Mar 05
Hillary Clinton’s position on the Falklands this week provides Canada with an opportunity to right an old wrong imposed by the United States just over a century ago. The American Secretary of State encouraged Argentina and Britain to sit down and talk about their claims and the future of these tiny islands, much to the chagrin of the Brits whose position has been no-way unless the islands’ inhabitants agree to such negotiations. Since Clinton is so gung-ho on talking, Prime Minister Stephen Harper should insist that the Americans look to their own backyard and re-open the issue over the Alaskan panhandle. Canadians who know their history appreciate that blatant travesty of justice this old border dispute represents. Continue reading »
Tagged with: Alaska • Canada • United States
Jan 27
This post is not by a Canadian who dislikes Americans. Nothing could be further from the truth. I like Americans. Most of the ones I’ve met are smart and friendly. I just dislike most American politicians. That’s only a misdemeanor compared to how I feel about Canadian politicians. Visiting Ottawa is a pleasure for me. I love the galleries, the museums and the strolls along the locks. But I have never ever entered my country’s parliament buildings. Suffice to say that I suffer from high blood pressure and I just know if I pass through those portals, my heart will explode in my chest. I know this attitude towards my government is immature, but when you’ve been diddled by them for 66 years of your life, it’s tough to be magnanimous. For the other three years, I lived in the U.S. and didn’t pay taxes — and pre-schoolers don’t get too caught up in politics. Continue reading »
Tagged with: Canada • United States
Jan 05
Last week I visited the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. I took a few pictures in the World War 1 section and then put the camera away in frustration. On the way over, I had made the mistake of driving by that mausoleum on Parliament Hill. My ability to focus on gas attacks and trench warfare was gone: by the time I reached the museum, all I could think about was the war in Afghanistan. Continue reading »
Tagged with: Afghanistan • Canada
Dec 13
The second wave of the H1N1 flu was washing across the country before the vaccine arrived this fall. Government told us that only designated high-risk groups would receive the first shots, the rest of the population would have to wait their turn. I didn’t dwell much on this preferential treatment until a friend, who is a medical doctor, surprised me one day with his comment about this government directive. He told me that the process was “unfair” and that everybody should have had equal access to the vaccine when it was first released. Continue reading »
Tagged with: Healthcare • pandemics
Nov 24
How many citizens of Western democratic countries today feel that, although they have a right to vote, the government that gains power after each election never seems to be one that really represents them? Even when their party wins. Promises are broken, priorities change, time passes. As the world grinds on, hope fades. Citizens become cynical, indifferent and wonder whether they should even bother to vote in the next election. They blame the political persuasion of not only the party in power, but also the opposition, depending on their own political philosophies and favourite “ism” (capitalism, socialism, statism, etc.). But they won’t really appreciate what’s happening unless they know the rest of the story.
For greater understanding of the failings of representative government, they could follow the money but they had better keep an eye on the power, too. In their search for truth, they must appreciate a sickness that thrives in most Western countries. This sickness has been around for over a hundred years, but it needs more exposure and discussion. It’s another “ism”. It’s called corporatism and here’s a little 101. Continue reading »
Tagged with: corporatism
