She gave safe passage to Pinochet, rather than send him to a war crimes tribunal as he should have been destined, commenting that the UK owed him and his henchmen a debt for Chile’s part in aiding England during the Falkland’s War in the early 1980’s.
She was outrageously outspoken, publicly chastising those who did not agree and conform to her ultra conservative principals.
She reigned over British politics with the fortitude and single-mindedness that earned her the moniker The Iron Lady. Some say she destroyed the country’s economy. Others claim she rescued it.
She is reported to have called Nelson Mandela a terrorist. And certainly, she had few friends among the Irish.
Yet, tributes poured in for Baroness Margaret Thatcher upon her recent passing at 87 years old. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper even went so far as to comment that she was a “giant among leaders”. Many would likely agree that she was indeed a giant, but would use the term as an adjective, rather than a noun, preferring to add a rather disagreeable noun of their own instead.
Obama released a statement saying, “The world has lost one of the great champions of freedom and liberty”.
Poppycock!!!
So, who were her friends? Not labor unions, not the working class, and on balance, nobody who truly cares for liberty and freedom.
Like when they discover the next door neighbor was a serial killer, the sound bites only hear what a normal person he was, so it is true of Thatcher, remembering her political reign as somehow beneficial to the world at large.
Thatcher’s embrace of her ideals is nothing short of heroic. She did for the 1% what none before or since ever could, advancing policies domestic and foreign that were purposely designed to deflate hope in the vast majority while inflating the coffers of her contemporaries.
And as a final kick in the groin to Britons, she will receive a state funeral with full ceremonial honors without the benefit to the Brits of a competitive private sector bid.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Thursday, February 7, 2013
When is a Penny Just a Penny?
The demise of the penny this month in Canada is being touted as a cost cutting measure by The Royal Canadian Mint, the federal crown corporation responsible for producing and circulating money in the country.
What this means to those using cash (remember cash?) is an unwarranted and discriminatory price increase for consumer goods.
Who uses cash anymore? Consumers unable to obtain a debit or credit card are the largest users of cash. Generally, that means poor people. Those least able to afford any price increases now must shoulder an additional cost on their purchases. This translates to increased and unwarranted profits by retail establishments as they round up consumer cash purchases to the next nickel. Statistically, this cash grab will also increase the monthly cost of living index, a major indicator of inflation rates, from which countless other benchmarks are derived.
As financial institutions and their government pawns force us to rely less on cash and more on computer entries for our currency, consumers will be more enslaved to the whims of these mammoth ogres, including forfeiting additional personal information to be shared as seen fit from the boardrooms of their ivory towers.
It all starts with the envelope pushing like eliminating the copper penny. One map, different ways to get there.
What this means to those using cash (remember cash?) is an unwarranted and discriminatory price increase for consumer goods.
Who uses cash anymore? Consumers unable to obtain a debit or credit card are the largest users of cash. Generally, that means poor people. Those least able to afford any price increases now must shoulder an additional cost on their purchases. This translates to increased and unwarranted profits by retail establishments as they round up consumer cash purchases to the next nickel. Statistically, this cash grab will also increase the monthly cost of living index, a major indicator of inflation rates, from which countless other benchmarks are derived.
As financial institutions and their government pawns force us to rely less on cash and more on computer entries for our currency, consumers will be more enslaved to the whims of these mammoth ogres, including forfeiting additional personal information to be shared as seen fit from the boardrooms of their ivory towers.
It all starts with the envelope pushing like eliminating the copper penny. One map, different ways to get there.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Just Say Neigh to Horsemeat
When was the last time you enjoyed horsemeat? Well, if you live in the UK, chances are you have unwittingly enjoyed remnants of some nag last week.
The revelation of horsemeat being combined with beef sold in Ireland and England has major grocery supermarkets on a huge defensive in an attempt to claim ignorance that suppliers have been including horsemeat and ‘beef trim’ (whatever the heck that is) as beef. In fact, Ireland’s food agency, the Food Safety Authority claims that recent testing revealed up to 29% of the contents labeled as beef actually contained horsemeat. Britain’s Food Standards Agency claim to also be investigating.
The Silvercrest processing plant at the heart of the scandal is under the microscope for supplying supermarket giant Tesco with beef burger products containing horsemeat. Another supermarket giant, The Cooperative Group, conducted its own DNA testing and determined 17.7% horsemeat in particular beef products.
According to sources, beef is Ireland’s number one food export, and Tesco is Ireland’s number one customer accounting for almost 10% of the country’s €1.9 billion annual beef exports.
Politicians, activists and civil servants alike are now calling for accurate food labeling laws to protect consumers from the nefarious practices of those who include filler products. But one must wonder how such practices can occur unchecked for so long. Isn’t it reasonable to assume that these mammoth supermarket chains have employees within their fold who must have known the practice was occurring?
It turns out that including horsemeat in beef products is not illegal, so long as it is appropriately labelled as such. This means when all is said and done, violators and their corporate partners will, at best, face infractions for failing to properly label their beef products – the proverbial slap on the wrist.
What this also means is that consumers who purchased ‘beef’ overpaid dramatically and that Tesco and The Cooperative Group profited by the same degree. Follow the money, criminal investigators will tell you, and motives will soon become crystal clear.
The revelation of horsemeat being combined with beef sold in Ireland and England has major grocery supermarkets on a huge defensive in an attempt to claim ignorance that suppliers have been including horsemeat and ‘beef trim’ (whatever the heck that is) as beef. In fact, Ireland’s food agency, the Food Safety Authority claims that recent testing revealed up to 29% of the contents labeled as beef actually contained horsemeat. Britain’s Food Standards Agency claim to also be investigating.
The Silvercrest processing plant at the heart of the scandal is under the microscope for supplying supermarket giant Tesco with beef burger products containing horsemeat. Another supermarket giant, The Cooperative Group, conducted its own DNA testing and determined 17.7% horsemeat in particular beef products.
According to sources, beef is Ireland’s number one food export, and Tesco is Ireland’s number one customer accounting for almost 10% of the country’s €1.9 billion annual beef exports.
Politicians, activists and civil servants alike are now calling for accurate food labeling laws to protect consumers from the nefarious practices of those who include filler products. But one must wonder how such practices can occur unchecked for so long. Isn’t it reasonable to assume that these mammoth supermarket chains have employees within their fold who must have known the practice was occurring?
It turns out that including horsemeat in beef products is not illegal, so long as it is appropriately labelled as such. This means when all is said and done, violators and their corporate partners will, at best, face infractions for failing to properly label their beef products – the proverbial slap on the wrist.
What this also means is that consumers who purchased ‘beef’ overpaid dramatically and that Tesco and The Cooperative Group profited by the same degree. Follow the money, criminal investigators will tell you, and motives will soon become crystal clear.
Who Pays for Freedom?
Recent troubles in Syria have an unexpected consequence on the friendly nation of Sweden, and the price of being so generous is inflated government spending on immigration and asylum policies that some Swedes believe is bordering on the absurd.
No other western nation has opened their borders to the plight of those of Syrian nationality than has Sweden, despite repeated requests to members of the European Union to follow suit, although it can be said that Germany has made significant inroads in an attempt to ease the Swede’s burden.
Imagine a country of only 9.5 million inhabitants permitting 8000 new Syrians in 2012 and projecting a doubling of that amount to 16,000 for 2013, and what that does to the infrastructure and society of such a small country.
Some of the backlash appears to be racially motivated, while others feel the pinch of rising cost of living due to supply and demand. Others criticize the ease at which Syrians are able to immigrate to Sweden. Showing up on an airplane to clear customs is enough to be granted asylum for Syrians seeking Swedish citizenship. With asylum comes the meal ticket paid for by Swedish citizens and many Swedes resent that their generosity has been usurped.
It is estimated that 7000 Syrians currently live in temporary accommodations in Sweden such as hostels and tents, as regular apartments and living accommodations are filled to saturation levels. The exploding budget for housing immigration seekers alone has already topped $115 million. And that is a number Swedes feel is difficult to live with, despite their willingness to contribute fairly to those affected by the conflict in Syria.
Only a few years ago we were blaming Syria for contributing to world terrorism by harboring and training extremists whose goal was to create havoc, disrupt economies, and cause death and destruction to western nations. Now it appears the Europeans have forgiven them and are prepared to have their economies adversely affected by essentially paying their living costs while harming the pocketbooks of its own citizens.
So who should pay for the freedom and standard of living for Syrians fleeing their homeland? With Swedes growing increasingly reluctant to shoulder the financial burden and changes to their culture and society, and European Union members adverse to grant even one asylum visa, one has to wonder why the brotherhood of what we know as the Middle East is not opening their arms to Syrians in their time of need.
No other western nation has opened their borders to the plight of those of Syrian nationality than has Sweden, despite repeated requests to members of the European Union to follow suit, although it can be said that Germany has made significant inroads in an attempt to ease the Swede’s burden.
Imagine a country of only 9.5 million inhabitants permitting 8000 new Syrians in 2012 and projecting a doubling of that amount to 16,000 for 2013, and what that does to the infrastructure and society of such a small country.
Some of the backlash appears to be racially motivated, while others feel the pinch of rising cost of living due to supply and demand. Others criticize the ease at which Syrians are able to immigrate to Sweden. Showing up on an airplane to clear customs is enough to be granted asylum for Syrians seeking Swedish citizenship. With asylum comes the meal ticket paid for by Swedish citizens and many Swedes resent that their generosity has been usurped.
It is estimated that 7000 Syrians currently live in temporary accommodations in Sweden such as hostels and tents, as regular apartments and living accommodations are filled to saturation levels. The exploding budget for housing immigration seekers alone has already topped $115 million. And that is a number Swedes feel is difficult to live with, despite their willingness to contribute fairly to those affected by the conflict in Syria.
Only a few years ago we were blaming Syria for contributing to world terrorism by harboring and training extremists whose goal was to create havoc, disrupt economies, and cause death and destruction to western nations. Now it appears the Europeans have forgiven them and are prepared to have their economies adversely affected by essentially paying their living costs while harming the pocketbooks of its own citizens.
So who should pay for the freedom and standard of living for Syrians fleeing their homeland? With Swedes growing increasingly reluctant to shoulder the financial burden and changes to their culture and society, and European Union members adverse to grant even one asylum visa, one has to wonder why the brotherhood of what we know as the Middle East is not opening their arms to Syrians in their time of need.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Unlocking the Big Brothering of the Vatican
Hold on to your skeleton keys Batman, the Vatican is embracing swipe technology!
The world’s smallest state is being retrofitted with high tech gizmos and gadgets as part of its modernization plan to beef up security and track employees. Some suggest this is a direct response to the scandal that has become known as Vatileaks.
Regardless of the intent, it certainly runs counterintuitive to the rest of the Vatican’s thinking process. It would appear that maintaining currency and relevance applies only to those areas not directly connected to selling the product of religion itself.
While Catholic priests continue raping children with the knowledge and complicity of those in a position to eradicate such perversion, while the Catholic Church maintains archaic positions that are literally killing their followers (i.e. forbidding condom use), while the Catholic Church continues to practice exclusionary religion, and while the Catholic Church hoards ill-gotten riches far exceeding the wealth of many sovereign states while claiming poverty, they have decided to leap into the 21st century by installing security measures auspiciously as a contemporary prudence.
It would be easier to digest the Big Brothering of the Vatican as merely good business sense if their theological thinking was also in keeping with the times. However, it is likely closer to the truth to view recent demonstrations and uprisings in Italy, Greece and other parts of Europe as a wake-up call for the Pope and Company to further erect barriers between themselves and those they purportedly serve as a form of protection from the anger erupting at their doorstep.
Lord knows Vatican Army with their shiny spears are in no position to defend such a den of iniquity.
The world’s smallest state is being retrofitted with high tech gizmos and gadgets as part of its modernization plan to beef up security and track employees. Some suggest this is a direct response to the scandal that has become known as Vatileaks.
Regardless of the intent, it certainly runs counterintuitive to the rest of the Vatican’s thinking process. It would appear that maintaining currency and relevance applies only to those areas not directly connected to selling the product of religion itself.
While Catholic priests continue raping children with the knowledge and complicity of those in a position to eradicate such perversion, while the Catholic Church maintains archaic positions that are literally killing their followers (i.e. forbidding condom use), while the Catholic Church continues to practice exclusionary religion, and while the Catholic Church hoards ill-gotten riches far exceeding the wealth of many sovereign states while claiming poverty, they have decided to leap into the 21st century by installing security measures auspiciously as a contemporary prudence.
It would be easier to digest the Big Brothering of the Vatican as merely good business sense if their theological thinking was also in keeping with the times. However, it is likely closer to the truth to view recent demonstrations and uprisings in Italy, Greece and other parts of Europe as a wake-up call for the Pope and Company to further erect barriers between themselves and those they purportedly serve as a form of protection from the anger erupting at their doorstep.
Lord knows Vatican Army with their shiny spears are in no position to defend such a den of iniquity.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Uh-Oh Canada
In a world dominated by skirmishes and outright war over lines on a map thousands of miles away from home, you might be forgiven for forgetting about our own brewing conflict over similar lines being drawn by the likes of United States, Russia, and, *gulp* Canada?
Among the circumpolar nations puffing their chests out is Canada, who inarguably has the most to lose as countries decide among themselves how best to carve up the top of this little blue marble we call home. But isn’t the extreme tundra right on up to the tip of the Earth Canada’s sovereign territory?
Let’s face it. Until recently, no country really cared about the Arctic. It was too vast, too cold, too empty. All were pleased as punch to have Canada be the caretaker of the giant ice cube. That is, until large commercial deposits of resources were determined to be there and the requisite technology to exploit it developed. Now, every country and their corporate puppeteers have their eyes firmly affixed to our North and have every desire to be the landlord.
There is another event that quietly sailed its way under our noses recently that is perhaps at least equally tantalizing to corporations worldwide. With global warming, the Arctic Ocean is warming and chief among the results of this phenomenon is that seafaring lanes are now accessible year round.
Want proof?
On Thursday, December 06th, 2012, the Ob River, a tanker chartered by Russia’s GazProm carrying some 134,000 cubic metres of LNG (liquefied natural gas) completed the 6000 kilometre voyage from Norway to Japan using the Northern Sea Route, also known as the Northeast Passage. In so doing, the Ob River chopped 20 days from the normal schedule of shipping via Suez Canal or Panama Canal, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs. Those kind of profits and efficiencies are worth further exploitation, no matter what your political leanings.
It is the first time a winter voyage of this type has occurred on the Northeast Passage, although in 2009, two bulk cargo ships made successful summer voyages from South Korea to the Netherlands using this route.
What does this mean for Canada?
It means the Northwest Passage is next for further exploitation. It means increased shipping in fragile ecosystems. It means greater challenges on the sovereignty of our most northern reaches. It means our military and Coast Guard have their work cut out for them, using sparse resources to patrol the harshest, most unforgiving terrain in our land. It means our envied international reputation as diplomats and peacekeepers may have to take a back seat as we appropriately posture and act to defend our country against commercial and military advancement.
Among the circumpolar nations puffing their chests out is Canada, who inarguably has the most to lose as countries decide among themselves how best to carve up the top of this little blue marble we call home. But isn’t the extreme tundra right on up to the tip of the Earth Canada’s sovereign territory?
Let’s face it. Until recently, no country really cared about the Arctic. It was too vast, too cold, too empty. All were pleased as punch to have Canada be the caretaker of the giant ice cube. That is, until large commercial deposits of resources were determined to be there and the requisite technology to exploit it developed. Now, every country and their corporate puppeteers have their eyes firmly affixed to our North and have every desire to be the landlord.
There is another event that quietly sailed its way under our noses recently that is perhaps at least equally tantalizing to corporations worldwide. With global warming, the Arctic Ocean is warming and chief among the results of this phenomenon is that seafaring lanes are now accessible year round.
Want proof?
On Thursday, December 06th, 2012, the Ob River, a tanker chartered by Russia’s GazProm carrying some 134,000 cubic metres of LNG (liquefied natural gas) completed the 6000 kilometre voyage from Norway to Japan using the Northern Sea Route, also known as the Northeast Passage. In so doing, the Ob River chopped 20 days from the normal schedule of shipping via Suez Canal or Panama Canal, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs. Those kind of profits and efficiencies are worth further exploitation, no matter what your political leanings.
It is the first time a winter voyage of this type has occurred on the Northeast Passage, although in 2009, two bulk cargo ships made successful summer voyages from South Korea to the Netherlands using this route.
What does this mean for Canada?
It means the Northwest Passage is next for further exploitation. It means increased shipping in fragile ecosystems. It means greater challenges on the sovereignty of our most northern reaches. It means our military and Coast Guard have their work cut out for them, using sparse resources to patrol the harshest, most unforgiving terrain in our land. It means our envied international reputation as diplomats and peacekeepers may have to take a back seat as we appropriately posture and act to defend our country against commercial and military advancement.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Christians Embroiled in a Crisis of Faith
While the Nation of Islam welcomes a huge and rabid surge to the Muslim faith, and the Jewish faith enjoys an insular growing population, the Christian religion struggles to envelop the hearts and minds of the western world’s remaining majority. So why then, with our planet teetering on the brink of proving ancient prophecies correct, are we not witnessing, as one might reasonably expect, a massive resurrection in Christianity? Why has the flock not sought the guidance and deliverance of all that is holy?
Religion is a daily news event now. It hasn’t always been this way. But religion is being politicized as never before, to the point of being used as an adjective a la the news reporting during the American civil rights movement where someone described in a news story would be identified as colored (or the many euphemisms used during those turbulent times). The defining of one’s religion now seems to feed the hysteria of division among the general population. It helps to sell newspapers.
Colonial empires and Christianity collaborated (in the name of God and the monarchy, of course) to invade foreign lands and peoples, plundering the rich resources, razing the aged cultures, and writing the history books to make it seem as though the invasions were ‘discoveries’ and that the inhabitants of these new found lands were justifiably and mercifully saved from themselves and delivered into the righteous hands of God Almighty Himself.
And perhaps that very expansionist collaboration is at the root of the crisis of faith which embroils Christians today. From such a pompous tree of greed can come only spoiled fruit.
Amassing untold wealth after centuries of ransacking indigenous peoples around the world has provided Christian churches with the financial means to privately address the criminal acts committed by the many sex abusers they employ and protect. Bribery, cover-ups, and out of court settlements don’t come cheap, but save for the selling of a few underperforming local churches, the major Christian sects are still among the richest corporations in your country. Business is slipping though as it would be a rare follower indeed who could knowingly condone, through continued membership and tithe, the rape of their sons and daughters.
The world clips along at a pace few can maintain, and while it is comforting to have sanctuaries in our life where we can find solace, those refuges must be realistic and congruent to the realities of our life if they are to be an influence. Christianity, as one of those possibly coveted sanctuaries, fails to address many of the complexities of modern times, choosing instead to maintain obsolete and ultra-conservative interpretations of often conflicting ideals, burying its head in the sand like an ostrich.
We need to believe! We want to believe! But, frankly, it is almost impossible to believe in Christianity when the image of the religion is suffering greatly at a time when it could be basking in the radiance of salvation. In troubled times, we need a strong focal point to guide us through the minefields of trepidation. For many in the world, that shining light is a religion or some form of spirituality.
Increasingly so, Christianity is losing its devotees to alternate forms of worship and other organized religions that are more representative of a contemporary life and bereft of the morally corrupt activities recently exposed.
Religion is a daily news event now. It hasn’t always been this way. But religion is being politicized as never before, to the point of being used as an adjective a la the news reporting during the American civil rights movement where someone described in a news story would be identified as colored (or the many euphemisms used during those turbulent times). The defining of one’s religion now seems to feed the hysteria of division among the general population. It helps to sell newspapers.
Colonial empires and Christianity collaborated (in the name of God and the monarchy, of course) to invade foreign lands and peoples, plundering the rich resources, razing the aged cultures, and writing the history books to make it seem as though the invasions were ‘discoveries’ and that the inhabitants of these new found lands were justifiably and mercifully saved from themselves and delivered into the righteous hands of God Almighty Himself.
And perhaps that very expansionist collaboration is at the root of the crisis of faith which embroils Christians today. From such a pompous tree of greed can come only spoiled fruit.
Amassing untold wealth after centuries of ransacking indigenous peoples around the world has provided Christian churches with the financial means to privately address the criminal acts committed by the many sex abusers they employ and protect. Bribery, cover-ups, and out of court settlements don’t come cheap, but save for the selling of a few underperforming local churches, the major Christian sects are still among the richest corporations in your country. Business is slipping though as it would be a rare follower indeed who could knowingly condone, through continued membership and tithe, the rape of their sons and daughters.
The world clips along at a pace few can maintain, and while it is comforting to have sanctuaries in our life where we can find solace, those refuges must be realistic and congruent to the realities of our life if they are to be an influence. Christianity, as one of those possibly coveted sanctuaries, fails to address many of the complexities of modern times, choosing instead to maintain obsolete and ultra-conservative interpretations of often conflicting ideals, burying its head in the sand like an ostrich.
We need to believe! We want to believe! But, frankly, it is almost impossible to believe in Christianity when the image of the religion is suffering greatly at a time when it could be basking in the radiance of salvation. In troubled times, we need a strong focal point to guide us through the minefields of trepidation. For many in the world, that shining light is a religion or some form of spirituality.
Increasingly so, Christianity is losing its devotees to alternate forms of worship and other organized religions that are more representative of a contemporary life and bereft of the morally corrupt activities recently exposed.
Originally published August 23, 2010
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