Attawapiskat, the real story

Warning: the reason that politicians want Attawapiskat people to move. The mining companies want unencumbered access to Ring of fire.
... The Ontario and Canadian governments are taking advantage of the terrible state of the community in Attawapiskat. These governments need the revenue from the mineral potential of that geology. Mining company investors on Bay street, Toronto are loathe to give money to the First Nations.
... Governments dawdled on the file for a long time. Mining companies want free reign in that part of Ontario. As part of the legal aspect, the community of Attawapiskat would have to be the prime support site for any mining development. Money rules. Mining companies rule. Governments hold back funding.
#onpoli, #cdnpoli, #attawapiskat 

Dr. Ben Carson, the Rx of stupidity

Dr. Ben Carson, the retired doctor seeking the Republican nomination for President, declared that he believed that no Muslim should become President. A majority of Americans believe that too. 

Well.... When Kennedy ran for office, it was accepted that a Catholic could never be President.


Before Obama, it was accepted that an African American could never become President.


Before John Paul II, it was always accepted that only Italians could become Pope.


Before Pope Francis, it was conceded that only Europeans could become Pope.


Before Shirley Muldowney, it was commonly believed that women couldn't drive Top Fuel Dragsters. She won three National Championships in her career.


Before Angelle Sampey, owners would never pick a female for driving Pro Stock Bikes. Somebody gambled and she carted off 41 trophies


Before the French Revolution, it was conceded that a foreign born person would never rise to become the head of France. No one told that to Bonaparte.


Before 1930, no German would imagine that an Austrian born politician would rise to become the Fuehrer.


Paradoxically, his major opponent, the one who actually won the war, became the dominant man in Russia, he too wasn't born in Russia, but in Georgia (country, not the US State).


Further another true paradox, the Allied Supreme Leader who led the western Allies against Germany was descended from, and had a German name.
...
Point is that never presume anything. Think on this. The United States has fought Islam for the last long 15 years with devout Christians in the President's office. Perhaps, just perhaps, the smartest thing that the United States people could ever do, would actually defy bigot idiots like Carson and look around for a smart Islamic person to assume the post of President. You might actually solve that long war on terror.

Bank of Canada plays politics

Hogwash. Seen this before. Bank of Canada deliberately suppressing interest rates to protect the incumbent government. Canada's economy needs a moderate transitional rise in interest rates. Reasons: prevents a further rise in private and commercial indebtedness, which are at record highs. Supports, and or slows the slide of, the Canadian currency.
... Low interest rates encourages the government to print money to artificially mitigate its budgetary deficits and trade deficit. All these skirt the inevitable inflation due to more costly imports. 
... Now it doesn't mean that the rates should spiral upwards, simply adjusted. Delaying a needed rise in interest rates means that when the inevitable interest rates rise, the increase will be far greater and more likely to cause out of control spiralling inflation very similar to the period in the early eighties.
... It seems the Conservatives are using the bank of Canada to protect their political butts at the price of jeopardizing the longer term Canadian economic health. Put the prime interest rates higher now to prevent catastrophic inflation two years from now. 

Musing on Caitlyn's Massey Hall Love-me In

The horror, oh the horror, oh the whorerer. What a tangle we weave when its yourself you deceive. Wear a dress, wear a kilt, wear the garb of a clown. Who does he fool? Not many. Only he, or she (in this case, maybe).

... Only another fool would pay to see, hear or smell this critter. I mean born a male, still a male, with the fashion sense of a drunk baby sitter. Not in transition, more of a quitter.

Note: Caitlyn Jenner, pseudo transgender celebrity is coming to Massey Hall to lecture the masses. He is so gracious in his mission that you will be able to buy a seat at a fee $50 to $200.

The Wild Rose Express coming round the mountain

Conservatives are mantra chant economics by introducing the false idea that this isn't a real recession. Two quarters of productivity decline is only one single number. There are other numbers that point to a reality that they know is just around on the other side of the mountain. Never dismiss just the statistic, begin by observing the economic problems in the People's Republic of China. Witness the numbers of ships sitting at anchor waiting around the globe, for cargo any cargo. The currency has declined. Stock markets kiss the bear. Interest rates are artificially too low. Take it all together. 

The 2008 recession was short and quick simply because it begun in the financial sector in the American, Fanny Mae debacle. The only reason that Canada appeared to do better was that the last set of banking regulations preserved economic stability. Harper took credit for it. In reality Paul Martin was the Liberal architect.

Thirty six thousand Albertans have been laid off. Small businesses will go belly up. Houses will stream onto the market, and worse a rapid rise in bankruptcies guaranteed early next year. Three Lake Freighters, are laid up in Toronto Harbour, you can see them from Sugar Beach. Its the first time since 1989, another stock market driven that ships were tied up. I've experienced the 1974 recession, the 1981 Reagancession, the 1988 recession which stretched through 1993 eliminated when Clinton took over the White House, 2008 blowup Fanny Mae Bushcession. I worked in pulp and paper during a localized industrial recession. That's the economic history.

I know something about recessions. And this one is far more serious than the Conservatives are willing to admit before the election. Its the same bunch of economic knuckle heads in Alberta who put that province into a very poor economic condition to line pockets by totally depending on the performance of a single natural nonrenewable resource. Worse still the incoming government is left holding the bag for a total economic disaster. It didn't matter which political party came into power in Alberta. The Harper type Conservatives literally raided the pantry and left everyone else holding the bag.

The only reason that things appear stable is because the Harper government is deliberately controlling the artificially low interest rate which shelters most people. Mark this... And mark this well. After October election, when the foppish Joe Oliver is no longer Finance Minister, regardless of which party wins the election, the base interest rates have to start rising, then that is when the real hardship on you is going to be felt for at least three probably four years.

Statistically, we are in recession but that interest rate has to come up to support, to stabilize the currency. Paul Martin is on the Liberal staff to encourage deliberate deficit spending. And that would be the same regardless. Why? Its because the Harper government rode the oil pony without making any effort to support the manufacturing sector in central and maritime Canada.

Harper has got it totally wrong. The next government has to be interventionist no matter who gets in power. He knows that the interest rates are going to rise after the end of October coming. The level of private debt in Canada is obscene right now. No politician is dealing with that as yet. The reality is that the Bank of Canada is protecting Harper by suppressing interest rates.

Raising interest rates does something to the economic situation. First it does support and stall the currency from going into a tail spin. Second it will only have positive results in the artificially obscene real estate market by causing a decline in housing prices, the correction that is coming like a locomotive pulling a train through a tunnel - you can hear it and very soon you will see it. Combined with the artificially low interest rates, the astronomically high housing prices, the collapse of the dollar, the recent downturn in stocks globally, the downturn in international industrial output, that train is coming. This isn't the end, what you are looking at is the cow catcher

Time for pinky swears

What can be done? A change is needed..

The next great reform to the Elections Act? After years of angst and agony imposed on the voting citizen, a change is needed. To reduce the quantity of unrealistic promises by candidates, the solution is simple. Pinky swear.

Every candidate's promises and speeches must be made under sworn oath. Lies and broken promises then can be litigated as perjury. This oath period begins once the writ is dropped, or when the official election campaign begins. Candidate's are bound to complain. Yet voters have the right to expect those successful candidates to keep their promises and political affiliation.

A political campaign is much like an employment resume and application. Those segments are conducted and signed by the applicant as being legally true. The average successful new employee is legally expected to tell the truth on that application. If its a lie. They are fired.

Then to protect joe average citizen, all politicians promises and speeches must now have legal force. Everything they say or promise is made under sworn oath.

Betrayed

People kind of really miss the set of ethical points in this sad set of events regarding the Duffy fraud trial. First, Duffy (and colleagues) are alleged to filed substantial fraudulent expense claims. It doesn't matter whether or not the amount is repaid. Let's put it this way. A murderer kills a victim. The crime is murder. Gun, knife, poison or something lethal, is only relevant to the fact that this person unlawfully killed another.

... The same here. The crime is fraud, it matters little whether or not it was for money, goods or love. Think about this. It isn't the matter as to the quantity or amount of money or benefit. The crime is the manner of how that said target was acquired. It doesn't really matter about restitution. Repaying the money may mitigate punishment, but does little to diminish intent. Duffy is alleged to have filed fake residential information and received benefits related to the false information he provided. He also is accused of falsely (fraudulently) filled claims to receive coverage of expenses on journeys to Conservative political events by claiming them as business trips related to Senate business. So the money is of little issue other than being benefit, its the method by which that money was sought.

... Second. People must understand that it doesn't matter whether or not the amount gleaned from a fraud is $90K or Ninety dollars. What is emerging is a concerted effort by Nigel Wright to mitigate Duffy's activities by repaying the amount in question before the Senate auditors could scour the books. This was a coverup scheme emanating from one or more executives in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

... Now, the truth is Harper might not have known the specifics. There is more than sufficient evidence to indicate that he might have known about the plan, there is no smoking cigarette. What can be proved at the moment. Harper appointed Nigel Wright to his staff. Harper recommended Duffy for Senate appointment. Harper chose every single one of his PMO associates and executives. Its Harper's office. Regardless of what he might have, or might not have known, the grand architect of this corrupt edifice is Stephen Harper, he is totally and completely responsible.

... Remember a long time ago when the Liberals were in scandal, and Harper, the chief opposition leader, demanded that government be clear and accountable. Harper is totally one hundred percent accountable for the actions of his staff. It is why the Conservatives picked him to be leader. It is why people voted for him. Yet on something basically obvious as this set of events, Harper still hasn't lived up to his very own, promised standards of accountability.

... More confusion here about Nigel Wright. Since it has been his testimony under oath. Nigel Wright did attempt to arrange the hush money payoff to Duffy. So people seem to view him as honest and loyal. Both are admirable qualities however, this doesn't make him a good guy. Wright is a bad guy. He tried to payoff hush money to Duffy. That's no good deed. Its a bad thing.

... Here's the reality. Yes this whole affair insults Canadians. But whether or not they like it, its the supporters of the Conservatives that have been wrongly served. It matters little whether or not there was any criminality. What is very real, is that they wanted a government that is clear, responsible and accountable. Harper didn't deliver on any of those hopes at all. Conservatives are completely betrayed.

Not the money honey. Its the porpoise

 $90,000 or $90, its not the amount. So much focus is put on the money, not the reason for all these machinations. Duffy is alleged to make fraudulent claims. On The Right Dishonorable Stephen Harper's broad instructions to cover up Duffy's nefarious activities, he wanted the details suppressed from public exposure. Its hush money.

... The only reason to pay hush money is for the recipient of the money to have the purple-traitor, say nothing. Its Senator Duffy that is on trial. The fact that Harper factually didn't know about it is irrelevant. The hush money was orchestrated through his office, not Wright's office, not Duffy's office but through Harper's office.

... And using the news media as a source, Mr. Nigel Wright, under oath just admitted that general linkage. Never mind that his testimony demands the listener to suspend logical assumptions. First assumption is that while the payment was from his personal account, in paying any money to Duffy was intended to cover up a direct paper trail. Second suspension of belief is that the Conservative Party refusing to pay a sum around $32G's, and mark this, a political party that is chocked full of cash donations. 

... As a result of this alleged block Wright says. jeez I will pay $90,000 out of my own pocket because I am just a golly gee great guy. It doesn't matter. That amount is hush money, in a PMO orchestrated cover up. That's the reality of what he said under oath on the stand.