The shooting of Brian Thompson, the CEO of United Healthcare, has dominated headlines since the crime occurred. While none of us should take any satisfaction in the murder of a fellow human being, what I have found fascinating is the embargo on network television news of inconvenient truths about the deceased's life. Before delving into that, I highly recommend David Graham's latest post, An Unsympathetic Death. Graham provides outstanding information about the health insurance business in America, and the daily perils Americans face even when they have healthcare insurance. It is a reminder ..read more

  It seems, at least to me, that this day and age has seen a debasement in the concept of loving and standing by one's country. We see it in the constant derogation of Canada (under Trudeau) by PP, who incessantly insists to us that everything is broken. Indeed, some might be inclined to say that his efforts are in accord with the attempts of the incoming U.S. president to paint Canada in a very negative light. Love of country and grace seem to be singularly absent in PP's makeup. But of course, PP is a politician, doing everything he can to disaffect Canadians so that he can be our nex ..read more

The Heart Of This Grinch Would Not Grow, No,  Not Even An Inch H/t Moudakis Recommend this Post ..read more

I can't say that I have ever really subscribed to the above quote by Thomas Jefferson, largely because politicians misrepresent themselves all the time.  One may vote with a certain hope for better things based on their promises, but those promises rarely materialize. Because of that, truly informed decisions are difficult to arrive at. (Of course,  the recent U.S. election proves the exception, with voters willfully embracing the chaos agent known as Don Trump.) However, I believe there is much truth in the quote when manifestly unfit governments continue to ride high in the poll ..read more

Even if Trump was only 'joking' about Canada becoming the 51st state, this cartoon by Moudakis seems timely: Recommend this Post ..read more

I have to admit to deep ambivalence in hearing the news that Team Trudeau jetted off to Mar a Lago to have dinner with the incoming American president. My mental images included exaggerated genuflection, followed by a kissing of Don Trump's ring. Sometimes hyperbole helps clarify my thinking. Not so much this time, however. On the one hand, my sense of national pride is deeply hurt at the thought of our prime minister and his entourage jumping to the beat of a madman. On the other hand, I wonder how much choice we really have in the matter, well aware that the consequences of the visit, both ..read more

In my more fantasy-laden moments, I imagine a response from Canada to Trump's tariff threats that would really get through to the Americans. Since appeasement never works, how about meeting their tactics with some of our own? Canada needs to review trading relationships A quick fix to bring Donald Trump’s bullying tactics to heel would be an equivalent export tax on all energy resources and raw materials exported to the United States. [Empahsis mine] Canada is America’s  largest energy source and  number two supplier of nonenergy mineral resources after China. Canada should not c ..read more

 What made me think of this? Recommend this Post ..read more

Today, I'll let Theo Moudakis speak for many of us: And here is PP's political response to the threat of massive tariffs from the incoming American president: Poilievre's response somehow leaves me with a paucity of confidence in his competence. Recommend this Post ..read more

Tis the season to be jolly. The question is, who gets to wear the biggest Santa hat, Doug Ford or Justin Trudeau? Since I have already dealt with Doug Ford's attempt at securing the prized possession in a previous post, today I'll look at Justin Trudeau's efforts to reverse-engineer The Grinch and emerge victorious. Tonda MacCharles writes about the Trudeau Liberals' ....GST two-month “holiday” on so-called essential goods plus a $250 cheque for anyone who earned under $150,000 last year...  It borrows heavily from the Liberals’ rivals. The Conservatives campaigned on a December sales ..read more