Commander in chief or cut the cheese?
Dear Editor:
Whatѻý in a name? The Yorkshire answer.
Just in case there are those who don’t know the use of the word “trump” in England — here goes:
“Trump” is the term used in Yorkshire for “passing wind.” Example: a nose twitch, followed by the query “Did you trump?”
Enough said.
Margaret Spark
Victoria
Retirement does have its perks
Dear Editor:
Living in the world of retirement has its ups as well as its downs. Waking up is no longer dictated by the tyranny of a minute-counting alarm clock. When I leisurely awaken, I can pull the bed covers up to my chin and go on an adventure. My imagination inevitably whisks me away on a mystery tour. Brief stops are made at places where my partially forgotten memories were forged. I just lay back, close my eyes and enjoy the ride.
Eventually I have to throw back the covers and reluctantly get dressed. Reluctantly, because I know my body will begin moaning and groaning about the aches and pains of growing old. But I find solace in knowing when I wake the next day, I will be going on another adventure back through time.
Lloyd Atkins
Vernon
Wealthy keep getting wealthier
Dear Editor:
The Premier of Alberta, Danielle Smith, (currently under investigation in AHS scandal) has decided to bend the knee to Donald Trump contrary to the resolve of other provincial premiers and our Prime Minister.
Along with her visit to Mar-A-Lago were two other controversial Canadians: Kevin O’Leary (who stated that Canadians should consider joining the U.S.); and faux-intellectual Jordon Peterson. The one missing from this quartet was Jordan Petersonѻý most ardent admirer -- Pierre Poilievre.
The foregoing four have much in common with Trump. All are extreme right-wing and cater to the wealthy. The U.S., under the leadership of Trump and Musk (both are supporters of Poilievre), is currently dismantling social programs for the needy in order to give tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations. The Conservatives have a history of doing the same here in Canada.
The problem is that political parties are controlled by the wealthy, for the wealthy. In the 50s the Corporate tax rate was 47%; in the 80s it was 36%; in the 90s it was 28%; in 2007 it was reduced to 21%; and in 2012 it was reduced to 15%. Wealthy shareholders control political parties and candidates by their contributions.
Corporations continue to implement procedures and mechanical innovations, including AI, that reduce the workforce to increase shareholder profits – at the expense of the working class.
Generational wealth will eventually destroy the capitalistic system and lead to a violent revolution. History will repeat itself unless the dominance of corporations and the wealthy are curtailed. I believe that taxes must be increased on corporations, and a graduated significant inheritance tax must be implemented if a democratic society is to survive. There is only so much the middle and lower class will endure.
Patrick MacDonald
ѻý
Stoking fear from playbook
Dear Editor:
Folks on the right and far right are starting to panic at the prospect of the Liberals “rising like a phoenix from the ashes” to win the next election. A new Leger poll (Feb. 11) suggests that if Mark Carney wins the Liberal leadership, he would erase the Conservative lead.
See (thewrit.ca) and The Numbers: Is it a whole new race? (youtube.com/watch?v=sakffqWeHhY)
As the saying goes: “A week is a long time in politics.”
Former BC United MLA Renee Merrifield represented ѻý-Mission for one term. In a Feb. 6 ѻý interview she describes Carney as “a climate change activist and is gonna do so using the economy, and thatѻý a very scary, scary place.” Wow!
Stoking fear is right out of the Poilievre playbook.
Watch for letters penned by Poilievre supporters, Conservative pundits in the right-wing blogosphere and Conservative MPs that mention Carneyѻý several nicknames, including “Circus Carney,” “Carnival Carney,” “Mark Carnage” and “the unreliable boyfriend”.
But most of the nicknames are from Carneyѻý childhood. In Sept. 2016 he told a group of schoolchildren: “I was given nicknames that were variants of my last name which is Carney, so I was called Carnival, or Carnage, or things like that. I like Carnage a little better than Carnival. It seemed a little more manly I guess.”
The nickname “the unreliable boyfriend” originated with Labour MP Pat McFadden in 2014, when he compared the Bank of England to an unreliable boyfriend due to its mixed signals over the timing of future interest rate rises.
Simon English, The London Standardѻý financial editor, wrote of Carney in his Jan. 30, 2020 article: “His biggest critics seemed to (wilfully?) misunderstand forward guidance. It was never supposed to be a guarantee, it was a steer. The clue is in the name. Mostly that guidance proved solid. The unreliable boyfriend line was a good gag, but unfair.”
On Feb. 11 Carney wrote on X: “President Trump seems to think he can suspend the laws of the United States, of international trade, and of economics.
The American Congress and U.S. courts will decide for themselves how they will address these violations of Presidential powers. U.S. President Donald Trumpѻý actions will hurt millions of Americans workers and all American consumers. And after promising to reduce inflation, his actions will send it and interest rates up. In Canada, we understand the laws of economics. Thatѻý why we will be masters of our own house in building the strongest economy in the G7.”
And on Feb. 14, Carney posted an ad, directed squarely at Poilievre: “How can you speak for Canada when you think Canada is broken?” (x.com/MarkJCarney/status/1890588475952390579)
David Buckna
ѻý
RBBѻý sentiment could reappear
Dear Editor:
Americans oppose tariffs on Canadians according to a survey by Angus Ried.
John F. Kennedy often quoted, 1961 Ottawa speech: “Geography made us neighbors; History made us friends, Economies made us partners” - this sentiment has guided us since but now has been upended.
Trumpѻý tariffs are unfair, unconventional. He is unafraid of challenging established relationships and ways of conducting business and diplomacy.
He is contemptuous of history and interested in the quick transactions not the long game. He thinks Canadians are Democrats .
American leaders have turned to tariffs before. Alexander Hamilton, the first treasury secretary, advocated tariffs to pay off the debt from the Revolutionary War.
In fact, so important were tariffs the second law passed by the newly formed Congress was the 1789 Act, - for “Laying a Duty on Goods, Wares and Merchandises Imported into the United States.”
The Depression era Smoot-Hawley tariff prompted Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King to impose countervailing duties on 16 American products in his 1930 budget, which represented a third of all U.S. imports into Canada at the time.
King was Canadaѻý longest serving PM, 1921-1930, losing the 1930 election to Conservative leader R.B. Bennett, a tough-talking millionaire from Calgary, who brought us the Bank of Canada, the Canadian Wheat Board and the CBC radio - however Bennettѻý business skills didn’t always serve his political interests, - King was reelected PM, 1935-1948
In his diary King wrote of his strategy towards his political rival: “What will Bennett have left to say, when trade with the US is being decreased and Britianѻý increased.” - So, we are old hands at trade wars. But we don’t always agree on how to do it.”
In a Halifax campaign speech, Bennett railed against King: “Imagine a country sunk so low that the Prime Minister says he will not do his duty by his country because if he did, he might provoke someone. Is that the way your forefatherѻý built up this country?”
This sentiment may reappear in the next Canadian election.
Jon Peter Christoff
West ѻý
Mark Carney is our only hope
Dear Editor:
Thank you for publishing Stephen Fuhrѻý guest column, “Former Liberal MP endorsing Carney for PM,” (Feb. 15).
I write only to endorse wholeheartedly his opinion that Carney is the wisest choice for the Liberal party and for the country.
It is clear that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will amp up a false populist message as the next election looms, and Carney is exactly the voice needed to counter what is, in the end, fear mongering around the economy, crime and affordability.
Poilievre would in fact take the country even further into the arms of Donald Trump - and to be clear, Trump has said the quiet part out loud: the Americans would like better than an easier access to water, minerals and northland.
This is the danger of Poilievre, and why Mark Carney is the person best situated to counter that threat.
Peter Giaschi
Penticton
These folks belong in institutions
Dear Editor:
A while back, an unacceptable homeless camp just north of Red Wing on Highway 97 was dismantled, after fires and messy, bedraggled conditions finally resulted in bringing in the bulldozers.
Not too long ago, the Toyota dealership sustained considerable fire damage from an individual experiencing homelessness. Now the vagrants have set up residency off Highway 97 and Fairview Avenue, creating another mess and setting fire to nearby RV’.
Down right “vagrancy creep”!
Certainly, we have all heard the adage, “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.
Stupidly, vagrancy was dropped as a crime from the Criminal Code in 2019. If these non-functioning hordes cannot find or want to find regular employment due to mental illness usually bought on by unchecked drug use, then why should those of us who fly right have to put up with this preventable carnage? These folks belong in institutions. Why is that so difficult to grasp?
Paul Crossley
Penticton
Disappointed with SOEC's disabled parking
Dear Editor:
We were very disappointed with parking for the disabled patrons at the Friday, Feb. 14 Vees game at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Disabled parking spots at the SOEC had always been a safe area. Someone has moved the disabled parking area to an area where disabled patrons could be injured by motorists looking for a parking spot in the dark and not watching for wheelchairs and scooters being loaded and unloaded near vehicles.
We were shocked to hear of many disabled patrons having to park by the swimming pool at the Penticton Community Center and walk to the SOEC for the game -- not an easy task when your legs don’t function properly.
Disabled season-ticket holders wonder whose bright idea this decision belongs to and why this change is being implemented mid-season.
We support our Vees, but got the distinct feeling at Fridayѻý game that we are not as welcome as able-bodied patrons, who are now afforded the safe parking stalls because they are VIPs.
If disabled patrons are not welcome in person because we can’t access the SOEC, we can listen to the games on the radio away from the SOEC. This means less support for 50/50 sales, food kiosks, beverages, The Vault, The Blue Zone, etc.
Disabled patrons don’t need to feel unsafe for entertainment at the SOEC.
Deb Watson
Okanagan Falls