The Fight for America...

But First - David Warren.

David Warren as some of you will know is probably the only right of centre columnist that the Ottawa Citizens newspaper has on staff.

I usually agree with the content of his articles but the other day agreed with part - but not all.

Mr. Warren was speaking about the effect of the Tea Party in the recent US Congressional Elections and concluded that the overall effect was but marginal.

He broke the US Electorate down into 3 categories - Tea Partyers (Republicans) on the right - 40%; Democrats on the Left- 40% and Independents in the middle - 20%.

In that regard he is basically in cinq with my earlier Blog Analysis that the US of A is split right down the middle - %50% Conservative and 50% Liberal.

Be that as it may.

Warren goes on to conclude that in this Election the Tea Partyers were motivated to get out and vote and brought sufficient numbers of Independents along with them. And this was coupled by the "fact" - in Warren's opinion that the Democrats were demoralized and did not come out to vote in big numbers.

He suggests that next time - in the 2012 Presidential Elections this could easily reverse itself with the Democrats coming out on top.

In essence then - nothing has really changed in regard to the American Political Landscape. The Pendulum has swung a bit to the right this time but the overall numbers have remained unchanged - 40% Republican; 40% Democrat; and 20% Independent.

I agree with part of his thesis - i.e. the overall numbers have indeed remained the same.

Where I disagree is that I see the American Political Landscape has changed big time.

Where once the 40% on the Right represented the "silent majority" they now are activated and motivated to demand change. They see their once great country in a downward spiral and are prepared to at last get involved to try to reverse this trend.

In other words - the Right is finally engaging the battle.

This is a very major development and is entirely lost in David Warren's Assessment.

At this early stage, I do not know if the Right will be successful in its battle but I am assured that one will be fought vigourously to the end.

I also know that if they are not successful the future for the States and for Western Democracies will be a bleak one.

More on that in my next Blog.

As I see it...

'Galagher'

SMOKE & MIRRORS...

Something on the lighter side before I return to heavy..

This from one of my loyalist readers:

It is a slow day in the small Saskatchewan town of Pumphandle and the streets are deserted. Times are tough; everybody is in debt and living on credit.

A Tourist visiting the area drives through town and stops at the Motel, and lays a $100 bill on the desk saying he wants to inspect the rooms upstairs to pick one for the night.

As soon as he walks upstairs, the motel owner grabs the bill and runs next door to pay his debt to the Butcher.

The Butcher takes the $100 and runs down street to retire his debt to the Pig Farmer,

The Pig Farmer takes the $100 and pays off his bill at the Co-op.

The Guy at the Co-op takes the $100 and pays his debt to the Local Prostitute who has been facing hard times and has had to offer her "services" on credit.

The Prostitute rushes to the Motel to pay off her Room Bills.

The Motel Operator places the $100 Bill back on the Counter so the Traveler will not suspect anything.

At that Moment the Traveler comes down and states that the Rooms are Not Satisfactory and picks up his $100 and leaves.

No one produced anything. No one earned anything. However the who Town is now Out of Debt and looks to the Future with more Optimism.

And that Ladies and Gentlemen is how a Stimulus Package Works.

MAKES YOUR HEAD SWIM... Does it not?

On reflection, I do not know if this is how a Stimulus Package Works but it does seem to be how a Bartering System would work.

Given the fall of the US Dollar, the rise of Gold and the increase in Taxes, it may be something that will come back into vogue.

As I see it...

'Galagher'

McGinty was obviously not paying attention...

when his fellow Liberal Premier Gordon Campbell resigned this week.

Yesterday McGuinty announced $40,000 per year for Foreign PHD students for a total of 4 years or some $160,000 per Foreign Student. His Plan sees 300 Foreign Students per year receiving these Ontario Tax Dollars or some $12 million per year / $48 million every 4 years.

McGuinty is just so out of touch. The average Ontario family is struggling to get a decent education for their University Age Students, the majority of whom graduate with huge student loans. It is nothing for an Ontario graduate to owe in the vicinity of $40 - $60K for 4 years of under graduate study.

And that is after much sacrifice on the part of their parents as well.

These debts too often preclude the Ontario Student from even contemplating going on for an MA or heaven forbid a PHD.

Think what an offer of $40K per year for 4 years post graduate studies would do for our own Students? In many cases it would allow them to pay off their student loans and would permit them to continue their studies with a clean ledger.

The other problem with his generosity with our tax dollars is the fact that many Foreign PHD Students come from wealthy, influential families. The $40K per year will be gratefully received them, but not all that necessary.

We have seen how middle class anger has affected the US Political landscape this week; I can only imagine what's headed our way.

As I have mentioned before, due to Hydro Rates tripling in the McGuinty world of Green (read expensive) Energy - people on fixed incomes are wearing their winter garb inside and reading by candle light.

Think I exaggerate?

Let's take a look at some facts.

A single pensioner receives approx $1,300 per month - OAS, CPP and the Income Supplement. After paying rent, heat, food, clothes, public transport, telephone, t.v. - they have zip left to pay for tripling hydro rates let alone pay for the HST Tax Grab.

But it is not just the single pensioner who is falling behind. Families struggling with children have less and less disposable income because of these obscene increases in basic services.

McGuinty simply does not get it, but sadly we are saddled with his administration for another year.

Perhaps he will do a Gordon Campbell but I am afraid that the damage caused by our out of touch Premier will be with us for years to come.

As I see it...

'Galagher'

My Very Own Parking Spot...

But first,



Yesterday I dealt with interviews with Sports Stars and today I heard another one that nicely fits the bill.



A Sportscaster was interviewing the San Francisco Baseball Manager after his team's 9 to 0 trouncing of the Texas Rangers in this year's World Series. Here's how it went:



Sportscaster - well you beat them 9 to zip - do you have any comments?



Manager - well we are not going to give any of the runs away.



That was it - nothing more. Again, how profound and did he really think he could give away some of their runs?

I can just hear it now -



Manager to Umpire:



"Hey Ump , we won by 9 runs - so in the spirit of fairness we would like to give some of those runs away".



Ump - "to whom exactly?"



Manager - "to the other team I guess - let's say 6"



Ump - "but then the Rangers win 6 to 3".



Manager - "Good point - okay give them 4 and we'll have won 5 to 4"




Bizarre. And it certainly questions the common belief that the game is 90% mental.





Now on to My Own Parking Spot:



It started quite some time ago when Parking Lots began designating certain spots for the handicapped. Not many at first but soon the numbers grew as did the size of each reserved spot. Now each spot seems big enough to accommodate a Mack Truck.



Then in more recent times spots were reserved for pregnant women. Later women with children and then parents with children were added.



And more recently, spots are now being reserved for cars - specific types of cars that is - Hybrid and the like.



You now enter a parking lot - say Loblaws and encounter a vast waste land of empty spaces - all dedicated to someone or another or something or another that has failed to show up. But none of those spots can be used by those who class themselves healthy, with no children or expected children, while driving a gas guzzling relic of the past.



This latter group can be found parked in the parking lot's outer extremes -and easily identified by the area of lot containing all of the cars.



I fully expect that this trend will continue to grow and I am simply delighted with the prospect.

My theory is that there will come a day when all but one spot will be reserved and to save signage the Parking Lot Managers will at that point simply designate that one spot "For All The Rest".

And by that time, I will be the only one left to qualify for it.

Everyone else, the disabled, the pregnant, the parents with children, the Hybrids etc will be in a free fight for

the remainder. Like it used to be.

As I see it...

'Galagher'

You Gotta Love Those Sports Interviews...

Listened to one just this afternoon - and here it is word for word.

Announcer to Baseball Player:

What do you guys have to do to win tonight?

Player:

We gotta pitch strikes and keep them off the bases.

Simply Profound.

I can just imagine how the old Yankee Catcher Yogi Berra would have answered the question:

We have to make sure that after the last pitch we are one run ahead.


And here are some real Yogi quotes:

• a nickel ain't worth a dime anymore;
• always go to other people's funerals or they won't go to yours;
• baseball is 90% mental and the other half is physical;
• I always thought that record would stand until it was broken;
• I never said most of the things I said;
• I wish I had an answer to that because I am tired of answering that question;
• If people don't want to come out to the ball park, nobody's gonna stop 'em;

and finally, If you ask me anything I don't know, I am not going to answer.

One thing is for sure, Yogi's answers or non answers are far more interesting.

As I see it...

'Galagher'

Peek Behind Governments' Backs

Whenever a government acts in a "clear, concise and fully transparent" fashion it is wise to look behind its back to determine what is really going on.

Take the recent draft refugee legislation for instance.

The Harper Government claims that it is addressing Canada's out of control Refugee System by clamping down legislatively on the Smugglers behind the arrival of Refugees by Boat.

It won't.

Not only because smuggling itself - whether it is in cigarettes, booze, drugs or people - is virtually impossible to control, but more to the point, the smugglers themselves are not the real problem.

Heresy you say.

The real villains in the piece are the Human Traffickers. These criminals arrange for the entry of people, both legally and illegally into a country, and then live off the avails of their work. Most often this work consists of illegal activities e.g. prostitution / drug trafficking. Modern day Slavery.

And, the Real Problem, is the fact that multi millions of migrants throughout the world are on the move looking for a better place in which to live. When I worked for the Refugee Board 15 years ago, the United Nations estimated the number of migrants to be in the range of 50 million. Today that number would be far higher as the 'world' continues to shrink in this modern age of communications and transport.

Plus, contrary to popular belief, Canada is not obligated to accept migrants as Refugees. As a Signator to the United Nations Convention on Refugees, we are only obligated to accept Refugees who are fleeing from Persecution. Although no statistics exist, I estimate that perhaps one out of every 100 refugee claimants would into that category. The other 99 are looking for a better economic way of life.

Add to this the fact that only a very small per centage of Migrants arrive by Boat (90% + come by air) so legislative initiatives directed against Marine Smugglers are but a spit in the ocean - (excuse the pun).

When I was with the Board some 40% of Migrant Refugee Claimants (at that time some 40,000) simply disappeared after making their claim for Refugee Status. Again, today, that missing contingent would be so much more numerous. It is safe to assume that a high per centage of these missing numbers would be actively involved in crime under the control of Traffickers.

Each year approx 40 - 50 thousand Migrants reach Canada and claim Refugee Status. Half receive favourable decisions - most of the remaining 50% are never returned to their countries of origin but are allowed to stay here in Canada. Save for the tiny few who are legitimately in fear of persecution - the vast remainder are, at the very least, queue jumpers and far too often criminals.

So back to Canada's draft refugee legislation - it is not what it appears to be and it will most certainly not curb illegal migration into our country.

As I See It....

"Galagher"

A Tooth For The Killing ...The Finale

Let me begin by saying that I had not planned for this edition but circumstances have overtaken.





We left off the other day at the end of my most recent visit to my new Family Dentist at which time his hygienist applied a protective layer of something or other which would hopefully do away with the sensitivity of my tooth - you know, the second one in, on the Upper Left Hand Side of my mouth.





Sadly, it didn't work.





Another Brief Recap is probably in Order:

• It all began with a cleaning at my former Dentist's office;


• She noticed a cavity in my second molar in - on the Upper Left Hand Side;


• She prescribed a new Crown, a root canal, and finally a fix to the cavity,


• I told her that if she could not just fix the cavity, all she need do is pull the tooth;


• She was not at all happy but nonetheless sent me to a Specialist to "do some gum work" that would enable her to fill the cavity;


• Specialist did the gum work even though I strongly encouraged him to save us all time and money by pulling the tooth;


• I asked him if he could also do the needed filling but he said that he has never does them - so it was back to Former Family Dentist who fixed the cavity;
• Former Family Dentist fixes cavity although her heart was not in it;
• At this point I found a New Dentist - one that was closer to home and came with a smile;
• Again I went in for a cleaning at which time I pointed out to New Dentist that my Molar - second one in on the Top Left Hand Side - was bothering me (guess Former Dentist was right about the need for a root canal - but then again it could have been simply pulled);
• In any event, after some give and take and a draconian test with New Dentist and after suggesting that he too just pull the damn thing out - New Dentist decides that I need to go to a Dental Pain Specialist to determine the source of the pain - you know the pain that was originating in the root of my second Molar in ...;
• Pain Specialist Dentist takes all but 15 minutes to determine the pain's origin - my second Molar in on the Top Left Hand Side and charges $120 for his diagnosis but he allows that a gel can be applied to the source of the pain which has a 50% chance of success;
• Not surprisingly, he could not apply this gel himself so I am sent back to my New Dentist for this taxing 5 minute procedure;
• This work is done for free along with an admonition that I may still end up requiring the dreaded Root Canal.

Okay - we are now more or less back to the present.

I go home and a few days later realize that the 'gel' treatment has failed to alleviate the pain.

I then call the New Dentist's office and request the dreaded Root Canal.

New Dentist confirms that he does not do Root Canals and I am shipped off to another Specialist to have this fine work performed.

As I get into the Specialist's chair I foolishly inquire - without vigour - whether or not it is too late just to have the damn tooth pulled. She looked at me like I had to heads and quickly inserted the Novocain.

Work done - bill rendered - another $1,050 for 45 minutes work - I kid you not.

So the final tally - Dentists $2,050.00 // me - a new filling and a root canal and one damaged Crown.

Remember now, this is in addition to the initial $1,000 plus that was paid to have the initial Crown work done.

Next time they won't push me around...

As I see it..

'Galagher'