I am in the 'higher risk' group... so I'll be getting a vaccine sooner rather than later. I trust the medical professionals.
Have little patient with those who don't. Even if you don't think you'll come down with H1N1 infection you could infect others who are close to you.. get the shot!!
Imagine a worst case scenario... a parent refuses to have their child vaccinated; and their child gets the flu...how awful that would be.. get the shot!
Like everyone else I worry about long lineups....but am still getting the shot!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Politics Canadian Style
Hmm let's see.. a continuing furore over governing party misusing public funds for partisan purposes (didn't this happen before)...and smaller parties who say they would nver support governments but who are propping up governments with whom they fundamentally disagree.
On the other hand some interparty co-operation may be going on too.
Hard to tell the players ...even with a program....
On the other hand some interparty co-operation may be going on too.
Hard to tell the players ...even with a program....
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Blog Action Day Entry
We have to to something to protect our world. When our political leaders meet later this year we must reach agreement to protect our planet.
While doing this our leaders in the developing world must understand that as the principal causes of planet degradation, they must take the lead in reducing our footprint. It's unfair to expect countries who have contributed little to our carbon footprint to bear the same responsibility for its reduction as our most developed countries.
I am quite disappointed to hear our own government is now seen as a laggard on effective climate change prevention action.
Check out http://www.blogactionday.org/
While doing this our leaders in the developing world must understand that as the principal causes of planet degradation, they must take the lead in reducing our footprint. It's unfair to expect countries who have contributed little to our carbon footprint to bear the same responsibility for its reduction as our most developed countries.
I am quite disappointed to hear our own government is now seen as a laggard on effective climate change prevention action.
Check out http://www.blogactionday.org/
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Local Multifaith Housing Group is Making a Difference
As most know I live in the national capital of Canada. A very innovative group is making a difference in the pressing need for more affordable housing in our community. About seven years ago a group of leaders in a number of faith communities banded together in what is now called the Multifaith Housing Initiative.
Despite the challenges of working together in a new field the Initiative has been quite successful in increasing the supply of affordable housing in our community.
Check out http://multifaithhousing.ca/ for all the details
Despite the challenges of working together in a new field the Initiative has been quite successful in increasing the supply of affordable housing in our community.
Check out http://multifaithhousing.ca/ for all the details
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Has It Come to This. Canadian Politics in 2009
I think I read something today about one of Canada's political leaders has denied an intention to have an 'adult discussion with Canadians' on how to get our public finances out of debt.
If this is true it is a regrettable state of affairs in our great country. Realistic analysis of the size of our public deficit and debt clearly points to the necessity of increasing government revenues. Governments' main source of revevnue is taxation and other fees charged for public services.
Yet political leaders of all stripes have 'swallowed' all the anti-tax line first propagated by people like Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher and embraced by Canadian politicians like Michael Harris and Stephen Harper.
Our country has become less caring since the early 1980's as government have withdrawn from many of our innovative social programs.. all in the interest of reducing taxes. Our public sector's ability to effect real social and economic change is limited due to successive, and in some cases, really unnecessary tax cuts.
Taxes pay for health care, education, transportation infrastructure, welfare, emergency protection etc. etc. THese are important to society and should be properly funded...which is NOT happening now thanks to widespread preoccupation with 'cutting taxes'.
If this is true it is a regrettable state of affairs in our great country. Realistic analysis of the size of our public deficit and debt clearly points to the necessity of increasing government revenues. Governments' main source of revevnue is taxation and other fees charged for public services.
Yet political leaders of all stripes have 'swallowed' all the anti-tax line first propagated by people like Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher and embraced by Canadian politicians like Michael Harris and Stephen Harper.
Our country has become less caring since the early 1980's as government have withdrawn from many of our innovative social programs.. all in the interest of reducing taxes. Our public sector's ability to effect real social and economic change is limited due to successive, and in some cases, really unnecessary tax cuts.
Taxes pay for health care, education, transportation infrastructure, welfare, emergency protection etc. etc. THese are important to society and should be properly funded...which is NOT happening now thanks to widespread preoccupation with 'cutting taxes'.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
My Views on Consumption Taxes Like HST
Sales taxes are essentially unfair but necessary for the reasons
outlined below.
They are 'consumption taxes'.. the more you consume a good or service
the more you pay. They are unfair as the tax paid represents a greater
portion of a person's disposable income if the person is at a low income
level. They unfairly penalize lower income earners.
However, some argue it's a good tax as high income earners pay a lot of
consumption tax as they consume more goods and services (including what we
might call luxury goods and services).
Also a consumption tax may cause a desireable change of public/consumer
behaviour. That is why the carbon tax idea was good public policy
What some governments do (federal does although it is not good enough),
is (either on the income tax form or via periodic payments), is pay flat
credits to people. Low income Canadians receive quarterly payments from the federal government called GST credits. They don't compensate for all GST paid but certainly provide some help.
Ontario government is planning on giving grants to every person to help with the transition to the HST.
Quebec, and some of the Atlantic provinces have a HST.
Finally many opponents of the HST are right wing conservatives who
dislike government doing anything in our society. They mistakenly believe
things like health care; education; welfare; emergency services don't cost
anything. Governments need revenue to pay for these activities. It pains
me to see federal and provincial NDP politicians agreeing with the likes of
Stephen Harper, Michael Harris etc.(I could add as wll most of the crowd who are on
or who phone talk radio stations)
outlined below.
They are 'consumption taxes'.. the more you consume a good or service
the more you pay. They are unfair as the tax paid represents a greater
portion of a person's disposable income if the person is at a low income
level. They unfairly penalize lower income earners.
However, some argue it's a good tax as high income earners pay a lot of
consumption tax as they consume more goods and services (including what we
might call luxury goods and services).
Also a consumption tax may cause a desireable change of public/consumer
behaviour. That is why the carbon tax idea was good public policy
What some governments do (federal does although it is not good enough),
is (either on the income tax form or via periodic payments), is pay flat
credits to people. Low income Canadians receive quarterly payments from the federal government called GST credits. They don't compensate for all GST paid but certainly provide some help.
Ontario government is planning on giving grants to every person to help with the transition to the HST.
Quebec, and some of the Atlantic provinces have a HST.
Finally many opponents of the HST are right wing conservatives who
dislike government doing anything in our society. They mistakenly believe
things like health care; education; welfare; emergency services don't cost
anything. Governments need revenue to pay for these activities. It pains
me to see federal and provincial NDP politicians agreeing with the likes of
Stephen Harper, Michael Harris etc.(I could add as wll most of the crowd who are on
or who phone talk radio stations)
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Happenings
Our daughter was released from hospital a few days ago.. still have health issues but seems like they will be overcome.
So our federal goverment survived a confidence vote...how long will this continue until Canadians can 'spank' their politicians and tell them less partisanship and more collaboration (hey that's a good alternative to coalition)
Heard a right wing radio talk show host bemoaning what he called personal attacks on supporters of the 'Lansdowne Live' project here in Ottawa. To hear him speak almost made me phone him and tell him his concerns were like the pot calling the kettle black. He is well experienced in the art of personal attacks.
So our federal goverment survived a confidence vote...how long will this continue until Canadians can 'spank' their politicians and tell them less partisanship and more collaboration (hey that's a good alternative to coalition)
Heard a right wing radio talk show host bemoaning what he called personal attacks on supporters of the 'Lansdowne Live' project here in Ottawa. To hear him speak almost made me phone him and tell him his concerns were like the pot calling the kettle black. He is well experienced in the art of personal attacks.
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