FROLITICKS

Satirical commentary on Canadian and American current political issues

Nov 9

A New Younger Generation of National Leaders is Emerging

by bcurry

Guess what, as Baby Boomers our time has gone when it comes to political leadership. Take a current look at the recent arrival of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.  He was born on December 25, 1971, and at 43 years old is one of the youngest Canadian Prime Ministers ever. Indeed, looking at the ages of newly elected Members of Parliament, it becomes apparent that fewer and fewer were born before 1965.  A new generation is emerging, representing more of those who make up what has become known as Generation X — those between that ages of 30 and 44.

Indeed, this transition is a good thing. Governments today have to deal with very complicated national and international issues.  These include the impact of globalization on our economic and social lives, work-live balance issues, climate change, rapid technological advances, renewable energy initiatives, etc., etc.  While Baby Boomers may have got the ball rolling, now a new generation of political, social and business leaders must carry the ball forward.  Experience may have been a key factor in the past, but energetic vitality and commitment will be more important attributes for current and future visionary leaders.

An older generation tends to be too preoccupied with the past and maintaining the status quo. What we need today are leaders who are willing to question the status quo and introduce new and more innovative ideas and policies.  They will need to question the existing establishment and the old ways of doing things.  They will have to reflect the views of younger generations raised in a totally new economic and social environment.  Instead of slow and mostly incremental policy development, more drastic and major policies will have to be quickly developed and implemented to tackle today’s most important issues.  Leaders will have to surround themselves with younger, savvy and more proactive advisors; thoroughly knowledgeable about such issues and interested in finding real long-term solutions.

Perhaps the emergence of Justin Trudeau is the first such significant case exemplifying a genuine changing of the guard. I sure hope so for all our sakes and for that of our children and grandchildren.  After all, it’s younger Canadians and Americans – Generation X and Millennials – who are in urgent need of advocacy.

Canada Federal Election Justin Trudeau

Leave a comment »
Oct 5

It’s Not More Legislation That’s Necessarily the Solution, It’s Also Enforcement of Existing Laws

by bcurry

President Obama has again referred to the need for more gun control legislation in response to the recent tragic mass shootings at Umpqua Community College in Oregon. As complex societies, we have legislation regulating activities throughout our two nations, including those dealing with public and worker health and safety, the environment, financial institutions, transportation, etc., etc. It would seem that we are well regulated already in most of our daily activities. Yet, terrible things keep happening in communities across North America — be it the mass shootings in Oregon and elsewhere or the train derailment in Lac-Megantic, Quebec that killed dozens of people in 2013.

Years ago in order to reduce so-called ‘government bureaucracy’ and reduce operational expenditures, governments began to introduce the concept of ‘self-regulation’ in a number of areas. This meant that industry had to ensure that businesses were in compliance with the standards found under various forms of existing legislation. It also meant that the regulators would reduce the number of proactive inspections and restrict their interventions to investigating accidents and incidents affecting health and safety, particularly where there were fatalities and injuries. In other words, in a much more reactive mode, enforcement primarily became targeted at violations committed by bad actors. Where violations are found, penalties are imposed in the form of fines and in fewer cases criminal charges.

However, all of this enforcement activity is performed ‘after the fact’. People become sick from unsafe food, water sources are polluted by hazardous materials releases, air quality suffers from high pollutant emissions from diesel vehicles, workers die in coal mine explosions, etc., etc. Fewer inspectors and administrators means less preventive and proactive regulatory activity. Having a registry of persons with mental illness or criminal records is meaningless if states and local authorities don’t provide much needed information to the responsible regulator in a timely and efficient manner. Without the effective enforcement of existing government requirements, more people are going to die at the hands of some mass killer.

Enforcement of standards and regulated activities has to improve in many areas involving societal oversight. Otherwise, more tragedies will occur affecting all of us in one way or another. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Hopefully, politicians will finally recognize this.

Canada Federal Government Gun Control

Leave a comment »
Sep 21

Should Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Ever Fly in Canada?

by bcurry

The answer is clearly a resounding “NO”. As a result of the current Canadian federal election underway, the governing Conservative Party is still defending its involvement in a plan to purchase F-35s to replace the current aging fleet of CF-18s. The problem is, Canada can’t afford it and there are several practical reasons why the F-35s don’t make any sense in the Canadian context. Both the New Democratic and Liberal parties have indicated that they would scrap F-35 purchases should they form the next government, and will look at cheaper and more suitable alternative aircraft.

The following are detailed concerns expressed by insiders and recorded by several media outlets in Canada, the U.S. and other countries:*

  • Right from the start, Pentagon officials were warned of the dangers of beginning to produce an aircraft before it was fully tested. (New York Times, 2012)
  • In 2010, Pentagon officials estimated that the planes could cost as much as $5 billion more than previously estimated. That comes on top of a $2.8 billion increase, which brought the total for development alone to $50 billion. (New York Times, 2010)
  • In 2011, S. defence specialist Winslow Wheeler estimated the planes would cost around $148 million apiece or more. (Ottawa Citizen, 2011)
  • The Canadian military does not have the ability to conduct aerial refuelling of the F-35, a must for longer flights in our North. The Defence Department had listed air-to-air refuelling as a mandatory capability for any new fighter aircraft Canada (Ottawa Citizen, 2011)
  • F-35 would not be able to safely land on runways in Canada’s North as those are too short for the fighter. (Ottawa Citizen, 2011)
  • The Pentagon official in charge of the F-35 project said major cracks and “hot spots” had been discovered in the stealth fighter’s airframe, causing further delays and testing. (Postmedia News, 2011)
  • F-35s don’t have the satellite capabilities necessary for communicating in the Arctic. (Postmedia News, 2011)
  • The Pentagon grounded all of its F-35s after a routine inspection found a crack in one of the stealth fighter’s engines. (Postmedia News, 2013)
  • Lockheed needs more foreign orders to realize volume savings. In 2012, Italy cut its planned order 30 percent. Britain and Australia delayed decisions on how many F-35s to buy. Lawmakers in Canada and the Netherlands were questioning the costs. (New York Times, 2012)
  • Several countries, including Britain and Japan, have stated that they may have to cancel their F-35 order in view of the cost overruns, technical problems and delays. (Postmedia News, 2012)
  • Retired Canadian colonel Paul Maillet, an aerospace engineer and former CF-18 fleet manager, said the F-35 does not meet the needs of the government’s Canada First Defence Strategy, a key pillar of which is Arctic sovereignty. “How do you get a single-engine, low-range, low-payload, low-manoeuvrability aircraft that is being optimized for close air support . . . to operate effectively in the North?” he asked. (Postmedia News, 2012)
  • In 2012, Auditor General Michael Ferguson delivered a report highly critical of the Defence Department’s handling of the F-35 project. The auditor general’s report indicated Defence Department officials twisted government rules, withheld information from ministers and Parliament, and whitewashed cost overruns and delays afflicting the F-35 program. (Postmedia News, 2012)
  • The first F-35s were supposed to be delivered to Canada in 2015. The federal government quietly decided in the fall of 2015 to spend $400 million to extend the life of Canada’s CF-18 fighter jets past 2020. (Ottawa Citizen, 2015)
  • With all the delays — full F-35 production is not expected until 2019 — the U.S. military has spent billions to extend the lives of older fighters and buy more of them to fill the gap. (New York Times, 2013)
  • Mark Gunzinger, a retired American Air Force colonel who is now an analyst at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, noted that the F-35 could be too sophisticated for minor conflicts, and its relatively short flight range could be a problem as the Pentagon changes its view of possible threats. (New York Times, 2012)
  • S. air force data demonstrates that single-engine jets have crashed more often. The manufacturer and the government have argued that improvements in technology have made the F-35’s engine more reliable and safer than its predecessors. A report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and Rideau Institute noted: “The single-engine versus twin-engine issue has not been resolved by improvements in the reliability of jet engines”. “Engine failures will still occur, and when they do so away from an airport, a second engine is the only thing that can prevent a crash.” (Canadian Press, 2014)
  • A 2014 government-commissioned report on the F-35 and its competitors shows little difference between the four warplanes when it comes to the vast majority of missions they will be required to perform. The only major exception is fighting against another country, though the report says such an event is “highly unlikely” to occur in the future, and even then, “the government is not obliged to undertake such a mission.” (Ottawa Citizen, 2014)
  • An Industry Canada report said that the four aircraft companies reviewed had all laid out plans for bolstering the Canadian economy with jobs and other benefits should their aircraft be chosen to replace the CF-18. (Ottawa Citizen, 2014)
  • In 2015, the U.S. Government Accountability Office stated that progress had been made on some of the problems that have plagued the controversial jet fighter’s development for years. These include designing a new pilot’s helmet and fixing an issue that resulted in cracks in the aircraft’s frame. But the GAO, which serves as Congress’s independent auditor, said “key gaps” persist that threaten to increase costs and put development even further behind schedule. Problems with the aircraft’s engine have delayed aircraft deliveries and testing. (Ottawa Citizen, 2015)

*In addition to Canada and the U.S., the original F-35 project included Britain, Australia, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Turkey, Israel, Singapore and Japan.

Canada Federal Election Federal Government Justin Trudeau

Leave a comment »
Aug 19

Two Election Processes – Nothing Very Impressive To Date

by bcurry

The hot summer is here, and people are out and about enjoying the warmer weather. At the same time we are being bombarded by various media in the U.S. and in Canada about the current election processes occurring in both countries. The average person probably couldn’t necessarily care less. However, Donald Trump’s antics in the U.S., Hillary Clinton’s e-mails and Senator Mike Duffy’s “fraud and bribery” trial in Canada have emerged as primary targets for the media and rumour mills. Nothing like a few scandals to get one’s attention!

How about those issues and party politics? When are the candidates really going to get down to brass tacks? So far, parties have been scarce on details and loud on rhetoric. The electoral processes are getting longer and longer and costlier, and the electorate is becoming more bored and disinterested. Millions will be spent on attack ads and media events. However, is the average American or Canadian really all that engaged under the current circumstances? Not really, and the polls tend to support this observation. Most of us would rather just be lying in the sun on a beach somewhere.

Indeed, the issues are important, starting with the economy. Then we have climate change, global and homeland security, structural unemployment, lack of good-paying jobs for young people, hydrocarbon, nuclear and green energies, immigration, urban decline, infrastructure maintenance and development, old age security, health care and aging populations, access to higher education, etc., etc. Maybe we’ll hear more about positions and policies in future debates, but whose going to be listening? We may all be turned off and tuned out by then. It would appear that many people already have made up their minds or will simply vote along party lines.

Well, we are democracies after all. Until something better comes along, I suppose that we have to live with the system as it exists, headaches and all. Good luck with that!

Canada Federal Election

Leave a comment »
Jul 21

Increased Child Care Benefits Payments – Another Pre-election Bribe for Canadian Voters

by bcurry

Well, it must be close to the federal elections in Canada. The government just announced $3 billion in universal benefit payments being sent out to families this month.  It just happens that the announcement comes before the planned October federal election.  On top of which, the federal Minister responsible, Pierre Poilievre, gives a press conference announcing the pay-out dressed in a blue shirt with the Conservative party crest clearly emblazoned on it.  No partisan politics here!  This is not the first time that Mr. Poilievre has posed as the party cheerleader while serving as a Minister of Cabinet.  After all, he is Prime Minister Harper’s designated errand boy.  In addition, Mr. Poilievre had earlier referenced the rollout of these cheques as being similar to Christmas in July.  Of course, he forgot to mention that, as taxable benefits, millions of the dollars paid-out will be returned to federal coffers come next tax collection.

In the past, the federal Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner has criticized the use of Conservative party logos on cheques and other props during previous federal government announcements.  Here we have a ruling party that has no qualms about using tax-payers’ money to market their political brand.  In terms of informing Canadians of government policies and programs, there is a legitimate role to play for Cabinet members and institutions.  However, one has to question recent television and radio ads and public gatherings that say very little about the policies and programs themselves, and obviously more about the party in power.  All that’s missing are the pom-poms and mascots.  Although Mr. Poilievre could certainly qualify as a party mascot — perhaps a weasel.

I can’t say that I have a lot of faith in the Canadian electorate.  I can only hope that those that do vote will see the overt attempt to buy our votes. Canada’s economy is in obvious trouble.  One has to ask if this is the right time to be handing out universal benefits as if money were growing on the trees surrounding Parliament Hill?  I thought that this was a Government promising to balance the budget next year.  Instead, this is a desperate Government whose only aim is to win the next election, no matter what the costs.  So much for conservative fiscal management!  So much for Government accountability!  So much for Conservative promises!

Canada Federal Election

Leave a comment »
May 5

Low Birth Rates, But Who’s Going To Look After Me?

by bcurry

Seniors today are beginning to worry about the future of social security, health care and escaping the throws of poverty.  Birth rates in North America have been on the downturn for the last decade, and especially in the last five years since the Great Recession.  Studies have shown that the so-called millennial women are reproducing at the slowest pace of any generation in U.S. history.  The same is most likely true for Canadian millennials.  According to the Urban Institute in the States, birthrates among women in their 20s declined more than 15 percent between 2007 and 2012.

Now, I understand that younger women were delaying having children in the past because more were into careers and self-employment.  With the current tough economic times, even more women are delaying child birth due to serious financial concerns.  This is completely understandable given the high cost of raising children in this day and age.  Baby boomers never had to face many of today’s harsh realties, including high levels of unemployment, underemployment, housing costs and education-related debt.

On the other hand, we have an aging population, with those over 65 heading to make up a quarter of our population in the not too distant future.  Indeed, extreme financial circumstances are forcing many seniors to continue working beyond the normal retirement years.  However, once retired and with the forecast decline in the future labour forces, who is going to support all those existing social programs?  Due to a lack of retirement savings for many seniors, they have come to rely on government assistance just to make ends meet.  Furthermore, don’t count on your kids to look after you!  As it stands now, they need your help more often than not.

As a society, it would appear that we have to do a lot more to encourage young people to have families, and right away.  This may mean greater financial incentives and government assistance to do so.  We need to introduce more paid maternity and parental leave programs, affordable child-care services, tax benefits for each child, improved post-secondary education grants and loans, affordable housing, etc., etc.  Seniors need to support such initiatives, for to do so will benefit them as well in the end run.  Wouldn’t they like to become grandparents while they’re still alive?  The old saying that children represent our future has never been truer.  It’s time that we recognize and support policies that would lead to an increase in the birth rate.  Families contribute to society in so many ways.  Such family-oriented policies will certainly enhance all our futures, including those of the millennials.

Canada US

Leave a comment »
Apr 8

More and More Government Handouts – Another Canadian Federal Election Must Be Coming

by bcurry

How about one more tax credit for the middle class?  Now we have Goodlife Fitness Centres Inc. lobbying the federal government for a fitness tax credit for adults of all ages.  So if I like, as a mature adult, to ski, play in an adult sports league or work out at a gym club, I could receive a tax credit up to $500 per person.  This would be on top of those tax credits already available for any children involved in fitness activities, to be bumped up to an eligible amount to $1,000 per child.  Needless-to-say, all these tax credits will eventually cost the federal government hundreds of millions of tax dollars in the near future.  The costs of implementing the adult fitness tax credit have been estimated by the government to be $69 million in the first year and $275 million each year after.

Now, I have a real problem with subsidizing Goodlife Fitness Centres with taxpayer money.  I also have a problem with subsidizing those adults who, of their own volition, decide to participate in sports or fitness activities which the average taxpayer cannot really afford.  Let’s face it, given the annual fees for gym clubs, tennis clubs and ski lodges, most of us would probably pass on such activities.  I couldn’t even justify paying for those fancy gym outfits and shoes designed to impress the other members.  Instead, we regular people look for more affordable past times like walking, hiking in parks, riding bikes, skating on public rinks, etc., etc.

Why not invest in infrastructure from which all of us can benefit!  I for one would like to see more taxpayer investment in national and local parks, in playgrounds, public swimming pools, boys and girls clubs, school fitness programs and outdoor public facilities accessible to everyone, regardless of income levels.  Today, obesity and other health issues are a concern not only for the middle and upper classes, but also for society as a whole.  In the name of gaining a few extra votes, why is it that the ruling party has to be so short-sighted?  Is it because poor people tend not to vote in large numbers?  Where are the studies that show that such tax breaks really make a difference one way or the other?

After all, we are a free society where people can make their own choices about where to spend their hard earned dollars.  If your income is such that you can spend it on fitness or arts and music activities, then that’s your choice.  Why I as a taxpayer have to subsidize it is a whole other matter.  Sorry, Mr. Finance Minister, my vote cannot and will not be bought by such obvious ploys.  As a society, we have many more urgent issues to resolve: national security, the economy, unemployment and the environment to name only a few.

Canada Federal Election Federal Government

Leave a comment »
Mar 26

Canada’s Expansion of Iraq Mission to Syria is a Huge Mistake

by bcurry

No matter what the reasons that the Canadian government gives, the proposed expansion of the current Iraq mission to Syria has all kinds of serious consequences.  Simply stating that Canada is following the American lead provides little in the way of justification.  Syria is a bigger mess than even Iraq.  Let’s recap for a moment.  The Syrian uprising, part of the so-called Arab Spring, originally involved opposition groups to the current Syrian government under its dictator Bashar al-Assad.  The Americans didn’t step into this internal war, preferring to wait and see.  However, things didn’t go well for Assad, making him commit even more atrocities against his own people, including the use of chemical weapons.  Still, the Americans didn’t step in.  Then along came ISIL or ISIS, a major radical group who began to make territorial gains in Syria and eventually into Iraq.  So now, the Americans, no longer knowing who to support militarily in Syria, decide to go after the most radical group — ISIL.

Subsequently, the Iraqi government and security forces couldn’t stop ISIL’s advances inside Iraq, threatening to bring down Iraq’s American-supported and primarily Shia-backed government.  ISIL found support among the Sunni population in Iraq who felt persecuted by the Shia regime, and have faced atrocities by Shia security forces and local militia.  Enter Iran, whose military guard began to support the Shia militias in Iraq, who in turn appeared better able to defend against ISIL than Iraq’s government forces.  Let’s not forget about the Kurdish forces fighting ISIL in northern Iraq, and who would still like to have more independence from Baghdad.  At this point, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi called on the U.S. to provide military support in the form of air strikes against ISIL and military advisors to Iraqi forces on the ground.

Six months ago, Canada entered the American-led campaign along with some other European and Arab countries.  Remember, this is not a NATO endorsed campaign.  Canada’s token contribution deployed several dozen special forces troops to northern Iraq, six fighter jets, two surveillance aircraft, a refuelling plane and around 600 support personnel based in Kuwait.  So far, Canada has had one casualty and three injured by Kurdish friendly fire.  Have air strikes really accomplished much?  ISIL’s advancements have to date been slowed, but most military experts believe that the war against ISIL can only be won on the ground.  In the case of the Syrian campaign, the results of air strikes are even less convincing.

Yes, ISIL has made some vague propaganda threats against Canadians, has committed atrocities, and a few Canadians have even gone to join ISIL in Syria, along with other foreign combatants.  However, is there really a serious threat to the homeland from ISIL?  Or is this just political maneuvering on the part of the Canadian and American governments to justify their military actions in the region?  What are the governments’ exit strategies?  Indications are that the Iraqis and Syrians could be at war for years.  Neither the current Iraqi nor the Syrian regime appears to be able to deal with this mess.  Do the Canadian and American governments really believe that they can resolve the disputes without further bloodshed and atrocities?  These are real questions and consequences that need to be further explored before both countries begin to witness ever-growing “mission creep”.  Unfortunately, the majority of Canadians and Americans don’t really understand the complexities of the situation to adequately address these questions.  Sorry, but it’s the truth.

Iraq Iraq and ISIS Syria and ISIL

Leave a comment »
Mar 3

Ultra-Conservatives Rail Against Health and Physical Education Curriculum in Ontario

by bcurry

Well, now they’ve gone and done it!  The Ontario Ministry of Education has introduced a revised health and physical education curriculum for elementary and secondary schools in the province of Ontario.  Replacing a curriculum used since the nineties, the revised version is designed to bring the curriculum into the 21st Century.

Oh, but wait!  Out of the woodwork has emerged outrage and accusations from various ultra-conservative groups, including some in the province’s Conservative opposition party.  How dare we incorporate sex education which provides useful and relative information about relationships, including those involving sexual relations.  They argue that the government is stepping all over the rights of parents to educate their children on such matters.  OMG — never mind talking about homosexuality, sexual orientation, and how to respect people’s rights.

I wonder how many of those in opposition have actually read the two documents outlining the curriculum.  I have, and concluded that the curriculum has been developed in a sensitive and objective manner.  The curriculum provides an excellent foundation for discussion among young people at various stages of development.  Indeed, only about 10 percent of the material actually deals with sex education per se.  The rest deals with matters related to the physical and mental health of children and adolescents.  Nothing therein prevents parents from talking to their children about relationships and the important values surrounding them.  If anything, the information provided will help parents to have meaningful and constructive discussions.

Kids today are increasingly being exposed to all kinds of sources containing sexual content, especially through the Internet, television, film, etc., etc.  As parents and society, we need to balance these other sources with one that provides for informed and intelligent discussion.  Our children deserve to be guided in a safe, open and respectful environment during their developmental years.  As adults, we owe it to them.

Canada

Leave a comment »
Feb 18

At This Pace, Say Good-bye To Our Freedoms

by bcurry

It’s ironic that governments always declare that we have to give up some of those very freedoms that our ancestors fought to protect in past wars.  In the name of national security, you appear to be able to justify just about anything.  Freedoms, like to freedom of association are also being watered down by recent government actions.  The right to unlawful search and seizure has also been compromised both in Canada and the U.S. by recent government actions.  In Canada, the authorities now have the ability to seize cell phones, tablets and other personal electronic devises without a warrant if a person is arrested for an alleged crime.

In both countries, various governments have moved to take away the right to strike from public sector unions during collective bargaining.  Given that the public sector is the last bastion of unionization, such government actions will further diminish the ability to collectively bargain for better working conditions and compensation.  Fortunately, some courts have and will rule that such prohibitions affect our freedom of association.

Just the other day, a young female student in the province of Quebec was stripped searched by the school’s principle on suspicion of possessing or selling drugs in the school.  This was done without the presence of her parents or the police.  Indeed, such searches were openly applauded and defended by a number of Quebec politicians.  I can only hope that such a denial of basic rights never happens to a child of their own.

The Canadian government’s most recent proposed anti-terrorism legislation would allow the authorities greater powers to search, seize and share personal information all in the name of national security.  As was the case in the U.S. after 9/11, our spy agencies will have increased powers to monitor our every move, physically or electronically.  Civilian oversight of the monitors appears to be weak, and should be of great concern to those who value their privacy and freedom of expression.

Sometimes, individual rights and considerations have to be adjusted for the good of the collectivity and society as a whole.  However, when the impact on basic freedoms is so great as to erode their effective value and respect, it’s time to take a step back and consider the real consequences.  Just how much power do we want to give to Big Brother as a free and democratic society?  How many freedoms are you willing to have watered down?

Anti-Terroism Canada Federal Government

Leave a comment »
«Older Entries
Newer Entries »
Blog at WordPress.com.