In 1958, Philly Lee my first cousin died in a car accident in Upstate New York, on the highway from Montreal to New York City. He was driving his new Volkswagen Bug and was alone in the car. I was eight years old.
It seems he fell asleep and hit a transport truck parked on the shoulder of the road. His mother Mable my mother's sister and her husband had also immigrated to Montreal with my parents, from Newfoundland in 1949, around the same time Newfoundland joined Canada as it's 10th province
Aunt Mable was married to Phil Lee from Petty Harbor, Newfoundland who was a great, man's man and very funny. They had a girl Marie and a boy Philip jr, who we called Philly. He was a air traffic control operator in training at Dorval International Airport in Montreal, after a stint in the Air Force. He was 21.
His death became a great mystery which the extended family of Dwyer and Burke talked about for years after.
It seems Philly had been in Newfoundland visiting family and flew home that fateful day on a plane owned and operated by the Sea fearers International Union. It's infamous president; Hal C. Banks was also on board. He was a reputed tough guy who had arrived from USA in 1949 to bust the Communist controlled Shipping Unions. He built a high profile reputation and was often written up in the Canadian media. In 1964 he skipped the country, just ahead of the RCMP ,who were about to arrest him on a variety of charges. He died in1985.
The RCMP visited Philly's parents after the funeral but it seems they were tight lipped about Philly's activities and told no secrets or tales, if indeed they had any. They told them there was no foul play suspected, even though Philly had phoned his mother from the Dorval airport and said he had landed in Montreal and would be home soon. Uncle Phil and Mable were far too emotionally overcome to press for an answer. Philly was not married but was in a very serious relationship with a pretty young woman I used to see in our church. At the funeral she sat with Philly's family and cried her heart out.
Philly, at 21 was the oldest of my generation of youngsters who were coming fast and furious in those early days. He was handsome and charismatic and used to own a motorcycle before he was persuaded to trade it for the car. All the family men were doing well in their new city, most working in construction. My mother, Gladys Burke had a brother Joe and two sister and my father had two brothers and 3 sisters who had also made Montreal home in the previous five years. It was becoming a real Newfoundland outpost. The family was tight and parties consisted of Newfoundland songs and recitations and chat about how the cod were running at home.
Aunt Mable was destroyed by the tragedy and soon had a shrine to The Blessed Virgin, built outside out little church (which the Dwyer and Burke men had spearheaded building) on the South Shore of Montreal Island.
At the funeral parlor I saw my first dead man. He looked great but Aunt Mable sobbing, took me by the hand and escorted me to the half open coffin and had me put my hand on Philly's forehead to see how cold it was. I could have done without that.
The years ran on and over time many of the family group moved away to Toronto and Boston and a few went home to Newfoundland but the mystery of Philly's death was never solved and his memory faded.
Sometime in the 1990s I visited my Uncle Joe Burke(who since died ) in Montreal and over a chat he told me he had done a renovation at the home of senior RCMP officer and had told him the story of the mystery of; why Philly died in an accident on the road to New York City when he had told his mother he would be home soon. The officer said he would see what he could find. As he was cluing up the job and leaving the officer said he had found and read the file on Philip Lee and his relationship with Hal Banks and would tell him him if really wanted to hear it. Uncle Joe said he thought about it but finally said : "No, he didn't."
Saturday, 20 December 2014
Saturday, 6 December 2014
YOU MAY NOT LIKE CONRAD BLACK BUT YOU HAVE TO RESPECT HIM.
My Wife, Jean O'Byrne Dwyer and I were sitting at the bar in the main floor lounge of the Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa ( One of my favorite bars) a few years ago, enjoying a libation when I noticed a copy of Conrad Black's new book a few feet away. I inquired with the bartender how it came to be there, as he was in a jail in Florida. It seems the evening before a nonfiction book award had been held in the very place and copies of all five of the nominee's books including Mr. Black's were available to the attendees. Some were left behind.
I had been reading his columns in the National Post, which he wrote each Saturday from Jail and was so impressed with his candor that I e-mailed him at his address which was at the foot of the column; cbletters@gmail.com. Not long after he replied, much to my surprise. He thanked me for my comments and encouragement. He could have easily run home to Britain or Canada and down faced the mean American legal system but he remained unbowed and unrepentant. I immediately pulled out my iPhone and emailed Conrad Black; "I am sitting at the Bar in the Chateau Laurier, having a drink with my wife and your new book is on the bar from last nights non-fiction awards presentation, which I am sure you were made aware of." I hoped he found the note comforting from his jail cell, knowing he was still in play in Ottawa. He wrote back shortly and thanked me again for the news.
I felt he had been railroaded, at best, but that's the thing about Conrad Black. He taunted his accusers as they drafted a case around his expenses, which is, as a great friend and lawyer once told me; They always go after the expenses because it's so easy to manipulate. You either like or hate Conrad. And he's not easy to like especially from a distance but you have to respect his honor, toughness and resolve. And if you don't, your sense of fairness needs adjusting.
I followed his trial as closely as possible and was astonished how he had held his ground and maintained his familiar demeanor and dignity. I was waiting for it to falter especially when he was convicted and sentenced but he didn't show it. Oh I think in his quietest moments, late at night, alone in that bunk he asked the question; Lord why have you forsaken me?
From jail, good reports abounded about his kindness, encouragement and the classes he offered his fellow inmates. And he soldiered on, won an important Supreme Court appeal (itself no easy job), was released for a short time until his judge Amy St Eve re-sentenced him for a shorter time, just for good American measure.
On May 4 2012 at 67 years of age Conrad left jail and returned to Canada. He had served 42 months of an original 72 month sentence. The amount of cash he was supposed to have squandered, reduced and made to look almost silly, given his job the size of his company and earning power.
Around that time my sons Patrick and Jon were looking to restart their well liked, private, speaker series; 'Discussions at the Bistro' and as Jon was a friend of the owner and chef of Spendido restaurant in Toronto, Chef Barry they agreed to hold it there and Jon asked me if I could write and ask Conrad Black if he would be the first speaker. After some negotiating he agreed (Spendido is a favorite of his and his wife, Barbara Amiel).
The series featured a fine 3 course dinner with great wines and then, the guest speaker was introduced by Jon. In lieu of a fee, everyone of the 80 diners would get a signed copy of his new book. The evening sold out in a day.
I was excited to finally meet Lord Conrad Black and he was a delight. Friendly, engaging, funny and after a long Q&A and some great food and wine and his talk, he held back and sat down with us for a quiet drink and chat in the empty restaurant. My only disappointment was his famous, smart wife Barbara Amiel was a no show.
I had been reading his columns in the National Post, which he wrote each Saturday from Jail and was so impressed with his candor that I e-mailed him at his address which was at the foot of the column; cbletters@gmail.com. Not long after he replied, much to my surprise. He thanked me for my comments and encouragement. He could have easily run home to Britain or Canada and down faced the mean American legal system but he remained unbowed and unrepentant. I immediately pulled out my iPhone and emailed Conrad Black; "I am sitting at the Bar in the Chateau Laurier, having a drink with my wife and your new book is on the bar from last nights non-fiction awards presentation, which I am sure you were made aware of." I hoped he found the note comforting from his jail cell, knowing he was still in play in Ottawa. He wrote back shortly and thanked me again for the news.
I felt he had been railroaded, at best, but that's the thing about Conrad Black. He taunted his accusers as they drafted a case around his expenses, which is, as a great friend and lawyer once told me; They always go after the expenses because it's so easy to manipulate. You either like or hate Conrad. And he's not easy to like especially from a distance but you have to respect his honor, toughness and resolve. And if you don't, your sense of fairness needs adjusting.
I followed his trial as closely as possible and was astonished how he had held his ground and maintained his familiar demeanor and dignity. I was waiting for it to falter especially when he was convicted and sentenced but he didn't show it. Oh I think in his quietest moments, late at night, alone in that bunk he asked the question; Lord why have you forsaken me?
From jail, good reports abounded about his kindness, encouragement and the classes he offered his fellow inmates. And he soldiered on, won an important Supreme Court appeal (itself no easy job), was released for a short time until his judge Amy St Eve re-sentenced him for a shorter time, just for good American measure.
On May 4 2012 at 67 years of age Conrad left jail and returned to Canada. He had served 42 months of an original 72 month sentence. The amount of cash he was supposed to have squandered, reduced and made to look almost silly, given his job the size of his company and earning power.
Around that time my sons Patrick and Jon were looking to restart their well liked, private, speaker series; 'Discussions at the Bistro' and as Jon was a friend of the owner and chef of Spendido restaurant in Toronto, Chef Barry they agreed to hold it there and Jon asked me if I could write and ask Conrad Black if he would be the first speaker. After some negotiating he agreed (Spendido is a favorite of his and his wife, Barbara Amiel).
The series featured a fine 3 course dinner with great wines and then, the guest speaker was introduced by Jon. In lieu of a fee, everyone of the 80 diners would get a signed copy of his new book. The evening sold out in a day.
Saturday, 29 November 2014
DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES ARE KILLING DEMOCRACY
A few weeks ago the Prime Minister of Hungary,Viktor Orban gave a speech in which he called for his country to abandon Liberal Democracy, in favor of an illeberal state. This is his second elected term and he is very popular and he does not like being told what to do.
Like Vladimir Putin of Russia he believe the flaws in Western democracies like ours warrant electing leaders who distance themselves from of the European Union. He went on to say he would not deny voters the fundamentals of liberal freedom.
He finished by citing Putin and Xi Jining, the Chinese President as fine examples of how democracy should evolve. Strong leaders unquestioned.
Last week Mike Nichols, the great director and writer died. He spoke often of how life is a pendulum and the good times can be long but the pendulum will swing and our live seems to get jumbled for a while.
Our democracies are flawed and the state of progress and cooperation that we have enjoyed for the last 100 odd years seem to be fraying. In the USA congress cannot get past the black president ( A Stranger In The White House, one new book is titled.)and Republicans seem to want to use tactic unheard of heretofore to further their agenda and confound the damn liberal democrats. In Canada Mr. Harper is a bully and cynical of the opposition as do the Conservatives in Britain. We have not evolved our democracies and the bad guys around the world like Orban and Putin and Xi are pointing it out and taking advantage.
Maybe true pure democracies are not the best way to govern. Maybe a little stick and enlightened dictatorship works better? It does not, but a lot of folks worry we are spoiled and too brazen for our own good.
John Ivison, of The Canadian Nation Post, interviewed former Russian PM Kasyanov, who was in Ottawa this week and gave a talk around this world changing phenomenon. He asked; Is Putin Mad? "I am sure he isn't and he is bluffing" He replied." If the West stays strong and gives Putin to understand that there are consequences, he will go no further."
Democracies need to stop fighting among the Left-Right party mentality and work together to keep our system strong and working and evolving to be better.
There are times, as we all know, which are critical and as the world is being gamed by madness and arrogance we need to be aware and act to protectwhat we have. Britain's Nevill Cumberland in 1938 returned from Hitler's Berlin with confidence stating that Hitler was cool and we would have peace in our time. All the while Hitler was building an army and armaments to us against us. We need to stay awake amid all the noise and see evil ambition when it rears it's head. We are not doing that and it's dangerous.
Like Vladimir Putin of Russia he believe the flaws in Western democracies like ours warrant electing leaders who distance themselves from of the European Union. He went on to say he would not deny voters the fundamentals of liberal freedom.
He finished by citing Putin and Xi Jining, the Chinese President as fine examples of how democracy should evolve. Strong leaders unquestioned.
Last week Mike Nichols, the great director and writer died. He spoke often of how life is a pendulum and the good times can be long but the pendulum will swing and our live seems to get jumbled for a while.
Our democracies are flawed and the state of progress and cooperation that we have enjoyed for the last 100 odd years seem to be fraying. In the USA congress cannot get past the black president ( A Stranger In The White House, one new book is titled.)and Republicans seem to want to use tactic unheard of heretofore to further their agenda and confound the damn liberal democrats. In Canada Mr. Harper is a bully and cynical of the opposition as do the Conservatives in Britain. We have not evolved our democracies and the bad guys around the world like Orban and Putin and Xi are pointing it out and taking advantage.
Maybe true pure democracies are not the best way to govern. Maybe a little stick and enlightened dictatorship works better? It does not, but a lot of folks worry we are spoiled and too brazen for our own good.
John Ivison, of The Canadian Nation Post, interviewed former Russian PM Kasyanov, who was in Ottawa this week and gave a talk around this world changing phenomenon. He asked; Is Putin Mad? "I am sure he isn't and he is bluffing" He replied." If the West stays strong and gives Putin to understand that there are consequences, he will go no further."
Democracies need to stop fighting among the Left-Right party mentality and work together to keep our system strong and working and evolving to be better.
There are times, as we all know, which are critical and as the world is being gamed by madness and arrogance we need to be aware and act to protectwhat we have. Britain's Nevill Cumberland in 1938 returned from Hitler's Berlin with confidence stating that Hitler was cool and we would have peace in our time. All the while Hitler was building an army and armaments to us against us. We need to stay awake amid all the noise and see evil ambition when it rears it's head. We are not doing that and it's dangerous.
Saturday, 8 November 2014
I'M SURPRISED.
I am surprised we are not getting more noise and genuine editorial from the USA on the Jian Ghomeshi Mesh. After all he was heard on over 150 American radio stations. I'm also surprised he has not cried out and said something, ( sorry all) but my friend Ed says psychopaths do not have remorse and he might have something there. Even if he did shout out remorse he just might be acting out.
Charles Adler a Calgary based radio talker and Sun news commentator. and CBC's Rex Murphy had the best, insightful and wise responses to Jian's actions. Mr Adler who was born and raised in Montreal around the same time I was,(1950's) always seemed to me to be a tad strident but then again I never really gave his work time and consideration until this week when John Doyle, the Globe And Mail TV columnist and a writer I admire, gave a shout out to Charles as an observer who gets the pulse of politics in Canada.
The truth about Jian, I think is, he is a bully. Probably he came late to that status as he does not strike me as having been a school yard bully but indeed may have been bullied himself as a youth and learned the craft from that experience.
I have not written anything for over two weeks because I couldn't. The two fine Soldiers here in Canada being killed. so cowardly. Obama losing the mid terms, The Justin Trudeau playing politics with the accusations that two of the Liberal MP's were sexually abusive to two female NDP MP's. The women did not want the complaints to be made public but what did they think would happen. One of the women sat down at a chance meeting with the Liberal Leader, Mr Trudeau at one of the soldier memorials and tells him what happened to her earlier this year. And, she thinks he was not going to game this horrible story in his favor by looking, the tough on abuse guy, to all female voters.? So he goes public and suspends his two MP's
Her mistake was misreading Trudeau. This lad is on a mission from Pierre to prove he's as good as dad and don't get in his way.
I am also surprised that Pierre Trudeau did not insist his sons be scholarly, as he was himself and he let them off with that. Neither of the three boys went to post grad school.Knowing your way around the media and being able to give a descent speech does not a wise leader make. To make up for that one needs to be very well read and have lived a few more years than 42. It's how we get mediocre leaders as I predict Justin Trudeau will be. If he becomes PM, the magic of the office will mask some of that for a while.
Heather Comway, a CBC V.P. of English Services says publicly today that Jian is 'egomaniacal and tyrannical.' And that he lied to his bosses about his sex life when it became a source of serious accusations and was brought to their attention. She said, management needs to find out what should or could have been done differently.
I say; someone should have taken Jian by the scruff of his shirt and said,' look here you little shit. I been watching you and how you are fucking up the people who work for this program because you think you are bigger and more important than anyone else and if you don't smarten up, I'm gonna expose you and then I'm gonna fire you. Consider yourself warned.
Charles Adler a Calgary based radio talker and Sun news commentator. and CBC's Rex Murphy had the best, insightful and wise responses to Jian's actions. Mr Adler who was born and raised in Montreal around the same time I was,(1950's) always seemed to me to be a tad strident but then again I never really gave his work time and consideration until this week when John Doyle, the Globe And Mail TV columnist and a writer I admire, gave a shout out to Charles as an observer who gets the pulse of politics in Canada.
The truth about Jian, I think is, he is a bully. Probably he came late to that status as he does not strike me as having been a school yard bully but indeed may have been bullied himself as a youth and learned the craft from that experience.
I have not written anything for over two weeks because I couldn't. The two fine Soldiers here in Canada being killed. so cowardly. Obama losing the mid terms, The Justin Trudeau playing politics with the accusations that two of the Liberal MP's were sexually abusive to two female NDP MP's. The women did not want the complaints to be made public but what did they think would happen. One of the women sat down at a chance meeting with the Liberal Leader, Mr Trudeau at one of the soldier memorials and tells him what happened to her earlier this year. And, she thinks he was not going to game this horrible story in his favor by looking, the tough on abuse guy, to all female voters.? So he goes public and suspends his two MP's
Her mistake was misreading Trudeau. This lad is on a mission from Pierre to prove he's as good as dad and don't get in his way.
I am also surprised that Pierre Trudeau did not insist his sons be scholarly, as he was himself and he let them off with that. Neither of the three boys went to post grad school.Knowing your way around the media and being able to give a descent speech does not a wise leader make. To make up for that one needs to be very well read and have lived a few more years than 42. It's how we get mediocre leaders as I predict Justin Trudeau will be. If he becomes PM, the magic of the office will mask some of that for a while.
Heather Comway, a CBC V.P. of English Services says publicly today that Jian is 'egomaniacal and tyrannical.' And that he lied to his bosses about his sex life when it became a source of serious accusations and was brought to their attention. She said, management needs to find out what should or could have been done differently.
I say; someone should have taken Jian by the scruff of his shirt and said,' look here you little shit. I been watching you and how you are fucking up the people who work for this program because you think you are bigger and more important than anyone else and if you don't smarten up, I'm gonna expose you and then I'm gonna fire you. Consider yourself warned.
Saturday, 18 October 2014
Damnit, That Is Not Fair...
There are many foundational subjects, issues and systems under which we operate, in our society. Many are a big part of our lives like religion but the debate as to whether capitalism or socialism work best, trumps all these debates. Why? Because money and livelihoods are involved and that determines our lifestyle, friends and well, pretty much everything we seem to enjoy and relish.
Over the centuries Socialism seems to have lost the debate and many socialists are converts today, to the great notion that capitalism works best for all, with a little socialism thrown in to keep the poor from rioting and causing a stir...About capitalism's faults.If anyone is going to have a go at telling some truths, you better be a charismatic, very smart and a great speaker.And you might get to first base.
As I wrote in a previous blog, my Irish friend Pat Quinn believes the Irish Good Friday Peace Accord was signed by the Catholics and Protestants because the EU Celtic Tiger was washing gobs and gobs of money across Ireland and the powers that be, even the bitterest of enemies said to themselves and each other; We can't fuck this up. Everyone has a good job and toys and homes, so let's all chill out and sign this God Damn Accord and get on over to the pub.
So, trying to get up the gumption to try and improve our capitalism with some new ideas, criticism, even honest criticism and the evolution of capitalism is a road few are brave enough to journey. The powers that be, are really powerful and much money is at stake. Also a lot of bumps in the rug are nasty realities swept there for a reason. This week Janet Yellen, the USA Fed Chief gave a speech which blew the doors off hinges.
She bravely told the crowd that the top 5 per cent of homes in USA have seen their wealth increase by 63 per cent of national total, while the bottom half are down to 1 per cent and fully 25 per cent of them have no wealth at all. She said that she wanted to provide a factual basis for future discussion. Further she noted that the sub prime mortgage meltdown and great recession had been disproportionally borne by the financially disadvantaged, who were and had been prey for banks and lenders who sold them homes they could not afford and promised they would always go up in value, either way.
She finished by saying the low interest rates in place spurred huge gains for the wealthy in the stock market, since the recession. Banks got bailed out but not the gullible, financially challenged middle class.
Everyone, it seems was at a loss, as to why she would go there. Maybe she is tired of the unfairness of our capitalism and knows it gonna take an FDR spirit to return the system to some semblance of fairness. The truly cynical suggested she wants to run for president. But do not the bankers and rich control that too. Taking big money out of the election system, now that's a blog of a different color.
Martin Wolf a British financial writer has a new book out this week and he says we need to evolve banks and way of doing business especially on loans and mortgages. Since the Banks would not let new checks and balances go in place to curb their predatory nature, then banks should be also responsible for some of the losses and work with homeowner when they fall behind.
Risk Management, that smarty Alec new mantra, needs to factor that loss into some of the mortgages they place. Why should they get all the benefit and hang their share of the fault they do bear, when economies falter, on the homeowner. What's good for the goose is good for the Banks too.
The only way to get big money to care, is to show them how being fair and financially fair, is to show them how it can make them money and enjoy a better image. Thanks to the rebirth of philanthropy by the Bill Gates family, Bill Clinton and Warren Buffett, it seems a lot of rich are jumping on board the giving wagon. And... They get a tax break. LOL
Over the centuries Socialism seems to have lost the debate and many socialists are converts today, to the great notion that capitalism works best for all, with a little socialism thrown in to keep the poor from rioting and causing a stir...About capitalism's faults.If anyone is going to have a go at telling some truths, you better be a charismatic, very smart and a great speaker.And you might get to first base.
As I wrote in a previous blog, my Irish friend Pat Quinn believes the Irish Good Friday Peace Accord was signed by the Catholics and Protestants because the EU Celtic Tiger was washing gobs and gobs of money across Ireland and the powers that be, even the bitterest of enemies said to themselves and each other; We can't fuck this up. Everyone has a good job and toys and homes, so let's all chill out and sign this God Damn Accord and get on over to the pub.
So, trying to get up the gumption to try and improve our capitalism with some new ideas, criticism, even honest criticism and the evolution of capitalism is a road few are brave enough to journey. The powers that be, are really powerful and much money is at stake. Also a lot of bumps in the rug are nasty realities swept there for a reason. This week Janet Yellen, the USA Fed Chief gave a speech which blew the doors off hinges.
She bravely told the crowd that the top 5 per cent of homes in USA have seen their wealth increase by 63 per cent of national total, while the bottom half are down to 1 per cent and fully 25 per cent of them have no wealth at all. She said that she wanted to provide a factual basis for future discussion. Further she noted that the sub prime mortgage meltdown and great recession had been disproportionally borne by the financially disadvantaged, who were and had been prey for banks and lenders who sold them homes they could not afford and promised they would always go up in value, either way.
She finished by saying the low interest rates in place spurred huge gains for the wealthy in the stock market, since the recession. Banks got bailed out but not the gullible, financially challenged middle class.
Everyone, it seems was at a loss, as to why she would go there. Maybe she is tired of the unfairness of our capitalism and knows it gonna take an FDR spirit to return the system to some semblance of fairness. The truly cynical suggested she wants to run for president. But do not the bankers and rich control that too. Taking big money out of the election system, now that's a blog of a different color.
Martin Wolf a British financial writer has a new book out this week and he says we need to evolve banks and way of doing business especially on loans and mortgages. Since the Banks would not let new checks and balances go in place to curb their predatory nature, then banks should be also responsible for some of the losses and work with homeowner when they fall behind.
Risk Management, that smarty Alec new mantra, needs to factor that loss into some of the mortgages they place. Why should they get all the benefit and hang their share of the fault they do bear, when economies falter, on the homeowner. What's good for the goose is good for the Banks too.
The only way to get big money to care, is to show them how being fair and financially fair, is to show them how it can make them money and enjoy a better image. Thanks to the rebirth of philanthropy by the Bill Gates family, Bill Clinton and Warren Buffett, it seems a lot of rich are jumping on board the giving wagon. And... They get a tax break. LOL
Wednesday, 15 October 2014
Slightly Crazy Politicians And Our Imperfect Democracies
Retired USA General Wesley Clarke writes in New York Times this week that; China is more confident, assertive and also more closed today, even thought many thought, our efforts at ' Constructive Engagement' and their economic growth and engagement in Capitalism gave us hope they would move toward democracy.
In the USA their government has been under water for much of the last 6 years, unable to get needed legislation passed including money bill that allow it to borrow capital to pay it's bills.
Too much democracy in USA and too little in China? It would seem so. But I have often wondered why we don't reform and evolve our democracies, we the so called free western countries. It seems we are all sure the democratic systems we have, are fine and so for hundreds of years, other than 27 big issue, fine tuning amendments to the USA constitution, nothing in the day to day workings of our systems have been amended or evolved.
Hard questions, like how wealthy individuals control our elected leaders through large donations and advertising,which Canada does not allow but USA allows in spades. How come, unless Canadian Members of Parliament are in the cabinet, they have virtually no say in the running of the government and made to toe whatever line the PM and his smart guys and gals come up with?
But maybe that's ok and how things have to be, to get things done and working. Messy could be a problem? No?
Only last month Great Britain dodged a democratic bullet in the Scotland independence vote.
Mr.Putin in Russia is using the loopholes in it's constitution to shuffle between PM and President because he is not allowed to serve as President for more than 2 terms. Smart fucking guy who is using the so called weakness of President Obama to mess around with Eastern Europe countries like the Ukraine. I think Obama is trying to be enlightened and move war off the table, as a go to action for solving world problems. Like JFK did with the Cuban missile crisis by not invading Cuba and negotiating a settlement with Russians.
I think what we are seeing a lot more of is, what I call small time pathological people entering public life and they seem to have no shame or embarrassment. The Ford brothers in Toronto are like that. Not dangerous but a bit crazy and smart all wrapped together. Putin as well but he is dangerous. They know news disappears within a few weeks so just suck it up; your mistakes, sins and stupidity and move on. Circumstance and the voters will too.
In the USA their government has been under water for much of the last 6 years, unable to get needed legislation passed including money bill that allow it to borrow capital to pay it's bills.
Too much democracy in USA and too little in China? It would seem so. But I have often wondered why we don't reform and evolve our democracies, we the so called free western countries. It seems we are all sure the democratic systems we have, are fine and so for hundreds of years, other than 27 big issue, fine tuning amendments to the USA constitution, nothing in the day to day workings of our systems have been amended or evolved.
Hard questions, like how wealthy individuals control our elected leaders through large donations and advertising,which Canada does not allow but USA allows in spades. How come, unless Canadian Members of Parliament are in the cabinet, they have virtually no say in the running of the government and made to toe whatever line the PM and his smart guys and gals come up with?
But maybe that's ok and how things have to be, to get things done and working. Messy could be a problem? No?
Only last month Great Britain dodged a democratic bullet in the Scotland independence vote.
Mr.Putin in Russia is using the loopholes in it's constitution to shuffle between PM and President because he is not allowed to serve as President for more than 2 terms. Smart fucking guy who is using the so called weakness of President Obama to mess around with Eastern Europe countries like the Ukraine. I think Obama is trying to be enlightened and move war off the table, as a go to action for solving world problems. Like JFK did with the Cuban missile crisis by not invading Cuba and negotiating a settlement with Russians.
I think what we are seeing a lot more of is, what I call small time pathological people entering public life and they seem to have no shame or embarrassment. The Ford brothers in Toronto are like that. Not dangerous but a bit crazy and smart all wrapped together. Putin as well but he is dangerous. They know news disappears within a few weeks so just suck it up; your mistakes, sins and stupidity and move on. Circumstance and the voters will too.
Saturday, 4 October 2014
Stephen Harper, Dead Canadians And Let's Smarten Up.
Not many men or women can claim to be responsible for the death of 158 men and women and not be put in jail, but Stephen Harper the Prime Minister of Canada can. That is the number of soldiers who died on his orders to deploy to the most dangerous part of of Afghanistan over the 20002-2011 years of that war.
A war, and not to be too cynical or backhanded, that was supposed to reorganize and bring a country and it's people, living in a virtual 14th century world, forward into this day and age. And do it in 9 years by killing a lot of bad guys, who it seems don't want to live in the 21st century but like and seem to relish living in the 14th century and determined to continue.
Did we underestimated their stamina, commitment and fearlessness. It seems we were training the Afghan Army, with the best equipment and training available but we could not match the Taliban's zeal and as we all know, zeal and commitment trumps all, in human behaviors.
Now ISIL is the monster and we need to stop him, it, from trying to keep more of the region living in the 14th century. They are the real monsters and as we all know, have torn the norms of war asunder. No rules. So we are bombing them and have no boots on the ground. I think that's good and the pundits who say we have to have some ground troops are blind to the lessons we learned over the last 10 years in Iraq and Afghanistan. Boots on the ground are our problem, not solution. ISIL see us as monsters. Infidels. They behead our citizens and claim to be planning attacks on our soil. So lets keep them over there. In misery they so badly want to see us live in.
Let's keep bombing those bad guys from the air and with Cruise Missiles from our ships and do it for next 2 years or 3. What ever it takes to wear them down. It worked in Belgrade and Bosnia. Bombing like that is scary for those being bombed. It rattles the fighters confidence and zeal and they can't move around and secure more munitions and food and no one gets in or out of the region because we are bombing everything that moves or threatens. We can do that. They can't. It will work. Go with our strengths with least possible suffering to ourselves. When they surrender or are mostly all dead we can go in and help rebuild.
If we put boots on the ground, civilians will die just the same, including our troops in boots, maybe more than from bombing. I mean, is that not why we built these planes and bombs, so we could overpower bad guys without losing our fine boys and gals. And our PM can say he didn't send 158 more Canadians to their deaths. And we killed a lot of bad guys.
I don't know how leaders live with the knowledge that they, in their role and power, as head of the nation are responsible for those deaths. It's a daunting thought and I suppose a damn good rationalization is the only way out of that reality.
The other reality is; thinking back on the week that the USA invaded Iraq with all that firepower and advanced armaments and how their great tanks rolled over the Iraq ones, we have to wonder does the firepower trump human determination and hatred, like the Iraq fighters mustered and instead of rejoicing in their freedom and possibilities for the future, they made monkeys of the occupiers, fought against them, killing and injuring tens of thousands of them, then held an election under American rules and drove the guys, who freed them from murderous Saddam Hussein, and dumped tens of billions of dollars on their revitalization,the USA, out of the country without so much as a thank you.
So BOOTS on the ground? I don't think so.
Since the world of health is so sure that alcohol is responsible for so much sickness and early death; Governments everywhere, like Ontario should get out of the business of managing the sale and distribution of the substance and leave it to the suffering. Why should the governments benefit from our misery.
A war, and not to be too cynical or backhanded, that was supposed to reorganize and bring a country and it's people, living in a virtual 14th century world, forward into this day and age. And do it in 9 years by killing a lot of bad guys, who it seems don't want to live in the 21st century but like and seem to relish living in the 14th century and determined to continue.
Did we underestimated their stamina, commitment and fearlessness. It seems we were training the Afghan Army, with the best equipment and training available but we could not match the Taliban's zeal and as we all know, zeal and commitment trumps all, in human behaviors.
Now ISIL is the monster and we need to stop him, it, from trying to keep more of the region living in the 14th century. They are the real monsters and as we all know, have torn the norms of war asunder. No rules. So we are bombing them and have no boots on the ground. I think that's good and the pundits who say we have to have some ground troops are blind to the lessons we learned over the last 10 years in Iraq and Afghanistan. Boots on the ground are our problem, not solution. ISIL see us as monsters. Infidels. They behead our citizens and claim to be planning attacks on our soil. So lets keep them over there. In misery they so badly want to see us live in.
Let's keep bombing those bad guys from the air and with Cruise Missiles from our ships and do it for next 2 years or 3. What ever it takes to wear them down. It worked in Belgrade and Bosnia. Bombing like that is scary for those being bombed. It rattles the fighters confidence and zeal and they can't move around and secure more munitions and food and no one gets in or out of the region because we are bombing everything that moves or threatens. We can do that. They can't. It will work. Go with our strengths with least possible suffering to ourselves. When they surrender or are mostly all dead we can go in and help rebuild.
If we put boots on the ground, civilians will die just the same, including our troops in boots, maybe more than from bombing. I mean, is that not why we built these planes and bombs, so we could overpower bad guys without losing our fine boys and gals. And our PM can say he didn't send 158 more Canadians to their deaths. And we killed a lot of bad guys.
I don't know how leaders live with the knowledge that they, in their role and power, as head of the nation are responsible for those deaths. It's a daunting thought and I suppose a damn good rationalization is the only way out of that reality.
The other reality is; thinking back on the week that the USA invaded Iraq with all that firepower and advanced armaments and how their great tanks rolled over the Iraq ones, we have to wonder does the firepower trump human determination and hatred, like the Iraq fighters mustered and instead of rejoicing in their freedom and possibilities for the future, they made monkeys of the occupiers, fought against them, killing and injuring tens of thousands of them, then held an election under American rules and drove the guys, who freed them from murderous Saddam Hussein, and dumped tens of billions of dollars on their revitalization,the USA, out of the country without so much as a thank you.
So BOOTS on the ground? I don't think so.
Since the world of health is so sure that alcohol is responsible for so much sickness and early death; Governments everywhere, like Ontario should get out of the business of managing the sale and distribution of the substance and leave it to the suffering. Why should the governments benefit from our misery.
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