Daily Digest December 27, 2008

The DAILY DIGEST: INFORMATION and OPINION from ST. JOHN'S to VICTORIA.
ARCHIVED at http://cdndailydigest.blogspot.com/

EDITORIAL PAGEs

ST.JOHN'S TELEGRAM -
No excuses
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=204269&sc=80

The King of Broken Promises
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=204800&sc=80

CORNER BROOK WESTERN STAR -
The insults keep coming
http://www.thewesternstar.com/index.cfm?sid=204226&sc=30

CHARLOTTETOWN GUARDIAN -
Making glad the heart of childhood
The message to Virginia so long ago remains food for thought today.
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=204298&sc=103

CAPE BRETON POST -
'Tis the season of laughing hearts
http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=204105&sc=151

Finally it's time for the tar ponds
http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=204708&sc=151

Senate reform needs new tack
http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=204357&sc=151

HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD -
Senate serves up patronage plum pudding
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Editorial/1097571.html

Russia's Mr. Stability threatened
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Editorial/1097911.html

MONTREAL GAZETTE -
Go ahead and say it: Merry Christmas
http://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/editorials/ahead+Merry+Christmas/1110292/story.html

Veteran's fight illustrates the plight of rural anglos
http://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/editorials/Veteran+fight+illustrates+plight+rural+anglos/1117203/story.html

OTTAWA CITIZEN -
Over-age drinking
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/editorials/Over+drinking/1114550/story.html

KINGSTON WHIG STANDARD-
Tories take backward step
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1364200

Driving and common sense
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1363303

Santa Harper gives the Liberals a Christmas present
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1363327

We're running out of oil, but there's no reason to panic
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1363343

BELLEVILLE INTELLIGENCER -
Let's support domestic auto dealerships
http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1363102

TORONTO STAR -
Amid the gloom, a time of hope
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/558115

Canada needs its own car czar
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/558467

Smiles that say poverty
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/558465

Harper abandons zeal for reform
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/557969

Rethinking packaging
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/557970

NATIONAL POST -
'I have overcome the world'
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=1109916

Milgram's shock box, revisited
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/index.html

ST. CATHARINES STANDARD -
Nothing offensive in Christmas greetings
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1362118

K-W RECORD -
 Merry Christmas, forget the recession
http://news.therecord.com/Opinions/article/463057

A pragmatic choice  
http://news.therecord.com/Opinions/article/463067

WINDSOR STAR -
The Court: A step backwards
http://www.windsorstar.com/opinion/editorials/Court/1117878/story.html

SUDBURY STAR -
Finance minister wants to hear from you
http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1362193

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS -
In politics, to the victor go the spoil
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/in_politics_to_the_victor_go_the_spoils.html

WINNIPEG SUN -
Stashing cash no help to anyone
http://www.winnipegsun.com/comment/editorial/2008/12/26/7852196-sun.html

SASKATOON STARPHOENIX -
Deliver on promise
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/forum/story.html?id=ee9fdde6-b972-48d6-aa41-50d2ce3242fc

REGINA LEADER-POST -
Same old patronage games in Harper's 'new' Senate
http://www.leaderpost.com/opinion/Same+patronage+games+Harper+Senate/1114335/story.html

CALGARY HERALD -
Low cost of oil no reason to ditch alternative energy projects
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/theeditorialpage/story.html?id=05dc3c3e-a520-4122-b4be-3727595ade0c

CALGARY SUN -
Common values unite mankind
http://calsun.canoe.ca/Comment/POV/2008/12/24/7843691-sun.html

GRANDE PRAIRIE DAILY HERALD TRIBUNE -
Taking the message to heart - It's a time to embrace the true spirit of the season
http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1362630

EDMONTON JOURNAL -
Too much mystery on the Rideau
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/much+mystery+Rideau/1116981/story.html

ELETHBRIDGE HERALD -
Spirit of Christmas is still evident
http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/content/view/18555/56/

Even the 'devil' gets his due
http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/content/view/19020/56/

VANCOUVER SUN -
Harper makes headlines
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=b6c95100-c49b-41ca-b803-5e3ff6413ec0

VICTORIA TIMES-COLONIST -
Make fishing less damaging
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=c86a2786-ea55-492b-81a3-ab7bd8000d1f


ISSUES

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS -          
Ottawa considering turning grants into loans for aboriginal students
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9009960.html


AFGHANISTAN -
MacKay with troops as they send fallen soldier home
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081227/ramp_ceremony_081227/20081227?hub=TopStories

Lack of security makes Nato logistics insecure
http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=Pakistan+%26+Sub%2DContinent&month=December2008&file=World_News2008122525443.xml

CIA agents offer Viagra to win support of ageing Afghan warlords
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1118289

Taliban influence grows near Kabul
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/558681

Zabul Elders Warn They May Boycott Elections Unless "foreign forces halt irresponsible military operations"
http://story.irishsun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/2411cd3571b4f088/id/446817/cs/1/


CANADIAN FORCES
Sikorsky gets extra $117m in altered deal to replace Sea Kings
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Canada/1097497.html

Mental problems ignored: Mother
http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2008/12/27/7858571-sun.html


ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Think 2008 was bad? Just wait, economists say
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/558212

Federal budget surplus all but gone in October, figures show
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/558057

Most provinces will see recession: TD
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1109901

Better to ditch high-tech gadgets than fix a glitch?
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/558538

How '08 went bust
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081226.wmeltdown1227/BNStory/National/home

Tool-and-die firms face bankruptcy
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1118121


FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Canada losing grip on Arctic agenda, experts say
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2008/12/25/arctic-lag.html

Canadian government in talks to save man, 23, from beheading
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/todays-paper/Canadian+government+talks+save+from+beheading/1117309/story.html

Will Bush's illegal wiretapping be made legal?
http://therealnews.com/t/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=74&jumival=102


POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES
Ont. has $26B nuclear decision looming in 2009
http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20081227/nukes_2009_081227/20081227?hub=Toronto


FEDERAL POLITICS
Harper warns of `difficult' days ahead
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/558319

Ignatieff warns PM against use of hardball tactics in Parliament
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081223.wignatieff24/BNStory/politics/home

An ungainly somersault
Stephen Harper reversed his position and stacked the Senate without the confidence of the House of Commons, and he did so without any hope of achieving his desired reforms http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/todays-paper/ungainly+somersault/1111134/story.html

Remembrance of things past
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Sports/Remembrance+things+past/1110429/story.html

PM painted into corner
http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Columnists/Clancy_Roy/2008/12/24/7843701-sun.php

Senate moves inspired by coalition threat
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/557977


PROGRAMMES
$4.45B fund to ensure ABCP solution
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1118128

Flaherty Says He Doubts That Commercial-Paper Funding Will Be Tapped Into
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=aWDedPAPUO8g

Ottawa ready to work with small business
http://www.financialpost.com/small_business/tools/story.html?id=1108444

INSURERS GET BREAK TO EASE VOLATILITY
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1118115

Ottawa changes seal hunt rules
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081227.wsealhunt1227/BNStory/National/home

Three months, seven years ago, mired us in Afghanistan
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=df58b719-ccac-4668-86f6-eaa64fd8d0e8

The Strange Case of Stephen Harper and Michael Ignatieff
http://www.jameslaxer.com/2008/12/strange-case-of-stephen-harper-and.html

In 2008: Canada has been a Troubled Democracy
http://www.jameslaxer.com/2008/12/in-2008-canada-has-been-troubled.html


OPINION AND INFORMATION
I wasn't born in a manger
http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Columnists/Kaufmann_Bill/2008/12/27/7859341-sun.php

Expecting best doesn't always pan out
http://www.thestar.com/Canada/Columnist/article/558029

Good grief, it was a dysfunctional year in Ottawa
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/558555

Who and what will be hot - or not - in 2009
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081227.NOTEBOOK27/TPStory/Comment

An astounding political blunder
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/558469

Don't blame Canada's banks for problems
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/558468

Don't fix the economy - change it
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/557976

Picking the lesser evil
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1118161

Crystal ball time
http://www.ottawasun.com/Comment/2008/12/27/7857846-sun.html

The reform Canadians want
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1118164

We need an elected Senate
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1118162

Running for office is a noble goal - but a Senate seat? Oh, please
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081227.BLATCH27/TPStory/National/columnists

Another dice roll with Senate
http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/opinion/article/522940

Appointments go against principles
http://www.edmontonsun.com/Comment/Commentary/2008/12/27/7859286-sun.html

In like a lion, out with a crash
http://www.calgaryherald.com/columnists/like+lion+with+crash/1116680/story.html

Harper should do some reflecting on what went wrong in 2008
http://www.montrealgazette.com/columnists/Harper+should+some+reflecting+what+went+wrong+2008/1117212/story.html

Harper's biting criticisms come back to cut him
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1097842.html

Don Martin's Stories of the Year
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/12/27/don-martin-s-stories-of-the-year.aspx

Even a grump can appreciate civility
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=bf83cfe8-93c1-4598-8d0c-2e44e12214ab

FEAR OF... The New Political Paradigm
http://pacificfreepress.com/news/1/3496-fear-of-the-new-political-paradigm.html
INFOS 
Mort d'un 104e soldat canadien en Afghanistan
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/12/27/224944.html

Israël menace d'élargir l'offensive militaire sur la Bande de Gaza
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/international/moyen-orient/200812/27/01-813394-israel-menace-delargir-loffensive-militaire-sur-la-bande-de-gaza.php

Le pourcentage de francophones hors Québec décline
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/national/200812/27/01-813406-le-pourcentage-de-francophones-hors-quebec-decline.php

Frères Kohail: l'opposition presse Ottawa d'intervenir
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/national/200812/27/01-813309-freres-kohail-lopposition-presse-ottawa-dintervenir.php

Harper prévient que 2009 sera une année difficile
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200812/25/01-813062-harper-previent-que-2009-sera-une-annee-difficile.php

Stephen Harper, le fin stratège conservateur
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/12/27/224915.html

BELOW(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)

IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE?

I reckon as how "smoothing capital volatility" must be a good thing, sure sounds that way.  I have, howsomever, a qualmish sensation when reading banks have been enabled to "reclassify billions of dollars of investments so losses do not have to be recognized."

Is there anybody out there able to make sense of this?

         Joe

The regulator said this would have the effect of "smoothing capital volatility" and be introduced alongside similar measures that will allow insurers to enjoy the benefit of a new approach to accounting that has permitted Canada's banks to reclassify billions of dollars of investments so losses do not have to be recognized. http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1118115

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To: "NOT THE MAINSTREAM NEWS":;
From: Charles Tupper
Subject: The Pastor's Ass - A Fable on Public Opinion
 
"The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything."                 --   ...Unknown

The Pastor's Ass

The pastor entered his donkey in a race and it won.

The pastor was so pleased with the donkey that he entered it in the race again, and it won again.

The local paper read:
PASTOR'S ASS OUT FRONT

The Bishop was so upset with this kind of publicity that he ordered the pastor not to enter the donkey in another race.

The next day, the local paper's headline read:
BISHOP SCRATCHES PASTOR'S ASS

This was too much for the bishop, so he ordered the pastor to get rid of the donkey.

The pastor decided to give it to a nun in a nearby convent.

The local paper, on hearing of the news, posted this headline the following day:
NUN HAS BEST ASS IN TOWN

The bishop fainted.

He informed the nun that she would have to get rid of the donkey, so she sold it to a farmer for $10.

The next day the paper read:
NUN SELLS ASS FOR $10

This was just too much for the bishop, so he ordered the nun to buy back the donkey and lead it to the range, where it could run wild.

The next day the headlines read:
NUN ANNOUNCES HER ASS IS WILD AND FREE

The bishop was buried the next day.

The moral of the story is... being concerned about public opinion can bring you much grief and misery... and possibly end your life.

So, be yourself and enjoy life.

Stop worrying about everyone else's ass and you'll be a lot happier (and perhaps live longer).

===================================
From: "Andrew"
Subject: Re: Daily Digest December 22, 2008

Merry Christmas Joe. I continue to read the Digest for daily news and views. Thanks for continuing to provide this service, even for someone who doesn't share your political views and remains with the CPC.
 
Best wishes,
 
Andrew Swidzinski

=====
Thanks for continuing to receive my views.  Too many have quit.
Be encouraged to be disagreeable, so to speak, by posting views.
We'll come closer to what is the best direction by the interchange.

===================================
From: "Rubie Britton"
Subject: Friend, take a look at this

Hi: You may want to check out this site: http://home.comcast.net/~singingman8/SWS.htm

===================================
Subject: Bailouts - We need more Danny Williams
From Odette Kalman

Dear Joe, best wishes for the Christmas Season and a very Happy 2009 – thank you for the tireless work you do to keep us alert and vigilant around politics and related issues.

I feel that there is more to the 4 billion bailout of the Canadian auto industry, because they represent subsidiaries of USA parent companies. These subsidiaries – I am afraid - will be kept alive only to absorb any future losses made in the US companies to off-set taxes owed to Canada in the future. Would it not be fair to support all other foreign automakers who invested in future oriented cars like Toyota (now struggling) and Honda where those auto workers could gain secure jobs again?  At the very least, the government might be wise to demand stock options and opportunities for workers to become part-owners. Such a win-win alternative is the best solution to balance wages against difficult decision making in hard times.  Instead of losing buying power in their communities as well as a loss of the tax base, such participation at the corporate board could have very positive, economic-dynamic effects which have been lost in the wake of greedy stakeholders. Have you ever noticed, as soon as downsizing was announced the shares of such companies went up over night. On the other hand, have you ever read or heard of shareholders questioned about where all the revenue went? Twenty years ago, wages were taking a greater portion of revenues compared to now. As the big guys have claimed ever since: "It is hard to compete in the world economy as long as workers demand unreasonable wages and benefits." And so the mantra became an obsession. While no-one was watching, the fat cats have been and still are disbursing the biggest chunk among themselves.

Important business dealings are happening behind closed doors while everyone else is preoccupied in buying stuff to help reduce over-capacity initiated by the irresponsible free market system.

We need more Danny Williams!!!

As an opening, I would like to pay tribute to Susan Riley's column "At least Danny Williams is acting for his citizens", published in the Victoria Times Colonist of this Monday:

http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=18fae16a-71de-443c-9f63-52dbef18cc78

===================================
From: Jesse Helmer
Subject: Re: Daily Digest December 23, 2008

Dear Joe:

What do you think of Michael Ignatieff? Preferable to Stephen Harper?

Jesse

=====
. . . my preference? Neither.

M.I. is not as well known to me as S.H. so the threat he poses
to my two primary concerns is not as clear.

As a Canadian rather than an Ontario-io-ian and a Canadian
rather than a Norte Americano SH's positions are clear. All
powers to the parts at the expense of the whole. Harmonization
with the U.S. of A. in every way.

M.I. being a Liberal has no fixed beliefs.  The imperative is power.

Sooooo where Iggy will stand at the moment will depend upon
what has the best probability of demonizing Steve.

You will receive a second post in which Harper's aims are stated,
aims he works toward "incrementally" as Tom Flanagan writes.

Not the Canada I want, nor the one the Progressive Conservative
Party of Canada from Macdonald onward built nor the one the
PC Party of today supports but rather opposes with a differing vision.

Look at his Proposals and determine if you do.

        Joe
         905-356-3901

===================================
From: Ron Thornton
Subject: Re: Daily Digest December 23, 2008

Merry Christmas, Joseph:

What an appropriate name to have at this time of year, though I hope this Christmas finds you in some enclosure a bit warmer than a stable. Of course, that may depend on how you have been treating "she who must be obeyed."

Sometimes it is best to get along by going along. The Amherst Daily News' item entitled "Voting Wrong Way Brings Bad News" should not come as a revelation. It would be nice that even if we toss someone the finger, they would still be good enough to take care of our cherished dreams. It doesn't often happen, but it would be nice. Trios-Rivieres is celebrating its 375th anniversary this year and the good folks there were hoping for about $2-million in federal cash. Too bad they elected the separatist guy in the last election (with 45% of the vote). Like the paper, I know I should be crying a river (or riviere in this case), but I think they should go to their "national" government in Quebec City for the cash they seek. To be truthful, I would expect the same treatment if I should ever be so blessed in electing a Bloc Alberta candidate in my riding some fine day. Then again, all but one party ran a national campaign in the recent election where they hoped to gain support with screwing Alberta high on their "to-do" list, so maybe I'm not as sensitive to such things as I might normally be.

Is the banner of the Belleville Intelligencer supposed to be sarcastic? I mean, "intelligencer." They think it nasty that Stephen Harper, who appointed one elected senator but could get no one else to put the choice before the people for affirmation, finally filled those 18 vacancies in the Red Chamber after holding off for most of his time in office. Maybe they think a 58-20 gap in favor of the Liberals is just not good enough. Maybe they are just a good ole socialist rag that sees things through a pinkish prism. I'm just guessing here.

Even the Sudbury (Red) Star gets in on the act, with their "exercise in cronyism" article. Now, can anyone send me the articles this fine publication put out in regards to past Liberal picks that also smacked of cronyism? Anyone? A 58-20 gap, people! I know, not as fun as 76-20, but give me a break.

A journalist goes to a news conference and becomes a hero for tossing his shoes at Pres. Bush. Some claim he got roughed up a bit. Not shot, but roughed up. No shit. If I similarly tossed my shoes at my dad in a public place, I'm guessing that old man would still rough me up a bit for doing it. Hell, he would kick my ass. Just thought I would share that with you.

Ron Thornton

===================================
From: Zeb Landon
Subject: globeandmail.com: Electing Bloc MP may have cost town $2-million subsidy - Comments

Joe,  FYI...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081221.wgrant22/CommentStory/politics/home

Another Opinion  from Toronto, Canada writes:

I'm really tired of partisan commenters. When I criticize the Conservatives, I'm a socialist. When I criticize the Liberals, I'm a neo-con.

Just because the lot of you don't think for yourselves, that doesn't necessarily mean the rest of us don't either. I've never met so many people who were so proud of being so incredibly ignorant and narrow-minded.

The fact is Harper tried (unsuccessfully) to bribe a town, and it's nothing more than sheer bigotry to attack the residents of the town for refusing to be bribed. I don't care if you don't like separatists.

Every attack I've seen on this forum towards the residents of Trois-Rivieres CONSISTENTLY give Harper a complete pass for trying to bribe them. If partisanship is the extent to your integrity, then maybe it's YOU who should leave Canada.

We'd be better off without you. Seriously.

===================================
From: "Rebecca Gingrich"
Subject: DD

FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Harper promises to remain staunch ally of Israel
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081222/harper_israel_081222/20081222?hub=Canada

Joe--this has to be the most abhorrent statement that has been made by
Harper in his lifetime. Is he just totally in the thrall of israel or does
he truly believe the lies he has just spoken? Has he no concept of what is
going on in Palestine? Does starving a nation of people denote abhorrence
for hate and violence? That he could even state this while israel is
practicing genocide is just beyond the pale. I have to agree with Elizabeth
May to an extent--I am ashamed of the leader of my country. And if we, as a
country, do not denounce what israel is doing then I am also ashamed to be
Canadian.
And to think that we are in Afghanistan to 'bring them democracy' while the
Afghanis are selling their sons so the rest of their family can eat is just
another example of how far we are removed from reality.
And speaking of democracy--don't forget that Hamas was democratically
elected but that is not good enough for the democracies of the world. We
are a black stain on this planet.
By the way--Merry Christmas--so many people in the world are living in an
atmosphere of death and we worry if we can buy the latest gadget. We soon
will reap what we have allowed to be sown.

becky

Special Report - Slaughter In Gaza
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/

===================================
From: "Eugene Parks"

Subject: My actual solution for the automotive industry

Published here (and other places)
 
Government-backed loan would help auto buyers Windsor Star
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/letters/story.html?id=94c8f37d-3569-4bb8-92b8-4fd10fe09082
Published: Wednesday, December 24, 2008

The crises in the automotive industry puts five per cent of the North American economy at immediate risk. At stake are not just the vehicle producers but also parts suppliers, the distribution and financing networks and their workers.

The Bush-Harper automotive plan offers loans to restructure the producers' debt with the goal of an orderly transition to new corporate owners. Naturally, financial markets reacted badly to the Bush-Harper plan because nobody wins, except perhaps the new owners, whoever they may be.

An effective assistance package could, and would, address the entire sector of the economy.
Consumers should be offered government-backed loans to purchase vehicles, in effect extending the CMHC insuring of mortgages to financial institutions to vehicles.

Taxes from both employers and employees and savings in unemployment payments should be diverted to assist workers and stabilize the workforce. During the financial crises, supplier and credit payments need to be guaranteed.

As matters stand, Harper and Bush are demanding that a barely functioning credit system take more losses

My plan would, if adopted, address the entire North American automobile industry.

In contrast, the Bush-Harper plan serves precious few other than the new owners of the automotive industry. Nearly everyone else loses.

Eugene Parks
Victoria, B.C.

===================================
From: "Brian D. Marlatt"
Subject: Queen stress importance of family in Christmas Message
http://www.ftlcomm.com:16080/ensign/ensign2/mcintyre/pickofday/2008/012december/december23/HRM.html

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Subject: Re: Daily Digest December 20-21, 2008
From: "Michael Watkins" <mw@mikewatkins.ca>

> Orville Heschuk wrote:
> Subject:  Coalition is dictated to by the Bloc - believe it
> When did Quebeckers, become something different
> than Canadians [?]

Answer: Of all the events we can most look to that point in time when
Stephen Harper put forward a motion to recognize Quebeckers as a "nation".

Lets not discriminate in our condemnation. Harper as much as any other
leader - arguably more so - has gone out of his way to kowtow to Quebec
nationalists.

Duceppe himself needs some minor concessions - hence the language - in
order to save face in front of his constituents and supporters. A little
language us all he has achieved. I don't accept that the language has any
real meaning to it.

When you get right down to it, the Bloc is somewhere in between the NDP
and Liberals politically. Its not an absurd coalition at all from their
perspective; if any party ought to have an issue with joining forces, it
will be the NDP who are far to the left of the Liberals, regardless of any
"left" label the Conservatives might wish to attempt to paint the Liberals
with.

In fact given Ignatieff has gained control, and those who support him are
very much of the centrist / centre right (fiscally) mould, the Liberals
have moved even farther away from the NDP.

I certainly can't fault them for wanting to bring Harper down, but it
would be more fun to see Stephen Harper shoot himself in the foot.

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From: "Grenville Rogers"
To: "TORONTO STAR" <lettertoed@thestar.ca>
Subject: Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

TORONTO STAR 
 
Dear Mr. Editor   -  
 
Merry Christmas to you and all at TORSTAR
 
Here we are, once again, at the time of year when we celebrate, or at least acknowledge the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, the "Prince of Peace". We are continually reminded of 'peace', and we wish others to have 'peace'. Many voices call for "Peace, peace", when there is no peace. Peace is very elusive, for in its place there seems to be nothing but violence and corruption, which calls to mind statements in that Book of History, the Bible; statements such as:
 
"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually... The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth."
 
Such is the record of the condition of man upon the earth, in the days of Noah, just before 'The Flood', in which God destroyed all but Noah and his family.
 
It is also written that the same conditions will exist on earth, just before the Lord comes again. "As it was in the days of Noah .." "as it was in the days of Lot .." It IS, now, "as it was in the days of Noah". It IS, now, "as it was in the days of Lot". Or so it seems to me.
 
God - banished from government, schools, science, history. But - Man seeks peace - without God. It is also written: "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."

Surely there is a lesson for us - for all of us - in this.
 
Respectfully
 
Grenville Rogers
Lively, ON.

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From: "Rebecca Gingrich"
Subject: GW

The 12 Days Of Global Warming
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmPSUMBrJoI&eurl=http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/

Subject: [On-Guard] Afghanistan
I guess this means Canada is doing a great job saving the female children???
  These families will certainly have a Merry Christmas, won't they?  We
should all hang our head in shame.
becky
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/3901941/Afghan-parents-selling-their-sons-to-survive.html

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Subject: RE: Daily Digest December 22, 2008
From: "Efstratios Psarianos"

Hi, Joe.
 
Merry Christmas to you and all of yours, and to all DDers everywhere. All the best for 2009.
 
Cheers!
Stratos
 
P.S. And for avid DD readers, a nice, big. honking gift under your trees: an extra-long contribution from yours truly. For those who think I write too much or that I'm overblown (which is a valid point of view) ... well, think of what's below as nice, big lump of coal to keep you warm. Santa Stratos DOES play favourites, but everyone wins in the end (he thinks ... he hopes ... he would find neat if it were so ...). Cheers, y'all!
 
 
From: Ron Thornton
Subject: Re: Daily Digest December 20-21, 2008

Hi Joe:

We don't always agree, but it seems when it comes to economics we do. 
When times are good, the government should allow the markets to do their thing and try to stay out of things. When times are bad is when governments should use those sheltered shekels for the benefit of us all. Of course, you have had to be saving during the good times to spend the cash during the bad. It is interesting that folks who, on their own, couldn't make the big coin tend to spend yours and mine like drunken sailors or accountants once they get in charge of the public purse. I'm not sure of the technical term for such folks, though incompetent bastards seems to do the trick. Interestingly enough, they come in all political stripes.
 
Hi, Ron.
 
We'll have to agree to disagree on governments letting markets do their thing ... with 50% of spending in Canada being government spending, the government's not being involved in markets is an impossibility. However, I think that what you mean is that government shouldn't try to guide, influence or constrain markets in directions that it favours, rather than leaving markets free to decide for themselves. Concerning that, I'll say: sometimes government should, sometimes it shouldn't.
 
First things first: what's a 'market'? You'll be surprised to realize (although most people understand it implicitly) that a big part of each Canadian's commercial activity isn't market-driven. An ideal 'market' is a commercial environment where people and companies come together to buy and sell stuff of varying quality and quantity, and where the goods to be exchanged are assessible by both buyers and sellers (in an ideal world) and where the prices of goods on offer are also known. From a buyer's point of view, the price proposed by each seller of a given good is known. From the seller's point of view, the price at which each buyer is willing to buy a good is known to him. Also, all buyers know how much other buyers are offering for a good, and all sellers know what other sellers are proposing as prices.
 
The above describes what your typical buyer experiences if he goes looking for carrots at a farmers' market. He goes from stall to stall, see at what price each seller is selling his carrots, checks out the quality of each seller's carrots, etc. Once he's done his round, he chooses which carrots he wants and how many he buys at the price he decides upon. (Things can get more complicated ... he might choose to buy a quantity of high-end carrots and some of lower quality .. but let's keep things simple). While all this is happening, each seller sees what the other sellers are charging as prices for carrots of varying quality, so he adjusts his price so that he can sell his at the best price he can get (if he prices too high, he sells none; if he prices too low, he'll sell all but make less money than he could have made). After a while, carrot prices marketwide will be pretty much the same from seller to seller.
 
Now, a whole lot of things that people and companies buy and sell don't pass through a market. If one's buying and selling stock in a stock market, they ARE doing so in a 'market' like the one described above. But if, for example, they're buying stuff in another way, say by contract, then markets have nothing to do with the commercial exchange.
 
For example: if one wants to protect himself from price variations for a period of time, one can make a contract with a supplier whereby the latter has to supply a good at a fixed price for a given period. An example of this is heating oil: prior to this year, in Montreal, one could choose year by year whether to pay a fixed amount per litre for a year or whether to pay the going rate (the 'spot price') whenever the oil gets delivered. In the first case (the fixed amount), the buyer and seller completely bypass the market: no matter how much heating oil costs at a given time, the seller must deliver whatever quantity the buyer wants, and he must do so at the agreed-upon price. If the going rate for heating oil goes up, the seller loses out because he could have sold his oil at a higher price (we assume that the higher price doesn't reduce the quantity that the buyrer wants to buy ... he wants to stay warm, after all, not save his pennies). If the price goes down, the buyer loses because he has to pay more than he otherwise would have. And while the contract lasts, the heating-oil market is completely bypassed.
 
This may sound like a more or less modest exception to the rule: after all, if the great bulk of transactions are market-based, who cares about a small percentage of non-market activities, right? Quite the contrary: in many cases, NON-market transactions predominate. One example is the market for fuel-ethanol in Canada. Buyers almost always sign contracts with suppliers (say, ethanol-plant owner-operators) to buy given quantities at given prices for given periods, no matter what the supply-and-demand situation is when the stuff gets delivered. Thus, strictly speaking, there's almost no market for ethanol in Canada: buying and selling ethanol is all about cutting one-to-one deals WITHOUT  buyers knowing what other buyers are paying and WITHOUT sellers knowing what other sellers are offering.
 
The same goes for international contracts for liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplied by tanker: liquefaction facilities at the supplier's end and regasification facilities at the buyer's end cost billions of dollars. No sane seller is going to commit to building a plant if he doesn't know whether or not he'll be able to sell his LNG. Likewise, no buyer will build a plant if he doesn't know whether or not he can get the LNG he needs. Thus, buyers and sellers sign long-term (usually 20-year) contracts to have given quantities of LNG delivered at prices determined in some fashion or other over time. Again, no market is involved: it's all done by one-to-one deals.
 
Now, sure, governments can complicate things by banning sales, acquiring resources for their own ends, taxing transactions, etc. But to say that they should leave markets alone is more a reflection of an oversimplified idea of how the world really works than it is about modern reality. And when a politician talks about his support for a 'market-based economy' or 'free enterprise', what he really means is that his general approach is to tax lightly, spend modestly, and regulate lightly (with all being relative, of course). You'll notice that Canadian politicians almost NEVER talk in these terms, whereas politicians who do so invariably turn out to be Americans. Conversely, ever-sophisticated continental Europeans tend to talk a lot more about 'richness', fairness, equity, etc. What they really mean is that they reserve themselves the right to influence their economies as they see fit.
 
All that to say: when a politician in a fully modern country talks of free markets, what he really means is something else. Same goes for those who talk of fairness, equity, and all that. And in both cases, they're trying to convey a mood, impression, or emotion, NOT an idea.
 
Might I suggest that if the cars ain't selling, they shouldn't be built.
 
Yes, SIR! And if 'foreign' manufacturers still get taxed for not being NAFTA-compliant (i.e., a given car must have 50%+ North American content if it's to be manufactured in Canada and sold in the US tariff-free; I don't know if this still applies, what with the Auto Pact having ended), those taxes should be eilimnated, too. Last I heard, some (all?) Japanese cars assembled in Canada were getting hit with six-odd percent sales taxes.
 
As for oil companies, well, Tom and I might actually be on the same page. The price per barrel has tumbled from $140 to $35, and I am interested to know how that affects the black gold producers' bottom line. I'm guessing the prices were grossly inflated for some time now, and we might soon discover by how much in the near future. I don't know where Tom is from or what it is about Alberta that ticks him off, but at least it is one of two or three provinces that are considered as "haves" while the rest are left having their hands out.
 
Bottom-line-wise, low prices = less revenue. The real issue is how what are the mid- and long-term prospects for oil prices. Those are what determine how gets invested in development, in what order, at what time, etc.
 
As for the general attitude of Alberta's government and Albertans in general: I'm struck at how little rhetoric there is about sticking it to the 'big' provinces and all that. The way I see it, not only is Alberta building up its prosperity, but it's doing so in a mature, confident, non-vindictive manner. Bravo! Contrast that with the 'wah-boo-hoo, Ottawa's-starving-us' rhetoric that keeps coming up from this poor Quebecer's province ... :-S
 
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From: "The Natroses"
Subject: Re: Daily Digest December 20-21, 2008

Just had to response, in the dead of night because I promise my daughter no more posting until Christmas is over.
 
G'day, folks. You have my sympathy ... my wife made her feelings known about my late-night posting, and she's only let up since my mother-in-law's joining us here from Algeria. Sometimes even we obsessives get a break (in a manner of speaking, hahahaha).
 
As for small fish processors, and the small independent fishermen, Casper it would be great if they were allow to ship there goods outside of the province. Only in NL, people are faced with regulations coming from all levels of government. A small fish processor took it to court a while back, and lost. He found a market in Ontario, and was going to ship out frozen fish fillets. People in the other provinces, like Ontario will only see the big fish processors labels, and the other processed fish, the majority are coming from the other side of the world.where standards and wages are much much lower.
For the life of me, I cannot understand why people would buy any food products made in some far off country. Its not good for the Canadian economy or American one. Another good reason, the food cannot be as fresh as the food made in North America.
 
Can't say I know much about fish-product regulations, but if they're blocking stuff from anywhere except for health and safety reasons, they've got to go. As far as I'M concerned, if it meets or exceeds health and safety requirements, it should be allowed for sale in Canada, no matter what the source.
 
By the way, look up the life story of William Ford Coaker of Newfoundland. Back in his hey day, he was staunch advocate for workers to have a bigger share in the fishery. Back in those days, the fish merchants shared very little with the lowly worker. Maybe things have not change as much as people think it has. Or as the old saying goes, the more things change, the more it stays the same. Coaker is a very interesting man, and comparisons can be made to Premier Williams and what he has or will be doing in the near future. Certain media people, will say something different just like they did in Coaker's day. Eh?
 
Interesting that you should be bringing that up. I'm having to think through just this kind of situation: I expect my company to expand over the next few years and 'loyalizing' its employees I feel to be an issue.
 
Generally speaking, I've been thinking of doing something along the lines of having an 'employee collective' own a percentage of the company's shares. My firm, when it would declare dividends, would pay that percentage of them to the collective, which would then use or distribute them. Whether or not my company's management would have a veto on what can be done remains to be seen, but the idea would be to make employees part-owners of the company and thus benefit from its success and its being well-administrated. As shareholders, the employees would be in every right to bring up matters with my company's Board.
 
The other way to do that would be to set up a profit-sharing plan that would distribute a percentage of profits to employees but that wouldn't make them shareholders. On first impression, I don't favour this approach because employees wouldn't have a direct stake in the company and its welfare and they wouldn't feel that to some degree it belongs to them. Add to that the fact that any profits given to employees will be at the expense of either retaining cash in the company itself for investment or taking cash (dividends) away from shareholders who have a legitimate claim to it.
 
Does anyone have any ideas concerning the above? I'll appreciate all advice.
 
As concerns fishworkers (or whomever) having a bigger say in the companies that employ them: I'm constantly surprised that no one ever brings up that that can be done by their buying company shares, if there are available. Assuming that it's incorporated in some fashion, as opposed to belonging to a partnership or to a single person, I feel that workers or a 'workers' collective' (or whatever you want to call it ... it's not meant to be a Commie thing) should insist on being able to BUY INTO the company. That way, they'll have anted up before being dealt any cards.
 

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From: "Jacob Rempel"
Subject: economics gurus

Joe,
I suppose all this Maynard Keynes recovery is great for restoring the economy to normal
by spending billions. We also need to demonize Milton Friedman like we demonized Keynes.
 
Another economist we should also be reading again is John Kenneth Galbraith, who was Keynesian, but also makes the argument that government is quite properly responsible for many public services, that public amenities are very helpful in the pursuit of happiness, more helpful than masses of manufactured goods which are being made in response to manufactured desires.
Galbraith's book THE AFFLUENT SOCIETY was new in 1958, when my Progressive Conservative professor Charles LIghtbody and my CCFer English professor Don Cherry(no kidding) both promoted Galbraith's book to their students. Galbraith also wrote an important book called THE INDUSTRIAL STATE.  He was an advisor to FDR and to JFK, who later made him ambassador to India.
I know Liberals were also reading him.


Hear, hear! I'll be the first to say that the economist who's influenced most my thinking is J.K. Galbraith. I feel that a lot of what he wrote is dated, when it comes to modern reality. But when The New Industrial State came out, it well explained what the then-modern economy was all about and (interestingly) how industrial capitalism at that time was to a large degree identical to Communist industrial practice. Give it a read ... it helped me understand what big companies such as The Big Three North-American automakers were like into the 70s, and it helped me understand the frames of mind of both the industry and its unions when they struggled to modernize their thinking. (In brief: US automakers had it sweet well into the 70s ... they made crap cars, had a captive market in North America, sold their wares at high prices, and kept their unions and workforce on board with high wages and gold-plated benefits.
 
Then the Japanese came along. The Big Three didn't feel threatened at first; after all, those smiling, little yellow men didn't know how to make decent cars, did they? Just look at what the Commies were trying to do with their Ladas, Skodas, Dacias (Mother of Gawd!), and Yugos.
 
Things changed when, about 10 years later, the little mice of the Orient started nipping at the Fat Cats of the West. The former's ever-improving practices, technology, and PHILOSOPHY let them to surpass and then distance the latter, which themselves (with some exceptions, like GM's Saturn project) never really completely broke away from the 1970s way of doing things (sell lower-quality cars at high prices and split the excess gains with the unions to keep them quiet). Customers, however, decided to turn the tables on The Big Three, to the point where the latter had to sell lower-quality cars than the Japanese (even those built in North America!) at lower prices and at deep discounts (cut prices and cheap financing), while enduring the lower productivity AND the high costs of their unionized workforce, both active and retired. And the rest is history ...
 
J.K. Galbraith, in his The New Industrial State, explained lucidly and  revealingly  what at that time was the reality of industrial capitalism. (And he was a great read, too ... he's one of the funniest and otherwise most interesting writers whom I've ever read). But what he wrote soon enough became less and less relevant as industry changed its ways, labour practice and philosophy changed, and computerized control and accounting revolutionized the way of doing things at all levels.
 
That being said: everyone should read The New Industrial State, just to understand what the social and industrial world was like only 50 years ago and for say 20-25 years thereafter. Those over 40 and especially those over 50 will find it a revealing read that will make sense of what they lived when they were young 'uns. It's also a great introduction to the reasoning behind a big part of modern economic thinking. And more than anything, everyone who reads it will get a better appreciation of what changed from the late 70s well into the 90s.
 
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From: "Rebecca Gingrich"
Subject: equalization payments

Ontario's tumble into 'have-not' status triggers a debate over equalization
payments By PAUL RUTHERFORD AND LORRIE GOLDSTEIN
http://www.torontosun.com/comment/2008/12/22/7823916-sun.html
Monday, December 22, 2008
TorontoA few clouds-12°Tomorrow »Light snow-4°/ -12°Change city
Comment
A bunch of have beens
On the one side, becoming a 'have not' is a relative thing: a province's status, objectively, doesn't change if it goes from being a one-dollar contributor to a one-dollar receiver. But at the psychological level, it DOES mean something.And that something can be put to good use to set a province's house in order. Witness the mess that the Socreds and the NDP made of BC's economy in the 80s and 90s. In the latter's case, despite many cases of misfeasance (e.g., the BC Ferries fiasco) and malfeasance (the Bingo scandal ... for Heaven's sake, even the federal Liberals didn't sink to stealing from charity to fund their party!; the $$$ sunk into the black hole that was the Skeena mill, the apprehended casino-licence sale for money TO THE PREMIER!!!!), they could STILL manage to be elected because of Opposition tomfoolery (e.g., after the Bingo scandal, the BC NDP got re-elected because the BC Liberals' leader decided to hoo-hah with one of his MLAs (or whatever they're called), dump his wife, and shack up with his new wuvvy).
 
Came BC's slipping into 'have-not' status in the 90s, though, and Gordon Campbell's Liberals put the kibosh to the NDP (which lost all seats but two in the next election) and ran with the opportunity to set BC's house in order. Much to BC's improvement, I might add ...
 
All that to say: slipping to 'have-not' status ... use it or lose it. And right now, the opposition Ontario Tories look like they're about to blow it, what with their leader-who-isn't-one not throwing in his towel and making way for a more effective one. Too bad for Ontario ... at worst, it would have awakened the Ontario Liberals into more effective politicking to a higher level, rather than letting them get away with a beging-on-their-knees approach for federal assistance.
 

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N.I.V.
 

THE GENERAL THEORY OF EMPLOYMENT, INTEREST AND MONEY

The General Theory by John Maynard Keynes (1936)

_____________________________________________________________

[p.372]

 Chapter 24