Brother can you spare a dime... a few million?

So according to this week's front page story in the Promoter our municipal coffers are bare. We have no money... our reserves are depleted (sounds familiar, considering many people's personal financial circumstances these days, doesn't it? Except, we expect council (especially one led by a long time serving 'fiscal conservative' mayor) to exercise 'due diligence', don't we?).

OK, so now what about these 'reserves' that are meant to protect us from having to borrow and pay usury to some 'godless', 'blood sucking' financial institution. Why don't we have any reserves and significant ones at that?

When you consider that every time the municipality sells land that money goes into reserves. And every time a developer wants to develop 10% in cash in lieu of land is collected by us and goes into reserves as well. In addition, there are other revenue streams that feed into reserves too. Then it begs the question. Where is it? Where is the money? And what has been happening with it over all these many years?

This mayor and council have some explaining to do. How is it we have been taxed to death over recent years, have nothing in reserves, need to borrow millions, while already owing millions? WTF happened?? What have we got to show for all these multi-millions that have obviously 'blown away' with the wind? Just like River Run seems to be doing. Are we a mecca for thievery and skulduggery?

Tell me it ain't so! Tell me we don't just have Pot-holed streets with 'Cadillac plumbing' underneath, to show for all those millions?

Council better reign in this mayor and get a handle on things, but I suspect it is already to late. The game is afoot with only the piper to pay.

Stay tuned... more tax increases and service cuts coming up to pay for all our local 'conservative' good government.


Sometimes exploited humans do nothing but adjust.

Friday humour

To my darling husband, Before you return from your business trip I just want to let you know about the small accident I had with the pickup truck when I turned into the driveway.

Fortunately not too bad and I really didn't get hurt, so please don't worry too much about me.

I was coming home from Wal-Mart, and when I turned into the driveway I accidentally pushed down on the accelerator instead of the brake. The garage door is slightly bent but the pick-up fortunately came to a halt when it bumped into your car.

I am really sorry, but I know with your kind-hearted personality you will forgive me.

You know how much I love you and care for you my sweetheart. I am enclosing a picture for you. I cannot wait to hold you in my arms again. Your loving wife. XXX

P.S. Your girlfriend called.

War (Conservatives)...huh...yeah What are they good for? Absolutely nothing

The other day, because of recent media blitzes about our growing deficit problem here in Alberta resulting from decades long conservative mismanagement of our province and economy, I gathered some comments others had written on this subject to use in my post. Well, as life would have it, I got busy with my day job and today when coming back to my post I have discovered I cannot find where I got the comments I am using below. So, I have to post these without being able to give credit where credit is due. Sorry!

I think, the following two comments summarize 'ordinary' people’s feelings on this subject and if you go over to Dean's blog he gives a good breakdown of dollars that have come in over the years, and dollars that went out, without any monies going towards a rainy day (same as what has been allowed to happen here in the Pass). The cupboards are bare, as the spendthrifts have spent it all. The fallacy that Conservatives are good fiscal managers is proven once again to be just that... a fallacy. As the bottom commentator says, Conservatives are all about GREED & NEPOTISM.

==

AB and SK both have huge frickin’ budget miscalculations from supposedly conservative governments. What are conservatives good for if they can’t be fiscally conservative? Telling homosexuals that they can’t get married? Ensuring workers are protected on the job? Telling farmers that their skills are not marketable? Alberta’s is a $6,900,000,010 mistake. In both cases, these financial geniuses are blaming resource revenues.” The premier says slumping oil and natural gas prices are to blame. Stelmach says that even if resources prices go back up, it will take up to three years before the positive effect is seen in the provincial treasury.” Funny, Brad Wall didn’t think it was so important to keep $800,000,000 more resource revenue from the federal government, just last year. He called off efforts the NDP started to recoup the one-time-earned resource money assured to be ours through the Constitution.

==

'It's a spending problem. The only way to fix a spending problem is to start cutting.' — Scott Hennig, Canadian Taxpayers Federation >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> As a born and raised Albertan and someone whom has not once voted Conservative, the time has come for a change. From pork barrelling politics to honesty and integrity which the PC's have not ever had. The PC's have privatized all people built services in this province starting with:

• Alberta government telephones AGT


• Edmonton Power - now Epcor


• Calgary Power - now Epcor


• ATCO gas - now among many others Direct Energy.

All the original services were built by the taxation on my parents and their parents.

The PC's in their infinite greed sold us all out. The costs of these services have tripled since they sold us all out. Ralphie boy did his best to try and Privatize Hospitals - with old Lougheed pumping away promoting this in the back ground - thank the Lord that Ottawa shut them down on this. The PC's are thieving bastards and only cater to their wealthy friends. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely and they have been at the helm of ripping off regular Albertans for over 40 years. If the PC's had one ounce of integrity they would have invested the Heritage Trust Fund back into owning and operating the billions of dollars that they needlessly gave away to big oil over the past 30 years. You can also thank our former PM (Harper's guru) Mulroney for selling us down the river with the NAFTA Agreement - next thing you know Harper and his Neo-Cons will be literally selling us all (Canadians) down the river - our water - as they have nothing left in the tank to exploit. PC's Canada Wide = GREED & NEPOTISM

Conservatives: Defending business, passing the bill onto you and me.

The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it always to be kept alive. - Thomas Jefferson

Gold Creek gets green light

I heard on the radio today that Gold Creek won their appeal and it is now a go-ahead with their development. This is good news for Gold Creek and good news for us, in that we have sent a clear message to the world that we are not only 'open for business', but that all rules apply equally here.

The Subdivision Appeal Board (SDAB) needs to be congratulated for doing the right thing. CONGRATULATIONS SDAB!!!

Argentina rules on marijuana use

The supreme court in Argentina has ruled that it is unconstitutional to punish people for using marijuana for personal consumption.

The Argentine court ruled that: "Each adult is free to make lifestyle decisions without the intervention of the state."

"The state cannot establish morality," he said.

Argentina's move follows rulings by several other countries across the region, including Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia.

Last week, Mexico enacted a law decriminalising possession of small amounts of drugs, including cocaine and heroin...

... it also marks a shift a dramatic regional shift to the decades-old US-backed policy of running repressive military-style wars on the drug trade...

Argentina rules on marijuana use
_________________________________________

Comment:
International potheads of the world UNITE! Down with repressive regimes like Canada and the US who use this as a tool and weapon to attack peoples civil liberties, and their 'natural' individual moral rights.


Concepts of good and evil are therefore, in their origin, merely a means to an end, they are expedients for acquiring power.

Eureka! Gold has been found in them thar hills, and outsiders found it

Attended the Sub Division Appeal Board (SDAB) hearing last night at municipal hall that dealt with the Gold Creek Development appeal, and was quite impressed with the whole process, including how the chair managed things in a thoroughly professional and competent manner, and the caliber of people on both sides who conducted themselves likewise.

The end result (as far as I am concerned) is Gold Creek won hands down but we won't know that for sure until the SDAB hands down their decision in the next few days or so.

Good for them! And good for us!!!

We need action now!

They say Nero played his fiddle while Rome burnt. Is that what council is doing as our town slowly shrivels up and dies? We know by their recent actions some of them are doing their damnest to hurry this process up ((Gang of Three) so they can have this place all to themselves, I'm guessing?), while the others... well, I don't know what the others are doing, as they don't tell us anymore?

We do have an economic crisis on our hands, along with empty store fronts and a local real estate market that is as flat as a pancake, know nothing about Bridgecreek (what it is costing us, what they owe us (did they pay their property taxes and other obligations, for example?)) with no jobs, no food bank, no local fallout shelters and/or support systems, and an upcoming pandemic so severe it looks to rival 1919 in outlook. In addition, today, the federal government is being told by the CMA we need a Swine Flu Czar.

If all predictions hold true, we are heading into some real hard times... and many won't make it. In an area that has seen nothing but... hard times. Have preparations been made to deal with the fallout from all of this? I don't think so!

With all the above happening or about to happen, please tell me council is doing more than relying on the Adhoc Committee to resolve all their problems. Knowing as we do that the Adhoc Committee's current top priority is 'Beautification' (this with no present or foreseeable Bylaw Officer to 'enforce' the Unsightly Premises Bylaw? Go figure??) does not give us much hope for our current economic malaise, never mind all the rest.

You guys in the 'majority' on council need to start playing 'hardball' and getting things turned around here by getting things done, by going forward with tough decisions before it is to late. Waiting around for the next election, won't do. Bypass the 'retrogrades' on council and their clone supporters. Use your 'majority'. Take the bull by the horns. We need action now!


The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments.

There is no Gold in them thar hills, if you are an outsider

Today's Promoter has a well-written article by Joni MacFarlane that clearly shows the frustrations and disappointment felt by yet another potential developer new to the Pass.

Gold Creek rejected

Despite Gold Creek playing by our rules and doing everything humanly possible, including utilizing vast amounts of reason, logic and common-sense, this community turned down their development.

Again, we are projecting the image for the 'entire world' to see that we are not open for business to outsiders.

"... what makes us any different from Tecumseh or Valley Ridge?"
"I would tell any other developer to stay away from the Pass," said Hoffman. "Given the current council, mayor and development board, I would absolutely not recommend the Pass."

‘Idiocy’ seems to rule here. Maybe, we should put aside a small budget to hire a much needed PR man/woman... because it is evident for all to see, that we sure need one!


Sometimes the majority only means that all the fools are on the same side.

Vive le Québec libre!... Vive le Canada libre!!!

Minimum penalties for those convicted of fraud aren't tough enough, Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe said Wednesday as he urged the federal government to crack down on economic crimes.

Bloc Leader Duceppe demands tougher penalties for fraudsters

Having not to long ago banned the use of Tasers in their province (first province to do so) and now calling for tougher penalities for those who commit economic crimes (white collar crimes) against their own people and country, it seems Quebec and its freedom loving people are at the forefront in fighting for the people, unlike the masochistic English slaves in the rest of our country.

Vive le Québec libre!... Vive le Canada libre!!!


Greed is the outstanding wrong because it reverses the utilitarian ethic. It produces the greatest good for the smallest number. Democracy's founding virtues are freedom and equality, so greed without restraint, producing great inequalities, becomes an undemocratic force... a market's preferences for ensured scarcities, designed inequalities, and increasingly segregated economic classes.

Filtered news for the ignorant masses who aren't so ignorant anymore

The Enhanced Policing issue as reported by the Herald is a masterly work of telling a mystery story, without telling you at the end, who done it?

I speak specifically to the fact no mention is made of the main culprit in this on-going saga that we have all been subjected to for so many years. Including, the vast amounts of taxpayer money, time and resources that have been spent and wasted in futile attempts to bring common-sense community standards to our municipality.

The mayor's intransigence with respect to the Unsightly Premises Bylaw (Community Standards Bylaw) is legendary. As is the fact, that in this community the Bylaw Officer reports to the CAO, who in turn reports to the mayor (for those who have been subjected to this form of micro-managing for so long, and therefore don't know any better, most communities today have independent CAO's, and that is where the line is drawn and no mayor or council steps across as far as dictating to the CAO what bylaws the Bylaw Officer should enforce, and which he should not. It is my understanding, that is why some members of council chose to entertain the Enhanced Policing initiative (in order to bypass the current micro-managing organizational structure) which it was hoped, would result in our bylaws actually being enforced).

As a result of the above, it is not surprising to most of us why we go through so many management people, including several Bylaw Officers in the last few years (after all, who wants to be told how to do their job, or in this case, not to do their job, by people who have no business telling them how to do their job). What is surprising, is how our local media thinks most of us just got off the banana boat and don't know what is going on. This is an insult to our intelligence and a mockery of 'reporting the news'.

Reporting the news in such a way as to NEVER blemish or tarnish the image of their master, while at the same time never missing an opportunity (no matter how inconsequential) to make the other side look bad, is not my idea of 'reporting the news'. In fact, it is more like local media filtering the news for the ignorant masses, who I suggest, aren't so ignorant anymore.


Get the facts, or the facts will get you. And when you get them, get them right, or they will get you wrong.

Where is Gail when you need her?

In reading this week's Promoter, I see a story that both baffles me and irritates me at the same time. Municipality to enact public anti-harassment policy

The story gives absolutely no background and/or justification for such a policy, except to suggest the plebeians are becoming unruly and need to be put in their place. "We need to 'edumacate' them to be more civilized", is what I get from the story.

I guess the 'sensitive souls' at municipal hall can't handle the heat anymore and need 'protection' from the ignorant masses. The poor darlings! I'm sure of all the bylaws in our community that go unenforced this one will be the exception, and used as a 'political tool' at every opportunity by those pushing for such a policy. The RCMP with their Tasers will be busy, I'm sure!

If I am misreading the 'real' intent behind this policy, then maybe the media and council need to do a better job in explaining themselves... and their policy... before, they start ramming more laws and policies down our throats because they cannot handle or deal with 'public dissent'.

Once again, democracy is threatened by weak-kneed bureaucrats who need all the protection they can get in order to do what they do to those of us who put food on their table.

If Gail Sygutek was dead, she would role over in her grave over this one. Since I know she is not, maybe she should come out of her semi-retirement and give them hell while she still can, before they shut her down... and the rest of us too.


No man's life, liberty or property are safe while the legislature is in session.

Do the crime and get the time... except in Canada, you say? - Part II

Well, just like I said in an earlier post Do the crime and get the time... except in Canada, you say? we see Garth Drabinsky and Myron Gottlieb are still on the outside laughing at everybody. Livent duo free on bail awaiting appeal

The elite with our two-tiered justice system obviously take care of their own while trying to talk the talk when it comes to crime in this country, but do not walk the walk when it is one of their own doing the white-collared kind of crime (even if in this case it is $500 million). Big crooks hang the little crooks but don't hang each other, do they?

Oh no, these 'friends' of the government will most likely land up doing less than 1 year in jail (and country club type jail on top of that). That is if they ever see the inside of a jail?

Imagine, they dragged this case through the courts for 10 years, are finally found guilty and sentenced to a pittance (think Bernie Madoff (150 years)) and then immediately get out on bail awaiting an appeal (my understanding is when someone is found guilty and sentenced they wait IN jail when appealing).

How the justice system in this country can hold their heads up with a straight face, when this mockery of justice goes on, speaks volumes of the type of people sitting in judgement on us all... and the failed 'hypocritical' democratic system that we live under.



The individual feels more and more disoriented, confused, without direction, because all the means to satisfy his basic individual needs are out of his control and he is helpless in an apparently irremediable slavery of social exploitation by big business, big unions, and big governments.

Establishment Media and the unemployment question

The 'establishment media' tells us one thing but 'reality' for the average person is a different story, isn't it?

www.meantoons.com/

Canada lost 45,000 more jobs in July

"The erosion of sovereignty may mean that states cannot protect their industries and local employment; that laws protecting the environment and the health and safety of workers are weakened; that social spending is reduced; and that national economies are controlled by the flow of international capital..."

Hypocrisy knows no bounds when it comes to the Centre

If there is one thing I cannot stand in this life it is 'hypocrisy'.

Having read this week's Promoter story on the Food Bank about their self-made problems and their 11th hour 'pie in the sky' solutions, along with their willingness to obviously be used as a 'political tool' by totally unscrupulous individuals, sickens me to no end.

It just blows me away to see people in positions of power (the gang of three) who have done absolutely nothing over several months now to help the Food Bank (except use them for their own self-serving purposes, as a tool to save the Centre) portrayed, by an obviously naive reporter, as the great defenders and supporters of the poor and less fortunate in our society (while at the same time, the other members on council are constantly portrayed as the four horsemen of the apocalypse). This is about as ludicrous as you can get!

What have these individuals in the story (on the gang of three side) ever done for the poor in our society? We have no homeless shelter here in the Pass, no youth shelter, no family violence shelter or safe houses, no senior Assisted Living units and no affordable housing either. In addition, we have a Food Bank that appears to not be able to look after themselves, never mind others. What has this multi-term mayor and his want-to-be, ever done? Except give the poor 'empty rhetoric'. For years now, their solution has been to farm them out i.e. 'encourage' these people to move out of the community.

Our media obviously does not do its homework. But instead, are nothing more than tools themselves, being used to paint a picture that most of us know is not there. But paint they must.

They are all hypocrites!


Society, my dear, is like salt water, good to swim in but hard to swallow.