Cartoons
Euro Trashed
Posted May 17th, 2012 by Patrick LaMontagne with Comments Off
Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. Unfortunately, it only takes one hole in the boat to sink the whole thing.
Supply and Demand
Posted May 16th, 2012 by Patrick LaMontagne with Comments Off
This really shouldn’t come as a surprise, especially that Canada and the U.S. are among the worst consumers. Bigger homes, nicer cars, the latest toys and keeping up with the Joneses seems like the norm when everybody around you is doing it, but it’s unsustainable.
When you look at our behaviour, humans are parasitic, consuming everything we have with no thought to balance and our future needs. Until we are forced to change, we have no incentive to do it on our own.
Tax and Consequences
Posted May 15th, 2012 by Patrick LaMontagne with Comments Off
The B.C. government announced their plans to remove the Harmonized Sales Tax by April 1 of 2013, returning to a new and improved Provincial Sales Tax. This was a result of the 2011 referendum.
It remains to be seen where the hidden costs are going to be (and there will be hidden costs), but replacing one tax with another tax, then removing that tax, and replacing it with the same (but different) tax, and you just know that this is going to cost money for not only the average consumer, but also for businesses of all sizes.
Open Season
Posted May 14th, 2012 by Patrick LaMontagne with Comments Off
The Victoria Day long weekend is thought by many to be the unofficial kickoff to the summer camping season. Even though the weather is usually unpredictable in all parts of Canada this time of year, Canadians pack up their families and everything in their home (including the TV) and pretend they’re getting back to nature for a couple of days. Since everybody else has the same idea, it’s often anything but quiet.
Happy Mother’s Day
Posted May 11th, 2012 by Patrick LaMontagne with Comments Off
A Hallmark Moment
Posted May 10th, 2012 by Patrick LaMontagne with Comments Off
Time and Money
Posted May 9th, 2012 by Patrick LaMontagne with Comments Off
Who was that masked Canadian?
Posted May 8th, 2012 by Patrick LaMontagne with Comments Off
Conservative Member of Parliament Blake Richards (who just happens to be my MP) put forth a bill in the House of Commons that, if passed, will give police the ability to arrest and fine anybody wearing a mask during a protest.
Some protesters wear masks to prove their point, often masquerading as the politicians or public figures they’re protesting. Lately, you’ll very often see many wearing the Guy Fawkes mask, which is more about the character in the movie, ‘V for Vendetta,’ and not the actual historical figure. But it is a visage that has become symbolic with standing up to government oppression.
Others, however, are wearing their masks in order to hide their identity. These are the people with violent intentions. They’re the ones who start the burning of cars, the smashing of windows, destruction of property and often, the injury of those around them. The last thing they want is their faces captured on the cell phones we all carry. Their intent is not peaceful protest, but anarchy, and it is this behaviour that the bill is targeting.
As a firm believer in the right to protest, I worry that this bill will be abused. But when measured against the greater good, it is unfortunately a necessary evil in order to protect the rights of the rest of the people who live in this democracy as well.
What the F?
Posted May 7th, 2012 by Patrick LaMontagne with Comments Off
The impending purchases of the F-35 fighter jet by the Canadian government and Armed Forces has become a running gag due to poor management of the bidding process and accounting procedures.
Not only have there been reports that the communication systems on the plane won’t work in the Arctic among other operational issues, but the government lied about some of the costs and tried to hide other expenditures.
If we finally do end up with this plane (which is likely), it won’t be a celebration of acquiring new technology, but a constant reminder that once again, the government tried to put one over on Canadians.
Shoot the moon
Posted May 4th, 2012 by Patrick LaMontagne with Comments Off
Whenever a government gets caught in a scandal, whether it’s overspending, lying to constituents or any other cliché indiscretion that politicians are well known for, it’s surprising how upset we get, as if there’s no way we saw it coming.
Stephen Harper’s government is doing exactly what we knew they were going to do when they got elected, which is whatever they want to. Just like every other government.
The only difference is that they don’t pretend to care when we get upset about it.