The Canadian Cancer Society ...

Is Sick.

A Report out this week indicates that the CCS spends but little more than 20% of its donation receipts on Research. A Prominent Research Doctor is quoted as saying he spends more time trying to raise money for his Research than he actually spends on Research itself.

Just as shocking, CCS spends nearly 50% of its donor receipts on Administration and Funding Drives !!

I have always used, as a rule of thumb, that well organized charities spend no more than 10% on such budgetary items. Fifty % is simply beyond the pale.

I have also assumed - perhaps naively - that when donating to medical charities - the bulk of my donation will go to funding Research since it is only through Research that the scourge of the particular disease - in this case Cancer - can be beaten.

That said, I am not particularly shocked by this week's revelation.

I have thought for some time that the Canadian Cancer Society has become a business within itself and have feared that its main concern is for itself and not the defeat of the dreaded disease after which it is named. These recent statistics seem to bear out my concern.

Simply stated, the Society, in my opinion, has also become Elitist.

A few years ago, my daughter tried to sign up for one of their ubiquitous Cancer Walks but was told that she did not qualify since she did not have sponsors totaling donations in the thousands of dollars. She took it in stride - I though was livid at their arrogance.

In the meantime, I will not be donating any money to the Canadian Cancer Society until I have received assurances that it has returned to its roots.

And I suggest that we both - you and I, check out more closely those organizations which vie for our charitable dollars to make sure the bulk of those dollars go to their intended purposes.

As I see it....

'K.D. Galagher'

The Beckster...

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Thursday was Glenn Beck's last show on Fox News.

Quite awhile back I did a Blog on Glenn Beck saying that if you had not heard of this chap - you soon would.

I suspect that by now you have.

From my perspective, this one fellow, has brought about the most profound change in US Political History. The Leftists will howl at this but that only serves to confirm the statement.

Beck was and continues to be the spark plug for the Tea Party Movement.

A former drunk and high school educated, he deserves much of the credit for the Republican re-take of the House Representatives this past November. And surprisingly - he is neither Republican nor Democrat.

He does not trust Politicians.

The guy marches to his own drum.

Like me, he wants to see Smaller more responsive and representative Government. And he also wants Government to reflect the values that many of us were raised on - Honour, Integrity and Truthfulness.

This past August, Beck led a Pilgrimage to the Lincoln Memorial where nearly 1 million Middle Americans joined with him to reflect on their country's current sad state of affairs. There were no placards, no violence, and no litter. It was an entirely peaceful but determined assemblage designed to show Politicians of all stripes that the Silent Majority was beginning at last to speak out.

Beck is also very much a Visionary.

Over the several years that he held his 5 p.m. time slot on Fox he has made numerous predictions - most were ridiculed at the time of making, yet most have come to pass.

In Churchillian fashion, he saw and continues to see a dark future for America and indeed the world. Flash-backs to the 1930s with Churchill warning of impending doom at the hands of the Nazis ("Narzis" as WSC would say) readily come to mind.

Unlike Churchill, Glenn Beck, sees 'Two' Major Threats to Our Way of Life.

The First is Economic - the US is broke as indeed is the entire Western World. Simply stated, the last 50 years of Entitlement has Busted the Bank. Western Democracies continue each year to rack up Deficits and extend their overall Debt. (40% of US Federal Spending is borrowed $). Future generations will be saddled with repayment, assuming bankruptcy does not intervene first, which is most likely.


He points out that along with out of control government spending, our money is becoming evermore worthless as more and more of it is printed without backing. He is not surprised therefore with the rapid rise in the value of Precious Metals - most notably Gold.

One need look no further than Europe to see the negative effects of this. Greece, Portugal, Spain, Ireland and Italy are on the financial ropes. The contagion seems to be spreading. Each day new riots are flaring up and if anyone thinks the US or even Canada is immune to this - they are sadly mistaken. If we do not get our spending under control we too will share in the upset.

Greek citizens pride themselves on finding ways to avoid the payment of income taxes. Until now - they have been able to retire with full pensions at age 50. Civil Servants earn 5x as much as their private sector counterparts and they are fighting like hell to keep their benefits even if it means others - e.g. Germany must step in to pay their freight.

The bottom line here is that a financially weakened America / West, seriously limits their ability to compete with the growing Tigers of Asia and with Sinister Outside Forces.

That leads to the Second Threat - Radical Islamists.

They are in the process of establishing a "New Caliphate" - a world government headed by Muslim Extremists.

But Beck sees the greater danger here to be Ourselves - more precisely, our Western Apathy combined with our loss of those self same values mentioned above.


He notes that the Middle East is burning and not surprisingly predicts it will be the Islamists that put these fires out and not democracy.

He senses that Israel is today's 'canary in the coal mine'. The US at one time was the only country Israel could count on as a friend, but that was then and this is now and no longer can Israel be sure of American support.

Obama's recent speech pledging the return to the 1967 borders, without consulting Israel, is the latest example of this distancing between the two countries. Canada is now one of the only friends Israel has left and that is entirely due Prime Minister Harper.

I think it is safe to say that Iran is now capable of launching nuclear war-heads. A tiny nation like Israel would last but minutes under such a nuclear attack.

In realization of this, Beck is headed later this year to head a Pilgrimage to Israel and I suspect that many from the Tea Party will join him. I would also like to be there with him.

The UN is continually critical of Israel; likewise the Left in the West who purport to love peace. Nonsense.

As has been said many times, if Israel was to dispose of its armaments it would be invaded immediately however, should the Arabs disarm, there would be immediate peace.

The Left never has a response to that observation.


So Beck is all Gloom and Doom?

I cannot blame you for thinking just that. But he also holds out hope. He, like Churchill before him, sees a day when the West finally wakes up to what is happening and will do what is necessary to address the above Threats.

Make no mistake though, it will take a re-awakening on our part - great sacrifice and sadly loss of life but in the end we will do what it takes to restore our values and preserve our Way of Life which has been won by countless sacrifices in the years gone by.

As Churchill so wisely noted, the longer we put off this re-awakening, the more costly will be the price we pay for our delay.

In Western History, we have been fortunate to have great Leaders come forward in time of Our Need - and as for me, Glenn Beck is the man for our Times.

As I see it...

Blagojevich, Guilty As Charged...

Seventeen Charges to be exact.

This is the number of convictions former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was dealt earlier this week.

Primarily it had to do with trying to "sell" Obama's former Senate Seat and with so many convictions, he is likely serve some serious Federal Prison Time.

The question arises as to Why? Why would someone of Blogojevich's stature and position risk all by stooping to such slimy activity? One gets the sense that when some individuals reach such heights they begin to think of themselves as invulnerable - e.g. Gerry Weiner, Bill Clinton, and Robert Edwards.

For whatever reason, Blagojevich has now lost much - most important his reputation is in shatters and is not likely to be restored.

But now enters the US System of Punishment...let's call it its Conrad Black moment.

The Prosecution will most certainly be asking for a prison sentence of at least 5 years but what will that accomplish?

• Will he be rehabilitated? Not Likely

• Will he be punished? Yes, but he has already suffered a great deal more than your ordinary offender due to his loss of status.

• Will it set an example for others who may think now or in the future of conducting themselves in a similar fashion? Probably.

So on balance the serving of hard time seems to make some sense.

But it is not going to address the chronic problem of overcrowding in Prisons. (i.e. California is in the process of letting thousands of inmates out since the State is broke and cannot afford to expand their existing facilities).

Nor is it going to help the inmate himself. He or she is likely to come out of the experience much more hardened.

It will certainly not help his family who will now be without his support both financial and emotional.

Nor will the imprisonment be taxpayer friendly. Using Canadian Figures - it costs $259 per day on average to incarcerate a prisoner - males cost $87,665 per year while female inmates cost over $150 k per year. Alternative methods of punishment cost but $5 to $25 per day.

So Alternative methods are much cheaper - are they as effective?

If I was the Judge punishing Rod Blagojevich I would rely upon those alternative methods and here is what I would do.

First, I would bar him from Public Office for life.

Second, I would confiscate current and future sale revenues from his story to be deposited to the general revenues of the State of Illinois.

Next I would fine him - $100,000 in total.

Then I would sentence him to 500 hours of community service, And,

Finally, I would place him under Home Arrest for 1 year, followed by 4 more years of probation.

In my opinion, this would address the objectives and much more of serving hard time.

Alas, it is not to be. The Prosecution will ask for time and the Judge will grant the request.

As I see it....

'K.D. Galagher'

Geert Wilders' Acquittal...

A VICTORY FOR US ALL.



If you have been following the travails of this Dutch Politician, you will know that this past week he was acquitted of inciting violence and hatred against Muslims.



By the end of his Trial, even the Prosecution was asking for his acquittal although it does beg the question why they charged him in the first place.



A refresher.



Wilders is an outspoken critic of Dutch and indeed European immigration when it comes to Muslims. More particularly, he sees the Muslim Religion as a threat to European Stability and views the Koran as dangerous as Hitler's Mein Kampf.


He is therefore extreme in his beliefs but he is not totally wrong in his beliefs either. That aside, in Free Speech Societies like Holland and the Western World - people like Mr. Wilders have the right to say what they want unless they are directly inciting violence against a person or group of persons.



As a Christian - someone might think and say that I belong to a weird sect - that I have two heads and eat worms - so be it. In fact, I respect their right to say whatever they want while not for a minute respecting what they say.



"I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it" from Friends of Voltaire 1906.



But the issue of Muslim immigration must be aired since it has caused serious problems for Western Society, a Society based on Judeo-Christian Principles.



Muslims, almost by definition, have difficulty blending into our society given the fundamental differences between their religion and our own.



To cut off debate and pretend there are no problems, only serves to exacerbate the situation. Polarization will follow and in the end, extremists will gain control of the agenda.


It is interesting, that in many respects, the Muslim situation today parallels the Jewish situation 50 - 60 years ago. Then, Jewish immigration was discouraged while Jews kept to themselves and resisted integration into mainstream societies.


There is a big difference though. Jews promoted peace - they wanted to be left alone to their own devices and be successful in their endeavours.


In the current age - Muslims for the most part too promote peace - and they too seem to resist integration but a minority of Muslims - the Islamists - out and out hate Western Society. They will not be satisfied until we are destroyed.

In addition, a significant number of Muslims support Sharia Law and indeed our very own Premier came within a whisker of implementing it here in Ontario.

Some of the provisions of Sharia Law are incompatible with our own set of laws, especially when it comes to the treatment of women and young girls. We do not need different sets of laws for different groups of persons.

So to me a debate on this subject is most needed. How can we in Western Society preserve our Judicial System and Rule of Law and at the same time meet the needs of our fellow Muslims?

Geert Wilders freedom to speak to this issue and help generate needed debate is part of the solution and for that we all should rejoice - Christian, Jew and Muslim in his acquittal.

As I see it ...

'K.D. Galagher'

I'd Give Them An 'F'

The New Conservative Government that is.



Maybe it is premature to mark them this early in their new mandate so let's just call it an Interim Mark and hope that things improve over the longer term.


Why an 'F' ?


Okay let's start with my most recent Blog - introducing Back To Work Legislation for both the Post Office and Air Canada with indecent haste.



Both Organizations have the legal right to strike and there was little evidence to suggest that the public is being seriously inconvenienced.


The Tories were wrong to so quickly introduce Back to Work Legislation and for that they get an 'F' from me.


Note to Report Card: if you aspire to an "A' at the end of term, you will need to Bring In Legislation Revoking A Public Servant's Right To Strike since that is the real issue here.



So that's One Area - there are more ...As Follows:

• Your attempt to Reform the Senate will render the Upper House even more dysfunctional. Elected Senators, with but one term, will cause them to think they are of equal or greater importance to the lowly MP. As well, with no need to worry about re-election, they will be entirely without accountability. Interim Grade F-

Note to Report Card: if you aspire to an 'A' in this subject, you must find a way to Disband the Senate & redeploy the freed up resources to making the House more effective (i.e. more powerful committees).

• Proposed cuts to the Civil Service of 5 to 10 % are anemic and will have little effect on reducing the Deficit / Debt. Interim Grade F+

Note to Report Card: if you aspire to an 'A' in this subject, you will have to cut much deeper - 25 to 40%*

*(I expect many of you will find these numbers to be draconian but please realize, the world is facing a debt crisis the likes of which we have not seen since the Great Depression and the only way for Canada to minimize its affect on us is to get our financial house in order pdq. Programs will also have to go under the knife.)

• Your Stand on Asbestos is most incomprehensible. It is a known carcinogen. To continue to allow its export from Canada is nothing less than inhumane. Your vote this week at the UN to block its addition to its list of dangerous substances is simply bizarre. You rate an F-- and a lower mark if one was available.

Note to Report Card: if you aspire to attain a higher mark at the end of term - you will need to stop these exports now. Even then, the best mark I could give you would be a B given your tardiness.

• Your policy to send people to jail for longer periods and to build more prisons is for the most part misguided. Prisons should be a very last resort save in the case of violent offenders. By following such a policy we are most closely aligning ourselves with the United States which, as shown in the Conrad Black case, has become one mean spirited country. Again an F.

Note to Report Card: To attain a better mark in this subject you will have to scrap your current policy and find ways to get people out of jail and keep them out of jail i.e. effective alternative punishments. With that, the over-crowding will be a thing of the past and we'll have better citizens for it.

• Taking Canada into Libya was a mistake since we have no idea who we are helping there i.e. the likelihood is that in the end, a greater Tyranny will assume control from the lesser Tyrant Qaddafi. Plus what about the real threat in that part of the world - Iran? Estimates now indicate that we are but days away from Iran acquiring Nuclear Weapons. Another F

Note to Report Card: Finish the work in Libya since it has been started but be prepared to live with the consequences. Also find someway to help destabilize Iran in concert with NATO.

• Heritage James Moore announced the day after the recent Election that "CBC funding was secure" and that CBC provides cultural significance for the country. An F

Note to Report Card: There are now enough private sector media outlets that we no longer need our government to support a public sector alternative. And this is not even getting into the issue of outright bias by the Mother Corp against all things conservative. To get a better mark Harper will need to scrap the CBC and cashier the Hon James Moore.

• The Conservatives continue to support the acquisition of expensive state of the art Jet Fighters. We are a middle power and simply do not have the financial resources to spend on such high end machines. Even the USA has started to cut back in the face of financial reality. Another F

Note to Report Card: Find a cheaper alternative or at the very least, reduce the size of your planned purchase.

• Their Plan to Eliminate the Electoral Subsidy I believe is wrong. This subsidy, unlike the Income Tax Deduction (i.e. refund $75 dollars for a $100 dollar donation) at least has some rationale - each Party is compensated on the basis of how many votes it received so in a sense it has a direct relation to the voters who supported it. In the case of the Income Tax Deduction, all taxpayers are financially supporting parties that they did not vote for. Plus the less public funding - more private funding is inevitable - big corps / big unions - just like the Americans.

Note to Report Card: Preserve the subsidy and deep six the Income Tax Deduction - if individuals believe in one Party they should be prepared to spend their own money in support of it and not expect taxpayers to join them in the privilege.

• I could not let this interim report go without honourable mention of Quebec. Your reimbursement of costs associated with Quebec's combining its Provincial Sales Tax with the Federal GST years ago - i.e. some $2 billion dollars is tainted. Quebec did this on its own and for its own purposes. It alleged unfairness but conveniently forgets about the $10 to $15 Billion it receives annually from the Rest of Canada in transfers and the like. If the Federal Treasury was bursting at the seems - this could possibly be overlooked, but you are broke. Hence another F.
  

Note to Report Card: To late to do anything here to redeem yourself but if you worked on getting Transfer Payments generally under control - I'd be pleased to give you an A++ in your final report.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

To Strike Or Not To Strike...

And my answer to both Questions is unequivocally -"Yes".




(This Question, as you know, has been in the News of Late with respect to Air Canada & Canada Post).




But how is it I am answering both Questions in the Affirmative?

Well dear Reader, as you know, I am opposed to public servants having the right to strike in the first place.

• Public Servants are paid by Taxpayers who are viewed by Politicians and Unionists alike as a bottomless money pit. In other words, there is no mechanism in place to bring about discipline settlements; 5 - 10 - 15% settlements fully indexed pensions - what the heck.
  
  Second - Public Servants work in a monopoly situation; there is no one to replace them should they go on strike. In the private sector, should a Marshmellow Plant shut down, there would be other such manufacturers to fill the void. Not so in government.

As a result, Public Servants now work in the best of conditions, receive much better wages and pensions that their private sector counterparts and enjoy enviable job protection (despite the threatened Tory minor cut-backs through attrition).


I could go on and on - but suffice to say - "Yes" I am opposed to Individuals Paid By The Tax Payer having the Right to Strike.


Now the Private Sector is another matter entirely, as I have alluded to above in the Marshmellow example. If Unions there go on strike - so be it. Both sides know - or should know, that if settlements are too generous, competitors in their industry will thrive at their expense. Remember GM?

The only exception to this would be in cases of Monopoly where there is not another organization to pick of the slack so to speak and where the product/ service is of critical importance to the public - e.g. private sector garbage pick-up.

So with that criteria in mind - let's look at Canada Post and Air Canada.

Canada Post first.

CP is a Crown Corp and by any other name a Public Service Organization. But even if one were to call CP a private entity, it would still be a monopoly service, entirely dependent upon you and me to buy its Stamps.

Ergo - I am opposed to its employees having the right to strike - True.

I am also opposed to them being denied the right to strike - True Too.

Been drinking Galagher?

"No".

Currently Employer / Labour Agreements at Canada Post allow for a strike. Those agreements were negotiated in good faith and should be honoured i.e. employees should be permitted to strike at least until it becomes unbearable for the public. The Tories in this regard have acted prematurely - not only was there no time for public suffering to materialize, all indications were that it was unlikely to do so to any serious extent. That was not the case back in the 1960s and 70s but that was then - this is now, with so much electronic transmission available.

So I am in favour of this Strike.

If the Government is desirous of ending the Posties Right to Strike it should do so via legislation that takes this right away from all persons paid by the taxpayer. And of course, I would be in favour of just that.

Now Air Canada.

It was a Crown Corp but now is entirely Private. It is not a Monopoly - there are other airlines to pick up the Slack - so I have no trouble with its Employees walking out and staying out permanently if they so desire.

But again, the Tories acted too fast stating that an AC strike would injure a struggling recovery.

Hogwash.

The only real explanation I have for the Government's fervour here is that they wanted to protect Air Canada - since it is Headquartered in Quebec. Remember the demise of Western based Canadian Airlines - a far superior organization?

Air Canada is struggling and has been struggling for countless years now. One of the reasons is that they retain the Crown Corp attitude after all these years. You know the one where they believe the paying public should be honoured just to fly with them. Their Stock Value is approaching penny stock status.

The Government knows AC cannot handle too many blows and hence steps in before it loses further pax miles to West Jet and Porter.

But it cannot say why it is doing that since it offends the fairness doctrine.

I think what happened here, is that the Tories came out against the strike at Air Canada first - for the reasons I have given above but were not so disposed to do the same with Canada Post. But what followed was legitimate questions as why would they not treat the two companies alike? i.e. order them both back to work.

Stuck between a Rock and a Hard Place - the Government's hand was forced to do just that.

So again, Strike or not to Strike - That is the Question

And welcome to the real world of politics Minister Riatt.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

Maher Arar ...

And His Ship Of Fools.

AKA 'Sea Hitler'.

Before I get onto the Ship Business a little background.

A few years ago Maher was travelling the world - he held two passports and possessed two citizenships - Syrian 1st and Canadian 2nd.

He ended up in the USA and was flagged as having possible links to terrorism. The US checked with Canada where their suspicions were apparently confirmed. They then sent Mr. Arar to his country of birth - Syria - where he alleges he was tortured.

The Torture allegation was made by Maher Arar alone.

Let's say for the sake of this discussion that he was indeed tortured by the Syrians.

Canada arranged for his return to this country where upon Mr. Arar launched a lawsuit against Canada and was successful to the tune of over $10 million. He also sued the United States, whereupon his claim was summarily dismissed. He never sued Syria to my knowledge.

So here we have the United States shipping this chap off to Syria where he is allegedly tortured and we Canadians are left to pick up the tab by forking out a cool $10 million.

Not bad for a days work.

I listened to a lady call into local talk radio and said it better than I can - "we have troops returning from Afghanistan missing arms and legs and they get virtually nothing while we pay Maher Arar $10 million for, in the scheme of things a minor torture".

This has troubled me too but now we find out he is a backer - albeit one of many (e.g large Canadian Trade Unions and such) - who backs an upcoming Flotilla from Turkey to Gaza for the sole purpose of breaching Israel's sea blockade of that region.

Arar and Company from Canada, are contributing a ship dubbed the 'Sea Hitler' - Cute don't you think? So warm and fuzzy.

And, it is not that Israel wants to stop ships from entering into Gaza - rather, their sole purpose is to inspect such ships to ensure that they are not carrying armaments that will with certainty be used against them.

Gaza, as you know, is controlled by Hamas with their stated goal to destroy Israel - to wipe it from the face of the earth.

Over the years, Israel has suffered numerous missile attacks from Gaza which they are unable to properly defend against given Gaza's close proximity.

It makes imminent sense therefore for Israel to stop the shipment of arms destined for that part of the world.

What puzzles me, is how a fellow like Maher Arar can worry so much about receiving fair treatment for himself while showing no regard for Israelis who face death or serious injury should weapons successfully make their way to Gaza.

From my perspective, I think Mr. Arar has shown his true stripes by being willingly part of this dangerous stupidity.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'