Then and only then can they concern themselves with the Rights and Freedoms we here in the West take for granted.  

And it is certainly working for China...

It is the world's number one exporter and in but a few years, their economy will be number one too, surpassing that of America's. 

And estimates state that its Middle Class now exceeds the entire population of the United States and as it continues to grow, China  will be forced to jettison its totalitarian ways.

So for the benefit of all, more Trade... not less is the answer to greater Prosperity and for greater Protection of Rights and Freedoms. That is not to say, that we in the West need twiddle our thumbs awaiting Free Trade to work its magic.  Indeed, it is being complimented by a host of other means to get recalcitrant bad actors to give up their evil ways. 

For instance, although the United Nations has taken much criticism in recent years for being ineffective, it is making progress in the promotion of Human Rights. And there are many other other World Forums dedicated to this as well including such NGOs as Amnesty International.

So back to our two Isolationists ...Trudeau and Trump and their race to the bottom.  Trump has an edge over us...the USA has the biggest domestic economy in the world.  Canada is tiny in comparison.  We'll hit bottom long before they do.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK....

DO YOU TOO NOTICE THAT WHENEVER TRAGEDY STRIKES THESE DAYS FROM THE MAYOR ON UP, THE SAME TIRED SHIBBOLETH'S ARE PARROTED, REGARDLESS THE CIRCUMSTANCES:

'I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THOSE BRAVE FIRST, SECOND, THIRD (AND SO ON), RESPONDERS' etc. etc.

Take the one that just occurred in New York City where the hapless Muslim Terrorist prematurely blew himself up.

Maybe all and sundry public officials should have led off by saying 'I would just like to thank the Terrorist for being an inept dolt when it comes to building pipe bombs'.

Or the Serial Killer in Tampa Florida who stupidly turned his gun over to a colleague in a Fast Food joint who then immediately took the gun to a police officer chowing down on doughnuts in her shop.

' I would just like to thank the brave McDonald's worker who, by turning her work colleague in, successfully put an end to the hunt for this totally deranged and indiscriminate killer'

Or back to New York and the recent murder of 8 cyclists by another Muslim Terrorist who was stopped when he drove his truck into an unsuspecting school bus.  So here we go...

'I would like to thank the Terrorist for being such a lousy driver and of course the driver of the school bus for being at the right place, at the right time'.

So just for the heck of it let's do a pretend scenario:

Setting- Mother and 3 year old Daughter are in their kitchen when the Mother notices that her daughter is about to touch a hot stove burner.

Mother acts quickly to block young Daughter's hand from being burned.

Word of this 'hits the streets' whereupon the following occurs.

Mayor - I would like to thank the first responders, including fire, ambulance, para meds and city police for their brave and rapid response in preventing what would likely have been a very tragic occurrence. Next,

Governor - I too would like to echo the Mayor's sagacious words but would be remiss if I did not especially single out the State Police, etc.  Next,

President - And don't for a minute forget the essential role played by the FBI, Homeland Security, the CIA and of course our dedicated and courageous Military.

Did you notice who is missing in all of this? 

The Mum of course.

There is no political mileage to be made by promoting her.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'