Bah. Humbug. When they are attempting to take Merry Christmas away from the hearts of those in this part of the world that was founded on freedom of religion and Christianity, when rising taxes, inflation and ever- growing deficit are out of control, when high-cost flu shots are marketed by fear-mongering tactics, would I be wrong in thinking our government leaders, here in this land we proudly call Canada, have gone completely bonkers?
Would I be wrong in thinking something is definitely wrong, wrong, wrong? Has our entire system gone straight to hell in a handbasket? Where lies the common sense reality within our entire governing procedure? Where lies the trust and confidence? We need both.
Was I wrong in understanding that this country was founded on democracy, by minorities working together, to form a majority, led by leaders who had the guts, fortitude and determination to do what was right and fair, in an integral transparent manner, to the country, coast to coast to coast, as a whole? Would I be wrong in saying that it appears grossly not to be so today?
Could I be wrong in thinking that those in political positions could well find themselves in moral jeopardy if they don’t start showing what is commonly known to every man, woman and child as a little common sense?
Is it perhaps time the silent majority circle their wagons and prepare to fight back? Is it not time that we awaken to the fact that we now have a common enemy – our government? Would concentration and knowledge not be an enhancing feature in this war against greed and ignorance? Is it not time that the apparent arrogant grip that the multinational drug companies have on the crotch of the pill-pushing medical profession be questioned?
For what little return seen on our tax dollars spent, would I be wrong in assuming that we are now being garden path led by levels of government – municipal, county, provincial, and federal – where inbred, self-taught inefficiency is an art nothing short of awe-inspiring?
Is it not time that we stop the lip service and aim at enhancing all forms of flora and fauna instead of increasing financial profits? Climate change and ozone depletion can be likened to that of a bowl of jelly: shake it anywhere and it jiggles everywhere. It is not a deserving legacy for forthcoming, upcoming generations of this world.
This is the 21st century; we have the tools and appropriate technology to restore health, peace and lack of starvation to every cubic centimetre of this planet. We need only to concentrate on need, not greed. Cannot Canada be a leader in that?
We could switch back from factory farming to sustainable agriculture. We need only to switch to non-polluting, health-sustaining, health-restoring, energy sources and uses. We need only to switch from searching for cures to routing out causes. We need only to wake up to the fact that the leaders of our country, constantly quibbling among themselves, have obviously fallen asleep at the wheel on issues that really count.
A perfect example of this was pointed out to me in a Garfield cartoon, sent to me by one of the upfront leaders of the Six Nations reserve. It explains, in explicit detail, the “Canadian Oil Crisis.” And I quote:
“A lot of folks can’t understand how we came to have an oil shortage here in Canada. Well, there’s a very simple answer. Nobody bothered to check the oil. We just didn’t know we were getting low. The reason for that is purely geographical. Our oil is located in Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Manitoba, Coastal New Brunswick, and Coastal Newfoundland. Our dipsticks (however), are located in Ottawa.”
Any questions? No? I didn’t think there would be.
Take care, ‘cause we care.
barrie@barriehopkins.ca
519-843-4544
CORRECTION
In the Oct. 30 column, former MP Garth Turner’s pension was cited as being $40,663 for “six years in the House.”
In fact, Turner’s pension is $27,000 and he served as an MP for nine years.
The Advertiser apologizes for the errors.