David "the man" Cameron termed Labour's policymaking strategy "government by management consultant and policy by PowerPoint". He strikes a painfully sensitive nerve there, as the current British government has grown so big it is tragically out of touch with the ordinary citizen. No wonder they get a drubbing in the local polls.
Although some of the policy proposals the British Conservatives outline may seem a little too interventionist or unfeasible (microgeneration isn't cheap to install), their approach puts citizens first and government last. Independent schools, locally accountable police forces, microgeneration and incentives for small business are set to erode the power of central bodies.
As I have maintained previously, the Tories have realized that the British system is too socialist-ized to be dealt one deadly blow that would allow its sitizens to breathe freely. A slow erosion of the mammoth nanny state erected by Labour would be, however, set in motion. Hopefully, given a little freedom to run their lives, greater numbers will demand even more.
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
Monday, 12 May 2008
Red tape can kill!
This is why the government should cut it. Producing generic life-saving antiretroviral drugs for specific countries with patent owner consent proved an odyssey for Apotex. (Globe and Mail)
Why isn't interest by both parties and patent owner consent sufficient? Why all the paperwork, delays and civil servants? I don't get it.But under Canada's legislation, the African country's interest was not enough for Apotex, the only company to express interest in selling the medication at cost, to produce and ship the drugs.
Apotex had to get permission, or a voluntary licence, from brand-name pharmaceutical companies Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. and GlaxoSmithKline Inc., which together hold patents for the three components in Apo-TriAvir in Canada.
It then needed to get a compulsory licence from the federal Commissioner of Patents before it could formally submit a bid to the open tender process by the Rwandan government that is required by the WTO deal.
An Industry Canada report tabled in December said the government had no plans to change the process.They bloody should!
How to wreck Ontario
That's the title the Ontario job strategy concocted by labour unions should bear. (CBC)
Imposing MORE costs on Ontario consumers (that's what a Liberal environmental policy is anyway), ripping out their purchasing power, transmitting some of the causes of the manufacturing sector illnesses on other provincial jobs will only deepen the plight of some of the province's already suffering areas. The labour advocacy groups are trying to capitalize on the hardship of manufacturing workersby aiming to expand their influence and slip their tentacles into more areas of the job market.
NEVER!
A new provincial job strategy focused on green industries and unionization of low-wage jobs could play a major role in replacing Ontario's disappearing manufacturing jobs, says a new report by local anti-poverty and labour groups.
Imposing MORE costs on Ontario consumers (that's what a Liberal environmental policy is anyway), ripping out their purchasing power, transmitting some of the causes of the manufacturing sector illnesses on other provincial jobs will only deepen the plight of some of the province's already suffering areas. The labour advocacy groups are trying to capitalize on the hardship of manufacturing workersby aiming to expand their influence and slip their tentacles into more areas of the job market.
NEVER!
Is Al Gore drooling now?
I like John McCain. However his latest courting of environmentally-concerned voters is a little too much territory conceded to the scaremongers. (Reuters)
Thinking of cutting worldwide greenhouse gas emissions is delusional, and McCain shouldn't feed the delusions of people duped by Al Gore who are generally trying to find answers to questions they can no longer ignore. Advocating clean technology is a sound policy without the "global warming" and "worldwide challenge" bells and whistles. The Cap and Trade system he proposes is workable, nuclear energy works just fine and no international accord can stop China's or India's emissions, if anything because they have the world's two vastest populations to spare on the altar of tiger growth.
Don't get carried away with the appealing to America-loving Democrats.
In remarks he prepared to give at a wind technology firm in Portland, Oregon, on Monday, the Arizona senator said he would seek international accords to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and would offer an incentive system to make businesses in the United States cleaner.
"The facts of global warming demand our urgent attention, especially in Washington," McCain said in remarks he planned to give at the Vestas Wind Technology plant.
"Good stewardship, prudence, and simple common sense demand that we act to meet the challenge, and act quickly," he added.
Thinking of cutting worldwide greenhouse gas emissions is delusional, and McCain shouldn't feed the delusions of people duped by Al Gore who are generally trying to find answers to questions they can no longer ignore. Advocating clean technology is a sound policy without the "global warming" and "worldwide challenge" bells and whistles. The Cap and Trade system he proposes is workable, nuclear energy works just fine and no international accord can stop China's or India's emissions, if anything because they have the world's two vastest populations to spare on the altar of tiger growth.
Don't get carried away with the appealing to America-loving Democrats.
British court sides with terrorists
Does anyone have more news on this? A British Court apparently removed a terrorist group from the British watchlist. Searching Google News I came across mostly Iranian sources, with only one from the UK.
The Mujahedin Khalq Organization has been accused of (and sometimes taken responsibility for) several attacks against Iranian establishments, including embassies. They are also accused of Helping Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war and helping him suppress internal dissent. The group is on most terrorist group lists compiled on this planet, as well as being a sketchy bunch who do not hesitate to harm their own country's interests by collaborating with its foe.
The IRNA report is not exceedingly vitriolic, although it does criticize the British Government strongly.
Fortunately on this side of the Bosphorus we do have something called "separation of powers", which means courts can be a Government's biggest pain in the butt. Despite the bungles I do hope it stays this way.
The Council of Foreign Relations has some more info on the MKO or MEK:
Not a good starting point and not a good tactic. The British court system should know better.
The Mujahedin Khalq Organization has been accused of (and sometimes taken responsibility for) several attacks against Iranian establishments, including embassies. They are also accused of Helping Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war and helping him suppress internal dissent. The group is on most terrorist group lists compiled on this planet, as well as being a sketchy bunch who do not hesitate to harm their own country's interests by collaborating with its foe.
The IRNA report is not exceedingly vitriolic, although it does criticize the British Government strongly.
The Britain government is held responsible for such a ruling, he said and urged the UK ambassador to convey Iran's protest to his country's high ranking officials.
Fortunately on this side of the Bosphorus we do have something called "separation of powers", which means courts can be a Government's biggest pain in the butt. Despite the bungles I do hope it stays this way.
The Council of Foreign Relations has some more info on the MKO or MEK:
MEK was founded in 1963 by a group of college-educated Iranian leftists—supporters of Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadeq—opposed to the country’s pro-Western ruler, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The group participated in the 1979 Islamic revolution that replaced the shah with a Shiite Islamist regime led by the Ayatollah Khomeini. But MEK’s ideology, a blend of Marxism, feminism, and Islamism, put it at odds with the post-revolutionary government, and its original leadership was soon executed by the Khomeini regime. In 1981, the group was driven from its bases on the Iran-Iraq border and resettled in Paris, where it began supporting Iraq in its eight-year war against Khomeini’s Iran
Not a good starting point and not a good tactic. The British court system should know better.
Sunday, 11 May 2008
Ronald Smith must face US justice
Revelations that the governor of Montana was considering transferring Ronald Smith, the Canadian on death row in his State, to Canada with guarantees of minimum five years imprisonment do not alter the perspectives on the issues at hand. (Gazzette)
As I understand, Smith went into the US and committed a felony punishable by death in that State. He was caught, tried, found guilty and sentenced to death. Repatriation (with consequent release after the minimum guaranteed term) would send the wrong signal to any ill-intentioned Canadian: you can go and commit crimes that would get locals hanged, because Canada, no matter how blatantly guilty you are, will kick up a fuss and get you repatriated and released on parole.
This is not the ideal of justice this country espouses.
As I understand, Smith went into the US and committed a felony punishable by death in that State. He was caught, tried, found guilty and sentenced to death. Repatriation (with consequent release after the minimum guaranteed term) would send the wrong signal to any ill-intentioned Canadian: you can go and commit crimes that would get locals hanged, because Canada, no matter how blatantly guilty you are, will kick up a fuss and get you repatriated and released on parole.
This is not the ideal of justice this country espouses.
Wednesday, 7 May 2008
Cocoa Puff Conservatism
What a great comment in the National Post network on the unintended negative effects of well-intentioned government regulations. Focusing on Quebec's ban on advertising aimed at children, William Watson makes a striking case for conservatism and non-interventionism in the market.
Cocoa Puff Conservatism - a highly recommended read, also because he teaches at my same university :)
Intentions aren't evidence in a Court of History.
Cocoa Puff Conservatism - a highly recommended read, also because he teaches at my same university :)
Intentions aren't evidence in a Court of History.
Murky Liberal lobbying money
The Chronicle Herald provides a very interesting article on the relationship between unregistered lobbyist Dingwall and Canada Post. The Crown Corporation will not reveal why it paid in excess of $200k to a lobbyist, and it excised information from databases that could be accessed via Free Access to Information law.
An agreement between a State company and a shadowy unregistered lobbyist that states "As per our discussions of last week, we would like you to advise us on the political and social implications of . . ." is fishy.
They've been hiring each other, cheating the Canadian public out of money and covering their tracks, non?
Who's naughty now?
An agreement between a State company and a shadowy unregistered lobbyist that states "As per our discussions of last week, we would like you to advise us on the political and social implications of . . ." is fishy.
In 2005 testimony before the Gomery inquiry into the sponsorship program,
Mr. Clermont testified that Mr. Dingwall’s political adviser at the time, Warren
Kinsella, repeatedly called Mr. Clermont to request that the Crown corporation
hire certain Liberal law firms and advertising companies. Mr. Kinsella has
disputed Mr. Clermont’s claims.
They've been hiring each other, cheating the Canadian public out of money and covering their tracks, non?
"You’ve got two deans of the Liberal party," Mr. Williamson said. "One is hiring
the other. It looks awful, particularly since, at least in the public eye, they
were both forced out of their positions because of inappropriate actions. In
both cases, their careers did not end on a high note in terms of transparency
and accountability."
Who's naughty now?
Let's all move to Greenland
Terrific Timesonline article on the road Greenland has embarked on. Secession from Denmark is now a prospect, but not only is this the most commonsensical secession I've ever contemplated, but Greenland would be shielded from some of the hottest enviro-fascist arguments we are peddled everyday.
Doesn't this sound like one of the most enlightened independence paths ever? No animosity, no rampant blind nationalism, no nonsense. Just nplain economics and development. The two parties cannot agree on some key policy aspects, e.g. seal hunting, therefore it's best if they began to part ways.
Not only Greenland is a good experiment in commonsensical nation-building, but the new-born nation may be quite exciting to live in.
A nation that drills holes in its own sea to exploit its natural resources, agrees to phasing out government subsidies, hunts whatever it wants to hunt and actually likes the idea of ice melting?
I Love It!
The plan, which has been drawn up by a committee of politicians from Denmark and Greenland, envisages the phasing out of subsidies from Copenhagen as the huge island makes increasing use of its rich mineral and oil resources under a thick layer of ice.
Under the terms of the plan the country would eventually keep all the revenue from mineral and oil exploitation. To begin with the islanders will be allowed the first €10 million earned each year from the country’s resources. When it starts to earn more than that – if and when multinational energy companies invest – the Danish subsidies will be capped. By the time Greenland earns €800 million a year, the money from Denmark will stop. There would then be no obstacle to independence.
Doesn't this sound like one of the most enlightened independence paths ever? No animosity, no rampant blind nationalism, no nonsense. Just nplain economics and development. The two parties cannot agree on some key policy aspects, e.g. seal hunting, therefore it's best if they began to part ways.
Not only Greenland is a good experiment in commonsensical nation-building, but the new-born nation may be quite exciting to live in.
when Greenland makes the final break it will rank as one of the most politically incorrect states in the international community.
Whalemeat figures large in its traditional cooking and its hunters enthusiastically track down some of the cud-dliest animals on the planet, including polar bears, seals and walruses. Even the seats of the lounge at Nuuk airport are covered in seal skin.
As for global warming, Greenlanders cannot get enough of it. [...] “It will improve fishing and above all make it easier to drill for oil and gas. The US geological survey calculates that the greatest unused oil reserves on Earth are in the Greenland waters – and they are in the east, where the ice is melting fastest.”
A nation that drills holes in its own sea to exploit its natural resources, agrees to phasing out government subsidies, hunts whatever it wants to hunt and actually likes the idea of ice melting?
I Love It!
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
McGuinty on a sales trip
Globe and Mail reports that Dalton McGuinty is popping into Turin for a chat with the Fiat big honchos, to discuss the possibility of the company "making at least one model of the Alfa Romeo sports car before 2012". This choice is unadvisable for several reasons:
1) Fiat is in troubled waters anyway, with closures throughout Italy
2) If Italians don't buy Fiats, there's a reason. They blow.
3) Demand for sports cars is restricted, more so in Canada where snow isn't exactly a rarity
4) The timescale of this investment is too long to save the auto industry in Ontario
Leaving aside these considerations, McGuinty is also (according to the report) in talks with China, India and "folks in Germany". VolksWagen, however, already narrowed down the choices of its North American plants to three US locations. That should sound a few alarm bells, there's something wrong in the way the Ontario auto industry and labor are regulated.
Furthermore, why talk to the same China that can build the cars at virtually no cost (with contributions from Laogai slave camps) and cram them into a ship? Who in their sane Chinese mind would open up shop with higher wages, labor union bother and a meddling provincial government? Talks with India can lead somewhere, but the same considerations about labor price, unions and regulations come into play.
This makes no sense.
1) Fiat is in troubled waters anyway, with closures throughout Italy
2) If Italians don't buy Fiats, there's a reason. They blow.
3) Demand for sports cars is restricted, more so in Canada where snow isn't exactly a rarity
4) The timescale of this investment is too long to save the auto industry in Ontario
Leaving aside these considerations, McGuinty is also (according to the report) in talks with China, India and "folks in Germany". VolksWagen, however, already narrowed down the choices of its North American plants to three US locations. That should sound a few alarm bells, there's something wrong in the way the Ontario auto industry and labor are regulated.
Furthermore, why talk to the same China that can build the cars at virtually no cost (with contributions from Laogai slave camps) and cram them into a ship? Who in their sane Chinese mind would open up shop with higher wages, labor union bother and a meddling provincial government? Talks with India can lead somewhere, but the same considerations about labor price, unions and regulations come into play.
This makes no sense.
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