As Conservative as a Liberal

Despite all of the bull that the CPC has put out on the concept of personal freedom and responsibility (eg.: a non-intrusive nanny-state, ala conservative policy), it's a shame to see the health minister Tony Clement, waste $64 million on a drug policy that is mainly mis-information , while pandering to big pharma.

Worse, his article in the National Post establishing the reasons for the policy include the ever-so-liberal statement: "In the absence of clear advice from government, young people often receive their information from the worst sources:....."

Curiously, no parents, teachers, or responsible peers exist in this world of government.

This is how national policy gets made: by pandering to votes from a bunch of passing puritans from the 905.

Way to go Ontario - you set the national agenda. Again. And again.

And please government, give me a clear message so I'll know what to type next. I am so very lost without you.

A Spring Election?

More speculation in the press than ever on a spring election, and I've been asked what I think.

It won't happen.

Dion's emasculated, but the Tories are running on empty. No legislative agenda, nothing. Just billions getting poured out to well-connected business, some very marginal tax cuts (despite billions in surplus - and billions to come), a muddled and dumbed down environmental plan that completely accepts anthropogenic climate change, and more than $1.5 billion in program spending on biofuels - an energy form that increase emissions, and will transfer fuel price volatility into the food sector.

Now, the Libranos were/are crap in policy. Mainly of the victim culture/make a dependent vein.

How exactly does the CPC agenda differ? If it were Libranos in government versus the Tories during the past two years: the answer is none.

With the sole exception of Afghanistan and the Wheat Board, nothing is much different...whoop...sorry - even those remain the very same.

On the other side, even the Libranos could not have pulled off the national child care policy - that was too wonky even for them.

But after all, nothing is really different after 2 years of our kleptocrats versus their kleptocrats. And the longer it goes, the more Flaherty Contracting Practices will emerge.

Nope - the only thing that will trigger an election will be the Librano's desire to get rid of Citoyen Dion - and this budget will likely be mush - nothing to jump through the hoop for.

Martin Luther King Jr. Just Didn't Get It

Toronto has finally stated the obvious.

Eleven souls fought hard and won - delivering the verdict: Dr. King was full of beans.

And let Ontario be known as the front line in the war against the idea that people should be treated equally.

Heck, the idea has worked so well for aboriginals, why not blacks?

Thanks a bunch.

The left works so hard against the very ideal of treating people with equality, that we are all victims - simply because of our race, anything can be rationalized.

'We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal'

11 people do not believe this idea. And they have changed our nation.

On the Other Hand

Biofuels have been heralded as a way for us energy hogs to reduce fossil fuel consumption, reduce total emissions, & provide alternative markets for farmers.

It's a load of bull.

Virtually every benefit and reason held out by government and industry why biofuel is a better energy source, is false.

The UK is ahead of the curve on this, since citizens there take time to inform themselves on the topics of the day, and politicians aren't of the sniveling Canadian variety.

Unlike manufactured lies about polar bears via Al Gore, this article details a very real - and tragic story of man's impact upon their environment.

The Head Fake

Canada's New Government looks more like Canada's Old Government everyday, happily doling out billions of taxpayer cash to every corporate welfare case who has a connected lobbyist, and a hat in their hand.

And Canada's New Government is now getting better at the 'ol one-two punch of communications strategy: the head fake.

Here, our Prime Minister assures a broad audience that no, the Conservatives are different when it comes to doling out pork to industry, but in the very same week, a story with less national coverage is put to more focused group - the panhandlers themselves.

At first pass, the partisan will have their belief reinforced that yes, Conservatives are different than Liberals: they live to the ideals they purport. While on the side, they're whispering to the locals that the first announcement is not really what they meant.

And presents us with a bald faced lie that Canada's Old Government did so much of.

Always on your dime.

Quote of the Day

“The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first.” - Thomas Jefferson

While Canada's history is colonial - and not that of the republic - we do share many ideals of western liberalism: freedom; liberty; & security of the person.

Movin' On Up

Our January Trainee of the Month has already begun the transformation with some help from a professional image consultant.

While not widely reported, this story details how Gary rushed to get training the minute he knew he'd have to make a presentation.

While it's encouraging to know Mr. Lunn now recognizes that knowing what you don't know is important, it reinforces that he should have had the skills to communicate clearly before he got a Ministerial post.

Most employers look for this before committing to hire a candidate. This can usually be noticed in documents offered by the individual before screening.

These documents are known as a 'resume'.

Watching his transformation from a snot-nosed kid with pants around the knees (and ring in his nose), to a convincing force of personality - confidently commanding a broad range of expertise in the Ministry of Natural Resources - is Cinderella-like.

At only $400 an hour.

Economics 101 - Different but Equal

Supply always ends up equaling demand - according to economics. With the marginal supplier or consumer being a point of pricing for the rest.

With a willing Indian Industry constantly ready to consume taxpayer cash as fast as its' collected, perhaps it's time to think that maybe, just maybe, government should not treat Canadians differently because of their race.

While the Indian Industry

churns along, you'd think something intentionally created to address differences in educational outcomes could end up such an abject failure.

Despite thousands of bureaucrats, lawyers, policy contributors, and politicos, something as sad as this occurs in Canada - despite the wealth and privilege we enjoy.

It speaks volumes about Canada's current approaches to aboriginal affairs - as much as this detailed, yet confusing and myopic stance perpetuates.

It will achieve nothing until fundamental changes in policy occurs.

Given the amount of bureaucrats and glad handers that exist in the 'industry', nothing will change for a good, long, time.

They're making out ok, y'know.

Heavy....

you won't see me comment much on the Liberals here - because it's res ipsa loquitur with that bunch.

I mean, these guys say the craziest things when left on their own recognizance.

In a nation where security is smoke, the politicians and military have stated that foreign intervention ain't ever going to happen, yet the promise of stability through dialog continues to be put out to people whose hope denies fact.

Dion and the gang cling to an ignorant population at home, peddling the lie that we could be making the world a better place if we'd only vote for them.

A clearer example of dishonesty is hard to find.

Glittering Generalities

The information age brings with it all of the knowledge and pratfalls of having anyone with a computer (and keyboard) to put an idea or statement out there - leaving the reader somewhat unarmed.

The Americans, handily and consistently ahead of our curve on public discourse, created an Institute of Propaganda Analysis way back in the 30's to understand the phenomenon, and enable consumers of news to be empowered to know when they were being sold a hill of beans.

The presidential race is a great example of how being on message in the media is far more important than facts about public policy or having consistency in a message, or applying basic principles to which policy one promotes.

The most dangerous outcome of this is rabid partisanship - where people discard the usual critical thinking to support an ideology or line of thinking - no matter if it's actually good for the nation, or even congruent with fact. That somehow 'spin', isn't propaganda (see 'Institute' above).

The Tories have their unelected bagmen appointed to senatorial posts to get around the nasty reality of actually having people vote for their representative. Or, an opportunistic colour changer that rationalizes statements made days prior to the conversion in the most secular way possible.

"Who me? Well, I'm different now, but the same, you know."

The Liberals? God, where does a guy start? Here.

Which is really the at the bottom of the political class: people whose ambition exceeds their talent.

The worst of it all, is that partisans themselves are simply useful idiots. Parroting the party line, peddling glittering generalities, used when needed, discarded when not.

I honestly feel sorry for David Orchard. He seems to be a guy who actually thought that contributing to the political process could somehow be an entry point to politics, and a way to contribute to his country.

Sadly, it's only proven he's not too bright.

I have an idea...

We'll sue!

In the finest Canadian tradition, taxpayers have to sue to ensure their dollars are used prudently.

Well.

It's certainly an improvement from 14 years ago, where a billion bucks of your cash was spent on nothing, but to replace the same airships 5 years later, at the same cost.

Canada has a sad history of well connected billionaires running the place. It's great to see pressure out there to change it.

But it's bittersweet knowing we need the courts to ensure value for cash from the politicians. And we still get to foot the tab - to find this out.

An optimist would suggest times are changing...

Trainee of the Month: Winner for January....

Our Conservative member for Parliament: Mr. Gary Lunn.

Not content to let things go on autopilot, this Trainee wrote a letter demanding inaction from the head of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.

But why Trainee of the Month? Isn't this just a political dust up?

No. Because it threatened 60% of the world's diagnostic testing with radioactive isotopes, and has restarted a crappy, underfunded Model T of a reactor.

Because Gary had the position of Resources Minister for two years, and had every opportunity to get his Trainee head around the fact that persistent problems has swirled around AECL for at least 10 years.

So, while this guy bags some $225k per year, he also has a staff of 12 burning over $1.2 million a year - offering a pleasant 37.5 hour workweek for those Conservatives connected enough to slip into a minister's patronage post. As well, his operating budget has enough room to park a semi-trailer in.

And in the two years this gerbil has been running the place, he never thought to ask what the Auditor General has had to say about it before he got there? Or his staff?

Please.

This Trainee is well deserving of the badge - one will be sent on it's way with an official "Trainee of the Month" Certificate of Achievement.

Way to go Gary!

The Trainee of the Month Award!

is now officially launched.

This award will go to the Trainee of the Month - as determined by our selection committee - me.

While it's not easy to obtain a nomination, let alone the actual winning of the award, only those members of our government that openly and above all others prove it doesn't matter what you know before being put in charge of something that offers both responsibility, and the chance to spend buckets of your taxpayer cash on whatever seems right at the time.

Like being next in line for the new kid on the till at Burger King, you'll be assured the Trainee will ensure you won't get the right change, the right order, and they're guaranteed to forget to check if the fries have been made in the last week.

The award will be presented to those who have the right connections, appearance, and ability to bag cash for their political party. It reveals that anyone can indeed be put in charge of something far beyond their expertise and capability.

Winners will be sent an official 'Trainee' badge and a proclamation of their achievements, and reasons for obtaining such a distinction.

To start, an honorable mention goes to Alberta's own Jim Prentice, the brainchild of the 'Trainee' award.

Jim is a guy who started out in the Indian Industry, and was put in charge of a $19 billion dollar portfolio shoveling your cash out to every connected corporate welfare case with the right lobbyist working the street.

Indeed - his first action was to butcher the DCM, cowing to lobbyists and insiders first without thought or consideration of what he was actually doing.

Oops!

Thank you Jim. You've made this award come to life.

Ends and Means

The Post ran an editorial last week, critical of the Calgary Health Region's heavy hand of regulation.

In response - like anyone who talks over you - this wet-nurse never does address the issue of freedom of choice or action by individuals - aside from like, trans-fats are bad - y'know?

Sadly, the actions are that of too many bureaucrats to not tackle all of the good in the world they need to do. As well, it doesn't hurt to be seen actually doing something when you can't actually run a multi-billion dollar health region.

But follow his argument further, and ask why other equally pressing public health issues are not so vigorously chased.

This is always the case if the action has little visible impact to consumers. Any complaints will be typically from business - a crowd for whom the public in general has little sympathy for.

The bureaucrats went after smokers first, because, they are low hanging fruit. Now the bullseye is moving on to the fat one and their lifestyle habits.

To them, ends will always justify means.

You might think I exaggerate.

But when mandated exercise becomes de rigeur, and obese people become as socially ostracized as smokers are now, you'll know. It's coming.

Where'd I put that reciept?

I went looking for contributions to federal political parties in Canada - and this is all I've found so far.

Data from 2003 that includes the CRAP party as well - before they formed the Conservative Party later in the year.

You can find more recent information on contributions on Elections Canada's website though - but going through it makes me feel like I need a shower.

If I find what I'm looking for, I'll post it.

Our New Trainee

Municipal politics in Canada - like most places - is a backwater of lightweights and bureaucrats, or simply, leftists.

Having been run-off at the provincial and federal levels, these people simply dropped their colours, and went to ground in municipal politics.

One of our (ex) aldermen actually spent more than $9k on 'training' towards a Master's degree in board governance - or some such fluff. The rationale? ENTAX, our municipally owned utility, has a board of directors. Alderman are directors. Therefore, an alderman needs to know how to work on a board. Simple?

No. Just a statement that being a politician is just like any other job. You get your vacation, paycheck, benefits, an annual learning allowance, and opportunities to contribute to 'personal growth'.

Just like a real honest to goodness employee in a real company.

The problem is whether crafting governmental policy, drafting laws, or aligning internal reporting structures for greater accountability - the one doing this should know what they are doing BEFORE they begin doing it.

Hence the (sadly outdated) notion that one achieves in life BEFORE going to serve and bring their skills to the public sector. Instead, the current norm treats the position like any other gig.

That's why this idiocy will continue to repeat itself. While some hide their lack of skills better than others, ineptitude is dangerous in driving, climbing ladders, running a country, or painting.

Unfortunately, the results of bad policy and bad law impact citizens in far more insidious ways, using their own money and the weight of the law against them.

The hard part for me is that the citizenry demands as much of themselves as they do from their leaders. And look at what we have.

A Magic Trick

"I think that we've lost a little bit of the human touch"

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5j19yccb8DQWBOdyEzW0ZTrxfUn4A


How fast can a death incited by 4 poorly trained officers from a corrupted and politicized militia be....

(POOF!)

...turned into an additional $1.2M in airport taxes to provide 'security' at the airport?

(POOF!)

Pretty darned fast it seems.

The politicians and 'those esteemed members' of high rank in the political dumping grounds of Airport Authorities grow their budgets with ease.

Nod your head, and get out your wallet. And congratulations to the bureaucrats. They are fufilling their role with initiative and drive.

The public and mass media are performing their role by not saying a word.