“(…) (For the record, the oil industry is not a jobs machine. It is the world’s most capital-intensive industry and earns more than 10 per cent of the world’s GDP. But it only employs less than one tenth of one per cent of the world’s workers. In Canada it accounts for but 1.8 per cent of the workforce.)
No matter. TransCanada’s immodest economic models, for example, piped out job estimates 13 times greater (199,000) than those done by U.S. State Department (5,000 to 8,000) over a three- year period.
A 2011 Cornell University Global Labor Institute report crunched the numbers too and revealed that the project’s construction would inject no more than $4-billion into the U.S. economy and only create between 2,500 and 4,650 jobs. (…)”
The former Minister for the Status of Women launches a 1.3 million dollar law suit against the Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper, Labour Minister Lisa Raitt and more under allegations of conspiracy and defamation.
31 pages on how Prime Minister Steven Harper, some assistants and entourage bullied the promising Minister for the Status of Women outta there. I’m getting the popcorn ready. Looks like a can of bad assets rebuttal. Just hoping the Crown’s gonna get a handle on the documentation before the Cons delete it all. They do seem to be able to press buttons …
I would wish some judicial consequences, for a head of government, but also for everybody else who was not hesitant to throw a lot of dirt on a public servant. Her reputation was trashed on accusations (delivered 2 Stevie from a bankrupt private investigator owing two million dollars in taxes who now testified he had no proof of wrongdoing whatsoever) that would have no public interest (where I would be willing 2 discuss the mind altering effects of cocaine) if this country was to apply some science on the law-making and governing. The only thing of public interest here is, what the federal Ethics Commissioner found.
Wikipedia states:
“On May 20, 2010 Federal Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson fined Guergis $100 for failing to report details of a $800,000 mortgage liability within the 30 day time limit. Guergis had purchased the Ottawa house with her husband Rahim Jaffer in November 2009. Guergis said “I simply forgot and I accept responsibility for this oversight, I have already made arrangements to pay the fine — within the 30 days I was provided to do so.”[45][46]
In July 2011 Mary Dawson further found Guergis contravened 2 sections of the MP conflict of interest code by writing a letter of support for a company to a local municipal politician. Rahim Jaffer, Guergis’s husband was seeking lobbying business from the same company at the time.[47] >> (please see sources on Wikipedia page)
The lobbying commissioner ruled the pair violated the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct. Check this article on iPolitics.ca for more info:
“In a 53-page report, Karen Shepherd found that even though Jaffer and Glémaud failed to obtain the $178 million in federal funding they were seeking, they should have registered as lobbyists. Shepherd ruled they also had to register even if they weren’t explicitly hired as lobbyists.
Shepherd investigated 10 allegations against Jaffer and Glémaud and concluded that five breached the lobbyists code.”
Oh and just btw, Jaffer’s company was developing a photovoltaic power plant for Brockville as well as a device called a BioDryer waste disposal system, a waterless garbage processor. Totally unrelated? You tell me.
And:
The RCMP (!) called in on Harper’s own request, cleared Helena Guergis of all the other charges. She was never sentenced or found guilty in any court of law. Her husband, Rahim Jaffer, pleaded guilty to careless driving, charges against him for drunk driving and cocaine possession did not hold up and were dropped as well.
Why did the gang around Harpo bully and publicly discredit her? Well, looking @ her style or some unfortunate, perfectly legal events in her entourage, she seems to have a tendency to rock the boat here and there, but Conservatives are not exactly known for any particular elegance around here.
Thinking about it, consider a renaming into the “Cowboy Party of Canada” – oil is civilization for us.
This I can only hold up while apologizing to all brave cattle herds out there with big shoulders and long … legs who are embarrassed that Harpo is also from Alberta.
What I find remarkable is, that Helena Guirgis was anything but on partyline in her political career, and seemed very dedicated to her constituents. Again I quote from Wikipedia
<< When running for provincial office in 2003 in the socially liberal riding of Trinity-Spadina, Guergis said that she would vote in favour of same-sex marriage if given the opportunity. Responding to a question on same-sex marriage at an all-candidates debate, she said, "I believe in the right to choose, so I would be voting in favour of it."[8]
Campaigning the following year in the socially conservative riding of Simcoe-Grey, Guergis said that she would vote against the federal government's proposed legalization of same-sex marriage. She argued that the majority of her constituents opposed the initiative, and that she was committed to supporting their views. Guergis did in fact vote against Bill C-38, which granted legal sanction to same-sex marriage, in 2005. In the same year, she tabled a private member's bill restricting MPs from crossing parties after their election.[9]
Guergis was re-elected with 49.8% of the vote in the 2006 election, substantially increasing her margin of victory as the Conservatives won a minority government nationally. On February 7, 2006, she was named by Prime Minister Stephen Harper as parliamentary secretary to David Emerson, the Minister of International Trade and the Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics.
Guergis's appointment was somewhat controversial, in that Emerson had crossed the floor from the Liberal Party on the same day that he received his cabinet position. One day prior to her appointment, Guergis informed the media that she would issue a press release indicating her continued support for anti-floor crossing legislation. The release never appeared.[10] >> (please see Wikipedia entry for sources)
Let me wage a guess: that was a little bit too grass roots for your taste?
Now we gonna see the tables turned. I doubt we will see all the evidence, but it will certainly be entertaining.
Wait, what was the word you campaigned on? right. ACCOUNTABILITY.
I was reading this article about the convoluted use of the term libertarianism by Neo-Cons all over North-America and commented on facebook, so these statements emerged. I am publishing here in hope of outlining some historic facts, trying 2 tie some things 2gether and sort through some rather arbitrary ugliness. And trust me, I’m just trying 2 get through this without getting hurt. Calling it like I see it, the new name of the game.
A friend of mine: “Start with the headline…Bastardized libertarianism. That is incorrect. Libertarianism has not been bastardized. It was always wrong, right from the start. It still exists in its pure form and it is still wrong. It is and always had been a thinly guised pseudo philosophy to justify selfishness. The problem from the start has been its name, which is a bastardization of the terms liberty and liberalism, yet it does not stand for that. A political philosophy must represent a definition that is for the greater good. That has been the rule at least since the time of Plato. Libertarianism has never done that, therefore it is not a political philosophy. Too many people are confused by the etymology of the term which hints at both liberalism and liberty, while the pseudo philosophy of libertarianism has never been about either concept. Think of people who are or were libertarians and you will see a list of people who have something to lose in any other political ideology. Steven Harper, Ron Paul and his son Rand (named after Ron Paul’s heroine and probable lover Ayn Rand, John Wayne, all members of the National Rifleman’s Association. Ye judge a tree by its fruit.”
This is my response, enjoy:
I dread somebody come and arrest me in the middle of the night 4 my facebook posts, but I won’t just trot along 2 my Schaffott, excuse me, my history teachers made me understand how bad it is 4 democracy AND for your own life 2 only obey and hope 4 the better – that is how my people murdered 9 million of their own in a civil war that was so one-sided and viciously executed that it only qualifies 4 murder – 2 defend 1self against whoever will try 2 remove those individuals from their land or property – THAT is also part of the libertarian, republican tradition, in order 2 defend it against the ever mighty feudal ruler, in the name of your own freedom, your right 2 be free from any ARBITRARY state oppression or intrusion, literally, 2 break free from any “kingdom”. And the more I see this black water rising, the more I’d like 2 learn how 2 best defend myself. This is why we need 2 stop the speculators – they r removing us from our property. U missed out on some important periods of time teaching us the following, my friend: Because of feudalism in Europe, when workers and farmers were not owning their land, people starved, were attacked randomly and never could make it in2 any wealth coz the royal rulers skimmed it up b4 it amounted 2 anything substantial. It was theirs by law. THAT IS WHY so many white people came 2 America, THE PROMISED LAND! And they were given land upon arrival – never known prosperity 4 many, apart from pain et misère 4/with First Nations of the area. The north American constitutions were subsequently fundamentally different – any American were 2 own their land – property rights r institutionalized as we all know. The black water tide rising in front of us all is trying 2 erode that, 2, becoz property is such a huge value in America and it’s protected by our own right 2 defend it – in some states that means by the aid of a gun – I mean, u can say what u want about the careless availability and distribution of hand guns in the US – but I am somehow not under the impression that the government thugs rising with the black tide r gonna engage with me in a lengthy discussion about my rights. U gotte see what’s coming, dear. I hate guns, but I won’t fall without a fight, I can assure u that. Right now finding appropriate words 2 tell it like it is is my way of fighting these brutal thugs not bound by any accountability.
Self defense – fundamentally different from attacking somebody 2 take with force what u want from them, even under Canadian law. See, the people u mention embrace that part of republican credo 4 different reasons, it seems twisted and bigot 2 observe Neo-Cons extrapolating onto foreign soil or inner-societal scapegoats such as jews or muslims by default (“they r threatening our freedoms”) – it used to be part of a new world libertarianism – now it seems all those terms r tinted and laden with bitter tasting, brutal connotations. If u like Plato, then u may know the meaning of “republic” (which was also the title of 1 of Plato’s dialogues with Socrates): it stems from the Latin term, “res publica” (with a big shout out 2 my ever so patient Latin teacher), “affairs of the people”, or “public affairs” in opposition 2 a monarchy, where the ruler is almighty and not bound by a constitution. I mean THAT arbitrariness we (some very brave lords who probably had some ego-ambitions of their own if I remember correctly) managed 2 tame over 700 years ago already – even the king’s orders were 2 hold up b4 the Magna Carta.
With regards 2 Plato, he is thought 2 be the founder of Academia, a school in Athens based on the assumption that knowledge can be gathered from observation of the visible world. This is all from Wikipedia:
<
"Until philosophers rule as kings or those who are now called kings and leading men genuinely and adequately philosophise, that is, until political power and philosophy entirely coincide, while the many natures who at present pursue either one exclusively are forcibly prevented from doing so, cities will have no rest from evils,... nor, I think, will the human race." (Republic 473c-d) >>
Apparently it is subject 2 controversy which part can be attributed 2 either philosopher, although Plato was Socrates’ scholar, there4 u’ll have 2 bear the mention of them both in this context.
<< In several dialogues, most notably the Republic, Socrates inverts the common man's intuition about what is knowable and what is real. While most people take the objects of their senses to be real if anything is, Socrates is contemptuous of people who think that something has to be graspable in the hands to be real. In the Theaetetus, he says such people are "eu a-mousoi", an expression that means literally, "happily without the muses" (Theaetetus 156a). In other words, such people live without the divine inspiration that gives him, and people like him, access to higher insights about reality.
Socrates's idea that reality is unavailable to those who use their senses is what puts him at odds with the common man, and with common sense. Socrates says that he who sees with his eyes is blind, and this idea is most famously captured in his allegory of the cave, and more explicitly in his description of the divided line. The allegory of the cave (begins Republic 7.514a) is a paradoxical analogy wherein Socrates argues that the invisible world is the most intelligible ("noeton") and that the visible world ("(h)oraton") is the least knowable, and the most obscure. >>
Interesting that poet, philosopher and statesman Vaclav Havel, asked years ago on the CBC if he ever felt like a character in his own play, he answered something along the lines of: “No, rather like a character of somebody else’s play, in a an obscure, absurd theatre.” As It Happens had a segment on the occasion of his passing in the program on Monday: http://www.cbc.ca/video/news/audioplayer.html?clipid=2178438657
Now this is strangely close 2 the explanations Wikipedia offers about the Greek father of all teachers:
Precessing the concept of wisdom from observation, << Socrates says in the Republic that people who take the sun-lit world of the senses to be good and real are living pitifully in a den of evil and ignorance. Socrates admits that few climb out of the den, or cave of ignorance, and those who do, not only have a terrible struggle to attain the heights, but when they go back down for a visit or to help other people up, they find themselves objects of scorn and ridicule.
According to Socrates, physical objects and physical events are "shadows" of their ideal or perfect forms, and exist only to the extent that they instantiate the perfect versions of themselves. Just as shadows are temporary, inconsequential epiphenomena produced by physical objects, physical objects are themselves fleeting phenomena caused by more substantial causes, the ideals of which they are mere instances. For example, Socrates thinks that perfect justice exists (although it is not clear where) and his own trial would be a cheap copy of it.
The allegory of the cave (often said by scholars to represent Plato's own epistemology and metaphysics) is intimately connected to his political ideology (often said to also be Plato's own), that only people who have climbed out of the cave and cast their eyes on a vision of goodness are fit to rule. Socrates claims that the enlightened men of society must be forced from their divine contemplations and be compelled to run the city according to their lofty insights. Thus is born the idea of the "philosopher-king", the wise person who accepts the power thrust upon him by the people who are wise enough to choose a good master. This is the main thesis of Socrates in the Republic, that the most wisdom the masses can muster is the wise choice of a ruler.
The word metaphysics derives from the fact that Aristotle's musings about divine reality came after ("meta") his lecture notes on his treatise on nature ("physics"). The term is in fact applied to Aristotle's own teacher, and Plato's "metaphysics" is understood as Socrates' division of reality into the warring and irreconcilable domains of the material and the spiritual. The theory has been of incalculable influence in the history of Western philosophy and religion. >>
Now these days, some very progressive citizens amongst us, nuevo-republicans if u so want, take that 1 step further:
“(…) upon corruption of that system, it is up to the individuals to protect their own rights, and those of their neighbors; that a democratic government derives its just power from the people, but corporations do not seek consent to extract wealth from the people and the Earth; and that no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by economic power.”
What we have coming is feudalism, @ best – and thank u very much, all my history teachers, 2 explain and illustrate that 2 me when I was a student. Feudalism is slavery, and the republic emerged as the free man’s alternative, as in France, as in America.
Now I say:
If nobody owns the land, then why would you fight 4 it?
Instead, the question turns in2: how can we share it and make sure we leave our kids more than we received from our parents? What is the definition of “more”?
This movie I watched recently provided an additional angle on the ides of control. Thank u very much 4 your attention!
Update DEC 6 2011: Mit Richard Carr habe ich auf’m St-Laurent in Montréal Cappuccinos geschlürft – am Samstag werde ich einen Titel von seiner neuen Scheibe spielen! Hier ist ein Artikel mit Hinweis auf eine Blues-Radio-Sendung, der den Montréaler Blues-Musiker auch erwähnt. Bis denne!
2nite on “The National“, income gap in Canada interestingly illustrated, nice choice of voices, but super funny from 9.06 on – they call’em Mr. and Mrs Marcozy – ahahahaha! and that’s not all: very informative overview on reserve life-style all over C (why that would fair behind a Euro-story, even if somewhat epic, 4 a Canadian broadcaster, kinda concerns me a bit) with the corniest Mansbridge in a long time in the end – nothing like the CBC, aeh?
A-and:
Keppler 22b, here I come. I did it once, I can do it again. Love this article: “Personally, I am faintly tired of people just like us. I would dearly love to communicate and commune with entities that have 10 limbs, 15 methods of sound and vision, and no such thing as hockey. ”
Not 2 mention sum more delicate body parts, me thinx, can’t help watching my thoughts go 4 a space walk …
In the meantime, on a planet of weirdos in your home galaxy, instead of assuming responsibility 4 a decade of bureaucratic delays and broken promises failing Canada’s most vulnerable inhabitants, Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan put the Attawapiskat reserve under third party management in form of a banker, who was kicked off reserve promptly upon his arrival this morning.
Ich dachte, dieses alles könnte Euch informieren und diesen sonst zu Trostlosigkeit neigenden Dezember Dienstag etwas aufheitern.
Samstag sind wir wieder auf Sendung. 11 AM EST/17h MEZ EINSCHALTEN!
ON THIRD-PARTY MANAGEMENT:
Duncan: “Last week, I announced plans to put in place a third-party manager to address the urgent needs of the community and to ensure the funding provided to this community is being spent effectively. Today, the chosen third party manager, Jacques Marion from BDO Canada LLP, is on the ground with [Aboriginal Affairs] officials. It is important to remember that the community’s Chief and Council will continue to be in place.”
Spence: “This rationale has been used by the Department to silence us…. It is incredible that the Harper Government’s decision is that instead of offering aid and assistance to Canada’s First Peoples, their solution is to blame the victim, and that the community is guilty, and deserving of their fate.”
Update 10 JAN 2012: And it’s not that they haven’t tried 2 get the government’s attention:
Thursday, April 26th 2012
- Friday, May 25th 2012
Half Moon RuninParis, Köln, Haldern, Osnabrück, BerlinatEuropeBuy tickets
Monday, May 7th 2012
- Saturday, May 26th 2012
Layla ZoeinBielefeldatPianoBarBuy tickets
3 years on the air!
In November 2011 it's been 3 years that "BarKanada' has been airing every month. For your following I thank u very much!
"BarKanada" ist schon seit 3 Jahren auf Sendung, jeden Monat! Für Eure Unterstützung und Treue bedanke ich mich herzlich!
Ça fait 3 ans que "BarKanada" soit diffusé sur les ondes de tonkuhle.de. Merci pour votre fidèle appui!
