Excited Delirium

Stories about Excited Delirium, the Shock Economy and a little fiction here and there.

Monthly Archives: January 2008

Tax Breaks Don’t Work – See 1929

We’re being told by the Harpies that opposition parties – if we were stoopid enough to elect the Liberals or the NDP – would spend like crazy and increase our level of debt. Here’s just one of the empty threats from Steve.

Duh! If you’ve ever read an unbiased economics textbook, that’s what you do when you’re about to head into a recession.

What you don’t do is cut taxes and expect people to just spend their way out of economic misery because they’re too worried that they’re not going to have a job in two weeks. Let’s do the math: I can either spend to support the economy with ZERO income less a few percentage points or I can work because our government has invested in rebuilding programs to cushion the blow. The net effect with the treasury is the same, but the outcome is exceptionally different.

And you also don’t slash business taxes, at least not for big business. These days, the only corporations that are actually making profits in Canada are those that are not based here. As a result, they pay less here, but then turn all of their after-tax balances over to a foreign treasury.

Bravo!! Your tax-cutting package has just ensured that money evaporates from our economy and people resort to eating their pets because they don’t have jobs.

You think I’m ranting, don’t you? Well, check out what mainstream media has to say about tax stimulation packages:
MarketWatch Commentary on 2007/2008 Relief Package

And, if you think that’s bad, the dreaded comparison to 1929 is on its way:
Tax Relief Package Details from 1929

When you read this article, be sure to skim down to the bottom to review the list of “impartial” advisors to the relief package, including the likes of Ford, Standard Oil, GE, du Pont, Macy’s, etc.

It didn’t work then and it won’t work now. Please don’t let history repeat itself.

Oil in My Water

Every time I see a case of water advertised for two bucks, I’ll think of this article:
http://www.polarisinstitute.org/oil_in_my_water

This is an exceptionally well detailed review of what goes into a bottle of water. Er water bottle. It ain’t pretty. Every time you chug on your nice fresh city tap water highly specialized and filtered morsels of luciousness, you also suck back quite a load of toxic swill.

When I read an article like this, I want to know what the solution is. How do we completely and unquestionably stomp out this kind of industry when we all know it’s predicated on complete and utter insanity?

The answer is sooooo easy when you think about it. Declare that plastic bottles for water are a travesty to the environment and levy a $0.50 tax PER BOTTLE on 500ml bottles, $0.80 per bottles on 1 litre bottles and so on. All revenues raised would be paid directly to the level of government applying the tax.

Follow that up with a bureaucracy so intense and deep that no retailer in their right mind would ever consider selling bottled water again.

This is a much better solution that trying to figure how to commoditize water without commoditizing it. Why tax at source when you can let Adam’s little hand guide the way with a nice swift kick in the wallet?

Demand will be sure to dry up and rivers will flow (once again).

Canadian Equivalent for Kiva.org?

Hey everyone,

Just a general question that I’m hoping to get an answer to: does anyone know if there is a Canadian equivalent for Kiva.org?

I’d love to know, as we’re hoping to support this kind of initiative, both financially and also with some volunteer time.

Please post any links you know of through the comments.

Training urged for EMS dealing with the emotionally disturbed

This story is very intriguing. Is it possible that the media is trying to weave the “story” of excited delirium into the general lexicon, applying the ‘symptoms’ of ‘ED’ to other reactions?

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/297657

Does this mean we should expect to see similar stories materialize where maybe high school kids not paying attention in class or vandals start getting classified under the tag “sufferers of excited delirium”?

Vancouver Taser Probe Awaits Funding

I found this article a little hard to believe:
http://www.thestar.com/article/297655

No mention is made of the cost of the investigation, but shouldn’t the judge/jury/whoever just watch what transpires on Youtube? I’ll try to save you a few million in legal fees. Just click below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gziQB6HkOY
(Or search “Vancouver Airport Taser”)

Here’s another idea: how about you just take the City of Toronto budget and use that? I think the total was $8.7 million, but we all know that price will double as costs come in much higher than planned. That should pay for a hell of a review, shouldn’t it?

The Hollowing Out of Canada

This is a great introduction to the issue surrounding Canada’s economic state:
http://canadiandimension.com/articles/2008/01/11/1526/

However, I don’t feel like they went far enough in creating a “rally cry” concerning what we need to do. Conservatives have tax cuts, guns and more prisons that form the central core of people of the Right, regardless of nationality.

What we need is our own playbook. The word ‘manifesto’ is a little daunting. Anyways, it would be typical for SocDems to get caught up on what to call our playbook and not actually get any work done!

I’m going to get the ball rolling. Here are some of the basics that I’d like to see happen:

  1. Any time a government lends to a corporate institution, that government (the people) should be entitled to an ownership stake equivalent to the value of what’s being loaned. If corporations don’t like this, then stop coming to governments with hands open. That includes defense contracts, resources, businesses, farms, etc.
  2. Our Government should actively encourage the development of co-operative and non-profit organizations, starting by simplifying any requirements involved for their creation.
  3. Taxes must be progressive.
  4. Subsidies and transfers in the form of tax credits, incentives or other bonuses to carbon-based industries must stop.
  5. Subsidies and transfers in the form of tax credits, incentives or other bonuses to renewable energy production must start. In a very big way.

I’m just starting, so I’d love some help.

Rummie Calls for Propoganda Agency

Rumsfeld, who was fired or let go or whatever you want to call it as head of the Dept of US Defense in 2006, has re-emerged.

Rummie Calls for US Propaganda Agency

In Rummie’s own words:

Private media does not get up in the morning and say what can we do to promote the values and ideas that the free Western nations believe in? It gets up in the morning and says they’re going to try to make money by selling whatever they sell… The way they decided to do that is to be dramatic and if it bleeds it leads is the common statement in the media today. They’ve got their job, and they have to do that, and that’s what they do.

We need someone in the United States government, some entity, not like the old USIA . . . I think this agency, a new agency has to be something that would take advantage of the wonderful opportunities that exist today. There are multiple channels for information . . . The Internet is there, blogs are there, talk radio is there, e-mails are there. There are all kinds of opportunities. We do not with any systematic organized way attempt to engage the battle of ideas and talk about the idea of beheading, and what it’s about and what it means. And talk about the fact that people are killing more Muslims than they are non-Muslims, these extremists. They’re doing it with suicide bombs and the like. We need to engage and not simply be passive and allow that battle of competition of ideas.

So … where would this information war take place? Hmmm … what would I accept to sell out my views and start posting pro-Harpie comments? Maybe a vineyard in France and a cottage in Muskoka? Hmmm … not enough.

Of course, many people out there will get very active supporting Rummie’s goals, above and beyond those who aren’t already selling themselves out. They’ll start blogs and “send the word” to the rest of the world through email and Facebook pokes. In fact, you might even see a media network emerge that is exceptionally well funded. They might buy one or maybe they’ve already got one ready to go. Chances are, if you’re someone like this, you’ve already got a network. You don’t make public recommendations like this, get them approved and wait for someone else to swoop in to seal the deal.

Expect a few TV channels will be approved and rankings for anti-Rummie posts will silently disappear, like rebels in Chile or Argentina did in the 70s. Maybe a newspaper like TASS?

And how will it all materialize? Let’s face it: It’s already here. ABCNNBCBS has been a great start, but they obviously aren’t impressing anyone because Darth Rummie has decided to step it up a notch.

Expect to see a lot of “there’s nothing to see here … please move on” stories. But not from this source.

The Future: Cuba Goes Organic without Fossil Fuels

A cool article about how Cuba has converted its agricultural industry without the use of fossil fuels:
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/OrganicCubawithoutFossilFuels.php

I think this is a classic example of how sanctions (economic and political) just can’t beat the piss out of a determined population.

Did Musharraf Have Bhutto Killed?

This goes in the “What the F***” category:
http://groups.google.com/group/reportpress/browse_thread/thread/3299e8ce5d743206

The only thing that can be known for sure is that the crime scene was scrubbed to a brilliant shine within hours of the assassination, making it virtually impossible for investigators to assess the situation on a forensic level.

Quotes from the article:

‘There are strong indications that Pervez Musharraf was behind the
Bhutto assassination,’ said the official, who spoke on condition of
anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter
publicly. ‘There is certainly no reason to doubt that Musharraf was
behind this.’

…

The U.S. intelligence official also said Musharraf’s organization
poses a serious internal threat to Pakistan.

American counter-terrorism officials have said recently that Musharraf
has amassed a large force of fighters that has been responsible for
potentially dozens of official bombings and other serious attacks.

‘Musharraf is a die-hard militant with strong ties to PML-Q, MQM and
other terrorist organizations,’ the U.S. official said. ‘He and his
followers, who operate out of the government areas, pose serious
security risks inside Pakistan and have to be among the first suspects
to look at if terrorist attacks occur there in the future.’

Is Musharraf getting tossed to the lions because he’s not cooperating with a bigger plan?

Let’s wait and see …

Torture-Tories: Afghani Treatment of Prisoners Catches Up with the Harpies

I’m sure this link will disappear, as do many similar stories that show the cracks in the Harpie agenda, but here it is for your viewing pleasure:

Acting Commander Ended Afghanistan Detainee Transfers:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/01/24/afghan-detainees.html

I’ve pasted a portion of the story, expecting it to enter the world of “wikiality” soon:

Champ (from Amnesty International) also argued the judge should grant an injunction blocking any more transfers because there’s now proof detainees are being tortured.

He said that because the military stopped transferring prisoners months ago and never told anyone, it could start up again at any time and no one would know.

But lawyers for the federal government countered that since the military has stopped transferring prisoners, an injunction is a moot point.

Meanwhile, Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion said the government’s revelations show that it cannot be trusted.

“If they are unable to come clean on an issue like torture, when [will they] be honest with Canadians? How can we believe this government?”

Speaking from Vancouver, NDP Leader Jack Layton said he feels like Canadians have been deceived.

“When a government starts to lie to its own people about a war, you’ve got a very, very big problem.”

The government has denied allegations of a coverup, saying it was up to the Canadian army to disclose matters related to military operations.

“The military make decisions each and every day based on what is happening in theatre,” Sandra Buckler, Harper’s communications director, said in an e-mail to the Canadian Press.

“Concerning the matter of detainees, the number of detainees, if they are being transferred or not, these are all operational matters and are the responsibility of the Canadian Forces.”

The agreement signed last year with the Afghan government is still in place, she wrote.

“I would close with the fact that Minister Bernier proactively disclosed, in the House of Commons, the one case that caused Canada’s monitoring team concern,” Buckler wrote.

There are so many issues with this:

  1. Why are we defending governments that we can’t trust to treat people humanely?
  2. Why did the Harpies stand up in the House of Commons saying torture wasn’t an issue?
  3. Why is there not an independent federal or international investigation into this issue?

It’s tragic how the Harpies are passing off the issue as a military issue, clear proof that Canada’s forces are being used by the hawks. Do something right: we’ll pose with you. Do something wrong: we’ll toss you down the well and make you climb your way out.