Shooter gets life for Caribana killing –Star, Dec.19/08.

“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.

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.

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

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.

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."

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."

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.

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

HARPER BACKS OFF

Harper could not stop playing chess - eh-politics. When the country needed statesmanship, he played brinkmanship. Now he has gone to far, and any respect and trust he might have earned, is forfeited. Backtracking now will do little for him.He got hoisted by his own petards.

I do hope the opposition will not lose heart and back off. Bring on the coalition - it cannot be worse than this ineffectual minority government.

HARPER BLINKED

Harper Blinked…

Guess Machiavelli Harper & Co. pulled back from the brink after all. He thought he had an ace up his sleeve: having cancelled the cancellation, he now could make the opposition –the Liberals in particular –look self-serving and hypocritical if they backed off; by claiming that they were only interested in saving their subsidies. When it appeared that the opposition parties were going through with a non-confidence vote regardless, he backed off –buying time by postponing a vote until December 8th –but not before he showed himself for what he is: a cunning, conniving partisan who puts political scheming before the common good, in spite of his protestations to the contrary.

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.

Regardless, we cannot afford to play politics as usual during these trying times. We need a concerted, non-political effort to face the tsunami of economic tidal wave about to engulf us.

HARPEROMICS

Stephen Harper must get up each morning and checking his weather-cock to see which direction the Washington southerly is blowing. Lately, it must seem like a hurricane.

Some might see this as a Machiavellian strategy of practical politics. Others might see it for what it is…

Re. Harood Sidiqui in the Star Nov 27/08

What a wonderful turn of phrase: “More immediately, all the key players need to rise above their self-serving agendas and pursue the common good, which is often best advanced through self-restraint rather than under the hammer of the law.”

Your resident Islamist-apologist, Mr. Siddiqui, is in your bully pulpit again. Self-restraining, my foot! Does he mean the kind of restraint shown by Islamists dancing in the streets after the fall of the twin towers on 9/11? Or the studied silence from the Islamic community when their young people decide to go on a “jihad” in Canada? Pray tell, where exactly are we to find the self-restraint of which he speaks?

YO-YO MACRO ECONOMICS

The international stampede to “add liquidity to the economy”,or in plain English, throw good money after bad,is more than troubling. I don’t purport to be an expert on finance or economics, but I do remember the continuing Liberal deficits during the Trudeau area's (and again during the Mulroney years)and concomitant inflation and ultimate high interest rate cure.I thought that yoyo macro-economics were a thing of the past –guess I was wrong. I predict that in two or three years’ time, we will see inflation roaring back with a vengeance.

Re. "Opposition takes hit as Tories move to cut $27-million subsidy for parties."Globe & Mail

I must admire Harper & Flatherty's Machiavellian tactics and strategies. The Liberals, in particular, are in bad financial shape. On the pretexts of saving money, he have just given them a kick to the head while they are down.

Oh, well, every dog has it's day, and another day it will be the Cons. in the barrel.

Timely quotation

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance."

Cicero - 55 BC

Liberals need to rebuild - from the bottom up...

What the Liberal Party needs is a rebuild from the bottom up, a fundamental review of its policies, and in particular, its internal relationships and politics. Ignatieff might be the “frontrunner” –even the anointed one –but so was Paul Martin. What they need is a fresh face with fresh ideas and the energy and skills to implement reform –a Canadian Obama.

However, I fear that the Liberals will act in character: they will follow the “front runner” to the precipice, and like lemmings (or is it sheep?) they will go over the top, not realizing that they just elected an English-speaking Stephane Dion.

Mr. Harper, the incumbent, will reinvent himself again –like a chameleon –reflecting the needs of the day. Like Robert Frost, he will have lots of promises to keep –except he won’t.

I hope I am wrong –but then again, I rooted for Dion

The real reason a Big Three bailout is a bad idea - Andrew Coyne in Maclean's

Andrew Coyne does it again. He has zeroed in on the real problem, and elucidated it as only he can do.

The overpaid mandarins of the Big Three have for too long depended on government’s handouts and guarantees, with a song and a promise to maintain local production and employment, all the while pushing their gas guzzling dinosaurs and avoiding facing the inevitable changes. The unions were willing participants in the charade, just as long as the domestic auto manufacturers acceded to their outrageous featherbedding demands, paying them more than twice the average wage for semi-skilled labour. After all, before the Japanese snuck up on them, they had a virtual monopoly, and could pass the costs on to the buyer. For a while, mechanization and robotics kept the labour costs per vehicle in check, since they could reduce the expensive work force. However, the Japanese were even better at mechanization and cost cutting, implementing such innovations as “just in time” manufacturing, and technical innovations in efficient engines and quality products, leaving the domestic manufacturers scrambling to catch up. They forgot to innovate long ago; keepers of the status quo and followers rather than leaders.

These “captains of industry”(otherwise known as fat cats) pay lip service to laissez faire capitalism when the wind is in their sails, but as soon they face strong head-winds, they run to the government trough to feed with all the other little welfare- piggies –except they do it in corporate jets.

Mr. Coyne is making the very poignant argument that shoring up a failing industry is contra-productive in the longer run; the opportunity cost of capital being tied up in an obsolete and calcified industry exceeds the short time benefits of saving them now. Better let them fail –go into bankruptcy and reorganize; unload the overpaid “cretinous” bums at the top and pay the workers what they are really worth.

Perhaps then they can emerge again as an innovative and dynamic organization that can compete in world markets. Maybe.

McGuinty eyes race - Star, Nov.15th

Re.Steps in the right direction - Nov. 15

Finally, some sensible ideas on youth crime from a politician. Making racial statistics taboo might have seemed like a non-discriminating policy at the time, but all it really does is blindfold police and authorities, making it harder to zero in on the real issues and problem areas. Only when these problems are freely acknowledged by the authorities, as well as the affected parties, can something be effectively done, both through policing efforts and preventive social programs. It won't make it easy, but it will be a step in the right direction.

Sigmund Roseth, Mississauga

McGuinty eyes race stats - Star Nov.15th.

Finally, some sensible ideas on youth crime from a politician. Making racial statistics taboo might have seemed like a non-discriminating policy at the time, but all it really does is blindfolding police and authorities, making it harder to zero in on the real issues and problem areas. Only when these problems are freely acknowledged by the authorities, as well as the affected parties, can something be effectively done, both through policing efforts and preventive social programs. Better than banning guns and closing down gun club shooting ranges.

It won't make it easy, but it will be a step in the right direction

“A tinpot Parliament voted in by a tiny minority” – Andrew Coyne, Maclean’s Nov.24th/08

Andrew Coyne makes interesting observations and comments in his last column. I have always been conflicted about how to vote: should I vote for the party or should I cast my vote for the local member, whatever his party affiliation? With a few exceptions, I have chosen to vote for the party. However, this is one facet of our democratic process that is less than perfect. “One person, one vote” sounds fair and equitable, until you consider the unequal populations in our various provinces. That’s the conundrum of a federal state.

As usual, Mr. Coyne makes some pointed and rational observations. I agree that more televised debates are desirable, but they should also be of substance, not just showboating by the participants. It emerges, though, that the public wants to be hoodwinked, or at least tacitly accept it. How else to explain that our politicians are not held to account for promises made and broken.

There are ways to make the process more equitable and fair, but making change in the electoral system is fraught with its own problems and dangers. Our parliamentary system, inherited from Britain, has evolved over a very long time, and is not readily changed. There are too many vested interests –winners and losers – in such a process. Just look at the success we are having, reforming (or removing) the retirement home we call The Senate.

I agree that Australia’s mandatory voting process is “crude”; but effective? I sincerely doubt it. Furthermore, if we pay citizens to vote, what kind of thoughtful decision do you think such people would make? And if we force them to vote, would that be of any benefit to the polity? I maintain that if someone are not prepared to weigh carefully their choices and are not motivated enough to vote on their own volition, then we are better off as a society without their input. We need to vote for good people to lead and guide our country, people unhampered by pressure groups, lobbyists and bribery.

The voting percentage is no higher in the US – even in this last election; with the high stakes and the different choices facing the American voters; even with an energized and encouraged youth and Latino vote, the total turnout was still only in the sixties percentile.

Most people do not neglect to vote in order to protest, or because they are disillusioned. Mainly, they don’t vote because they are indifferent and complacent. Let them be.

“Mother fights for right to nurse child in pool” Star, Nov 12/08

Let me be sure I got this right:

Ellie Karkouti, herself an expectant mom, owns a commercial swimming pool in York Region. Cinira Longuinho, who immigrated from Brazil just four years ago, went swimming with her 20-month-old daughter in Ms. Karkouti’s pool on Monday, October 24th .She decide to nurse her daughter in the pool. Not on the deck, not in a corner of the pool area; no, in the pool. Ms. Karkouti asks her to suckle her child out of the pool, in the change room. Seems reasonable to me.

Ms Longuinho, to whom English is a second language, took umbrage to this rather sensible request, and, returning four days later, on Friday the 28th, with a few other women supporters, instigated a “peaceful protest for breastfeeding” against Ms. Karkouti and her Aqua Centre, who then had to hire private guards to protect her premises.

Now, Ms. Longuinho wants the Ontario Human Rights Commission to investigate why she wasn’t allowed to suckle her kid in the public pool! Have I got it right so far?

What blows my mind is how quickly newcomers to these blessed shores learn their civil rights here, and how ardently they pursue these rights as soon as they feel victimized by the slightest real or perceived offence.

I was an immigrant once, and more times than I care to remember was I “discriminated” against; called a D.P. and told to come back when I could speak English. It never occurred to me to complain, and if I had, I would have been told that if I did not like it here, I could go back to whence I came.

With all the unfairness, real discrimination and serious hurts in this world, we have a newly minted Canadian who wishes to waste public money by having the Human Rights Commission “investigate” why she got her nose out of joint. Then, to top it of, it is front page news in the Star –colour photos and all.

Mosque fights for human rights as it smears West, Jews online.

Here we go again. Muslims complaining to the Canadian Human Rights Commission about infringements on their “rights”. These same people who spout anti-western and anti-Canadian vitriol and vituperations at every opportunity, preaching hatred in their mosques such as the Khalid Bin Al-Walid.

Westerns, us – other than Muslims – are “wicked”, “corrupt” and “our clear enemies.” Takes me back to the Khadar interview done in Pakistan a couple of years ago.

This fringe fanatical Muslims came here knowing that Canada is a liberal democracy – what did they expect? If we are so foul, why did they come, and why are they staying?

In their wonderful Islamic societies from whence they came, and to which they so ardently aspire, would they be accorded even a sliver of the rights they are espousing and demanding here? I think not.

There is no law stopping them from leaving, and good riddance.

Let me just add that I do know a number of Muslim- Canadians and they are reasonable and decent people. I am sure they are chagrined at the unwanted attention their radical brethren are getting. They want just to be left to practice their faith and are quite happy to let others practice theirs, or lack thereof.

OBAMA

Much has been said all ready, both profound and profuse, about the sea-change in American politics and society. It is hard to imagine that it is scarce forty years since blacks were denied basic human rights in the southern US; that they faced segregation in schools and public areas such as buses and even washrooms. It is hoped that African-Americans as well as all Americans, have indeed reached that “mountaintop” of which Martin Luther King spoke, and that what they see in the distance is in fact their “New Jerusalem”.

I fear that the extraordinary expectations of the people will meet with disappointment down the road and the incredible challenges that will confront President Obama will be more than any human being can overcome, even though he surrounds himself with the best of helpers and advisers. Solving the economic mess alone will take tremendous efforts, requiring hard choices and difficult decisions, and take longer than most people realize. And, that’s only the beginning.

But I have another fear, of something much more sinister; that some home-breed crackpot will kill him. It happened to the Kennedy brothers, and it almost happened to Regan; and of course, it happened to Martin Luther King. In an open democracy such as America, it is hard to protect even a President from a really determined maniac.

Let’s hope, for everyone’s sake –America as well as the rest of the world – that in this case, at least, history does not repeat itself.

WHY WE BLOG

The blogosphere is a rather lonely space with navelgazing egomaniacs pasting their words and photos detailing lives and happening that no one but themselves and perhaps the immeditate family and/or friends care about.

For the most part bloggers are somewhat egocentric and narcisistic,they sometimes look in the mirror and think they see genious.Some have strange obsessions and peculiar interests.

Just to keep humble, I also write letters to the editor of newspapers and magazines. Since they are fairly regularily printing my missives, I must conclude that I am not totally delusional and that I do make some sense -- at least occasionally. The problem with blogs is that there are no editors and thus little feed-back. Consequently we could go on babbling to ourselves and not communicating anything of value. So there -- I got it off my chest!Lucid and clearly stated, and totally irrelevant! :) :(

The Biography of Pierre Berton

I have enjoyed reading M.C. McKillop’s biography of Berton.

Over the years, I have been a fan of the Oracle from Kleinburgh –a Canadian iconoclast as well as a great icon. From his writings in Maclean’s to his columns for the Star; his radio talk show with Charles Templeton on CFRB in the sixties and his TV interview show, I followed him ardently. I read his Canadian history volumes –every one of them, as well as his social commentaries like The Comfortable Pew and The Smug Society. While not an academic historian like Harold A. Innis; Pierre Berton made the reading of Canadian history interesting and alive. I didn’t always agree with his views on religion and politics, and I told him so in a couple of missives (to which he politely replied), but overall, he is one of my favourite Canadians –up there with Lester Pearson and Tommy Douglas.

Pierre Berton was a prolific and wide ranging writer, from the flippant to the ironic to the sublime; from heavy tomes like The War of 1912 and Vimy, to lighter fare like Fast Fast Fast Relief (1962) and Cats I Have Known and Loved (2002). Anyone who loves cats has to be a good man in my books. And who else would have the audacity to define a Canadian as someone who could make love in a canoe?

He spoke his mind, and it was voluminous. In an age of suffocating political correctness, he was a breeze of fresh air.

“Ignatieff, Rae reach deal to keep leadership run civil” Star Oct.22/08

It is sadly ironic that the two individuals, who brought us Stephane Dion and Steven Harper, are now making a pact: not to throw stones at their glass houses.

These two super-egos are going to have at it again, albeit in a “civilized fashion”. Why don’t they just flip a coin –say a toonie? If their intellects come with any kind of sensibilities and regards for the common good of the party, they better decide beforehand who will be the leader hopeful, or they might again be seated in the second row.

I sincerely hope that Mssrs. Manley and McKenna will decide to run this time, thus making the Rae/Ignatieff –Ignatieff/ Rae conundrum moot.

Lester Pearson’s lessons for today’s defeated Liberals”. Andrew Cohen, Star, Oct 22nd

Your story was a timely & evocative piece on Lester B. Pearson and the Liberals of his time. Yes, the times were different, but there is little similarities between Pearson and Dion. Pearson was a diplomat who surrounded himself with ambitious and able people, and readily took advice. He also courageously forged ahead with controversial and even divisive platforms; e.g. the Canadian Flag, and Medicare, well knowing the fight Saskatchewan’s Tommy Douglas had in introducing Medicare there a few years earlier.

Dion’s Green Shift was somewhat contrived; too abstract, and did not appeal to the average person.


Person (as opposed to Dion) was a patient tactician and a superb strategist, and even more important: a real DIPLOMAT.. He left a legacy of social good and honourable politics. The Liberals have still a reservoir of talents, perhaps too many, and their future success will depend on their ability to put the common good before personal ambition. In fact, Stephen Harper is in a similar situation that was Pearson in 1958. And he has some of the same personal traits. Whether he can learn from Pearson’s story, and set a social agenda that will leave him with positive legacy, is another question. Only time will tell, but at this point in time, I do have my doubts.

Post-election pontifications

Voter apathy seems rampant in Canada these days, with just overhalf the eligiblevoters casting a ballot. Why? Does the average voter feel indifferent? Impotent? Or are we just too complaisant and comfortable?

And why did the Conservatives fail in Quebec? Why, after Harper's dalliance with the separatist sentiments and “a Nation within a Nation” –whatever that means –did they lose big in Quebec. Harper's subsidy reduction and careless comments about the average person supporting the arts elite cannot be the whole story.

Have majority governments become next to impossible? Why did so many people not bother to vote? Is the system is broken? Well, it might not be broken, but it is in need of a little remodelling, or dare I say, repairs.

The proliferation of parties is especially bothersome in a federal state such as ours. You have one-issue organizations and special interest groups gravitating to marginal parties, making if difficult for any party to get a majority. The confluence of interest groups and regional/provincial differences make political cohesiveness and solidarity much more difficult, or nearly impossible to achieve.

There are many countries, especially in Europe, that manage a multi-party system quite well. Norway, for example, has seven or eight political parties, and most of the time, they can only manage a coalition government. However, it is also a very centralized system, with a rather homogeneous society and a tradition of compromise and adjustments to regional differences. Canada, if anything is moving away from cultural cohesiveness, and this will make it ever harder to obtain the political consensus needed for a majority government.

Harper better make hay while the sun is shining, for after Dion the Liberals will, or should, have learned from their past mistakes and dip into their still substantial well of effective leadership potential. People like Bob Rae or John Manley will bring the intelligence, strategy, experience and eloquence needed to regain their party’s political ascendancy. Unless, of course, the party has a collective death wish and chose someone like Michael Ignatieff –an English-speaking Stephane Dion.

ELECTION Post Mortem

Dion had three MAJOR problems:
1. His language skills.2. His demanour (personality challenged). When he smiled - occasionally - it was with closed lips.3. "Green Shit" - sorry, "Green Shift". It was a suicidal mission to make that his main platform. While really a better method than "cap & trade", he could not sell it, and it should never have been his number one issue. He could have keept it under the table - like the conservatives did. They were never made to explain theirs, because they knew it was a losing issue, and took full advantage of Dion's blunder.
I am sure Mr. Dion is a fine fellow - in the college crowd. But most voters are not college professors or PhD's. Joe Lunchbucket - the plebians - had no idea what he was talking about, they just heard the word TAX. Hopefully, he has enougth grace to exit quickly and not add insult to injury by hanging on until he is forced out!
There is another professor waiting in the wings. His name is Michael Ignatieff, and he is a carbon copy of Dion except he speaks English.He is the one that said Isreal was commiting ethnic cleansing in Palestine. If the Libverals are stupid enough to go for another egghead, they deserve to go the way of the DODO.
There is a couple of other fellows that might do the trick: Bob Rae is also erudite, eloquent, and does not require a personality transplant.Then there is John Manley: likable, intelligent and very experienced; holding posts in the Chretien government, like Finance, Foreign Affairs and Depety PM. He also headed a bi - partisan commission on Afghanistan last winter. He might be their best choise of all!
If the Liberals don't get a life and make a sensible choise this time, they will be a long time in opposition and possibly share the faith of the old Progressive Conservatives - remember, the Conservatives with Progressive in their name?

The other election (American)

Because it is important to the rest of the world, and Canada in particular, I have been following the American electioneering as intently as our own Canadian one. What exiting times for political aficionados such as I.

Watching Sara Palin is like seeing a deadpan comedian performing, except she is really earnest in her histrionics. What we are really experiencing here is a “dumbing down” of American politics, the likes of which we haven’t seen before, except on reruns of “All In the Family”. Indeed, to quote Cynthia Harrison: “the founders of the American republic were hoping that Americans would agree to be governed not by an inherited aristocracy but an aristocracy of merit” or a meritocracy (italics are mine). Fat chance. What we have here is a race to the bottom, but the plebeians who wish to see one of theirs in the presidency, might rue their choice when they find that their emperor has no clothes.

Maclean's wins third round of hate fight

Inevitably, common sense prevailed with the BC HRC. It is a case that would never see daylight in an Islamic theocracy so eagerly propounded by the Islamists.

With an incredible arrogance and contemptible behaviour bordering on treason, Faisal Joseph, the lawyer for the Canadian Islamic Congress, called Canada a “deranged dominion”. He is not furthering his case by such inflammatory language and profanity.
I cannot help but wonder what would become him had he been spouting this drivel in and against an Islamic state, say Iran. No, I take that back –I don’t wonder, I know. He would be on top of a flatbed truck with a rope around his neck, with another dozen or so condemned, and a crowd of compatriots cheering on the proceedings.

If as he says, “his problem is Canada”, there are Islamic theocratic havens awaiting him whence he came. No one is forcing him to stay in this “beguiling totalitarianism”. Good riddance.

THE ELECTION

It becomes well night impossible to ignore anti-Harper criticism when it comes from a former PC cabinet minister. Also, Andrew Coyne of Maclean’s in his column, defended Dion’s Carbon Tax Plan as superior to the Conservative one, and no one can accuse Coyne (or Maclean’s) of being a Liberal hack. The biggest problem for Dion has been a rather poorly presented plan –the Carbon tax is a rather difficult concept and too easily associated with the negative word TAXATION. This allowed Harper to attack it as an expensive tax, and ignoring the fact that his cap & trade plan is no less expensive; in fact more so, according to Andrew Coyne & co.The Conservative criticism of Dion’s performance in the CBC interview with Peter Mansbridge recalls the PC’s ridicule of Jean Chretien’s drooping lip. It backfired severely, as I think this one, to a lesser degree, will also backfire, and in fact, help Dion.
Let me now make a confession: I was a card carrying Conservative when Harper & Jim Flaherty abruptly about-faced and announced the tax on Income Trusts. Overnight, I lost 35% of my investment –an investment that was monies from the sale of my small business and was intended to supplement my Canada Pension in my retirement, as I had no Company pension. This after Harper solemnly pledged to not tax “senior’s nest egg”! One can argue that all politicians overpromise and then break promises – following the dictum that a politician’s has to do what is needed to be elected –which apparently includes lying. Jean Chretien promised to cancel the GST and NAFTA, and then recanted. So did Pierre Trudeau regarding taxes and deficits. However, theirs were a general promise, applying to everyone. What Harper’s did, was punish a small minority of citizens, seniors and their retirement savings. They were not major constituency, and not as important as the large corporations putting pressure on him to “level the playing field”. It was a cynical and heartless decision!Then he retracted his promise to his fellow Conservative in Newfoundland, Danny Williams. And finally, he broke his on election law. This shows a cynicism and opportunism worthy of the Jesuits postulatum that the end justifies the means, or as Ignatius Loyola stated in the Thirteenth Rule: To be right in everything, we ought always to hold that the white which I see, is black, if the Hierarchical Church so decides it.
I have come to believe something that I have never before believed about any Canadian party leader: that Harper is a clever, pragmatic, callous and calculating scoundrel, who if in a majority position would try to remake Canada in his right-wing, reactionary image.

THE DEBATE

Well, Dion didn't deliver any knockout punches last night, but neither did he flameout. While he did mention the Income Trust debacle, and did so quite well, he failed to nail Harper on the Conservative (old) cap & trade plan that will cost as much overall and be less effective and more economically distorting. He could have referred to Andrew Coyne's article in Maclean's this week ( and neither Coyne nor Maclean's can be accused of being Liberal hacks) defending the "Green Shift" as superior to the Conservatives rather ineffectual "plan", which they now seem to be downplaying.
Elizabeth May came out on top; she was eloquent, intelligent and effective. Perhaps she should be the leader of the opposition.

Harper, Dion & Layton: Canadian Politics

Harper is just doing what the Liberals are not - selling himself and his party. It is amazing, I think, that Harper has not managed to do better, considering the fledgling, ineffectual leadership of the Liberals, and in particular, Dion. I don't think Dion can resurrect his party at this late stage -- the best one can hope for is that the Cons. do not get a majority. Jack Leyton is just filling a vacuum on the left.The Liberals will regroup with a new leader, and return to fight another day.

OBAMA/MCCAIN/PALLIN

I watched the McCain/Obama debate yesterday, and though I respect McCain's honourable record as a POW, I must say I think we are safer with Obama. He certainly is the most eloquent of the two, but he is also, seemingly, the most intelligent and rational.

I also saw clips of the Sarah Pallin interview, and I must say she came across as shallow and naive. Her international/diplomatic experiences seems limited to being the neighbour of Russia and Canada, and if Putin decides to be nasty, oh boy, she would give it to him, I'm sure! Don't mess with Alaska. All of it's 660M citizens carry guns and are loaded for bear.

God help us and America should she end up, by default, as their President.

Lester B. Pearson: Canadian diplomat and Prime Minister

CANADA’S BOY WONDER – Lianne George, Maclean’s Sept.22/08

Your story on Lester B. Pearson brought out several areas of his personal life, of which I was not aware,and serves to make him even more real and human.

I have been a fan of his since the “flag debate” in the sixties, when he pushed through the Flag legislation, against much opposition from the Diefenbaker Conservatives. As a new Canadian citizen at the time, I could not understand why so many Canadians were against having their very own flag, rather that the poor facsimile of the Union Jack we were flying at the time. Not that I had anything against the British; they gave us the culture and liberal democratic freedoms we all enjoy –we owe much to them –but I felt strongly, that the time had come to forge a new Canadian identity which would include everyone, not just people of British or French descent, and that the flag would do much to encourage that kind of identity and pride in our country. That, largely, has come to pass.

In my opinion, the Pearson government’s achievements eclipse any of the other Canadian governments in our time (or at least, in mine), and it set the course for the social activism that brought us not only the Flag, but Medicare, the Canada Pension Plan and, through his protégée, Trudeau, freedom from government intrusion into our private affairs culminating in the Charter of Rights & Freedoms. All this he did, without ever having a majority government.
I don’t think the Liberals walk on water any longer, but Lester Pearson is still my hero!

OBAMA

Obama’s straight talk on fatherhood –Post Editorial, June 18/08.

While Robert Kennedy and Barack Obama came from very different social and racial backgrounds, there seems to be more than a superficial similarity in both their idealism and their diction. It is a difficult field to hoe –appealing to the great unwashed masses without uttering the odd expression of vacuous bombast.

In taking aim at the real problem of black ghettos, without sugar-coating it with the common apologetics, he has shown himself capable, even in politics, of taking the road less travelled. Kudos to him. He is actually echoing another well known African-American, Bill Cosby:"It is time, ladies and gentlemen, to look at the numbers. Fifty percent of our children are dropping out of high school. Sixty percent of the incarcerated male happens to be illiterate…Seventy percent of the teenagers pregnant happen to be black. There's a correlation." The same can be said for some of our own, especially here in the GTA. Much of the violence, the drug dealing, the gun-play and murders emanate from a similar social group of young people who have nothing to loose; identify only with their own clan or tribe, and aspire only to recognition from their own peers. They are hyper-sensitive to disrespect (or “dissing” in their own jargon), and “respect” in their argot is synonymous with fear. Most come from a single parent home, often with a number of siblings with different fathers -or sperm-donors –that take no responsibility for their offspring at all. This, it seems, has now become a generational thing, and little can be done by throwing money at the problem, or making superficial changes in their environment. It is not just a problem of education or income in itself –many low income groups have managed to get by, even in poverty, and bring up a family of honest and industrious citizens. A feeling of entitlement will not substitute for a set of values and mores that conforms to society’s needs. This has become a generational problem –a vicious circle of matriarchal families with no male support, no higher goals or educational aspirations, finding convenient excuses by blaming discrimination and bigotry. While, at least historically, discrimination might have been part of the problem, it’s not the whole story. Not by far.

There is no ready-made solution or short-term band-aid that will heal this social sore. Only sea-change; a major and radical surgery will do the job –and a long-term and expensive rehabilitation.

Omar's mother the 'true monster' - National Post, Letters, July 17/08

It was rather ironic to hear the snivelling Omar Khadr crying for his mom on the video release. Was it not his mom that happily saw him off with his father and brother to train in Afghanistan to kill the infidel Americans

BLACK REDUX

THIS IS HUMILATING –Barbara Amiel, Maclean’s Aug. 4/08

I see Maclean's has given Barbara Amiel a five-page spread to expound and expand on her and her husbands “innocence”. However, her apologetic sounds a bit hollow and contrived, especially when referring to “Conrad fighting with one hand behind his back” . Having million-dollar lawyers from two countries does no constituted a major disadvantage –one arm or the other, and calling the U.S. Appeals Court a “Kangaroo court” is not only less than genuine –it is an absurd slight on the whole American judicial system.
Whether Lord Black was uxorious, just plain greedy, or both, Barbra with her Sybaritic tastes and voluptuous life style (by her own admission, her needs " know no bounds") did not do much to harness his insatiable need for power and attention –their regal photo on the lawn of their Florida mansion or the ridiculous picture showing their attendance of his initiation to the House of Lords, in period costumes, comes readily to mind. Her protestations of innocence sound a bit flat, especially considering his treatment of employees (and shareholders) of Argus Corp, Dominion Stores and Massey Ferguson. Mr. Black, by his own admission, admires Napoleon, and probably envisioned himself as an unbridled, Napoleonic capitalist. In a way, he shares Napoleons fate, but Conrad’s place of abode is less Elba and more like St Helena. It would be easier to feel pithy for him had he be more merciful in his own animadversions.
Where Barbara really shows her colour is in referring to her “defenders, like the brilliant Mark Steyn .” Give me a break!
Ultimately, she herself says it best: “No matter how many disclaimers I make, when you have to defend yourself or your husband, it can only leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.” Right on, Barb.
I can appreciate Maclean’s wish to be fair and open-minded about this matter – after all they have published some of my own less than politically correct missives in their Mailbag Column –but I detect more than a soupcon of bias here. If they owe the Blacks anything, I think the debt is now repaid, and they can go on to cover more edifying subjects.

“New Canadians should focus on duties first, then on rights” –Toronto Star, Letters /web forum,

As a onetime immigrant myself, I cannot resist adding my “two cents” worth to this subject. I am in full agreement with letter writer Orlando Martini that there should be more emphasis on duties and responsibilities of newcomers, and less on “rights”. It seems to me that many of today’s immigrants come here fully equipped with knowledge of all the rights this country can afford them, but little in the way of commitment and duty. Pledging a memorized allegiance in unison at a citizenship "corral" after mere three years in the country does not automatically a citizen make; nor does it ensure loyalty to their new home. I believe there should be a compulsory course in citizenship which includes basic Canadian history and social values. This might help discourage the opportunistic and economic migrants that use our country as a “flag of convenience”.

I can understand that a new-Canadian has affinities to his “old country” and its culture; such things as the foods one grew up with, our native language and even religion, has strong emotionally strings attached to it. I too had these feeling, especially in the early years; though they waned as I became more involved and immersed in Canadian life. When after five years I became a citizen, it was so I could vote and take an active part in the political life of this wonderful democracy we call Canada. When it comes to politics and societal commitment, your loyalties must be here, not there. If you cannot accept this, then you don’t belong, and unless you are a true refugee, you should be encouraged to return to whence you came.

Lester B. Pearson

CANADA’S BOY WONDER – Lianne George, Maclean’s Sept.22/08

Your story on Lester B. Pearson brought out several areas of his personal life, of which I was not aware,and serves to make him even more real and human.

I have been a fan of his since the “flag debate” in the sixties, when he pushed through the Flag legislation, against much opposition from the Diefenbaker Conservatives. As a new Canadian citizen at the time, I could not understand why so many Canadians were against having their very own flag, rather that the poor facsimile of the Union Jack we were flying at the time. Not that I had anything against the British; they gave us the culture and liberal democratic freedoms we all enjoy –we owe much to them –but I felt strongly, that the time had come to forge a new Canadian identity which would include everyone, not just people of British or French descent, and that the flag would do much to encourage that kind of identity and pride in our country. That, largely, has come to pass.

In my opinion, the Pearson government’s achievements eclipse any of the other Canadian governments in our time (or at least, in mine), and it set the course for the social activism that brought us not only the Flag, but Medicare, the Canada Pension Plan and, through his protégée, Trudeau, freedom from government intrusion into our private affairs culminating in and the Charter of Rights & Freedoms. All this he did, without ever having a majority government.
I don’t think the Liberals walk on water any longer, but Lester Pearson is still my hero!

chapters.indigo.ca: A Son Of A Gun: An Immigrant's Story: Sigmund P Roseth: Books

chapters.indigo.ca: A Son Of A Gun: An Immigrant's Story: Sigmund P Roseth: Books

AMIGA CAT