Minority Watch
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The Environment Minister wants Stephane Dion to reign in Garth Turner, a former Tory Member, for remarks he made in his blog. I find this rather funny, because this is the same Minister who believes it is okay to dump toxic wastes in our Lakes, to help save the Mining Companies money.
Environment Minister John Baird urged Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion to “rein in” one of his MPs after the Liberal member wrote on his blog that Quebec separatists are selfish losers and compared them to Albertans. (source - CBC News)
To begin with, yes, the remarks are indeed offensive. Should Mr. Dion reign him in? Now that I don’t know, I rather want to have different opinions aired, and let’s be honest, not everyone sees things the same way. Unless our are a ROBOT. As to reigning him in, how about if we substitute the word ‘censor‘ instead of ‘reign in‘.
Now that is more in keeping with the actions of the Stephen Harper Tories. The same party that promised Transparent Government, but have done more to HIDE THINGS than any other Government. The failed policies, failed promises, are one thing, but to ask a leader to CENSOR another member, is just wrong.
But then, it is what I expect from the Tories, who like to hold hearings in secret, when they might be wrong, or who try to EXTRADITE a key witness in Bribery Charges against a former Tory Prime Minister and current best friend to Stephen Harper. Things like that, are doing a lot more to divide this country than the rantings of a ‘shoot from the hip‘ MP.
The willingness to pander to Special Interests by this Regime, is no different than what Stephen Harper’s good buddy George Bush does. And we can all see how that has worked out. Heck, gas is over a buck and a half a liter here, over four bucks in the States, and food prices are rising faster than my blood pressure. Yet this Regime, wants to give these blood suckers more of a break, and take away control from the people.
Harper has no Environment Plan, and is sitting on the sidelines while our once strong vibrant economy is being whittled down to nothing, all in the name of protecting Corporate Profits. For Mr. Baird to suggest Mr Dion CENSOR Garth Turner, is typical of the Tory Hypocrisy. Baird and his department are the one’s green lighting the decimation of our lakes, and why, why to save the Mining Companies money.
Sphere: Related Content Ian @ July 6, 2008
Economy
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I am convinced that the price per gallon is RIGGED. I believe the whole Oil Industry is simply getting away with FRAUD and that Stephen Harper, George Bush, are COMPLIANT CONSPIRATORS in this RIP OFF. Yes it sounds harsh, but come on here. Let’s face reality and stop believing in the absolute bullshit that the Media throws out for the Oil Industry.
To begin with, travel is down, so that means DEMAND IS DOWN.
Production is UP, which means there is MORE OIL AVAILABLE.
So how come Oil Hit Record HIghs on Friday? Gee, because some idiot who claims to count, said the reserves were lower than they thought. That is like you telling your boss that you’ll have the work done by Monday, then when Monday comes along, you tell him that Sunday you realized it was going to take until Friday. HOW WOULD THAT GO OVER?
I am in business, and I know that when a customer buys something I sell for $30, I don’t email them and say, oh I guessed wrong, we have less than I thought, so the price is now $40. YET THAT IS WHAT THE OIL INDUSTRY IS DOING!
We went up Island this morning, for a bit of a break. Now gas is selling in Victoria for $1.52.9 a Liter from Petro Canada, Shell, Chevron, Esso. There is no variances, yet less than fifteen minutes out of the city, Gas at the Petro Canada Station was 1.49.9 a Liter. Not a big deal, right? Fair enough so up we went, and came through Mill Bay which is oh, 30 Km from Victoria.
PRICE PER LITER $1.40.5
So the price is over 10¢ a liter, and tell me, how in the hell is that right? It takes the Oil Industry more to supply those fewer stations than it does to fill the tanks in all the more central stations within Victoria. Yet they are cheaper than the city. In addition, there is a lot of agriculture out there, so the demand is pretty high as well. Farms don’t suddenly stop needing fuel for the Tractors, or Irrigation Machines.
Duncan which is further from Victoria, but larger than Mill Bay, well gee, gas per liter was at $1.42.9.
STILL CHEAPER THAN VICTORIA by 10¢
And yet the prices for food is as high there as in the city. WHY? Oh the cost of FUEL for the delivery trucks of course. LIke, uh, hasn’t anyone told George or Stephen that one day real soon, they are going to have pay for their own food? Or is that part of the retirement plan the Oil Industry has set up for them?
I really would like to know where our Government Leaders are. Seriously, the world economy is being derailed, and food prices are skyrocketing, and why? BECAUSE OF HIGH FUEL COSTS. This is just wrong, and while many in the Financial Markets seem to be profiting nicely, the rest of us who work for a living, are being pounded. It is time to KICK THESE POLITICIANS OUT.
Sphere: Related Content Ian @ July 5, 2008
Politics
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Sure was a busy week for the Supreme Court last week.
They ruled that Guns are Okay, and a host of other issues, one of which is that they struck down another Campaign Finance Reform Act. This one dealt with how Non Millionaire Candidates could raise additional funds, to compete with people who were supposedly financing their own campaign. The Mitt Romney’s for example, who supposedly dumped about $40 Million of his own money into his failed bid to be the Republican Presidential Nominee, who might be the Vice Presidential Nominee, if rumors are true.
Fact is, the Law they struck down allowed for increased contribution limits to those candidates who weren’t Millionaires, and who weren’t financing their own campaign. In striking it down, the Supreme Court ruled that it was Unfair to the Millionaires who were running.
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Thursday struck down the “millionaire’s amendment” as an unfair way to help opponents of wealthy candidates who spend from their personal fortunes. (source - MSNBC News)
I agree, it is unfair, but then why should someone be penalized because they didn’t make a few million bucks either? Seriously, isn’t part of the so called American Dream, is that any person can aspire to become President? Yet, take a look at how much money has been spent by both party candidates just to get the Nomination. HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, and there were some pretty good Millionaires in the race too. Mitt Romney comes to mind.
Given how much money is being spent on these campaigns, and how much money is being raised by the various Candidates, isn’t anyone worried about it? I mean think for a moment, how vulnerable these Candidates become when so much cash is needed to make a run for Political Office. For anyone to believe that their won’t be a Day of Judgment is just being NAIVE.
When they wind up disappointing us, or worse, get elected when they haven’t a clue how to LEAD, we are the one’s who suffer. You sure don’t see the big shot Multi Millionaires suffering today, now do you? Yet they ELECTED GEORGE BUSH. Think about it, the Oil Industry made a President, and today the US is mired in a War in Iraq, and Oil Industry Profits are going through the roof, while you are paying OVER $4 A GALLON.
Yet the Supreme Court continues to knock down laws, designed to create a more level playing field for all citizens who want to seek Political Office. Don’t forget, they have knocked down the Third Party Ads earlier. Americans do a lot of talking about wanting a ‘level playing field’ and yet here when it comes to choosing it’s political leaders, it is ANYTHING BUT LEVEL.
Term Limits were supposed to end the benefit Incumbent Candidates had, but that hasn’t worked very well, now has it? Instead it has taken away experienced leaders in some cases, but has simply also brought in more LOBBYISTS to help GREASE THE WHEELS OF GOVERNMENT. The result has been a decline in real Government, in real solutions to the growing litany of problems besetting the Nation.
The answer has to be to either limit campaign spending, make it all public financed, or simply keep on electing the likes of George Bush. Myself, I favor a reform that simply overhauls the entire process. I think that NO ONE should be given free reign on spending, whether from Business, Unions, or Individuals. It should be REGULATED, and that should INCLUDE PERSONAL WEALTH. In short, Bill Gates should not be allowed to use his personal wealth to run for office, if he wanted to. He should be held to the same funding rules, and that SHOULD INCLUDE PERSONAL LOANS, CONTRIBUTIONS.
Sphere: Related Content Ian @ July 2, 2008
War on Terror
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The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Maher Arar’s claim to have his day in Federal Court against the United States Government. Citing issues of National Security, and of some other legal gobbledygook, they rejected his lawsuit, by a 2 to 1 margin. Now keep in mind, that this is a man who was seized, held valid citizenship in Canada, that was deported in secret to Syria, where he was tortured.
But the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York, affirming a lower court decision, ruled two to one Monday that Arar’s claims that it was a violation of due process to send him to Syria could not be heard in federal court.
“Arar has not adequately established federal subject matter jurisdiction over his request for a judgment declaring that defendants acted illegally by removing him to Syria so that Syrian authorities could interrogate him under torture,” Reuters reported the ruling as saying.
The court concluded that adjudicating the claims would interfere with sensitive matters of foreign policy and national security. It also said that Arar, as a foreigner who had not been formally admitted to the U.S., had no constitutional due process rights. (source - CBC News)
It is unbelievable at how much National Security is more important than the very principles of what founded the United States. Makes you start to wonder about the stories too, like the Boston Tea Party or the claim by Adams to give him LIberty or Death. I mean the entire American Revolution is based on unfair taxation, representation, from England. It is based, according to American History, that the colonies revolted due to the high handed actions of the British Crown. Things like adding tax to tea, or in insisting that local citizens house British Troops.
Yet somehow, it is okay for them, 200 odd years later, to seize a foreign national in an airport, hold him in jail, try him as being a terrorist, then by judicial order, deport him not to his country or origin, but to the country where he was born. So just what did those colonists really revolt against? Was it the taxes, the heavy hand of a foreign government, or was it perhaps something else?
The actions of the United States Government these days, makes you wonder about those so called guiding principles that were the founding blocks of the United States. You know, the Bill of Rights, and that other little paper, called the US Constitution. Like to begin with, how can the Court claim that Arar isn’t entitled to protection under those documents, but that the Government can hide behind them? How can they claim he has ‘No Standing‘ because he wasn’t formally allowed into the country?
I mean that part is true, he was ‘In Transit’ which makes you wonder. What country then does hold jurisdiction over someone in transit? If not the United States, or the country that you are waiting in, then who? Plus if you aren’t in control, then how can you legally seize anyone in transit? How can you take them away, and then charge them under your laws, if they aren’t able to secure proper council?
If the Government can do what it wishes, at will, without having to be accountable before a Court, how can that Government even think of claiming to be Democratic? How can it claim that its fight against anyone, Insurgent or Terrorist, is legitimate if it won’t follow its own rules of law, for anyone in their jurisdiction? That isn’t Democracy in my mind, but sheer DICTATORSHIP.
And yet this is the Government that Stephen Harper says we need to have good relations with, to be friendly with. It was part of his election campaign, to bring about friendlier relations with the United States. I don’t know, with friends like that, who needs enemies?
What the United States has done in the matter of Arar, is no different than what the Nazi’s did in the early 1930’s. Is that what the United States wishes to be noted as, in history? As just one more blight in the era of mankind?
Sphere: Related Content Ian @ July 1, 2008
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