Testify

"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both. "


- Ben Franklin

With thanks to KRT....Blindingly relevant.

Blah

Remember when all you needed at half-time was a couple of slices of orange?


mmmmm....orange.

It figures.....

I have been holding on to this stock for like two years, watching it bounce back and forth between 1.80 and 1.20. I bought it at $1.89. I finally say to myself "this is ridiculous, I am selling." I sold it for 1.70 while it was trading at about $1.63.

THE VERY NEXT DAY IT GOES TO $1.80 and is selling like crazy.

Karma. When will I learn?

DUI vs. Common Sense

Drunk Driving

Clearly a bad choice, no question. If you drink, donÂ’t drive. We all learn this from a early age. It is sensible, logical and reasonable. HoweverÂ…

What is unfortunate is the politicisation of what is, in most instances, a fairly minor offence. Consider the push by such right wing and deeply rhetorical organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). For all the good they could do, they have, in the minds of most center thinkers become nothing more than a fringe, militant lobbying group. If they had it their way, drunk drivers, regardless of whether an injury or accident occurred, would be subjected to the harshest penalty Canadian courts could inflict, 25 years in prison. In fact, penalties for driving with a blood alcohol level about 0.08 mg/ml have increased exponentially over the last forty years, as have the incidences of drunk driving. So the easy conclusion is that increasing punitive measures does not cause a decrease in drunken driving events. MADD and similar groups are constantly exploiting the legitimate losses of families across this country to insist that individuals convicted of driving with a blood alcohol level above 0.08 should be forever prevented from driving and spend the rest of their lives in jail. Emotions have no place in discussions concerning citizenÂ’s liberty. We live in a society were freedom allows people to make horrible, stupid and often tragic mistakes, but the solution is not to incarcerate everyone. Here is where the exploiters of alcohol related injuries scream, yell, threaten and rebuke anyone who would even consider lighter sentences for DUI offences.

First of all, there is something called the Harm Principle and it may be a fundamental principle of Canadian law. The idea is simple, if a particular act does not hurt someone, it is not criminal. To me this makes sense and could and should be applied across the gamut of criminal law. You donÂ’t restrict someoneÂ’s liberty for thinking, talking or suggesting. You donÂ’t incarcerate individuals for things that might have happened, but did not. Frankly, I am deeply affected by the fact that we live in a country where the police can arbitrarily pull you over and demand that you take a breath test for the presence of alcohol. Alright, I can accept that if one wants to drive, we must subject ourselves to certain limits, such as speed and courtesy. But in all other instances of rules governing the road, you must first commit the offence and then be observed committing the offence before you can be charged. For some reason, although speed is far, far, far more important factor in vehicular death then alcohol, alcohol holds a special place in Canadian criminal law; ingestion and operation alone are enough to make you guilty. At least with drug laws, they have to find it on you.

What is a better way to stop people from operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs and alcohol? Its so simple....repeated public humiliation. It works, ask Rob Lowe.

How does drunk driving compare with offences like assault, attempted murder, and possession of crack cocaine? Well, a drunk driver is, on a third offence sentenced to not LESS then five years in jail. If you commit manslaughter with a firearm, 4 years; hide the body of dead child, 2 years; poison someone? 2 years; disarm a police officer, 5 years; even committing a sexual assault with a gun...4 years. Find a criminal code and take a look at some of the sentencing provisions for different crimes...it will blow your mind. For even more fun think of a crime, guess the punishment and then look it up.

This link is the complete Criminal Code of Canada. It takes about 20 seconds to load....

http://lois.justice.gc.ca/en/C-46/text.html


Bringing you hypocrisy for 3 years...

Blesphemy

There are at least four issues that cannot be discussed by any politician, public figure or educator. Even to suggest a discussion on all the issues, with no import of emotions, rhetoric or fear would be a hanging offense. In fact, one issue I am even afraid to name for fear that the free world will rise up against me. Good thing it already has….


Now, I am not taking a position on these issues or suggesting that they are not inherently wrong. Nor am I suggesting that it is time to start a dialogue on all the facts. I have not phrased them even as questions, because to do so would suggest a position. These three issues represent enormous sources of strife and pain in our culture and until we have the courage to discuss them openly and without fear of reprisal they will continue to exist on the fringe, and we will never find a solution:

Drunk Driving
Child pornography
Poverty as the source of crime
Legalization of hard drugs

For an interesting discussion of issue 4, check out http://www.strike-the-root.com/61/victor/victor1.html

Reality Check

I have been a little dismayed and disappointed recently at the left wing rhetoric concerning the Canadian forces in Afghanistan so, as is my typical response, I will add some rhetoric of my own to the discussion.

The Canadian contingent in Afghanistan is a part of a limited operation under the direction of NATO that is providing logistical and combat support to prevent the resurgence of the Taliban. Afghanistan is not Iraq and the Taliban are not an innocent, benevolent government guided by the tenants of Islam. They are murderers, criminals and individuals so filled with hate that they indiscriminately execute women, homosexuals, doctors, writers, journalists, scientists, and yes, lawyers. The Taliban represents the heart of radical militant Islam, and whatever you think of their gripes with Western society, their domination of politics in Afghanistan was characterized by horrific human rights violations and violence. Please, don't believe the tree-hugging, left wing hippies claiming that the Taliban is the legitimate government of that beleaguered country. If the NATO forces, including Canada, leave Afghanistan now, before they have eliminated any group's ability to wage war against the civilian population that country will sink back into a black hole that will produce the most dangerous ideology this world has ever known.

Listen, Canada has to take action in world politics. Afghanistan is not Iraq, and no matter what you think of how we got there, we are there now, and leaving prematurely condemns the free-thinking, the courageous and the defensless of that country to a fate worse then death: complete and total loss of control of life....and death. Nobody who has knowledge of what Afghanistan was like during the Taliban regime would ever support the troop pull-out that is being trumpeted by unaware hippies that live in comfortable middle class homes, practice yoga as a religion and recycle shopping bags to make sandals.

War is never good, and I believe it can never be righteous. But like it or not, in our civilization, military intervention is still necessary to protect the rights of undefended people. Yes, there are many other conflict regions in the world that we could respond to, but this is not an argument against intervention, this is an argument for intervention.

The Americans will have to deal with the consequences of their actions over the last three years and frankly so will the rest of us. Sandbagging the borders and hiding like cowards in our little corner of the globe helps no one and solves no problems. Stand up, defend our troops and their leadership. We have an opportunity to take a leading role in providing aid and protection for those peoples of the world that are unable to defend themselves against the tyrannies of religious radicals or power-hungry corporations. Don't be silent.

Want to know what happens when international security forces leave a conflict region prematurely? Ever heard of Rwanda? Check out http://www.whitepinepictures.com/dallairesite/

Original Healing Incense

I am of the belief that my life is only as important as I believe it to be.