HERE COME THE TRUCKERS

 AND FROM THE REACTION OF THE LEFT...THE PROGRESSIVES... YOU'D THINK IT WAS THE END OF THE WORLD.

They have called them every low-life name imaginable...even some well known Tories have joined this Chorus.

If the Truckers were Native, or Racialized, or Antifa...left wing anarchists...there would be not a word said in criticism from the Justin Trudeau's of this world.

Last Summer Antifa Terrorists took over whole American Cities and even their Mayors came out in support of them.  Barf.

The problem here is that the Truckers are viewed as coming from Right of Centre so they have to be bad and therefor condemned. Ottawa's Chief of Police is warning of violence which I would be very surprised to see happen.

Our Left Wing Media has been interviewing shop owners who express fear that their windows will be smashed and their contents stolen.  Horsefeathers. 

If I was a shop owner downtown I would welcome the Trucker Crowd since it will be the only crowd to seen downtown in over 2 years.  Ottawa is a Government Town and Government Employees are working at Home...downtown has become a ghost town. 

And this is not about Vaccines.  Even longtime Grit Backroomer  Warren Kinsella admits this in today's Ottawa Sun ...he correctly chalks it up to Anger on the part of Truckers and indeed more and more of our citizens who are fed up with needless lockdowns and scare tactics on the part of our Politicians and their backstop Doctors. 

The issue did though start off with vaccines and that fact that 10% or so of our International Drivers were and are unvaccinated.  They sit alone in their cabs and during Covid have struggled with an Impaired Supply Chain ... with their loss this will only get worse...much worse.

Lefties laugh at that and pretend it is all stuff and nonsense but of course they are wrong...dead wrong.

My wife Anne sent me to a nearby Loblaws Superstore the other day for Celery and Romaine Lettuce.  There was but one beaten up stalk of celery left which I grab before anyone else could do so.  The Romaine Lettuce was missing entirely. These items as we all know are mainstay staples. 

When I check out the cashier told me that in all her years working there the back storage rooms were always chalk-a-block full ...that morning she said there was not a stick of anything there to be had.

You have to pick your fights and for this one it was not the time to do it.  The Only Reason for it ...I Say again the Only Reason for it - was because it gave our Esteemed Prime Minister another opportunity to bad mouth Conservatives.  He has shown Himself over the course of His 6 years in Power that He never passes up and opportunity to Diss the Right.  And to Hell with the consequences. 

When you go looking for the missing Lettuce and missing Celery at your nearest grocery store ...be sure to keep this in mind.

As I See It...

'K.D. Bell'

 

IT FEELS LIKE THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS ALL OVER AGAIN...

I am speaking of course of the massive Russian buildup on the eastern border of the Ukraine.

But though there are indeed some similarities between these two crises, they are by and large not the same.

So back to the Missile Crisis...Over the course of the middle parts of October and November 1962, when I was a mere pup of 14, the World literally held its collective breath expecting nuclear war to break out at any moment.  School Children throughout North America held drills consisting of hiding under their desks.  My lovely grandson Patrick and I saw a picture of this in Canada's War Memorial and in his owns words summed up what it was "that would protect them for up to two (2) minutes Grandpa".  I am not sure it would even protect them that long but he was bang on about the ineffectiveness of it all. 

I believe this had a lot to do with the fact that World War Two had not long ended plus the horror of Nagasaki and Hiroshima were still fresh visions in everyone's'  minds. 

A brief background...America discovered that Russia had placed nuclear weapons on nearby Cuba only some 250 nautical miles off the coast of Florida...well within range of the entire US Coast and even Canada.  President John Kennedy was in the second of his first 4 year term...a term that he tragically would not finish.  His Top Generals urged him to invade Cuba asap and blast the heck out of these Russian Soldiers and Their Deadly Weaponry.

To Kennedy's credit he did not follow their advice and in his thinking had the help of Brother Bobby who he had made Attourney General.  I say thankfully, since after the fact it was confirmed that the Russian Soldiers embedded in Cuba had strict orders that if they were fired upon they were expected to return fire with their nuclear arsenal.

Instead, Kennedy had a blockade established that surrounded Cuba and stayed the course while Russian Ships with reinforcement and more weaponry ploughed through the waters of the Atlantic toward them.

Who would blink first was the thought and worry of the day.

Fortunately Russia did under the Leadership of Nikita Khrushchev.  The Russian Fleet turned back, their Nuclear Weapons were returned to Russia and the rest, as they say, is History. 

So what is different this time?  First off it does not appear to have caught the attention of the man in street.  Most certainly reports from the United States suggests most view this as a European matter so why should we get involved.  

But this feeling is not just an American phenomenon... it is prevalent in Europe as well.  Germany is more concerned with offending the Russian since it could very easily jeopardize their gas supplies.  France has expressed similar concerns.   And British Boris Johnson is up to his neck in alligators and those gators have nothing to do with either Russia or the Ukraine.

NATO's response has been simply anemic and as I have said since before the time that Russia seized Ukraine's Crimea in 2014, they should have flooded the Ukraine with both troops and weaponry.  They have done neither and that remains the case right up to now when no better authority than America's own President Joe 'the Schmoe' Biden says that he expects Russia to soon invade.  (I know...I just couldn't resist).

Last week, I listened to Biden's first Press Conference held in eons - I can hear your surprise given that I am known to consistently turn the channel when I first see a Politician's Lips begin to move...I know they are lying and moreover know it too. So why did I endure over 2 hours of bafflegab?  Chalk it up to Ghoulish Curiosity...I had heard so many comments about Biden being in the early stages of Dementia I wanted to see for myself.  But in the end,  no real signs of Dementia but it was the most bizarre Q & A , I have ever witnessed.

For instance, He allowed that Russia was likely to invade the Ukraine and even posited that it would likely come down to "which side of the bed Putin woke up on" on any given morning.  He did not leave it there saying that it might be quite okay if Russia was to undertake "a minor incursion" whatever that would amount to.  And this with the knowledge of what Russia did with regard to the Crimea.

How did this Guy ever get to be in the highest most powerful office of the World?  

And sadly,  Leadership is also lacking in all other Democracies as well.

Okay, so much for the differences, I began by saying there are some comparisons to the Cuban Missile Crisis ...so what are they?

Not many but the main ones the two major antagonists are once again Russia and the United States.

The other similarity is the fact that Nuclear War is at risk but this time around it would be far worse than it would have been some 60 years ago.  Indeed, an all out conflagration could very well spell the end of mankind.  

I said at the beginning that there are lots of differences between these two crises...the current one is by far and away the most dangerous and it is not all due to the Nuclear Danger.  For a better understanding of what I mean, I refer you to my recent Blog ...dated January 9th and entitled 'NATO'.

As I continue to See It...

'K.D. Bell' 

THE APPLE DID NOT FALL FAR FROM THE TREE...

 AS IN TRUDEAU SENIOR AND HIS SON JUSTIN.

BOTH HAVE UTTER CONTEMPT FOR THE ECONOMY WHICH IS NOT SURPRISING WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE FACT THAT BOTH WERE TRUST FUND BABIES.

The Irony in this is that Pierre's father and Justin's Grandfather made his money...the source of their Trust Fund - from the now discredited oil and gas industry. 

In the late 70s / early 80s Interest Rates topped out at 22%.  I was a practicing lawyer in Northumberland County and had clients losing their homes and their farms.  I was also heavily involved in the County's Conservative Politics and due to that it did not take much to convince me to go to work for the Federal Progressive Conservative Party to help in seeing an end to dear Pierre Elliott.  The General Election that followed saw Pierre's Liberal Party go down to one of the biggest defeats in Canadian History...Pierre Himself ducked the vote...took a Walk In The Snow and thus avoided the ignominy of defeat by the skin of His teeth.  

What upset me so much about the Sr. was His total non-interest...almost distain for all things related to the economy.  In one of his few trips out West he insulted our hard-working Grain Farmers telling them "Why Should I Sell Your Wheat"?

Instead His total preoccupation was all about the Constitution and in His opinion it needed to be repatriated from Mother Country England.  Cold comfort for those losing their properties due to the staggering high cost of living. 

And that brings me to the Son ...the apple that did not fall far from the Tree.  

Trudeau the Younger, if it is even possible, has more distain for the Economy than His Father did - He  believes "Budgets Balance Themselves" and during the recent Election had the temerity to say "if re-elected ...you'll forgive me if I don't think about Monetary Policy". 

I can believe that ...But it gets even worse ...much worse.

The real tragedy in the way the Younger runs Canada is that in every way ...including the economy we should be doing better...much better.  We have a relatively small population living in a vast country with oodles of resources...minerals, oil and gas, forestry and agricultural ...we should be the richest citizens on earth but in that we come in at 19th...Luxembourg is number one with well over twice the income for each of their citizens compared with Canada.  What is it with the Trudeau's who worked and currently work so hard to see our Economy Falter? 

Since first elected a mere 6 years ago, He has wrung up massive Deficits and our Debt stands right now at $1,200 Billion...double the $612 Billion it was 2015.  Incredible.  Canada's debt / deficit problems began with Sr. and as you can see have been greatly exacerbated under the tutelage of the Younger. 

His Father said 'why should I sell your Wheat' while the Son says Why Should I Sell Your Oil and Gas. But of course it is much worse than just mere words ...Trudeau has done everything he possibly can to shutter this Industry which is so important to the Economic Welfare of our Entire Nation.

Related to this is the Total Folly of His Green Energy Program.  It is doomed to failure and yet is contributing as well to the beggaring of our Economy. 

And as each month goes by, the Cost of Living rises ..today's number came in at 4.8% the highest it has been since 1991 and for food it is a staggering 5.7%.  Economists believe those numbers are headed higher.  

So at a time of much higher food prices we are experiencing Empty Grocery Store Shelves due to the breakdown in the Supply Chains.   And to add insult to injury He has imposed Mandatory Vaccination on our Truckers.  So if you think shelves are empty now and prices too high..you ain't seen nothing yet.

As an update...in today's Ottawa Sun the President of the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada had this to say:   Governments are supposed to provide clarity and calmness ...and what has gone on is nothing but chaos and confusion.

If I was still living in Brighton I would be tempted once again to come to Ottawa to help defeat the Son but sadly know that unlike 1984 if an Election was to be held now...Justin would likely win again. 

Unbelievable but True.

Apples anyone ? ...assuming they are available and are affordable. 

As I See It...

'K. D. Bell' 

 

 

QUEBEC'S PROPOSED TAX ON THE UNVACCINATED...

An Update:  I was too generous in my praise of Mr. O'Toole below.  In looking more closely at what he said about Quebec's stand on the Unvaxxed - he said that while he personally opposed its stance he understood that Quebec has the independence to do that if it wishes.   Hog Wash - typical splitting hairs that O'Toole is well known for. Canadians must have the same rights from Coast to Coast and our Political Leaders need to be brave enough to stand up and say just that.    

A dumb idea but one that it appears the majority of Canadians favour.

It is interesting to note though that Conservative Columnists mostly seem to be opposed as do the Tory Premiers.  

Even Opposition Tory Leader Erin O'Toole has come out against it which is refreshing for me since up till now he has been loath to criticize the Quebec Government.   O'Toole is also against requiring our Truckers to be vaccinated in order to cross back into Canada.  Another smart move since our Supply Systems are already in terrible shape without having this added to the mess.  I was out grocery shopping today and everything...I mean everything,  continues to spike in price along with lots and lots of unstocked shelves. 

So O'Toole now has Two Issues he needs to Milk to the Hilt.  Let's see how He does. 

So we all know the case against what Quebec is proposing ...no point regurgitating that other than to point out it is a slippery slope when people get penalized for their choices medically speaking and for their health choices in general.

I will though deal with my own case...I am a Diabetic and for the most part have kept it under control.  It often goes hand in hand with weight gain and again I am guilty as charged though several heart attacks have worked wonders in bringing those numbers down.  That said, you could say 'Keith it is your own fault you contracting diabetes so if you get ill because of it...you will be on your own when it comes to paying the medical bills'.    I already pay a price in that I am not insurable but if you apply Quebec's Premier's logic to my case...it would be tough luck for me.

I could say...but would not ...that their Premier too is a bit on the heavy side.

Our Health System is faulty and not because of the unvaxxed.  It needs to be reformed to include the best from both the Public and Private Sectors all under the one Umbrella of Universal Care.  The United States has just the opposite problem ...It is all Private and its users get the quickest and best treatment but those users must be rich ...they need to incorporate the Public Sector in their Care.  Many countries in Europe have better Health Care than either of use because their care is a combination of both.

I often speak of the poor young woman in Florida who told me that she had a temperature of 105 (F) but could not afford the $6,000 deduction payment required by her Insurance Company so she spend days on end in a cold water bath to help keep her temperature under control.

So let's stop the nonsense and get on with real reform of our Health Care before the next Pandemic raises its ugly head. 

As I See It...

'K.D. Bell'

IS DEMOCRACY DYING ? PLUS ONE MORE...

 I have written of late of the decline of Democracy ...all across the World and even here in Canada.

This past week an article appeared in the National Post by columnist Tom Blackwell which backs my assertion.  His article begins by documenting the perils faced by Rwanda Canadian David Himbara who believes he is being targeted by authorities residing in his country of birth...Rwanda.  He fears for his life and Blackwell documents well his concerns. We have heard other accounts of Chinese Canadians too being harassed by their former homeland. 

The article goes on to cite a number of of democracies around the world that appear to be crumbling in this time of growing autocracies and left wing politics.  He states: the 2,000s were billed as the century of democracy...they have become almost the opposite.

He specifically names several including: Latin America...especially Nicaragua and Venezuela, Europe, Africa, East Asia, Philippines and Hungary.   Even with India he finds that it is suppressing freedoms as our own Priest told me not that long ago.  He hails from India and told me the number of assaults on Christians by the Hindus has risen dramatically in recent years and the Hindus control the national government. And then you have China stealing the last vestiges of freedom from Hong Kong and is now looking wantonly at Taiwan.  

Accordingly the World is becoming quickly less and less free and safe. 

Freedom House is quoted as stating that the number of not-free countries is the highest it has been since it started doing its report some 15 years ago and that but 20% of the world's population lives in a free nation.

In regard to this 20% I have said that Democracy is an inch thick and a mile wide...I have revised that of late to a centimeter thick and a kilometer wide.  

In short the olde saying if you don't use it you are going to lose it and I fear that that is happening here in the West before our very eyes. 

THERE WAS ANOTHER INTERESTING ARTICLE IN THAT VERY SAME EDITION:

Barbara Kay wrote about Electoral Reform being Key to America's Healing. 

She points out that from the day Donald Trump was elected President the Democrats pulled out all stops to discredit him.  

My words - 4 years earlier and even dear Hilary regularly and often complained that she too was robbed in her election defeat but again that is her and Trump is he and one is treated worse than the other by the Progressive Left. 

Kay rightfully points out too that the Insurrection on Capital Hill last January was anything but...there was no chance of America's government falling at the hands of a bunch of keystone cop type Trump followers.  

This 'attempted Coup' lasted but hours should be contrasted with the summer of 2020 when Anarchists seized control of Seattle Washington - wrecking havoc and mayhem and not a word of criticism from America's Left.  

Today I hear Democrats complain about Donald Trump and his plan to run again for President in 2024 ...they complain bitterly how divisive the guy is...and they are right...but so are they.  America has become divided right down the centre - on one side the Right and on the other the Left with very little in the middle for use in compromise.

With 'Demagogues' on both sides claiming voting irregularities Kay sees the place to start to fix things is to establish a 'bipartisan commission on electoral integrity".  She believes this will 'de-weaponize regulatory measures that will restore across the board faith in the electoral process'.

Bless the woman's heart ... I do think that he suggestion is most worthwhile but I fear it will not achieve the peace and goodwill between these opposite and divisive two factions.  

 Good article though...as was the one by Blackwell.  Both worth the read.

As I See It...

'K.D. Galagher'

NATO...

 IT IS TIME FOR EUROPE TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE.

To this point, NATO has been all about the United States and as recent history shows its power is in decline.  

The Other NATO Countries have gone along for far too long with with a free ride our own Country Canada included. 

I say that because as we all well know - the World is becoming more and more dangerous and the old ways of doing business...that is to say Democracies ability to protect the world is in desperate need of fixing. 

China, Russia, and Iran have made it known that they are out to cause trouble and they have a number of other lackey countries at their beck and call... their names we are also quite conversant with.  

So let's deal with Russia and Iran first:

Russia has taken over parts of the Ukraine and is threatening an all out invasion as I write this Blog. It has also just sent troops into neighbouring Kazakhstan to put down a resurrection by its common folk who are tired of their existing dictator and autocratic government.  This Dictator has recently ordered that these folks to be shot on sight.  

In the face of Putin's threats against Ukraine, the United States threatens 'sanctions' ...you can just imagine Putin quaking in his boots. Not.   And Germany - the Green Leader of Europe, has no gas to heat their homes or run their industries and as such is totally reliant upon Russia for supply.  In other words - Putin is being given a free ride.

This despite the fact that NATO consists of 30 nations...12 of which came from the former USSR.  The Ukraine should be part of it but NATO dragged its feet too long and with 100,000 Russian Troops on Ukraine's doorstep... now is not the time to grant it membership.  Rather, NATO should flood Ukraine with troops until this standoff... stands-down. Will they do that ...unlikely. So the chances of Russia following through on its threat are all the greater. 

And let's look at some other numbers ...the population of Russia is 146 Million - the population of Europe is over 5 x as large at 750 million.   Russia's GDP is a mere 1,483 Billion in US Dollars while Europe has a staggering GDP of 21,500 Billion (USD).   You have a mouse going up against an Elephant. And yet the mouse seems to be winning.  This must stop if Europe and the Middle East are to be safe.

Before going on about China - a brief word about Iran.  Another Dictatorship with a stated goal to blow Israel off the face of the Earth.  And they mean it.  For years Iran has motored on with its Nuclear Program - in secret, and by now must be at its end goal.  It needs to be totally dismantled / abolished.  Do you think Joe Biden and the other Progressives will do the job?  Not likely ...it will be left to Israel but they need to have a united and powerful Europe covering its back.  Again Doubtful but sorely needed.

So NATO needs to step up to rogue states like Russia, Iran and other bad actors in the Middle East.  It can no longer depend on the United States to do its bidding.  Will it - I honestly do not know - I think given time it will be inevitable but I am not sure that time is on their side.

Now China.

The other even more evil presence is Communist China.  It has used a corrupted form of Capitalism to vault itself into the 21 st Century with a booming economy and flourishing military.  Europe is more or less out of the line of fire but not the United States, not Japan, nor India, nor South Korea...nor the many other countries trying to survive in South East Asia.  Here is where even a weaker United States continues to have an important role to keep the peace and keep China under control. Will it do so...I believe even Biden and company realize the danger that exists if they do not actively involve themselves in the affairs of this region which is ever growing in importance.  Economists predict the Asia region will surprise the West in GDP within many of our lifetimes. 

But here again the United States cannot do it alone.  The one thing China loves even more than its military might is money.  They only recently acquired it and would be loath to lose it.  Countries of the World must stop trading with the Devil - not even to buy tooth paste from it.  What is a million souls lost to China in war compared to Trillions lost in trade.  That is the final answer and again I am skeptical that it will come about ...but that is the only thing that will work unless the ordinary Chinese rise up and replace their government with true democracy which too is more of a dream than a reality.

As I See It...

'K.D. Galagher'

IT IS TIME TO DITCH SOME GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES...

 For example the Department of Veterans Affairs is long past its Best Before Date and so is Canada Post. 

DVA  for another time save for saying the Volunteer Veterans from WW II are fewer by the day and today are mostly no longer with us.

With regard to the Post Office though ...no one sends mail anymore.

When Justin Trudeau came to power in 2015 he promised faithfully ...as he did for several other things...to restore door to door mail delivery.  Seven Years later we are still waiting but this is one area where his inaction has proven to be a blessing.  As I said ...no one mails anything, anymore.  Computers / Internet have mostly replaced it.

We go to the local drop off box every other day ...sometimes longer and often there is zip there...not even a flyer.  And speaking of flyers ...if we did not receive them there would be virtually nothing left to get.  In fact, I just got in from checking out the box and there was not even a flyer waiting for me and I of course I had gone there yesterday. 

But the Post Office knows full well that no one is mailing letters any more.  In fact it was not that many years back when it started to cry the poors for that very reason.  It then went headlong into the parcel business buying controlling interest in Purolator in 1993.  Prior to that, Canada Post claimed that it had to be a Crown Corporation since no private body could be trusted with the delivery of Canadian's Mail from Coast to Coast to the USA Border.

With internet and the many modern ways of communication this argument no longer holds water. And to make this same claim for parcel delivery is utter hogwash.  In fact the parcel delivery business is full of private companies delivering here and there and everywhere....Fedex, UPS, Old Dominion to name but a few.  And that does not even take into account the delivery prowess of the Amazon Behemoth.

But despite this parcel pivot of Canada Post ...it still loses money - big bucks actually,  In 1918 it lost $270 million, in 1919 a further $153 million and for 1920 the Conference Board of Canada predicted a lose of a Billion Dollars.  I tried to find what the actual amount was online but was unsuccessful but tend to think the Conference Board knows a thing or two about profit and loss.

In addition according to Wikipedia, Canada Post employs a staggering 64,000 Employees.

Would it not be great for the hard-pressed Taxpayer to get back into their own hands some of that dough?

If a political party was astute enough to call for its end I believe that one promise alone would go a long way to getting it elected or re-elected whatever the case may be.

As I See It...

'K.D. Galagher'