Democracy is over rated!

My daily copy of FEE—In brief arrived by email as usual today. Normally I wouldn’t mention it, but one of the FEE Timely Classics of the day was called “Democracy Versus Liberty” by James Bovard. I don’t recall ever reading it but I read it today. It’s fairly lengthy; there are no snappy catch phrases, just a long and relentlessly persuasive argument that drives home the point that Democracy is mob rule, and that coercion created by elected members of a government is still coercion and that doesn’t make it right.

Of course the focus of the essay is entirely American, but for those of us that inhabit The Great White North the ideas are easily transferable and all the names a recognizable. If you have read it, then you understand, if you haven’t, then do yourself a favour.

Though Ontario Judge is rebuked he is still correct

The Ontario Court of Appeal has ruled that Ontario Court Judge J. Elliott Allen overstepped his position when he spoke at length against harsh penalties for marijuana growth and possession as he gave a conditional sentence to a Brampton area marijuana grower. The article appeared in today’s Globe and Mail.

Perhaps Judge Allen should be recruited to run for the Ontario Libertarian Party in the next Provincial election in 2011.

The judge is quoted as saying: "Nobody has been deterred. People have been going to jail for drug offences for a couple of generations now and the drug plague is worse than it ever was....If something doesn't work, do I try doing it again and again to see if it does work? Isn't that the definition of insanity?"

Can you imagine this coming from a Canadian Judge in court? Canada is going to pot.......the sooner the better. 

Apocalypse Soon?

While I can't agree with everything in Neil Reynolds' most recent column (the Dawkins and Darwin stuff particularly) the gist of it is eminently sensible and ultimately wise. This column injects a little perspective into an issue that sorely needs it. Have a look: For every age, an apocalyptic delusion

Are there alternatives to complex "fixes" for AGW?

Who understands Cap-and-trade? Are you ready to buy and sell carbon credits, futures in carbon credits? Will these "fixes" to AGW be readily accepted by the Western democracies? These are all questions that need answers before governments spend billions, sacrifice jobs and generally dampen an economic recovery that is currently still on life support. Are there less costly fixes? There are, here is a thought:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYWviOjwPGk

Whose Bad?......We're bad.

Gerry Nicholls says we're bad. That's just fine with me.
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2009/12/15/gerry-nicholls-the-new-canada-mad-bad-and-dangerous-to-know.aspx?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

More Sanity, I can't get enough.....

Lysiane Gagnon writes for La Press in Montreal (and weekly in the Globe) and frequently has opinions that bear repeating. Here from the Globe is her view of the Copenhagen Climate Change debate: A dose of skepticism is healthy.

If We Can Put a Man on The Moon...Then Why Does Government Fail at Just About Everything Else?

This is a posting from Reason TV with an interesting insight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGKBDU2bmcw

Petition against Green Protectionism

Would you like to voice your objection to possible arbitrary trade restrictions brought forth in the name of saving the planet? Why not allow the planet to be saved by the only proven method so far in the history of humankind? Click on the link, read the petition, then sign it and pass it on.
http://freedomtotrade.org/content/petition-against-green-protectionism

The big guy in the sky causes climate change

That's right, the Sun, our neighbourhood star......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng4gzvo6sDo

The Science is settled on AGW....right?

Wrong. Is it possible that Al Gore is wrong? Is it possible that there are other causes for climate fluctuation? Of course it is. Do yourself a favour and listen to this audio clip from FEE. Last Saturday in a lecture given at FEE HQ in Irvington NY another point of view was voiced. Its worth your while to listen to Dr. Willie Soon.
http://fee.org/wp-content/uploads/audio/events/2009/WIllie%20Soon%20on%20Climate%20Change.mp3
 

Are you ready to subsidize pollution?

Yesterday's Globe and Mail Report on Business ran the regular column of Gwyn Morgan. His opinion is always worth reading and frequently puts a different spin on issues of the day. The issue of the day is the potential power and money grab being orchestrated in Copenhagen. How much more are you prepared to pay for fuel? Clink.

SixthSense Technology

Wondering where the world of computing is going in the near future? This video will blow you away. Watch Pranav Mistry (an inventor) explain his ideas. Wow!
http://www.ted.com/talks/pranav_mistry_the_thrilling_potential_of_sixthsense_technology.html

Global Warming Skeptics finally get some air time!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKrw6ih8Gto

ClimateGate on the People's Network

Last night we may have witnessed a turning point in the Canadian discussion of Anthropogenic (human caused) Global Warming (AGW). Readers of the Toronto Globe and Mail have long known that two regular columnists Margaret Wente and Rex Murphy are AGW skeptics and have written courageous columns to that effect on many occasions in the past. Rex Murphy also happens to be an employee of the CBC, and has a regular opinion piece every Thursday on The National led by Pastor Peter Mansbridge. As a regular viewer of The National and a fan of Rex Murphy's way with words, I don't recall a broadcast where Rex has been unleashed and spoken so bluntly about his views on AGW.


CBC and AGW have been like peanut butter and jelly, that close and supportive of one another. To see Rex Murphy let loose finally on one of his pet peeves was jaw dropping. Have a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am3-HpSnE9Y

Change you can't believe in!

Canadian and American news media paused last night from speculating about Tiger Woods’ domestic distress as Barak Obama announced that an additional 30 000 US troops will be sent to Afghanistan soon. No surprise really, since that information had been leaked last week. The only surprise was that troop withdrawals would begin in the summer of 2011 just in time for Obama’s run at a second term. This time of course will be different, the US and NATO’s ISAF (including Canada) will expunge the Taliban, train the Afghan army, restore the Afghan government (after getting all the warlords to become democratic) and leave Afghanistan to take care of itself. That should keep us all safe.


The Globe and Mail editorial today called this new surge of troops “a welcome move by Obama”. The editorial said that this surge will take pressure off Canadian troops and Obama’s speech was “a necessary reminder that this remains a necessary war”.

Afghanistan has had a tortured past of war and conquest going back to pre-Islamic times. In the 2500 years for which there are records two things stand out; Afghans don’t like foreign occupation and the place is run by warlords. At no time in its history was there a grassroots democratic movement that sought to bring the rule of law to the entire country. Expecting the puppet government now in Kabul to have full control of that country is wishful thinking. Expecting the future Afghan army to keep order against the Taliban and Al-Qaida is ridiculous. Expecting American troops to leave Afghanistan once the mission is accomplished is equally insane. Afghanistan has been the place where previous empires have died; I fear the US will be no different.

Mr. Obama has disappointed us yet again but this month he will pick up his Nobel Peace Prize. What’s wrong with that picture?