My issues? Lets chat.

The Chat

I was chatting with an American Gent (We'll call him Timothy, okay?) about illegal immigrants, the wall, and border legislation in the USA. 

 Like we actually have anything equivalent here in Canada.  

We have "Hey, you, c'mon 'ere a second, willya?   Lemme see yer passport - don't got one?  Hold on, I'll get your reservation at the nearest Hilton or Super 6 in the area - we'll get you sorted out".

OK, so maybe not entirely accurate, but sticking folks into a circus tent with no bedding or heat is not really neighbourly either, eh?

But his parting line was one I liked - he said that the millions of illegal aliens already living a crime free lifestyle should be given a one-time amnesty - they go through Immigration to properly be processed.  This would be good both for the Immigrants (legal jobs, etc) and the country.   And he also wished that the borders were more secure from Criminals, Cartels, drug mules and the like and I agree with him 100%.  

Guns, guns guns

I mean, this week near Hamilton, Ontario, they pulled a guy over for speeding, find like, 21 long guns (Canadian way of saying "rifle", eh?)  in his vehicle and a half-dozen pistols.  

So, a few days later, they get a warrant for this fella's house, go in and walk out with over 210 long guns, a few dozen pistols, large amounts of cash, and, of course, drugs.

But the OPP/RCMP were so nice to point out that 35 of the long guns (rifles) were locked up in appropriately approved storage containers.

Like that makes any fucking difference?   Why even bother mentioning that?   To guilt law-abiding gun owners into thinking that even criminals use approved weapon storage facilities!???

Welcome to Canada, eh?  The land where we are not legally allowed to defend ourselves - and win the fight.

Oh, no, not Biden!

So, anyways, I agree with that sentiment 100%. I think for his First Term, Biden planned on getting legislation going to sort some of those border issues out. Trump kaiboshed that idea, the frigging idiot!

Perhaps Biden planned to use the second Term to strengthen the first sets of new legislation on Borders/Immigration, and sort out the thorny "illegal's" currently living in the US.
A super-omnibus Bill combining both would be impossible to get through because of costs, and this also needs to be taken into account.

I mean, how many Millions did Trump throw at the Wall? How many desperate folks are still coming up, over and around said walls?

A bold new plan.  Mine!

That's not working. Listen - You need to funnel them as they cross the border into corrals that can then be used to sort, brand, and send to Official Immigration centres for further sorting, processing, packaging, labeling and distribution.

However, I seem to remember Harris saying just the other day that the reason illegal crossings is lower right now is because more and more folks are being bussed to "approved immigration centres" to be properly processed.

Real Immigrants can get entrance, and fake immigrants, mules, rapists, what have you, are deported/incarcerated, because we all know that incarceration is America's number #One growth industry!

So, seems to me that even if the bill did not pass, Executive action has held up it's end. But my understanding is that Laws in the USA are not supposed to be imposed by POTUS, but created by Congress.

So, as a Canadian who is closely following this because I am seriously considering asking my MLA (Member of the Legislature of Alberta - my Provincial Rep) to look into building a wall on OUR Southern Borders. 

I mean, if our kin down south need to do that, we should probably do the same in brotherhood with our American cousins.

We will separate men and children from women. 

We won't brand them - Microchips are much more convenient and can hold a lot of information about the prisoner - errrr, citizen. And in winter, guards - oh, ehhhh, Inspectors can easily identify folks without needing them to strip to show the tattoo the Yanks gave them. 

So reprehensible! 

Our brands are so much nicer - kinda like a tattoo of a Bison stepping on a Groundhog. So one knows who they are in the swirling snowstorms, I guess. but they're free!

All trucks that cross into Canada will be opened for inspection - special flatbeds are available to roll entire contents of even 50' Vans in 5 minutes for easier inspection by dogs, rats and Macaw Monkeys.

Let's not forget our favourite PA's

Each Port Animal (PA) has their specialties - Dogs for drugs, Rats for explosives and monkeys for banana's that are not sufficiently sized to be used as a generalized measuring tools for FaceBook Photo's of dangerous stairs, funky electronic devices or other dead animals.

Because Halifax has the God-Damnest biggest Warf-Rats anyone has ever seen, and properly trained, they can sniff explosives and such - making them great for de-mining operations. If they boo-boo and set a bomb off, it's not a great loss - Warf-rats are cheap, feed themselves, come upon command with a clicker, and love to work for treats. The Banana has to be exactly 15cm long! Don't forget it! (You yanks claim yer so smart - figure it out yourself!)

So why Rats?

They prefer German Marlborough's for their treats and breaks. Really, you think?
It's not like they're going to live long or anything, eh? 

Experiments are underway to see if these Rats can be used in combat. Latest figures show a 100% death rate.
Perfect!

Then taking a page out of Texas' playbook, we will fly the immigrants to Newfoundland and Nunavut, give them some supplies and a few bucks, kick 'em in the butt and with a few kind words, say "Call us when you earn money so we can tax you!"

OR, feel me on this - we set all future immigrants IN Labrador, a mostly forest-covered former Province (Now a part of Newfoundland), set them all free, give each adult a long gun and a pistol with sufficient ammunition for 5 years hunting.

Canada will open up the fur trade, making beaver fur hats once again all the rage in Paris, New York and Saskatoon.

In addition, each family will be given a Crossbow and each child under 16 will receive a Daisy 22LR starter kit and a 1 Kg of bullets to practice with.

Starting at age 5, Bowie Knives will be issued to the chubby-cheeked future slashers to better, and faster, learn what hurts and what does not hurt. It's better this way.

The hard part will be the frikkin' long electrified fence around all of Labrador. Might even be longer than any proposed wall on the US's Southern Border. However we have snow, Bears, Polar Bears, killer moose, nefarious beavers and the occasional crazy Stoat.  

What does the US have? The occasional Boa or Python, scrawny coyotes, the occasional big cat, whom are wimps that like to swim, and the occasional stray dog. Meh.

Power for the fence will come from the Quebec Hydro facilities - with the price of power going up from Canada to the US, they are dropping french fried power for more local environs, so there will be plenty to power remaining in Canada for the fence!

Okay, this may be difficult without buying a few more Chinook Helo's, but I say it's do'able.

Back to Reality!

Now, is any of this any crazier than what Trump wants to do?

Incarcerate opponent politicians, justice officials that won't kow-tow to him. Senators and Representatives that piss him off?

He's full in for punishment to any woman or child that has an abortion.
So sick!

He's a misogynist, a racist, he's been raised to sneak, ignor or outright break laws to scam, cheat and steal whatever and whenever he can.

He is a horrible businessman. I mean, He lost a Casino. A friggin Casino - a money-making machine with built-in rules that favours the house so that it always, always, always has income at the end of the night, and not a loss.

But Trump? He put that to a lie - so poorly run that he literally ran a Casino out of business.
♦Same with his Airline.
Bankrupt.
♦Same with his University.
Bankrupt
♦Same with his running shoes.
Ridiculous and desperate.
♦Same with his Bible.
Ridiculous, desperate and probably a sin against his God.

His slumlord days, a carry-over from his chicken-shit father who ran to the USA to avoid a military draft, he treated his tennants like shit. Many lives were lost in poor tenements that either fell apart, or burned down because of no fire-suppression systems, fire extinguishers, and even windows nailed shut so tennants don't sit on balconies smoking and generally trying to socialize with others. 

 Because he's racist, he's controlling, he's twisted and sick in his head, and yet, the GOP call him "The man that every American wants to be - he'll save us from all this poverty and hell".

No, he's the reason you live in poverty and in hell. And note that the apple did not fall far from Dad's tree, eh? Trump had a bone spur. His dad just ran away.

But, that's my humble opinion. A very sarcastic one, but I think you can hear the vitriol in this post. At least, I hope so.

I'm no expert, it's just what I see happening down South, and fear the same is happening here or soon will be happening in this very province I live in.

Alberta. A Florida/Texas wannabe State.

Yeah, that shit ain't happening here if I have any say in it.

Meanwhile, I'm sure Harris will remain in close contact with Biden during her Term, if only to carry on with his (and hers) vision for America.

I fear what would happen to the world if Trump ever wins...

Peace,
.- .-.

Edwin

I could not believe how many folks I know seem to think that this is how Canada's Government works. This is ignorance on so many levels - and it shows me that Canadians are being suckered into Q-Anon-style Conspiracy Theories. And the statement in Red above, is all wrong. That is not the definition of Socialism - THAT is simply an abject attempt at twisting the narrative to suit a wanted result. And it worked. On YOU.

That is not the way Democracy, or Socialism, works.

Here - allow me enlighten you.

Misconceptions About Canada’s Government and Socialism

I’ve encountered quite a few people lately who seem to harbor misconceptions about how Canada’s government operates. It’s disheartening to witness this lack of understanding, especially when it leads to the propagation of Q-Anon-style conspiracy theories. So, let’s address a few points:

Equalization Payments: Contrary to popular belief, Alberta and Ontario—wealthier provinces—have indeed received equalization payments. These payments aim to ensure that all provinces can provide essential services to their residents, regardless of their fiscal capacity. It’s not about laziness; it’s about maintaining equitable standards of living across the country.

Socialism vs. Communism: Let’s clarify the difference. Socialism involves collective ownership or control of certain aspects of the economy, such as healthcare, education, and social safety nets. Communism, on the other hand, advocates for the complete abolition of private property and class distinctions. Canada’s system is a mix of both capitalism and socialism, aiming for a balanced approach.

Federal Benefits: Our federal government plays a crucial role in providing benefits like Old Age Security, Child Tax Credits, and Employment Insurance. These programs contribute to social welfare and economic stability. Rejecting them as “socialism” overlooks their positive impact on citizens’ lives.

Education and Critical Thinking: I appreciate your encouragement to seek knowledge. Online courses and educational resources can fill in the gaps and dispel misconceptions. Let’s all strive to be well-informed citizens!

Political Rhetoric: Yes, political presentations often rely on flashy graphics and emotional appeals. As discerning citizens, we should dig deeper, evaluate evidence, and consider multiple perspectives.

Remember, healthy discourse and empathy are essential. Let’s keep our hearts and minds open as we discuss these important topics.

Let's carry on with the Tin-Hat folks in mind.

Debunking Misconceptions About Alberta, Canada, and Federal Taxes

Recently, I’ve encountered numerous graphics and charts created by the United Conservative Party (UCP) in Alberta. These materials aim to rile up UCP supporters, stoking outrage against the federal government and promoting a long-term plan for Alberta’s potential secession. They even hope to bring Saskatchewan and British Columbia along for the ride.

One notable document, titled “Free Alberta Advantage,” outlines the UCP’s vision for Alberta’s separation from Canada. While the edited 2021 version appears more tempered, I distinctly remember reading the original 2017 document online. It was nothing short of draconian—a blueprint for a police state with religious police enforcing Christianity exclusively, while other faiths faced exclusion unless they converted. And, of course, no room for abortion rights.

Drawing parallels with the current state of affairs in the United States, it’s evident that the UCP has ambitious plans. But here’s the reality check: their outrage is largely unfounded.

Let’s delve into the facts:

Federal Taxes and Confederation: Under Canada’s Confederation, the federal government collects taxes—distinct from provincial taxes—under the Income Tax Act and other revenue sources. Once these funds enter the federal coffers, they belong to the government to allocate as needed. No province can unilaterally alter this arrangement. Whether it’s Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, or any other province, the goal is to ensure equitable treatment for all Canadian citizens. Only about 20% of this money goes towards Equalization Payments.

Misguided Rhetoric: Some right-wing factions—often characterized by Bible-thumping, regressive ideologies—spread misinformation. They claim that federal taxes are tainted by “socialism” and advocate for provincial autonomy. However, this oversimplification ignores the disconnectedness of our nation. We’re in this together, and federal programs like Old Age Security, Child Tax Credits, and Employment Insurance benefit citizens across the board.

A Reminder: If you were born in a Canadian hospital, you’ve already experienced the impact of collective efforts. Those taxes funded your care, ensuring a healthy start in life. Let’s celebrate our shared responsibility and continue working toward a better Canada.

So, to those who peddle divisive narratives, I encourage a refresher on Canadian civics. Our strength lies in unity, compassion, and informed dialogue.

And that is all I'm willing to say on this topic without becoming rude, crude or downright prissy because of supposedly smart folks falling for rhetoric and fake information.

And it never hurts to be polite when leading folks by their noses to the water.  But it's up to them to take a drink and learn what is actually happening. 

That is not my job - that is the job of every responsible Canadian adult!

Peace,
.- .-.

 

Everything you need to know about me. Perhaps too much?

The following was a post for a FB Group that I really like, and wanted them to know that I really cannot help my brains "length calculator" when it comes to posting on FaceBook. Everything else pertains to everyone else I know.

Cheers,
Edwin.

Veterans over LGBTQ? I think not!

 

When you ask a veteran why they fought, they will most likely say to protect our people, no matter race, creed, nationality or religion. 

Boilerplate stuff, right?

But then, someone comes along and demands that Veterans are more important than LBGTQ+ folks, therefore deserve their own "month" dedicated to them.

Really?
C'mon, grow up.

That really "burns my biscuit!

I'd bet that the Veterans would say no, that they did it for EVERYONE!.

So, why then, are they trying to put words into the mouths of Veterans - we have been celebrating/mourning Veterans since 1946, and technically, since 1919 at the end of the Great War.

As a Veteran, I am disgusted at the twisting of logic to pass on an even more twisted message. This speaks to the laziness of the general public who have no interest in determining the truthfulness of such headlines and accusations.

Comparing Veterans with LBGTQ is like comparing BBQ's to lighters.

Why are they so interested in banning the lighters of this world?

Why do they feel the need to throw Veterans under the buses by claiming they need even more recognition over the backs of people who have the exact same Human Rights as you!

Just who do you think Veterans fought for? You?

So egotistical!

They fought for wives, girlfriends, schoolmates, rich and poor. And more.

How many of those do you think were LBGTQ?

None is the wrong answer, because there were countless numbers hiding their real lives because of the Backsplash, Public humiliation, Bullshit arrests and downright Lynching they would face if exposed to the public.

Heck, many of your most favourite movie stars were likely gay. 

Here's a quick historical synopsis:

Cary Grant swung both ways (pardon the pun), Anthony Perkins (died of HIV...go figger), James Dean and Marlon Brando were actually secretly a couple.

Marlin Brando admitted to having homosexual experiences in an interview with Gary Carey, because "it is so much in fashion, it no longer makes news." So....FACT.

Clark Gable, while married 5 times and fathered 2 children, paid his way while starting out in showbiz by claiming he was "gay for pay", doing sexual favours to advance his career. FACT.

Claiming that female Hollywood stars bisexuality was very widespread during the heyday, Tallulah Bankhead and Barbara Stanwyck were both lesbian lovers. FACT

Cesar Romero was flagrantly gay, bisexuality on full display. But being Latin, he was often forgiven. He was reputed to even have bedded Dezi Arnaz (I love Lucy). FACT.

Greta Garbo, that Swedish wench, had several affairs with other leading ladies, claims to have made "passionate love to Marlene Dietrich" while in Berlin. FACT.

Joan Crawford was a voracious man-eater, but was also known for her "female conquests". Such as Marilyn Monroe, Martha Raye and Barbara Stanwyck.

For Pete's sake, even Katharine Hepburn had multiple secret, short-term "dalliances" with countless young women whom her Hollywood pimp, Scotty Bowers, supplied for her.
He claims that he provided over 150 women for her to satisfy her hunger. 

She apparently liked "a nice young dark-haired girl" as her staple.

Joe DiMaggio claimed he divorced Marylin Monroe because she preferred women. Women reportedly, like Barbara Stanwyck, Marlene Dietrich, Elizabteh Taylor and Joan Crawford. Several others have confirmed her "preferences". Fact? Leaning towards ... yes.

Montgomery Clift's friend, Elizabeth Taylor admitted he was gay, years after his death. This is how much some try to hide their Pride - because of relentless attacks by folks who won't mind their own business.

I remember Raymond Burr from Ironsides, but he initially started out on Perry Mason - where he met with, and began a long-term relationship with Robert Benevides.

No surprise then, that Richard Pryor had some trysts with Marlon Brando in the 70's. One of Pryor's ex-wives said "It was the 70's...if you did enough cocaine, you'd fuck a radiator and send it flowers in the morning".

 So, I'm up to about the 80's. Do you really need me to go on, or are none of these folks I mentioned above worthy of saving? Or having soldiers fight on their behalf, for their safety, security and lifestyle. I mean, the list is HUGE!

Getting back to business

I really would like to know just who are you to anoint Veterans with such a bullshit comparison?

If you really are a Christian, as I have a strong feeling the originator was - even if not a practicing one (which I suspect) - you ought to know that you have no right to make these decisions. Non-practicing Christian + Politics = Christian-Nationalist!

Your God made these people. He made them the way they are. He made them perfect for whom they are. Just like your God made you, He made your wife and children - even though you had some "input", it was your God that made conception happen in his design, for which you are but a vessel for his essence.

I'm hearing a lot about "your God" lately. How do you know there IS a "Your God". How do you know that YOU'RE "His People", and even if so, that does not benefit you with any of his powers to YOU.
Neither does your Bible.
What if the Muslim God is the "real" God?
Or the Jewish?
Or Buddha?
Rastafarians???
No matter...

there is no power handed down by ANY God to ANY human other than the capability to write a lot of stories about the events centuries after happening. No other power is given by the Christian God to anyone other than his Son - who is, or may not be, God, in reality. But something else totally!

Sheesh; but that is how cheap fairy tales start - with confusion about initial definitions.

We'll sort that kind of minor thing in the future...they say. Riiiiiiight...

Hey, Didja know that the Bible does not say the word Homosexual a single time? If your copy does, then it was printed after 1960, when a Christian Publishing Companies replaced many "other" words/people with homosexual, even though the original word had nothing to do with homosexuality, nor with anything illegal.

The German Bible, in the meantime, retained it's original translations (the correct ones!) up until 1986, when another American printing company noticed that the Germans retained the original translation, and just could not have that.

It seems the Germans, most of whom are Lutheran and/or Protestant, had no issue with the Catholic Bible's translation because so few Germans use it. Of course, their German Protestant Bibles still had the original, correct words/definitions. No homo's there! In reality, the German words were more true to older versions by talking about "boy abusers, boy molesters".

It turns out that the ancient world condoned and encouraged a system whereby young boys (8-12 years old) were coupled/understudied to older men. Ancient Greek documents show us how even parents utilized this abusive system to help their sons advance in society. So for most of history, most translations thought these verses were obviously referring to "pederasty", NOT homosexuality. And the boys were not necessarily a sex-toy for the older gent. But that such activities did happen often. Just not always. When an older man overworks the young boy, he'd be called an abuser, and that was frowned upon. But it was not homosexual.

Get the point? Many other such words suddenly turned into "homosexual" in the English Christian Bibles.

For most of history, most European Bibles taught the tradition that these 4 verses were dealing with pederasty, not homosexuality. I am saddened when I see pastors and theologians cast aside the previous 2000 years of history.

Even the first King James version did not utilize "Homosexual" label as well. They used the phrase "abusers of themselves with mankind".

Hardly Homosexual, eh?

So eventually in modern times, this American printing company re-wrote the German Catholic Bibles to change those words also to "homosexual", and it was more than the one word (arsenokoitai/pederasty).

Believe it or not, scholars now say that the mistranslation of "Pederastry" to "Homosexuality" was a mistake, and should have been left as it, in it's original context.

In my mind, this is no different than the many times the Christian Bible has been re-written, edited, amended, dissected and words removed/inserted for one nefarious reason or another.

I feel that if we attached modern nomenclature on the latest versions of the Bible, it would read Vers 345.23.11.2

Why they could not leave it alone? Perhaps it is because they wanted to entrap more folks into this belief, bring in various religions/cults/beliefs all under the single umbrella of "Christianity".

Of course, they begged and borrowed (often without permission) stories, fairy tales and characters from many other religions into the Christian fold to make Christianity look more palatable for those who could not think for themselves. It was not their fault - Church elders were made up of educated folks, and could easily bullshit anyone into believing the Bible was real, and every single story was true.

Whenever their bullshit stores from the Bible were actually called out, this meant another revision/addendum/law could be inserted into the Bible to "answer the quandary".

So, like, make shit up?

Probably.

The problem is that these many "stories and fables and parables" are NOT true, and because of that, throws every other line in the Bible under suspicion of fakery as well.

Occasionally someone will say they descovered something that was mentioned in the Bible, proving that everything in it is true.

Uhhhh, no.
If you want folks to believe everything in the Bible, proof of ALL allegations held within it's covers would need to be presented, otherwise it is all just heresay. (Not heresey - totally different word!)

It's okay to use a story, parable or fable as a teaching tool, but that does not mean that the sources are REAL! However religious scions refute that - everything in the Bible is True, or it would not be in there, so they maintain..

Circular Logic Failure, eh?

Going waaaay back when, "small boys and older man couples were considered fashionable, a good way for a boy to learn a trade, to learn to trust someone, to learn the ways of man". This quote from a research paper which translated dozens of languages with linguistic experts to dig out the "real dirt" on original words and their likely translations - usually based upon topic. To some extent, this sort of relationship still happens in middle eastern cultures to this day! Because it was, and still is tied to their culture and some instances, to their religion.

We are still trying to apply today's standards to ancient cultural practices that have continued to this time, with basically no outside interference. But that is coming to an end because of the increasingly strident demand by various Religious sects and agencies to go to these foreign lands and eradicate such behaviour - usually with the help of explosives.

But that was over 2,000 years ago. This is today. So, even with all this religion BS trying to nose it's way into politics, I stamp my foot and say Non!

Right, Israel?

Hey, remember that bastard, Pierre Elliot Trudeau (P.E.T. or PET), whom is famous for stating in 1967 that there is "No place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation" on National TV? 

The Quote was originally from Globe and Mail reporter, Martin O'Malley, whom Trudeau kindly credited for quote.
So kind of him. 

The bastard! Mozi Chrrrrrrissss!

Then the prick had to go ahead and get elected Prime Minister of Canada. 

So glad I only had to meet him once! But PM Harper had soft, sweaty hands. Never did meet up with shorty or the single female PM we ever had. Oh, gosh.../s

Trudeau was talking about, of course, the 1967 Omnibus Bill addressing abortion, divorce and homosexuality in Canadian Law as major topics in the Bill. This was actually a good thing as it opened up many more doors for all these subjects to create laws that still stand to this day.

Now, I will say the same about Religion and Politics. Religion has no rights to be involved in Politics, just as it has no place in the bedroom of the nation. And yes, this was a thinly veiled threat towards the Christian-Right at the time.

 

 

I've veered way off topic again, so I will end it here by stating that it's a low-brow idea to think Veterans are more important than any other group, no matter what they stand for  We are all equals under the law, and therefore demand to be treated as equals. All it does is foster hate, is divisive to many folks, groups and even laws.

 Those whiners must step back and start minding their own business, as what others do for their love-lives is no concern of theirs. I'm sick and tired of people proclaiming "facts" that they heard other people yell, scream or post, normally with no absolutely no proof, backup, video, audio or personal stories given under oath.

 

Who bases their arguments on "stories" with no proof?

Absolutely not one iota of proof?  Completely fabricated on purpose to deliver fake news, bad ideas and pump up emotions of those who are too simple to understand fake news from real news, and no skills to verify one way or another.

 

It is incumbent upon those of us who do understand the truth, the consequences, and the depravity of those who would trod upon their opponents dead body to earn just one more vote.

 

So utterly despicable. They ought to know better, but don't, mostly because of laziness

 

I'll bet that they don't even know that the Bible had absolutely NO reference to "The 3 Wise Men" at all. Not even a peep! There is no mention as to how many, and IF any, were actually there!

 

 --Peace--  

All hail our beloved Führeress! Or..."Through Fear and Greed".

 

 

Some of us are old enough to remember the cold war, even if we didn't understand it.  My first day in school was in 1966, so I missed out on the majority of silliness that was two big bears that couldn't decide in which forest to go for a shit.

Right after High School, I immediately joined the Canadian Armed Forces, with the intent to learn a trade, get out after a couple years and then strike out on my own with my newly trained job skills.

But fate has a way of changing things. I will not get into the psychological side, the rough-housing side, the crazy antics side and the "make it work, no matter what you do" attitude. 

We Canadians were famous in NATO to be given a task for which we may not have the proper equipment, but thanks to the many, many professional scroungers in the Quarter Masters Guild, and the many Tyro scroungers that kept all the smaller units relative to the Brigade Commander.  We made it work.  No matter what.

I want to believe that no laws were broken, although knowing the type of people I mentioned in the paragraph above, there is always a way to negotiate for almost anything in the NATO Catalogue.  And trust me, that Catalogue is tremendously huge, covering every nut and bolt in the Canadian Armed Forces Inventory. Nuts to F-18''s, and it's ancillary kit too, I suppose.

So, we made it work.  Often, this skill was honestly mentioned in Evaluation Reports, usually in the form of "ensured his detachment was fully kitted out and ready for battle despite the lack of serviceable equipment...." vein of blathering.  We all know what they did.  Some of us hated him (he got my shovel...) and some of us loved him (he got a shovel for me...).  

 

 

  

 

Through Fear and Greed.

They tell folks that IF they don't get elected, the other (major) party will blow the budget every year.  Will make all scooter illegal.  Will demand all animals be inserted with tracking devices.  And on and on.  Spread the Fear.

Greed.  Say everyone is getting a Tax Break, but they don't.  Only the top 5% get a tax break.  In fact, as soon as the UCP took office the first time, they immediately gave away $3 Billion to Petroleum Energy Companies, and are now trying to push through an Annual $20 Billion to these same companies, to help with "oilfield cleanups" they say, clean up all the abandoned pumpjack and drilling equipment at private locations and then on the other hand, immediately tender a job for abandoned drilling site cleanups, for a measly One-Time $1 Million dollars.

How fucked up is that?

Then, after Ottawa offers money to Provincial Towns, the Premier then steps in and says "No, you will have to go through US from now on to get money to towns and Cities". (See below for more details).

Talk about a control freak, eh?  Wait, it gets better. They are passing a bill, Bill 21, that will consolidate at-will provincial powers to override their municipal counterparts where they may be "at cross purposes" with the province.

Then there was Bill 18 - which blocks municipalities, health-care agencies, post-secondary researchers, and other public bodies from receiving federal funds without the Province's permission. (See?!)

Control.  Fear and Control of anything that can support the Greed.

Remember I mentioned about City/Town elected officials now having a Political Party connection?  This is yet another one.  There are probably more to come, but the bottom line is that the UCP wants to concentrate power, all power, in the offices of the UCP at the Legislature, which I'm sure will eventually be called the Reichstag.

The latest I just read about?  Ottawa is offering a Dental Plan for Parents with children under the age of 18, and Seniors over the age of 65 (dammit - gotta wait 2 more years!)

But our glorious Leader, Premier "Is She Freeking Serious" Daniel Smith once again puts her foot down and says,  "Uh uhhhhh, not in this Province".

Remember I said a lot in the past that the UCP wants to drag Alberta back to the 1950's?  I've read their "Conservative Party White Paper" written by a religious hack, with the aim to turn Alberta into Texas/Florida-North. 

And it has already started.

Look at the schools.  School curriculum's have been adjusted to remove and include historical facts.  In fact, much of the "new" information is either not true or totally out of context.  The previous UCP Premiere, Mr. San Fran Cisco himself - Jason Kenny - who often physically protested the Gay lifestyles in that famous city (where he went to a Religious Uni).  

 Mr. Kenny actually had a mention of his "Famous Uncle or Grandfather" who played a banjo or guitar or some damned thing that does not mean a damned thing, but it was put into Alberta's Historical Curriculum anyways. He was apparently "famous" enough that school children needed to learn about him.

Never heard of him. How fucked up is that?

But this is just one of many weird changes to school curriculum's in our Province.  Most teachers are against these changes, but they really do not carry the power in this case.  

So they lose.  

The children lose. 

And we lose.

As soon as they even mention Religion being taught in Public Schools, I WILL be protesting in front of the Legislature! An institute dedicated to thoughtful learning is no place to teach Fairy Tales as being real and we must follow what the Fairy Tale tells us to do.

Listen - everyone has their own story about Politics, and I try NOT to talk with others I am not familiar with about these things because I found some of the most intelligent folks still voting for the UCP because... they are not the NDP.  Why?

Because of all the Fear and Greed the UCP has spread throughout the Province.  Based upon their White Paper -  which was once online, but now mysteriously disappeared - the UCP has a built-in intelligence agency in each and every city, town and village in the Province. 

The Catholic Church.

Again, how fucked up is that?

Our hospital (Healthcare) situation is even more dire.  Bed closures, kitchen closures, resulting in poorer food quality, because in a city of more then 1 million people, there is just ONE kitchen to supply food to ALL the Hospitals in the city.

How fucked up is that?

Firing many middle managers in the Healthcare system physically beheaded the entire system by taking out a huge fount of knowledge, practical and learned. Suddenly, senior managers are swamped with this extra paperwork, or some poor intern or nurse will get saddled with these tasks as a secondary duty to their main jobs.  With no increase in pay, of course.

This will bolster the UCP's plan to make all medical care Private, and get rid of all Public Health Care Institutes/Agencies.  Yup, like the USA!

Wow. And check this out!

Now the UCP wants every little city and town and berg to be allowed to host political parties in their little elections.  So a person running for mayor of a town can say that he is a follower of (insert NDP, UCP, Libs, whatever), OR they can elect to not have a political leaning.

This is a tricky issue.  IF, for example, a city councilor gets elected on a UCP platform, with funding from the Provincial UCP coffers, then the non-aligned person running for the same seat has absolutely NO chance of out-advertising a party-backed candidate.

Then comes the payback.  If the town council wants to vote on a very large topic, what's to say that the Provincial Party tells "their" city councilor that this is what they want, and to change minds on the council to reflect the party's endgame.

And the final nail in this Trifecta of Control Measures the UCP is implementing, there is, of course, Bill 20.

Now Bill 20 "...reaches deep into the governance of municipalities, offering sweeping powers to Cabinet to remove Councillors and change or repeal bylaws".

How fucked up is that?

So, it's all about control.  And how do the Conservatives maintain this control with the population? 

 

Through Fear and Greed.

And they plan on utilizing this convenient link in much the same way the Greek Orthodox Church in Russia influenced the Kremlin Leadership to invade the Ukraine - to bring them back into the "Greek Orthodox" mold.  I'm not fear mongering - I read a pretty darned good Russian/Ukrainian reporter team article about the year leading up to the invasion.  A lot of Bishops and Cardinals seemed to visit the Kremlin. And a lot of money flowed back.  And forth - apparently.  A bid to sew confusion?  

 I'll see if I can find that Russian Article talking about how the war all came about.  It was very eye-opening, and if you watch Video of the Russian Leadership Elite, there will almost always be a Church Leader in with the "Politicians" in the Kremlin.

Try it.

However until I can find a copy of that White Paper (I thought I downloaded a PDF, so need a huge hard drive(s) search!), I am going off my poor memory for details, but I tell ya, it opened my eyes. 

What the UCP has planned for Alberta is not good for any non-Conservatives.

Get ready to move...

Happy Canada Day 2024

  

 

Y'know this lady is now 164 years old, and not showing her wrinkles at all. A few bumps, bruises and the occasional political pest, but overall Canada still continuously ranks in the top 10 in almost all metrics that matter for Quality of Living on this Planet.

Sure, we have to change some of our old, polluting ways and ecological ignorances to become more of a shepherd for our planet, and not a Wolf, as all our industries currently demand.

 I'm not anti-Industry - I just think that there are more ecologically sound, if perhaps a few pennies more expensive than current, methods of manufacturing.

I believe Canada CAN become a World Leader, but we need World Class Leadership, and currently in our National, and Provincial governments, this is sadly lacking.

Taking bold action does not mean take away Citizens Rights - it means doing the Right Thing, no matter the Cost.

Canada can immediately start trimming all that exo-Canada spending, well actually, donations to causes that beggers the mind as to why they deserve our largess. Over $18 Billion (Yes, a "B"!) is given away by Canada to various causes. The two biggest spenders are Global Affairs Canada and Department of Finance Canada.

Next on the list is Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada at a measly $1.7 Billion. Why this is included in our International Assistance Portfolio is confusing, but hey, what do I know?

Public Health Agency of Canada, the ones you would THINK would be spending scads of money to help eradicate international illness, assist countries with poor medical systems and so on, but they get a whopping $181 Million (with a "M"!).

I mean, What The Heckles???

Global Affairs "...leads Canada's international assistance efforts to reduce poverty and inequality by leveraging Canadian expertise and financial resources...". Okay, sounds important. But do we not also have poverty and inequality here in Canada?

Would you not want to clean your own house before you start cleaning houses in the slums? I mean, sure, put boots on the ground to teach the folks there how to take care of themselves, but do we really need to build $300,000 homes for former wandering tribes, knowing that they most likely will tear it apart for material to build hovels. 

    Or cook food on the floor in the kitchen.
    In a fire-pit!

Don't laugh! This happened in Germany, where Immigrants were give very fucking nice apartments, where they proceeded to trash everything, up to and including roasting goat over an open fire in the living room.

Another had the toilet torn out, so that they could "squat" over the hole as they had since childhood. You can imagine the smell in that room - not just their toilet, but every other toilet in that building attached to the same drain/stack. Expensive tiles were either taken out or damaged beyond repair, costing hundreds of thousands of DM (at the time) in repairs in each building.

So, stop spending money on crap that the locals can never use, don't want to use, or will misuse as soon as we turn our backs.

Mentoring is the BEST way to teach locals to better provide for them. With the advent of the SpaceX Satellite Internet being available world-wide, this should also open up possibilities for extended education in remote parts of the world. Even China LOL.

 
    But doing everything for these folks is not a sane method of taking care of them.        They are not babies. 
    They are adults, and should be treated as such.

Lets look at the Department of Finance Canada - they manage "...Canada's relationship with the World Bank Group, including the International Development Association, the IMF and the European Bank for Reconstructions. In 2022-2023, DoF provided $4.85 Billion in the for of loans to help Ukraine's urgent balance of payment needs in support of the defense of their country.

Right after the Ukraine, Nigeria received $277 Million.
    Ethiopia received $251;
    Bangladesh (a dictatorship) received $234 Million!;
    Tanzania got $229 Million;
    Democratic Republic of Congo - $207 Million;
    Jordan, an oil rich country, received $188 Million; and,
    Mozambique got $173 Million.

I mean, even India, with over 1 Billion citizens, received $112 Million. That works out to about 11.2¢ per person!

Well friggin' done! Why not just send a few dozen Tim Horton's mobile coffee shops - you'd get as much satisfaction from the locals as this money would!

But I'm not here to dictate my wishes - I just wish to say that despite our piss-poor response to emergencies, Climate Change, EV's and alternate Energy sources, I am profoundly glad that I carry the Canadian Passport. I am, and remain an avid promoter of our Country, our Province (despite political misgivings), and especially our great little City of Fort Saskatchewan.

I served 23 years in our Military, been around the world, met many, many interesting folks in many, many lands, and found that they are NO different than I am. We all have the same fears, likes, loves, disgusts, senses of humour, and unfortunately, unsightly bias'.

In every case, I talked proud of my homeland, and I talk of our natives who despite our ancestors' disgusting actions, are proudly standing up and saying "No more!". And I support them as much as I logically can.

    I mean, giving money to a family for something that happened Decades, if not            Centuries before?

Why? Is money now a form of apologies?

It would be better to return stewardship of treaty lands to the original Nations, let them sort it out themselves.

Honestly, I used to vehemently believe that we should stop backstopping all the reserves with Federal Money, giving payments to Bands without any accounting or followup. This just encourages laziness and creates a ghetto mentality. Of course drugs and alcohol are rampant. Free money with no gainful employment or useful skills because - well, why should they when everything is given to them.

Being older, I now understand a bit better the rationale for the Feds to keep giving Reserves money, but it still riles me up that they have had over 100 years to get their civilization up to modern precepts. I understand that "white man" greatly slowed down, if not totally interfered with their coming of age, education, land claims, and ability to integrate with the rest of the Nation.

A lot better care could have been taken when signing Treaties, often favouring White Men and either a government rep, or a Rep from one of the big trading companies, like the Hudsons Bay Company. They had their fingers in everything.

From discussions with Natives serving in the Military, they joined to get away from that life - it is a disease infecting Reserves across Canada, and only Strong Leadership can help these folks now - not throwing money at them.

Look at the Band in Southern British Columbia. A new, strong leader took the reins and cleaned up their community, got folks working together to create a sales force for their own manufactured items, and they are not only richer for it - they are better neighbours and better citizens, now paying taxes, and not sucking on mothers teat. With meaningful employment and disposable income, quality of life climbs quickly, and old, detrimental habits become things of the past.

If one band could do this, why can the rest not do so? 

No, I'm not going to talk about that. Instead, I'm going to talk about Canada's people. Not any particular person, group or agency. 

Just common folks. 

At almost any city we stopped at across Canada, we were always warmly welcomed, politely informed of local laws and events, markets, stores and accommodations. No matter what language they speak, English, French, Chinese, German, or heck, even American (yup, we got summa them too!) our interactions have always been friendly and enjoyable.

I think overall Canadians are smart, well educated and willing to help those in need at a greater rate than almost any other Western country. 

It is a joy to go out on my mobility scooter and stop to talk to folks and get their stories. Or just shoot the breeze with some old guys at any coffee shop around 10 a.m.

Yes, it's a thing. Also the 2 p.m. coffee-klatch.

So, even though I am only a bit over 6 Decades in age, this old lady called Canada is a great place to live, and I hope all you other Canadians realize what a great country we live in, and try to keep it that way.

Happy Canada Day!