Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Daily Digest January 10, 2012


The DAILY DIGEST: INFORMATION and OPINION from ST. JOHN'S to VICTORIA.
ARCHIVED at http://cdndailydigest.blogspot.com/

OPINION AND INFORMATION

_____CANADA
Voters outraged over NDP MP's decision to join Liberals
Voters in Lise St. Denis's Shawinigan riding expressed outrage Tuesday
after learning that their New Democratic Party MP crossed the floor to join the Liberals.
MORE...
Related


_____FOREIGN AFFAIRS
>>>>>>>>>>INFOS <<<<<<<<<<
MARDI 10 JANVIER 2012
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COMMONALITY BETWEEN MOTORCYCLISTS AND COMPUTERISTS

I never drove a bike but I know you don't ask "Have you had an accident?"
but rather "What was the worst accident that you've ever had?"

Those of us on computers are similarly prone to disastrous occurrences

Mine died to-day. It can't be revived - its contents however can be I'm told
So all is not lost but slowed down greatly 'til the new one comes.

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.From: Larry Kazdan
To: letters@macleans.ca
Subject: Letter to Editor re: Joe Oliver vs. the radicals, or among them,  Paul Wells, January 9, 2012 

Re:  Joe Oliver vs. the radicals, or among them,  Paul Wells, January 9, 2012
http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/01/09/joe-oliver-vs-the-radicals-or-among-them/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
In the early 1970s, U.S. President Richard Nixon had an "Enemies List" of political opponents, journalists and celebrities known to be active in their opposition to his administration. When the names became public, many individuals felt that their inclusion was a mark of distinction, and the highlight of their careers. Shouldn't Canadians opposed to Conservative energy policies have the same opportunity?  Mr. Harper, please publish the complete list of "environmental and other radical groups" aided and abetted by "jet-setting celebrities" with their "radical ideological agenda" who want to "undermine Canada's national economic interest".  And will you please open this up for voluntary sign-ups?  Many of us long to add our names to this roll of honour! 
Larry Kazdan,
620 E. 23 Ave.,
Vancouver, B.C.
(604) 874-9982
<![end if]--> Footnote:



Nixon's Enemies List - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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From: Rebecca Gingrich

Subject: faux 'news'!!!  
Fox News Caught Using Fake Video Of Protests
http://front.moveon.org/fox-news-caught-using-fake-video-of-protests/?rc=daily.share&id=34541-1211398-pE1sz1x

Subject: our caring governments killing us for profit of the power companies
(KillerSpray.com) SMART METERS OBJECTION TELEPHONE CONVO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V4YbT_AxO8&feature=watch_response

Subject: our tax dollars at work--cut pay and pensions for taxpayers but keep swilling exotic whiskey
  House speaker selects his scotch
Glenmorangie single malt for visiting VIPs
ttp://www.vancouversun.com/life/House%2Bspeaker%2Bselects%2Bscotch/5971596/story.html
 
By Jeff Davis, Postmedia News January 10, 2012 2:36 AM
 Rookie House of Commons Speaker Andrew Scheer has inked a contract for a shipment of Speaker's Select Scotch whisky, ensuring the continuation of a recently imported British parliamentary tradition.
Adorned with its custom label, the Speaker's Select is Ottawa's most exclusive tipple, and is often used as a tony gift for visiting VIPs.
Scheer's first select vintage is a single malt from Scotland's Glenmorangie Distillery.
He said naming the winning whisky, which boasts hints of citrus and vanilla, is a way of perpetuating a lighthearted custom borrowed from the United Kingdom.
"I wanted to continue this tradition as it is rooted in the traditions of this office and in the Speaker's office in Westminster," Scheer wrote in an email.
Recently retired House of Commons Speaker Peter Milliken first brought this tradition to Canada in 2003, after receiving a bottle of Speaker's Select from his British counterpart Michael Martin.
"I thought, 'This is a good idea; why don't we do this in our House too?'" Milliken said.
Whereas in Britain the Speaker chooses the Scotch personally, Milliken decided to democratize the tradition. He invited members to a special tasting, and let them decide through a secret ballot.
Scheer said he decided to stick with the system, and let members cast their votes at a tasting session on Nov. 16.
"The Scotch selected is not a matter of personal taste, but is the result of a Scotch tasting of various malt Scotch producers organized by my office, for members," Scheer wrote. "This has turned into a popular event among parliamentarians and an excellent way for new MPs to meet each other."
The Speaker's Select whisky is used as protocol gift for visiting foreign leaders and dignitaries when liquor is deemed an appropriate gift. It is also available for purchase by members of Parliament, who can buy bottles for about $75.
Milliken said MPs frequently buy bottles to use as special gifts.
Opportunities to sample the Select are few and far between, and you might need an invitation to the Speaker's official residence to obtain one.
This Glenmorangie is the third to receive the official nod. The previous ones - selected by Milliken - came from the Talisker and Dalwhinnie distilleries in Scotland.
The Speaker's Select will be officially unveiled on Jan. 25 at a Robbie Burns Night dinner.

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From: Mahmood Elahi <
Subject: To stem Harper's tyranny of the majority, let's turn patronage-driven Senate into our Athens Council

The Editor
The Vancouver Sun
 
Copy to: Ms Barbara Yaffe, Columnist for The Vancouver Sun.
 
To stem Harper's tyranny of the majority, let's turn patronage-driven Senate into our Athens Council
 
Re "Harper's Conservatives are Patronage Superstars, by Barbara Yaffe (Jan. 9).
 
Democracy was invented by the ancient Athenians who believed that aristocrats and oligarchs didn't have any divine right to rule and ordinary citizens must have a say in the governing. So they invented a system of government involving ordinary citizens and called it Demokratia --- government by the people.
 
Democracy is a brilliant idea and like all brilliant ideas, it has some apparent contradictions and the most seductive one is majority rule. But this is not democracy, merely rule by the majority. When the Athenians allowed the majority to rule, the poor majority imposed heavy taxes on the rich minority who conspired to bring down democracy. To stem any tyranny of the majority, they created the Athens Council, composed of 500 citizens, chosen through lottery to represent a cross-section of the people. The Athens Council had the power to override any decision that ignored legitimate concerns of the minority. The Athens Council was also a bulwark against unfair influence of the rich and powerful. In ancient democracy, as now, wealth made a difference: people without money or family connections had great difficulty in winning elective office. The Athens Council, drawen equally from different social statras, provided such a check. Such a body was too large to bribe and its size would make it fairly reprentative of the citizen body as a whole.
 
Thanks to our first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has won a contrived majority despite winning only 40 per cent of votes. Yet, he is acting as if he enjoys a mandate of the majority. To stem such tyranny of the majority, let's turn our patronage-driven Senate into a non-partisan body like the Athens Council. Instead of prime minister appointing, Senators will be appointed by a all-party committee on a non-partisan basis or they can be elected like municipal councillors who have no formal ties to any political parties. Such an independent Senate will act as a counter to any tyranny of the majority in the House of Commons. Like the Athens Council, the Senate will have the power to override any decision that ignores legitimate concerns of the minority. Such a non-partisan Senate will become a true chamber of sober second thought as Senators will not be obliged to play a second fiddle to the prime minister and his governing majority.
 
Ancient inventors of democracy had shown us democracy is not a utopian ideal, because it takes human limitations into account. They knew that even best of the people could be distracted by ambition. Democracy was born out of this awareness of human folly, and it was designed to prevent the leaders from having unchecked power. The remains germane today.
 
As Paul Woodruff, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the University of Texas, Austin, writes in his seminal study First Democracy: "We have permitted governments we call democracies to develop so much internal momentum that fewer and fewer people feel they have any reason to vote. ... The idea of democracy was subject to intense challenges in the ancient world. The resulting debate brought the ideas of democracy into clear focus. Understanding the ancient debate, we can clear the clouds and cobwebs away from the ideas we are trying to express in democracy today."
 
MAHMOOD ELAHI

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From: "Wayne Clutterbuck"

Joe:
His fear-mongering re Gateway and ignorance about the value of silent acceptance explains a goodly portion of mature interest in public policy.
Personal anointment is just as ignorant.  Is that arrogance?  (or am I smelling my own feces?)
Sometimes backwashing a filter clears the system; so let’s hope Gateway Discussion creates reasoned relief afterwards.
Wayne

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From: Rebecca Gingrich
Subject: C68
Joe--this Bill was always for control of people, not criminals.  Those committing crimes with guns get less of a sentence than those who don't keep their paperwork up regarding their gun ownership.  Criminals using guns to commit a crime have rights, those who don't play government games are the 'real' criminals in Canada.  What C68 failed to recognize is that it is not the guns that commit the crime, it is the people using them.  Most guns used in crimes are thrown away and the criminal can easily find more illegal guns to use.  I do not believe for one minute that these new 'laws' will make Canadians 'safer'.  An improved Justice system that makes criminals totally responsible for their actions is the only way to change anything.  But that won't happen.  I do not believe the government will get rid of 'gun control'.  Governments are afraid of people who think on their own.  Their only aim is to control us totally.  And criminals serve the government's purpose to keep us in fear.
We know that registration does nothing.  I remember when this Bill was first being touted as a way to 'keep Canadians safe'--it was stated that we register our cars, don't we?  Yeah, and that has made us much safer also, eh?  Gun Registry is just another tax grab that accomplishes nothing so I can't see the government changing that.
Becky

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From: Ron Thornton
Subject: I guess I have to stay Conservative for the time being...

Great news, Joe! The NDP just gave me two more reasons not to vote for them. Oh, and here I was coming so close to becoming a true socialist. Hey, I am getting older and no doubt more entitled to my entitlements. In a recent article in that bastion of democratic freedom, the Star, I read NDP leadership contender Brian Topp would, as PM, remove the Senate. I'm not sure how he plans to do that, as a full fledged constitutional amendment would be required to erase all that ink from the pages, but I will maintain until the day I die that we need an institution where all provinces are treated equal as a balance for the Ontario-Quebec heavy House of Commons. The Yanks have it, the Aussies have it, and we need it.

Reason number two comes in Mr. Topp's desire to replace the first-past-the-post method of voting to that of proportional representation. I understand why he wishes to do so, but until a system is presented that gives the final decision as to who gets in and who does not to the people, not to a party list where they decide who is the first through last choice, there isn't a hope in hell I'll ever go for it. It is bad enough the parties already parachute in candidates, the local people be damned, and where the leader, not the locals, decide if an individual can carry the party banner into an election.

Then, just as I thought maybe the Liberals might have something to offer, their National Women's Liberal Commission would like to amend the criminal law to include gender among the various groups a person might willfully promote hatred. Just great. So, if they have their way, if I refer to a person of another colour, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender as a no good rotten sonofabitch, then I must be some kind of hate monger worthy of criminal charges? Maybe what we need is someone of some real intelligence to define what it is to show real hatred against another human being, while allowing us to voice disagreement and maybe even register a measure of disgust toward another who just happens to not be our clone. Hatred is a whole different thing, and should be properly defined to include and protect us all while at the same time preserving our freedoms of speech and expressions.

Thanks again for the use of the hall, Joe.

Ron Thornton
Edmonton, Ab.

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From: Rebecca Gingrich
Subject: [video] Humanitarian Bombing

Joe--I just sent this video to Harper MacKay and my MP with this message
Mr Harper, Mr. MacKay, Mr MacKenzie--last month we gave awards to those Canadians who caused this death and destruction by leading the genocide on innocent Libyans.  NATO had the colossal gall to lie about the number of Libyan civilians killed--the number stated was 30.  Those of us that have been following the genocide through independent reporters know that that is a lie.  These people that didn't die will live with these injuries for the rest of their lives.  Unborn children will be affected by the DU residue left in their air, water and soil.  And we call this humanitarian?  We are evil killers.  Shame on you and our country.  How can you sleep at night?  It is a given that these children will never have a full night's sleep again.  They have seen the face of evil and it is Canada.

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Posted by Wanderer at 10:52 PM