Hey Gawker -- WTF -- Where's Your Drug Dealer Source?

Tabloid trash-talking website Gawker.com claimed they saw a video of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking a crack pipe, and the mainstream anti-Ford newspaper The Toronto Star ran with the story a week ago today.

The problem with using drug dealers as sources, is sometimes they make sh*t up.

Okay, that's a bit extreme. Even drug dealers are honest, hard working contributing members of society, right?

Yeah, right.

So it should be no surprise that the scoundrels at Gawker.com haven't been able to reach the drug lords that showed them the blurry, poorly shot iPhone video -- but wouldn't let them make a copy, or verify it's source.

The Toronto Star has been unable to reach the video's owners to verify its authenticity as well.

All of this hits as all things come to their inevitable end. Today, Toronto City Council's executive committee is sending a letter to their boss -- Mayor Rob Ford -- asking him to address the issue publicly. There are also rumours that the city's executive committee is asking for the Mayor to step down, and let the deputy mayor and the executive committee run the city until all the pressure from the media blows over.

And, Gawker.com itself is about set to reach it's drug-money-funding goal on crowdfunding website Indiegogo, to pay off the owners of the video behind this enormous scandal to rock Toronto, Canada.

Oh wait -- exactly who are they paying off again? Their "sources" have fled, just as they are about to make it rich.

Maybe money can't really buy happiness after all?

Or maybe the video was faked, by a couple of slimy druggies that thought they could bribe some gullible wanna-be American journalists with a poorly shot mobile phone video about some politician in another country.

Seems odd that legitimate sources would suddenly disappear, regardless of their chosen occupation. Especially sources about to hit the money load -- literally -- and be paid for their info.

Maybe they had a change of heart, and decided to come clean, and instead of using any profits from the video to further their drug trade, they'd donate it to a worthy cause, like the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health?

What are you, high?

The real damage ultimately is to the citizens of Canada, the residents of Toronto, and the business of running Canada's largest city.

Once again, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's lack of tact has put more than his left-foot in his mouth, and caused all the above to be made the fool on the world stage.

All because some slimy druggies that wanted to make more money.

And because technology allows anyone these days to claim to be a journalist -- even if they don't have what it takes to really do the job.

Like common sense for one.

Dealing with drug dealers as sources that ask for money up front?

Come on now Gawker.com -- is that how the game is played in your f*cked up world?

Why Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Needs to Resign

Unless you've been living under a rock on a secluded island in the middle of nowhere, chances are you've heard about some crazy Canadian big city mayor caught on video smoking crack cocaine.

Late night comedians Jimmy Kimmel and John Stewart both poked fun at recently on their late night talk shows. 

Major global news outlets, including CNN and the BBC have covered the story internationally.

Yet the only one speaking publicly about this is the media -- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, as of this writing, STILL has intentionally evaded the press, simply saying quickly when the story first broke that allegations of him smoking crack cocaine are "ridiculous" and simply untrue.

So, what is the story?

For those hiding under rocks on secluded islands, an American tabloid website called Gawker claimed to have been shown a video showing Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine. Later that day, one of Canada's largest newspapers, The Toronto Star, claimed that two of it's reporters had also seen the video footage, and ran with the story.

Neither Gawker nor The Toronto Star have validated the video, because the shady characters that have the video want a million dollars for it's release.

Since The Toronto Star -- a newspaper that has had a long standing war with Rob Ford before he became mayor of Canada's largest city -- broke the story, the media has been on a feeding frenzy, trying to get the mayor to address the issue.

Gawker did what many tabloid organizations do -- try to build buzz using social media's crowdfunding. They created an Indiegogo campaign, to raise funds through donations to secure the video footage, from what the accused brother, fellow Toronto city councillor Doug Ford, calls "drug dealers."

Regardless of whether the video is legit, or simply a sham falsified by people that just want to make a dishonest buck, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford needs to step aside by resigning his post as Mayor for the good of the city and the country.

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has been embroiled in many wild and weird issues since taking over as Mayor of Canada's largest city.

From failing to acknowledge gay rights by being the first Toronto politician to not attend the annual city's annual Pride Parade (all local politicians usually attend the annual event), to almost making history by becoming the first Canadian mayor to be forced out of the job by court order over a conflict of interest charge (which he won, so he didn't lose his job).

Sometimes, sadly, Mayor Rob Ford attempts to do the right thing, but it ends up exploding in his face. Like the time he and his brother Doug held a weight loss challenge for themselves, to get Torontonians interested in fitness and health. Every week both would publicly weigh themselves, showing how much they had lost. As the pounds crept back on, they quickly and quietly stopped showing up for the weekly weigh-ins and the media had another field day trashing the mayor and his family, despite their good intentions.

The latest scandal to rock the municipal offices of the third largest city in North America, and the largest city in Canada, has disemboweled the office of Toronto's Mayor, Toronto City Council, the city, and even the country.

When you have late night talk show hosts poking fun at the mayor of Canada's largest city, it makes all Canadians look bad.

And it isn't just American talk shows which are shaping the minds of potential tourists to our great country -- the sordid story of Rob Ford and his legacy thus far have been trending on social networks worldwide, and told on legitimate news outfits from the BBC to NPR and beyond.

That's why, regardless of whether the allegations of alleged drug use are true or false, Rob Ford and his brother do the right thing, and resign for the good of the city and the country.

It's time to clean house, and have a new mayor in power in Toronto. Because the world has lost faith in Toronto, and to a degree in Canadian politics, and the only thing that will restore that faith is a change of the guard.

Boston Tragedy a Signal of a Society on the Edge

The Boston Marathon incident was a horrible day, for the runners, their friends and families cheering them on, those just hanging out to watch, and ultimately the whole Greater Boston Area.

But it signals a disturbing trend in North America, which if our politically-correct politicians in both Canada and the United States don’t take a stand on soon, things will get worse.

Canada and the United States of America used to be great places to live, work and play.

We had a sense of pride, living in the freedom to be anything you wanted, safe, and secure from the economic and political unrest which many other nations unfortunately suffer from.

However, that freedom was broken by the tragedy in Boston. When law enforcement officers have to shut down an entire major urban center, no longer can we say we are safe and secure from those political and economic demons which plague other nations.

When people are told to stay at home, and not answer their doors unless the person is in an official uniform from the state, we are living in a society on the edge of falling into the abyss of despair, and ultimately doom.

Governments across North America have dropped the ball, allowing political correctness usurp sound judgement in the running of nations.

Both the federal governments of Canada and the United States have let immigration policies slide to such a degree, anyone – even those who want to destroy us – are being warmly welcomed here.

Want proof?

Just look at those responsible for the death and destruction in Boston – they were Americans, born elsewhere, but now living in the States.

Not everyone coming to Canada and the States is happy to be here. Though most of these people aren’t going to blow up innocent people at a public gathering.

They come here for the better standard of living, but because they really miss home, they fail to learn any of our languages, don’t do business with anyone that doesn’t speak their native tongue, and don’t let their kids play with anyone that doesn’t look just like them.

Although the Boston incident was horrific, what’s worse on a greater scale, and ultimately more deathly to the foundations and principles of what makes any society, are those warmly welcomed into that society, that fail to actively participate in it.

This has been going on for decades in Canada, and is just starting to come to the surface in the States.

Recently, Canada’s largest bank, The Royal Bank of Canada(RBC) was in the spotlight, for importing contractors from other countries, having the Canadians in those jobs train those people, and then firing those Canadians, as the very people they trained took their jobs.

All of those imported workers came over through eased federal government programs, which enables them to live and work in Canada – despite the fact they were directly taking jobs away from Canadian citizens.

When big banks import workers, they bring people in at substandard wages, subsidized by the federal government.

So although these new immigrants have jobs, they don’t have the great salaries which once came with those jobs, so essentially they are tossed into a life of poverty in a first world country.

Yeah, I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes either – which is why most of these imported workers never learn English or French, so they can’t interact with Canadians, and they tell their kids not to play with Canadians.

They live in a society in which they feel as much an outsider as those Canadians that have to interact with them.

So of course they are going to be bitter, angry and unsettled in this nation – and this angst further erodes the core of what was once the very basis for our great land.

And those that become unstable, and decide to do harm will.

Hence Boston – and whatever follows next.

Unless our politicians stop, think and act.

Are Canada’s Scientists Being Silenced?

The Canadian government is muzzling scientists, according to a complaint filed by Democracy Watch and a western Canadian university’s environmental law clinic earlier this year.

The nation’s information commissioner has confirmed her office’s investigation into the complaints.

The complaint claims Canadian scientists are being “muzzled” by being forced to request permission from numerous federal departments prior to talking to any media outlets.

The 26-page complaint (with over a 100 pages of appendices) alleges this breaches the Access to Information Act.

In an era when it’s virtually impossible to keep anything public private, thanks to social media, this complaint at first seems silly – as if the scientists just don’t want to have to fill out all the paperwork to report their findings.

However, this complaint isn’t just about the paperwork – it’s about freedom of speech and reporting on environmental issues which affect us all.

We’ve seen big businesses and government use this tactic to quash media attention from controversial issues before.

Cigarette companies used the tactic to try and convince us that their products were actually good for us – which we now painfully know is hogwash.

By forcing mounds of paper upon anyone requesting information, the cigarette companies made it almost impossible to learn the true dangers of smoking.

The Soviet government made it hard for journalists to find reliable information about most things during the Cold War, often forcing mountains of paper to be filed, which made it too time consuming to get and report on anything out of that part of the world.

But the Canadian government?

Really?!?!

Canada isn’t a communistic country, and freedom of speech and access to government has always been something Canadians never worried about.

It just is unheard of.

Hopefully, the Canadian government is not trying to stall environmental research, by delaying or denying scientists access to the press, and to each other’s reports.

Because if that is what really is going on – it’s not just a dark day for science in Canada – but a hurricane of hurt for free speech everywhere.

Canada's Budget Locked Down But Tweeted

It's almost budget day in Canada.

I know.

So what?

Unless your an economist, politician, news junkie, or have nothing else to do, the fact that Canada's Finance Minister put on his new shoes, and is ready to deliver his new budget tomorrow for the nation just doesn't matter much.

That's why the feds in Ottawa are hitting social media mega-site Twitter, to spur up some social media interest, and engage Canadians in one of the most important, yet yawn-inspiring political functions of the nation's governance.

Traditionally, journalists are locked down prior to the delivery of a budget. They are herded like cattle into a room, where they get exclusive access to the actual budget.

This allows newshounds reporting on the budget to understand and comprehend the massive financial blueprint of a nation.

However, journalists aren't allowed to discuss what they see until after it's been announced. 

That's the law. 

It'll be interesting to see if politico-junkies manage to keep their excitement muted long enough to obey the law, or if the instant communications of social media leaks budget news ahead of the finance Minister's announcement.

Using social media in politics isn't all that new -- more "newish."

American President Barack Obama successfully used social media to get elected in his past and recent election bids for the presidency. He and his staff continue to use social media to engage younger people in the management of their country.

And perhaps that's the greatest good today, when Canada's Finance Department will tweet news about the new budget.

Budgets are typically long, dull and dreary financial statements. Not usually the stuff which attracts young people to politics.

However, budgets form the foundation from which all other government programs come. From tax breaks for students, to how much the government will fund student loans and repayment programs, to providing tax credits for low income families to send their kids to school -- budgets affect young and old people across Canada.

Using Twitter -- and maybe down the road other social media sites like Facebook, Google Plus, maybe even YouTube and Pinterest -- is a step in the right direction for Canada's Finance Department, and one all federal, provincial and municipal departments should take note of and follow.

Because a more politically aware and engaged youth means a more politically aware and engaged future.

And that's just good governance.

Why Choosing a New Pope is a Big Deal

When Americans, Canadians and British citizens elect a new national leader through the democratic process, the world’s media announces the new leader, and that’s about it.

When the Catholic Church appoints it’s new leader, the world’s media gathers like geese at a feeding frenzy around the Vatican, waiting for the plumes of smoke to spill out overhead, signalling those in the know will soon tell all.

As with most things about the Catholic Church, much of the process is cloaked in mystery, hidden from the public’s right to know through secrecy and ritual.

That’s quite an accomplishment in the always on digital social media universe which usually spills all, revealing all, even the stuff no one is supposed to know.

But the real question we should be asking ourselves, especially those of us not of the Catholic faith – why should the world care who the new Pope is?

The answer, surprisingly is very social – it’s all about influence.

Billions of people around the world feed, clothe and house the citizens of Vatican City – a separate country, located in Rome, Italy – through their donations to their Catholic Church.

Religion has been declining in much of the Western world, thanks in part to modernization, and a whole new generation of people so wired into technology, they don’t require the faith instilled in oneself by believing in – well –faith.

However, as the rich get richer and the poor ever so more poor, third-world countries have been taking up the slack, and are becoming the followers of the world’s largest organized religion – the Catholic Church.

And although Vatican City is only a few acres in the middle of a small country in Europe, it receives more fiscal support than all the governments in the Western world combined.

So when the Pope asks his followers to do something, he’s got more clout than the biggest and most powerful countries on the planet.

No, the Pope doesn’t have access to “the button,” so he won’t send in his soldiers into some country and try a take-over, nor will he threaten to fire a nuclear weapon and create a new world war.

But he can influence Catholics globally from any one of the thousands of masses he holds throughout his Papal career. Through his lectures, his readings, his blessings and his teachings, he influences his global following in the ways of the Bible – with a little hint of his own personal bias, and will.

It’s also noteworthy that influence is backed by a fiscal machine generating money from every corner of the world. No other government has such a wide reaching tax –base.

And that’s why choosing a new Pope is a big deal.

Regardless of your own beliefs, the military power of the American government, or the threat of nuclear war from North Korea, the Pope has the power of influence over billions of people around the world.

And it’s that influence which makes him a real force to be reckoned with.

Which is why all the world is waiting for a little plume of smoke.

Budget Axe May Grind Away Toronto Teachers – Good Riddance

Last night, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) had to reduce its annual operating budget – in the Province of Ontario, Canada, public school boards aren’t allowed to be in debt.

On the budget chopping block are numerous full and part-time teaching positions, mostly in the high school level.

Good riddance to the bloated, ego-maniacal teachers – serves them right if they lose their jobs.

Normally, I’d have the utmost respect for those charged with educating our kids.

However, since the school year began last September, our kids have been stuck in the middle of a labour war between the teachers, their union, and the Province of Ontario.

The province imposed – as they are rightfully allowed to being the public school teachers employer – a new contract, which the union didn’t like.

Since then, there have been random walkouts, picket lines and worse for the future leaders of tomorrow – no extra-curricular activities.

There’s more to life than reading, writing and arithmetic – although those are important. The after school sports, clubs and events which has been a part of most children’s – until this school year – foundation of learning forms the basis for learning more than books can teach.

From being a good sport, to learning how to work well with others, to thinking outside the box – sounds a lot like what you’d find in a job ad – extra-curricular activities teach our kids how to function in society, and lead meaningful lives.

That is unless you live in Ontario, where the teachers haven’t been doing their job.

At first blush, it appears to be a labour issue, where the teachers and their union are working to rule in protest against their boss, the provincial government.

But just two weeks ago, the union asked teachers to resume extra-curricular activities, as the union was forging ahead with negotiations. Most of the teachers – the good apples – joyfully did just that.

But according to the union, about 20 percent of the province’s teachers are holding out, STILL refusing to give kids the education they need, by refusing to do extra-curricular activities.

These bad apples aren’t just holding innocent children hostage, they are now making it clear they don’t deserve to have a good paying government job.

As unemployment worldwide climbs in the worst depression since the Great Depression, apathy is anything but your friend. And lazy-ass teachers, can’t hide behind their union in Ontario and claim extra-curricular activities are part of their protest – the union made it clear that’s not the case anymore.

So, when school boards across the province face laying off slacker teachers to balance their budgets, cry me a river, because they deserve the seeds they sowed.

Unfortunately, another “benefit” of unionized labour is time in. The longer you’ve been in the union, the more clout you carry, and that means the teachers that most likely will face unemployment are the young new ones, which aren’t necessarily lazy-ass slackers.

Unionized labour – good grief.

In the 24-Hour News Cycle Nothing Matters

I remember when I was a kid, and I’d be watching my favourite shows on television, when all of a sudden, the screen would dip to black. You’d swear you could hear mumbled voices, and then a still image of the network logo would appear on the screen, followed by the news anchors voice saying: “We interrupt regular programming to bring you a special breaking news broadcast.”

My parents would often gather around the TV when this happened, because back then, when breaking news was happening, it really was breaking news.

Think about the millions of dollars major television networks lost as they cut from their regular paid programming, to go to a live unsponsored telecast.

This is how the world learned of things that really did matter before the Internet and the always on news channels of CNN, BBC News and CBCnewsworld.

However, thanks to our vast information society, the term “breaking news” just doesn’t carry the same weight. Occasionally there is something really urgent going on which captures the attention of the world.

But because of the Internet and the 24-hour news networks, television and radio stations don’t feel the need to interrupt their regular programming anymore, and so “breaking news” has become a cliché used by these 24-hour news networks to keep people watching.

Breaking news isn’t really important anymore.

Most of the world watched in awe, as man walked on the moon – that was breaking news. Or when US President John Kennedy was shot dead, and the attempted assignation of another American leader, Ronald Reagan – these were breaking news events, as the world rallied around the success, mourned the loss, and feared for the future.

When NASA’s Space Shuttle Challenger and Columbia fell from the sky (in separate, but equally tragic incidents) those were breaking news events because we were reminded as advanced as our tech makes us, we are all still mortal.

Today’s “breaking news” was about Queen Elizabeth’s release from a weekend hospital stay, after a bout of indigestion.

Really?

Yes, the Queen is an internationally recognized figure head, considered a leader of the British people –but because she ate something which didn’t agree with her, we’re supposed to be glued to our “tellies” cheering her recovery?

For all we know, she spent the weekend in and out of the bathroom doing what most of us do when we have a bad tummy – and I certainly don’t want to know about that!

Our information in an instant world is a wondrous thing. But sadly, it has changed our culture and society for the worse.

We no longer all gather ‘round the television when the words: “we interrupt our regular broadcast to bring you this special breaking news event,” are uttered in a rushed state.

Because “breaking news” these days isn’t really as the name implies, we no longer share in the important life lessons learned by our society, as truly globally important events shape humanity.

And that’s perhaps the saddest thing of all about our information age – although we all know what’s going on in the world, we don’t experience it anymore.

America’s Leader is a Show About Nothing

From weekly school shootings in small town America, to the presidential orders using automated robot “drones” to hunt down and kill American citizens, it appears US President Barack Obama has his hands full.

Not even a month into is second-term in office, and he’s down to business.

Problem is, he’s not really focusing on the business of his nation – and ultimately the world.

As our global economy continues to falter, the most powerful person of the free world isn’t talking much about how mend this fiscal mess.

Gun control and terrorism are big issues – but they are very much American-made issues.

Global economic progress – or lack of it – are – well – global.

Perhaps President Obama doesn’t have an answer to the world’s economic woes, and he’s focusing on the issues which he can confidently try to resolve.

However tragic it is to hear about some kid’s classroom being shot-up by some crazy huffed up on Prozac, that sad story doesn’t even dent the hearts and minds of those who have lost their jobs, their families and their homes in what is turning out to be the worst depression since the Great Depression of the 1930’s.

It’s time for America’s president to do something presidential for a change – delegate, assign and focus.

Real leaders delegate responsibilities to qualified counterparts, assigning them the tasks which they just don’t have time to do, so they can focus on what really is important in managing their company – or in this case – country.

President Obama needs to delegate and assign the tasks of gun control, terrorism, and anything else distracting him from the business of running the free world, so that he can do just that – run the free world.

America Isn’t the Great Country Everyone Thinks it Is

On the day when the first black American President is sworn in for his second term in office, all you have to do is re-read this sentence to see what is wrong with America.

When Barack Obama was first sworn in, he was jettisoned to instant rock star celebrity status. He made the history books, by becoming the first non-white man to lead the most powerful nation on our planet.

Today, he’s being sworn in for his second term in office, and although he has lost much of that rock star appeal, the most powerful country on the planet still can’t get over the fact that he’s not white.

Or at least that’s the image the rest of the world sees, when America makes more of a deal about their leader’s skin colour, than what he has accomplished.

Usually, when an American President is sworn into office – especially for the second time – the focus is on his past accomplishments, and possible future plans.

Although these are being discussed in Washington, DC, the media focus is once again on the colour of the re-elected leader.

Other countries may have rioting in the streets, extreme poverty where innocent children don’t get more than a stale piece of rock hard bread if they are lucky, for the whole day. There are other countries around the globe with brutal wars being fought, so the very thought of stepping outside for fresh air is a dangerous one.

Yet these places don’t make a big deal about the colour of their leader’s skin.

Perhaps the once thought of greatest country in the world, really isn’t so great after all?

There aren’t riots in the streets, extreme poverty, famine, disease, or brutal wars raging across America.

Well, there is one.

It’s that silent but deadly war called racism.

Because when the most powerful country in the world is more concerned with the colour of their leader’s skin, than what that person has done for their country, that brings to light the unspoken truth about America.

Despite all that American’s have achieved, they still are struggling with one of humanity’s most insidious traits.

Racism.

It’s a brutal battle in of itself. And it’s being played out on the world stage, by the very fact that despite having the same person in the White House for another four years, Americans can’t get over the fact that he’s not white.

Sad. 

Are We Ready for a Woman in Power?

Before Barack Obama became America’s first non-white male president, there was much debate which would American’s most likely accept – a woman president or someone that wasn’t white?

This debate continues in the strangest of places of sorts – on the airwaves in Canada. Earlier this week, a radio disc jockey in British Columbia was fired, for asking the female premier of that province what it’s like to be a MILF.

Shock-Jock Justin “Drex” Wilcomes, surprisingly got an answer from BC Premier Christy Clark: “You know, I take that as a compliment . . . better a MILF than a cougar.”

Wilcomes was fired, and has since apologized to the political leader of Canada’s most western province. Though he quickly got back on the air, he’s now working for another station in Vancouver, BC.

This isn’t the first time the female politician has taken a ribbing for her female charms. Late last year, eclectic billionaire-business tycoon Sir Richard Branson went kite surfing with a beautiful naked woman on his shoulders while visiting the province. After the media stunt, he said if the premier wants a similar ride, she should call him, but she must be naked to ride.

Branson too caused a public outcry, and eventually apologized to the female premier.

But these incidents raise the question – are North American’s really ready and accepting of women in powerful positions?

If Hillary Clinton became was elected president of the United States, would she have quickly attained the rock star status that President Obama achieved when he first was elected?

Or would she also go through the growing pains of being sexualized such as the premier of BC?

There have been women in high powered positions. In the 1980’s who could forget Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of England, known for her iron-glad stance on the economy?

Canada briefly had a woman prime minister, but she was more of a scapegoat for the outgoing prime minister Brian Mulroney. Kim Campbell was handed the rings to the Canadian prime minister key chain, by the outgoing Mulroney. The press quickly labelled her just a female version of the outgoing prime minister, and she lost the election, because Mulroney’s popularity had slipped so much so, he wouldn’t have won had he remained in office.

Campbell was never sexualized like the current premier of BC, but she didn’t last long in power.

Have we grown-up beyond our own prejudices?

Why should it matter whether America’s president is white, black or brown? Why should it matter if that person is a man or a woman?

Why indeed?

Despite our amazing advances in technology over the years, our society may not be advanced enough to recognize that a person’s race or sex has little to do with their leadership abilities.

Until our society crosses that threshold, we are still a primitive society. We just have a lot of nice tech gadgets to occupy our time.

What Would It Take to Win You Back?

After a brutally long labour dispute, the National Hockey League (NHL) is trying to win back fans, with freebies. Well, at least the American teams are. Here in Canada, the league’s worst team – yet surprisingly most profitable – the Toronto Maple Leafs, is only giving out free access to today’s practice, and a complimentary bag of popcorn and a cup of hot chocolate.

In the States, many NHL teams are trying to buy back fan loyalty with free tickets, free parking, free hot dogs, jerseys and even half-priced beer.

Despite the free stuff being handed out to weary hockey fans, for once a professional sporting franchise actually may have lost more than most of the regular season, and a bunch of fans.

Unions making unreasonable demands in these uneven economic times have laid to rest big businesses. Just ask the 3,000 Twinkies makers now looking for work, thanks in part to their union’s long battle with Hostess. Hostess has gone out of business.

What good is a union if it puts it’s members out of work?

The National Hockey League Player’s Association, the union representing the millionaire twentysomethings playing a kids game for profit, cost the NHL more money to ratify their latest collective agreement, in an economy where people are more worried about paying their rent, than paying to see a hockey game.

In such an economy, doing anything – anything – which alienates your customers isn’t exactly the brightest idea.

But that’s exactly what the player’s union did, as they battled management, leaving fans out in the cold.

Now the NHL is in an uncomfortable and awkward situation, spending more money to woo back customers, so they can afford the latest demands from the union.

Unions have a respectful history, ensuring protection of worker’s rights when none existed. We’ve come a long way since the Industrial Revolution, and thanks to unions lobbying governments, labour laws prevent most of the atrocities of the past.

These days, unions are more Mofia-like thugs, threatening walkouts, strikes and other nasty business, if they don’t get more money, more job security and other things which aren’t really to protect workers rights, as they are to justify the union dues members pay.

And given the ways unions handle negotiations in such a hostile fashion, one wonders if perhaps union bosses wished they were in the mob?

What if comes down to is money.

Unions cost their members money, not just in dues taken right off the top of their hard earned pay, but also in the wages. When they force their members to walkout, strike, work-to-rule and other mob-like tactics, their members only get partial salaries, commonly called “strike pay.”

And unions threaten the viability of a business, by cutting off the goods sold to the customer – be it Twinkies, or hockey tickets and a plastic cup of beer.

Unionized labour’s time has come and gone.

American’s Just Love Their Bang-Bang

US President Barack Obama has been spouting off about making his country safer, since the horrible tragedy of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting last month.

President Obama even went so far as to announce what he calls the most aggressive stance on gun control legislation ever.

His proposed changes aim to reduce the amount of high-powered assault weapon ammunition packs – called “clips” that American’s may own, calls on civil servants to be more thorough with background checks of applicants requesting gun permits, and even calls for the prohibition of certain types of automatic assault weapons.

Nice.

Notice anything missing?

What about just banning the bang-bang in the first place?

The reason Americans shoot each other is because they can. It’s in their constitution – just ask the National Rifle Association (NRA), they harp on that very fact every time someone dare’s suggest banning the public’s right to fire arms.

Banning high-powered assault weapons is a start – one must question the safety and sanity of a nation where the general population believes it’s normal to own military-grade weapons.

Here in Ontario, Canada, you can’t even buy a bottle of booze just anywhere, you have to go to a government-run liquor store.

Yet in the good ‘ol USA, you can walk into a Wal-Mart and purchase enough fire power to create your own army.

If President Obama really wanted to make his country safer, he should ban the sale of guns to the public period.

Police, the military and other law officials that have been trained in the correct maintenance and use of these dangerous tools should have the right to carry guns, as it’s part of their job.

However, when a cute thirtysomething teacher on the NBC Nightly News is firing off rounds of ammunition at a gun range, and says on the broadcast that she’s practising so she can protect her students, we know there is something wrong with American society.

Deathly wrong.

That’s all that guns are for.

To kill.

Sure, we’ve all seen in the movies some snarky special agent shooting to slow or injure a criminal in some flashy action movie.

Hollywood rarely imitates real life. In the heat of the moment, when your typical beat cop that’s never had to pull his gun out in the line of duty suddenly does, he’s not going to be so precise.

And we’re assuming a police officer has had years of training. Your average American that owns a high-powered assault weapon probably hasn’t had the training that a cop has.

If President Obama really wanted to make his country safe, he’d ban guns period.

Guns don’t kill people.

People with guns kill people.

Teachers Harm Their Students in Blind Self Interest

As the economy continues to nose dive, labour unrest grows, as everyone is worried about their job.

That’s understandable, given a job is the foundation for keeping us fed, clothed and sheltered in our modern, always on and available world.

From pilots, at a small Canadian airline – Porter – going on strike, to the loss of Twinkies in the States thanks in part to a union’s increasing costs to the profit losing-company Hostess, organized unions aren't very – well – organized – these days.

The latest victim to the labour movement are perhaps those most unprepared for it – our children.

In Canada’s largest province, Ontario, the province’s teachers union is organizing an illegal strike, because they don’t agree with their latest collective agreement.

Granted, that collective agreement was mandated upon them by the government, however, last I checked, the government was well within its legal and some may argue ethical, rights to do just that.

Since the school year began last September, the teachers just haven’t been very deserving of apples, as they hold our kids hostage all so they can guarantee something no one can anymore – job security and salary increases. The teachers have stopped hosting extra-curricular activities, coaching school sports teams, and even forced kids to cross picket lines.

Imagine, being a scared child, and having to be rushed through an angry mob just to get to class!

Maybe Ontario’s teachers skipped economics class, because most know when the economy tanks, job security and guaranteed wage increases just don't happen.

Unless you've got a mafia – I mean union boss – threatening – I mean negotiating – on your behalf.

Seriously, unions act just like organized crime. They come around, force you to sign up for “protection,” threaten your job if you refuse, and then they go out and bully your manager if they don’t get what they want.

Maybe they can enlist the cast of The Sopranos to do a new TV show, only instead of leading a crime family of gangsters, Tony Soprano will lead a group of high school teachers?

Whatever happened to teachers that gave a damn about teaching? Where did the teachers go that actually got into the profession to shape future generations?

Millions of people globally are struggling just to find a basic job – yet the average Ontario teacher makes a very comfortable middle-class income, and all we ask of them is to take care of our kids so they too can have a future.

Mr. Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, you’re too nice. You should abolish the union, fire any teacher instantly that refuses to do their job, and hire one of the thousands of Ontarian’s out of work.

That’ll teach the teachers a lesson in economics.

The Politics of Democracy

You’d think political influences in a democratic society would be – well – democratic, right? 

Not if you’re a citizen in Canada’s largest city, where democracy rests in the hands of the well-to-do.

Just before the Christmas holiday season, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was brought to court, under a conflict of interest charge. He lost. Not only did he lose the case, he lost his job. The court ruled that the Mayor had shown so much disregard for the laws governing governance, he didn't belong in the mayor’s chair.

Sounds like a fair, legal ruling – logical down to the core.

Though the people responsible for bringing down Canada’s largest mayor weren't those who elected him into power – or at least not the majority of ‘em.

One man, wealthy enough to hire one of the best criminal lawyer in the country, brought the charges to light against Mayor Rob Ford.

You can smell the stink of political poop buried within – why would a criminal lawyer be tasked with a non-criminal case? Yes, the Mayor disobeyed the rules of conduct for his job – but that’s not a felony. It’s no different than you or I being late for work – one doesn't get a criminal record for that!

When you can afford the best lawyer in the game, you win – just look at murderer-or-not O.J. Simpson’s dirty gloves.

Clearly, this case brought against the mayor of Toronto was a politically motivated act, by someone that had it in for the person, not for what he did.

Rob Ford, a veteran politician, should have known better than to vote on a matter in council where he was in direct conflict. However, he shouldn't be forced out of office because one wealthy individual doesn't agree with his politics, his attitude, or his very being.

Yesterday, three judges heard both sides to the sordid tale, as Mayor Rob Ford appealed the ruling which threw him out of office.

He’s still the mayor during the proceedings which continue today, and as of this writing says he’ll run in a re-election if council votes to have one if his appeal fails. Council can vote for a by-election, or simply appoint someone, however a vote has yet to be tendered on which direction to take.

Either way, the politics of democracy isn't very democratic in Canada’s largest city. One well-to-do person shouldn't have the power to remove a person elected to lead by the majority of the citizens.

Yet in our so-called democratic society, money seems to buy one the power to control that democracy – and that certainly isn't democratic.

Regardless of whether you agree with a politician’s policies, performance or person, if that person has been elected into power, you alone shouldn't be the one to take away that power.

Because in a society where one can arbitrarily determine the fate of who ultimately makes decisions for the whole, that democracy ceases to exist.

Game On but The Union Should Be Out

Canada’s national sport has been in a state of limbo since it was supposed to begin this season. That’s because the game’s players went on strike, leaving fans waving their flags in empty sadness.

That was until the National Hockey League (NHL) finally struck a deal with the players union, and it’ll be game on for a shorter 48 game season, set to begin Jan. 19.

Unions seem to be taking the more aggressive approach these days when it comes to labour negotiations.

Strikes, walkouts, protests, work to rule, and work slowdowns and even work stoppages are becoming more common than sitting at the bargaining table and talking like grownups.

Remember when you were a kid, and you’d throw a temper tantrum by kicking and screaming until you got your way?

Unions seem to lack the maturity to negotiate in good faith as they throw their own hissy fits, only when a union throws a hissy fit, it affects more than just those in the room.

Here in Ontario, Canada, the province’s teachers are constantly throwing hissy fits as their union threatens action over a piece of paper that takes away their collective right to strike.

Since the school year began last Sept. Students have continued to suffer, because the teachers refused to run the extracurricular activities which makes our schools well rounded places of learning. There is more to life than reading, writing and arithmetic – and that’s what those after school programs and clubs is for.

Yet the people charged with helping bring today’s youth into the adult world don’t seem to care if those kids aren't well adjusted members of society, so long as they can throw their hissy fits whenever they don’t agree with their employers terms of employment, they’ll do their job – that is if they aren't throwing a childlike hissy fit.

Unions don’t just force their employers to cave in among unreasonable and unrealistic demands, they have also taken to throwing their hissy fits when governments interfere with their right to be treated better than anyone else in society.

It isn’t uncommon for the unions representing pilots and airline workers to throw a strike just as a major holiday season is upon us in Canada or the States, requiring governments to get involved to barter the peace, and keep innocent travellers moving.

Unions once had their place in society. At the turn of the 1900’s when the industrial revolution began, and employers treated their employees like garbage, unions made the world of work better for all.

Labour laws were brought in, thanks in part to the union movement, which prevents horrendous abuses by employers.

So unions these days, fight for things which most of us non-union stiffs could only dream of – job security, guaranteed wage increases, the right to throw a hissy fit whenever we want.

A few years ago, the largest corporation in the world sent a clear message to it’s union – make all the demands you want, but we’ll go out of business if we give in.

General Motors actually threatened to shut down, to declare bankruptcy, to go belly-up and cease to exist, if the unions persisted in their outrageous threats to strike for better wages and job security.

See, in the real world which unions don’t seem to be, wages can only increase if the company can afford to pay those wages. In a declining economy as we've seen for the past decade – a recession really – people don’ t buy cars. When people don’t buy cars, why is it that the automotive unions continue to insist on wage increases and job security?

Just another example of childlike behaviour in the real world, by union leaders.

Abolish unions for the good of everyone. That’s what we need do.