“Gun-tooting drug dealer”. It is clear that we have a gang problem, with mostly young, black men killing each others for the most trivial reasons; sometimes for a slight or “disrespect”, or for drugs and money. This is black on black violence, – tribal warfare of the most base kind. These young people with nothing to lose, obtain handguns readily on the black market, and use them for the basest reasons, without thinking of the consequences.
Certainly, anyone using a gun in any criminal way should be dealt with harshly, and when they kill someone, whether the intended victim or a bystander, the maximum penalty of 25 years to life should apply automatically. However, there will be another young man to take his place, because the social environment in which they live, breeds this kind of behaviour. It’s like a cancer, it metastasizes and grows, unless it is excised and the proper chemo-therapy is applied, to ensure its permanent eradication. Or, to use a gardener’s metaphor, you must take the weeds out by the roots, or they will soon return to blight your garden.
If we cannot find the determination and strength to tackle this problem in an effective way, and expending the efforts and funds needed to bring these young people into the mainstream society now, we shall surely suffer greater ills and expenses further down the road. In fact, this might be a good time to start such a project. If we can make most of these young gangsters into productive citizens, the returns on investment might be greater than any other “infrastructure” project we can envision.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
The Liberal coronation...
On Nov.28th I wrote in a letter to the editor of the Star:
I predict that something like this will happen: The opposition parties, tired of playing political poker with the Harper & co. will pull the plug anyhow, as they should. They will likely have Dion move up his resignation date and then appoint Michael Ignatieff as temporary leader of the coalition, until an election can be held –after the Liberal convention and the resolution of the current economic crisis. After all, though not ideal, Ignatieff is all ready the Deputy Opposition Leader.
December 8th, I wrote in my blog ( http://sroseth.blogspot.com):
I see another scenario possible: that Rae quits the race. If the two go at it, only the Conservative will be winners. This is his time to stand up for Canada, and put politics and his own ego behind him. If he takes it to a vote, he will waste time, effort and money for nothing. If I read him right, and if he is as honourable and intelligent as I think him to be, I think he will take the high road and fold earlier, rather than later. We'll soon know.
The Liberal Party is now at a crossroads: If they play it right, they might be the governing party sooner than later. Here is how it might unfold:
Ignatieff bides his time, holding the “coalition Damocles Sword” over Harpers head; he can bring about much of the Liberal agenda without the risks inherent in governing the country in his time of economic uncertainty. If Harper falls on his sword –which he likely will-Ignatieff will be the knight in shining armor, riding the vanguard of the Liberals coming too save the day.
On a personal level, Ignatieff needs to soften his demanour – more humor and less gravitas. Of course, he will likely have Bob Rae as his sidekick, and Rae has the joviality Ignatieff lacks. The two should be a fine team.
I wager that Harper will rue his rash and precipitous actions of late. Now he will face a man with superior intellect and likely a better strategic thinker and tactician than him. As the saying goes: he was hoisted by his own petards.
I predict that something like this will happen: The opposition parties, tired of playing political poker with the Harper & co. will pull the plug anyhow, as they should. They will likely have Dion move up his resignation date and then appoint Michael Ignatieff as temporary leader of the coalition, until an election can be held –after the Liberal convention and the resolution of the current economic crisis. After all, though not ideal, Ignatieff is all ready the Deputy Opposition Leader.
December 8th, I wrote in my blog ( http://sroseth.blogspot.com):
I see another scenario possible: that Rae quits the race. If the two go at it, only the Conservative will be winners. This is his time to stand up for Canada, and put politics and his own ego behind him. If he takes it to a vote, he will waste time, effort and money for nothing. If I read him right, and if he is as honourable and intelligent as I think him to be, I think he will take the high road and fold earlier, rather than later. We'll soon know.
The Liberal Party is now at a crossroads: If they play it right, they might be the governing party sooner than later. Here is how it might unfold:
Ignatieff bides his time, holding the “coalition Damocles Sword” over Harpers head; he can bring about much of the Liberal agenda without the risks inherent in governing the country in his time of economic uncertainty. If Harper falls on his sword –which he likely will-Ignatieff will be the knight in shining armor, riding the vanguard of the Liberals coming too save the day.
On a personal level, Ignatieff needs to soften his demanour – more humor and less gravitas. Of course, he will likely have Bob Rae as his sidekick, and Rae has the joviality Ignatieff lacks. The two should be a fine team.
I wager that Harper will rue his rash and precipitous actions of late. Now he will face a man with superior intellect and likely a better strategic thinker and tactician than him. As the saying goes: he was hoisted by his own petards.
TheStar.com - Opinion - Keep wheels of economy turning by Roseth @ Tuesday, Dec. 09,2008
Re.Obama aims to build America out of recession, Dec. 7
Money, lots of it, will have to be spent in order to kick-start the economy back to life. In the '50s – in both Canada and the U.S. – huge sums were spent on road building and other infrastructure projects, such as the U.S. Interstate and the Trans Canada Highway system, the Welland Canal and ports as well as expressways and subways in the cities. Capital projects such as these provided long-term benefits to the domestic economy and national and international trade. However, we have fallen behind in the upkeep of our roads, highways and bridges and our whole road network has suffered.
We also need innovations and development of more ecology-friendly transportation methods, including train travel in the more densely populated areas. A high-speed, dedicated train in the Windsor-Quebec corridor would be a good start.
Money spent in such a way is effective because jobs created are for the most vulnerable – unskilled and semi-skilled workers. They spend a higher percentage of their wages, and what they do save is subject to the multiplier effect through the banking system, where a dollar saved is about $12 loaned by the bank for other economic activity.
It's a win-win situation, since infrastructure investment, in contrast to current consumption, has long-lasting benefits. When the inevitable inflation returns, at least we can see what our money bought.
Sigmund Roseth, Mississauga
Money, lots of it, will have to be spent in order to kick-start the economy back to life. In the '50s – in both Canada and the U.S. – huge sums were spent on road building and other infrastructure projects, such as the U.S. Interstate and the Trans Canada Highway system, the Welland Canal and ports as well as expressways and subways in the cities. Capital projects such as these provided long-term benefits to the domestic economy and national and international trade. However, we have fallen behind in the upkeep of our roads, highways and bridges and our whole road network has suffered.
We also need innovations and development of more ecology-friendly transportation methods, including train travel in the more densely populated areas. A high-speed, dedicated train in the Windsor-Quebec corridor would be a good start.
Money spent in such a way is effective because jobs created are for the most vulnerable – unskilled and semi-skilled workers. They spend a higher percentage of their wages, and what they do save is subject to the multiplier effect through the banking system, where a dollar saved is about $12 loaned by the bank for other economic activity.
It's a win-win situation, since infrastructure investment, in contrast to current consumption, has long-lasting benefits. When the inevitable inflation returns, at least we can see what our money bought.
Sigmund Roseth, Mississauga
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Spending our way out of recession
Money, lots of it, will have to be spent in order to kick-start the economy back to life. Monetary policy - manipulating the money supply through interest rate policy -is of little use when the rate apporches zero, and the demand is weak or non-existant. The Keneysian methods of direct intervention in the economy by job-creation schemes will work better, though it is not instantanious, and will take time to percolate thorugh the economy.
Whatever method is used to generate jobs and economic activity, the extraordinary monetary expenditures required to make a difference is going to create inflationary pressures down the road. Yet, not every job-creation scheme is equally efficacious and beneficial. In the fifties – in both Canada and the US – huge sums were expended on road building and other infrastructure projects (such as the US Interstate and the Trans Canada Highway system; the Welland Canal and ports as well as expressways and subways in the cities). Capital projects such as these provided long term benefits to the domestic economy and national and international trade. However, the upkeep of our roads, highways and bridges has fallen behind, and our whole road network has suffered.
Concomitantly, we need innovations and development of more ecology-friendly transportation methods, including train travel in the more densely populated areas. A high-speed, dedicated track, train in the Windsor - Quebec corridor would be a good start. Job creation money spent in such way is effective, because of the multiplier effect: the jobs created are precisely those in the area of the most vulnerable –amongst the unskilled and semi-skilled workers. They also spend a higher percentage of their wages, and what they do save is also subject to the multiplier effect through the banking system, where a dollar saved is about twelve dollars loaned by the bank for other economic activity. It’s a win-win situation, since infrastructure (capital) investment, in contrast to current consumption, has long lasting benefits of smoother and more efficient communications in all areas of the economy. When the inevitable inflation returns, at least we can see what our money bought.
Whatever method is used to generate jobs and economic activity, the extraordinary monetary expenditures required to make a difference is going to create inflationary pressures down the road. Yet, not every job-creation scheme is equally efficacious and beneficial. In the fifties – in both Canada and the US – huge sums were expended on road building and other infrastructure projects (such as the US Interstate and the Trans Canada Highway system; the Welland Canal and ports as well as expressways and subways in the cities). Capital projects such as these provided long term benefits to the domestic economy and national and international trade. However, the upkeep of our roads, highways and bridges has fallen behind, and our whole road network has suffered.
Concomitantly, we need innovations and development of more ecology-friendly transportation methods, including train travel in the more densely populated areas. A high-speed, dedicated track, train in the Windsor - Quebec corridor would be a good start. Job creation money spent in such way is effective, because of the multiplier effect: the jobs created are precisely those in the area of the most vulnerable –amongst the unskilled and semi-skilled workers. They also spend a higher percentage of their wages, and what they do save is also subject to the multiplier effect through the banking system, where a dollar saved is about twelve dollars loaned by the bank for other economic activity. It’s a win-win situation, since infrastructure (capital) investment, in contrast to current consumption, has long lasting benefits of smoother and more efficient communications in all areas of the economy. When the inevitable inflation returns, at least we can see what our money bought.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
John Manley quote
"The notion that the public would accept Stéphane Dion as prime minister, after having resoundingly rejected that possibility a few weeks earlier, was delusional at best. Mr. Dion had seemed to accept responsibility for the defeat (although somewhat reluctantly), and should have left his post immediately."
Friday, December 5, 2008
HARPER REDUX: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081205.COSALUTIN05/TPStory/specialComment/columnists
"I don't think Stephen Harper's problem is that he's an ideologue. It's that he's one of those people who only feels truly alive when voicing hostility and contempt for his "enemies." Without that, he starts gasping for air. It's his nature. Go find a better explanation for that self-destructive turnaround."
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Re. INTERVIEW with Roland Fryer. – Maclean’s Dec.15/08.
Excellent article. I think the ideas posited in Hernstein & Murray’s Bell Curve have now been largely disproved, and Matt Ridely’s Nature via Nurture argument makes more sense. It is also more hopeful for the coloured minorities. Obama showed great personal self-confidence and strength in calling himself a “mutt”, though it is incorrectly ascribed to humans (it means mongrel and is usually used in a derogatory way, mainly regarding dogs ). A better word would be mulatto, the proper description of mixed races. But he got our attention!
In the end, we are all part of the human “race”. Mr. Fryer, like Obama’ does not cower behind euphemisms when describing his mixed heritage.
In fact, it might be an advantage. I don’t wish to trivialize this point, but I am a lover of cats and dogs, and I have noticed that the “mutts” far often are smarter and usually stronger than the single breeds. The same could be true for humans.
In the end, we are all part of the human “race”. Mr. Fryer, like Obama’ does not cower behind euphemisms when describing his mixed heritage.
In fact, it might be an advantage. I don’t wish to trivialize this point, but I am a lover of cats and dogs, and I have noticed that the “mutts” far often are smarter and usually stronger than the single breeds. The same could be true for humans.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Secret tape a new low for the Conservatives
by Roseth @ Tuesday, Dec. 02, 2008 – 17:30:02
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
TheStar.com | Opinion | Secret tape a new low for the Conservatives
Back paddling furiously all the way to the starting post and recording private conversations. What's next from this scurrilous, manipulative and pathetic excuse for a government? Having "rolled the dice," to use a Mulroney term, the Conservatives are now staring defeat in the face, and running scared. Good riddance. I hope the opposition will carry through with the non-confidence vote. A coalition involving the Bloc is troublesome, but not worse than what we have now.
Sigmund Roseth, Mississauga
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
TheStar.com | Opinion | Secret tape a new low for the Conservatives
Back paddling furiously all the way to the starting post and recording private conversations. What's next from this scurrilous, manipulative and pathetic excuse for a government? Having "rolled the dice," to use a Mulroney term, the Conservatives are now staring defeat in the face, and running scared. Good riddance. I hope the opposition will carry through with the non-confidence vote. A coalition involving the Bloc is troublesome, but not worse than what we have now.
Sigmund Roseth, Mississauga
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