end of tether

I agree, with E. Deak, we need to move away from blame, we need to understand the system humanity has created and seek new ways of changing this system.
We the people have the power, we just need to stop playing the game that we have jointly created. Time for a new game!!!!

collective voices unite, what do we have to lose?

Just why are our governments and big business so keen to extract our collective resources as fast as possible?

Enbridge and the Son of Exxon, Stephen Harper, believe it is in "Canada's economic interest" that we build the Northern Gateway Pipeline. I wonder if a study has been done to determine the costs of extracting a finite and dwindling non-renewable resource now instead of leaving it in the ground for future generations? What are the benefits of leaving the tar in the ground for future generations?

Canada, nor BC, has a policy of putting the revenues they receive from oil and gas extraction into a trust fund for future generations like Norway.

The Great Recession had an impact on Canada's economy (Tar Sand Extraction). Tens of thousands of workers were sent 'home' from construction camps in Northern Alberta due to the recession and subsequent drop in oil prices. Metal fabrication shops closed their doors or laid off thousands more workers.

As the Tar Sand developers ramp up again for more expansion, prices for materials and labour will increase creating an imbalance in an economy that should be more diversified for Canada's best interest. Extraction of the tar sands may just be one of drivers to kill a once significant manufacturing industry in Canada.

Selling crude oil to other countries leaves Canada poorer.

Criminal Acts

I have often heard it said that "behind every great fortune, there is a criminal act'.

Obviously the MacLeans, Daniels, Campbells, Bennetts,Morgans,Kinsellas,Colemans,Harpers, Mulroneys,Martins, MacKays,Marine Harvest, WFP, Alcan, Encana, Enbridge, GE, etc. etc., have taken this edict to heart and do it flagrantly and proudly, as if criminal behaviour is now the hallmark of power and success.

We should then all look upon the works of the mighty and despair, whilst our world withers and dies.

Intervention is nigh.

I remeber reading a statement

I remeber reading a statement a couple of years from a retiring US Senator. He basically said that our system is wired for the people with advantage and its Governments duty to try and make our system more of a level playing field for all of its citizens. If anything the opposite seems to be the norm.

Feed 'em cake!

The simple fact is that the system has always handed out just enough bribes to the poor, so they will not rebel!

Today those bribes are the latest gizmo's and gadgets that people are brainwashed to believe they need.

I can just hear them:"Sure this is shit, but if we go on a strike, I will not be able to pay my credit-card bill, and they may reposess my new toys".

85% of the population are stupid, and that stops progress!

The main culprits are the

The main culprits are the fraudulent "free trade" rackets that have destroyed our industries, caused huge unemployment and poverty, and now are forcing governments to sell the country from under the feet of the people, while calling it "job creation".

The Asians need out resources for their slave labour factories to fill our lives with short lifespan junk products and cover the world with garbage, so that their ruling classes can bring our monies back to buy up our countries, welcomed by "conservative" governments as "wealth creation".

Just watched Minister of National Resources Joe Oliver on CBCTV, expounding that they'll cut the environmental review process for the Enbridge pipeline so they can supply communist China with Tar Sands oil in the "national interest", while blaming "foreign socialist money" for trying to stop it.

The country is up for sale, but it is "foreign socialists" who are trying to stop it.

Makes a lot of "conservative" sense.

Ed Deak.

Sham Democracy

Rafe, I couldn't agree with you more! I am 64 years old. I wake every day with a feeling of dread. I can see the future all too well and it scares the hell out of me. I fear for my childen and grand children.

I wish there was a non-violent way to show our disgust for this both governments. Unfortunately history will repeat itself. civil disobedience will happen eventually. And in a small way is hppening now.

The unfortunate thing is too many of our young people are hooked on "Stuff". Corporations continue distract our youth through million dollar media campaigns. They either can't or don't see the direction our government is taking us and the world.

Our MPs and MLAs continue to tow the party line ignoring the people who elected them to the cushy job.

Rafe Mair for Prime Minister, Premier, God!

Regards, Brian Turner

I'm in....

whatever it takes to stop this is what I'll do. And these are words from a 54 year old woman who has spent her life following the rules and staying out of trouble. Her 73 year old mother has said she'll be right there too, as well as her 83 year old father. Throw in the mid-twenties kids as well. All life-long British Columbians; all part of the "radical foreign interests" who are objecting to this the loudest, according to our very own Joe Oliver. Steven Harper has badly miscalculated if he thinks British Columbians will take this. Better get a move on building those jails Harper. You're going to need every one of them. And WTF is with Premier Photo Op? What kind of a leader sits back and lets two Albertans and an Ontarian run the show? Take a stand missy, if for nothing else than your own son's future.

First there were despots and

First there were despots and monarchs. Then there were elected politicians. Are we done? Are we at the end of human progress? Or does something come after politicians? I suggest: sortition. The Greeks defined democracy this way. So should we.

not just the kids

But adults are programmed just as media campaigns are the norm along with programming to sway voters or the public to get on board.
If Corporations care so much who took the coke out of coke?
Alive says "The system has always handed out enough bribes to the poor so they will not rebel." It is simply not true. The poor have beaten down and their rights have been put on a shelve. The low income are forced to leave their dignity behind before food poisoning is even handed out. It is the welfare challenge because financial clerks will cut people down to size as demoralization is the name of the game.
How soon does a poor man's money run out? Usually with in the first week and those on assistance do 5 week months or 35 days.
How do the poor fight back when some can't even get out of bed or so busy wondering where they are going to lay their head? Many have disabilities. Now we don't cart the mentally disabled off to wards but to prison cells or in caskets as police are quick to deploy their own tactics. Which often leaves those with serious problems with a bullet through their head or a senseless beating that ends up taking another life. First you demoralize, then you legalize and then you dehumanize.

We vote in people who are not accountable to hang out with rich folk who have their own agenda which is not the human race or the environment but greed if its all the same.

Well done Rafe.

You are so right on. I think it is becoming clearer each time why you no longer have your radio talk-show. They are afraid of you and these days the field is fertile for something better that isn't being offered. What it will take is for someone to start a new movement along the principles you are talking about.

Sometimes i feel like the world is going to hell in a hand basket and all I can do is watch. I'm still hopeful that someone, something will come along to relly change the inevitable outcome.

The Fraser Institute

Has been instrumental in helping government deploy the necessary tactics to take down the poor and take away any rights they have enjoyed as Canadians.
The Social Safety Net is something to be very weary of. Be very careful. When the low income land in the net many have difficulty even staying alive and some have been burned alive for just being poor.
First they demoralize and then dehumanize and then delegalize and ultimately destroy.

The Fraser Inst. is one of

The Fraser Inst. is one of the string of PR/advertising agencies, set up in the mid 70s by big business, to sell and force the neoclassical market economic theory, taught in our universities as a "science" and now enslaving the world, to governments and the public under the fraud of "economics".

Their purpose is to eliminate any public/ democratic power, any public ownership and privatize everything into the hands of the multinational corporate mafia.

"Wealth can not be created only taken...." and they're the enforcers of the taking, justifying the stealing the most from the most, the same way as religions have been used to legalize the ultimate powers of aristocracies, since the beginning of times.

Ed Deak.

Thanks Rafe

Now your talking

http://powellriverpersuader.blogspot.com/2012/01/enbridge-will-kill-british-columbia.html

Damn right - it's pitchfork time!

We are a sham democracy, where the countries elites have all but completely taken away what little rights we have.

Canada is now a vast ponzi scheme where politicians and their friends grow fat by screwing the little guy. The average Canadian is seen has nothing more than an ignorant hick, just fallen off the back of a turnip truck, ready to be fleeced of what little hard earned money he/she has.

Elections are few and far between, with most Canadians seeing them for the sham they are.

Canada is fast coming to a very bad end and violent revolution, with all its vile and ugly glory will rock this country. This will only happen when a collective pent up hatred for Canada and Canadian politicians reach a point that absolutely nothing will be able to stop it.

Great column Rafe

Hello all

I just received the following url for this video today from a friend and for what will be seen as obvious reasons, recommend it to you all.

http://www.djenvy.net/?p=11497&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-photographs-of-your-junk-will-be-publicized

lindi6676

Kinda puts us back to square one, doesn't it?

Humanity has always been

Humanity has always been controlled and enslaved by conspiracy of three ruling sectors, throughout history.

1. The Merchants, who in the past invented the demands for "wealth creation", otherwise known as legalized theft, into their own pockets. Now represented by big business and banks.'

2. The priesthoods, who invented the legalization of theft by the merchants. Now represented by so called "economists", basically the priesthood of the non existing Money God,

3 The military, who enforced the demands, hoping for the absolution of their crimes by the priests.

So, what has changed ? We had at least 3-4
B52s on practice flights over our heads today and on most days.

Ed Deak.

Hey Snert

Yes, thats what makes starting fresh so exciting and open to many wonderful possibilities. That we learn from the past and never repeat this past again. Its time to make a huge shift in humanity.
When the majority of humans come to realize consciously that we are not ok with how our systems work, people will begin to step out. In order for change to begin( and it is) its up to each individual to start with oneself and when we return to our truths, our inner wisdom, each person will know what role they will play.
Yes many may think its impossible for our systems to change, and many may not want these old archaic systems to change (due to fear of change). But I have deep faith that we will eventually evolve as a species that will create a way of life that is good for all on this earth!
I know many will never believe change is like this possible but I know there are many that feel differently and are taking action. There is no one making the rules, and leading the ways its an individual movement and its growing.

Rafe Mair personally crosses the tipping point

...and this time (dare I say finally?) takes dead aim. Kudos!

I will say this, We are what we learn.

And as Bertrand Russell said, we are recruits taught by those "instructed with learned ignorance, and furnished with unlearned wisdom".

I wonder, is it even possible to derail the system; some blaming the politicians, others blaming the educators? Chicken, meet egg.

Ultimately the burden of oppression must eventually become too much to bear, and the people will revolt. Until then, 'do unto others ...'

Again, a great, honest article Rafe Mair. The best ever, imo.

voting is the answer

If all the decisions that have been made at the federal and provincial level that you and I disagree with had gone the other way, many could say "I didn't vote for that". And they would be right, and.....pissed off.

Any democracy depends on the involvement of the people. When only 20-40% of the people get involved (voting), of course the powerful will take over. If 100% (maybe even 80%)of eligible voters voted in the last federal election, would Harper have won? I doubt it very much. Easy to blame the system, but even "pr" systems will be little more representative if most don't vote.
With modern technology, perhaps every decision to be made could be voted on, perhaps with a 2-3 day window. Wouldn't that be fun!

I haven't always agreed with

I haven't always agreed with you Rafe, but this is one of the best succinct histories of civilisation I've read. May you continue to be a thorn in the side of liars, thieves, con men--oh, what the hell, ALL politicians and their minions.

SFU economist

I just want to support a point that Ed Deak periodically makes. A few years ago I was introduced to a faculty member of the SFU Economics Department. I asked him how we could get rid of NAFTA. His reaction was one of incredible horror that one should even think about such a thing. He clearly thought I was stupid.
I am a faculty member in the SFU Physics Department.

Good one Rafe. I often feel

Good one Rafe. I often feel sorry for our elders who have had to endure a lifetime of false hope and empty promises from our so-called leaders. They've tried to be good and live a decent life, participating in a system that was sold as a democracy but is really little better than slavery, while watching the world descend into a sordid mess. It's brutal.

Those of us who are paying attention can only be appalled. The money/banking scam which empowers the elite and lays waste to our planet is barely on the people's radar. Just today, the rhetoric in support of the enbridge pipeline is over the top. On new year's eve the ndaa was signed into law by our saviour obama and the u.s. is now legally a police state.

Get a good helmet.

Things really have not

Things really have not changed much since Kings ruled..We just get enough crumbs to keep us in line.

Rafe, you neglected the

Rafe, you neglected the single most profound advancement of the underclasses in Europe. An event that brought the Dark Ages to a close and was the catalyst for the Renaissance and the rise of Labour Guilds and the original Middle Classes. And it was courtesy of that Grand Dame that mankind tries his best to out do or ignore, Mother Nature. In the space of little more than 24 months bubonic plague wiped out 25% of Europe's population.
Suddenly, human resources, that previously were so dime a dozen that any member of the Medieval court could skewer any old peasant with his sword just because he felt like it, became for the first time in history, worth their weight.
The workers could pick and choose which Prince or King they thought was worthy of their sweat and made them pay. Plus they made advancements in human rights that their fathers and grandfathers would never have been able to even conceive of in their wildest dreams.
And anyone who thinks that Mother Nature isn't busy in her kitchen right now, cooking up a new recipe for The Black Death to be delivered to the human race via our industrialized farm and food production and debasement of the planet, is in for a most nasty surprise.
Bon Appetit

Exporting Crude

If Harper is such a good economic manager (self acclaimed), why is he shipping crude to China for processing? Of course Michael Campbell will tell us that Canada does not have the refining capacity, while conveniently neglecting to say that BC closed three refineries in 1995 and shipped at least one of them to China.
Harper is a economic failure. Who else would plan megaprisons at a time of decreasing crime rates?

Occupy

it is time for the citizenry to take to the streets and occupy and peacefully protest all the things that are wrong...and shout loudly until they realise that we are serious...I am almost 58 and socialist and an atheist ... and have waited many a long year for the under-classes to rise up and demand to be heard but more importantly actually taken seriously by both the powers that be and the media...with the Spring will hopefully come a return of the Occupy movement...in even greater numbers...

“What’s different today?”

Unless there is a sea change in voter participation … considering that 60% of eligible voters, or more in some cases, don’t participate in the democratic process … there won’t be a corresponding change in how we are governed. Although, even with greater voter participation there is no guarantee conditions will improve. A majority decision does not guarantee a helpful, productive decision. Appropriate decisions require an informed public.

Although it is the duty of every eligible voter to do whatever is necessary to protect society from government, they won’t fight back until they are continually in pain. Unlike many Europeans and Middle East folk, Canadians are like anorexics and bulimics they don’t see a problem even when the suffering is obvious. They are a long way from reaching the end of their tether. The abysmally small turnout at the Occupation sites in Canada was an indication of the level of recognition of pain being felt by the public.

“What’s different today?” The captains of industry have already asked themselves what lies ahead when the public becomes unruly: their answer was to reinstate the extreme right wing Conservative ideologies of the past. The symmetry between past fascist-lead periods of barbarism and today’s governments is undeniable: monolithic ruling parties, police states, preparation for mass incarceration and the suppression of independent, critical thinkers.

So Ed Deak

I hear the universities are training economic theory that suits the status quo; and the status quo is directing the school and university curriculums. Stamping it out is like trying to stamp out christianity. It's ideological warfare, and their side guards the pulpit.

Asking the establishment to break this chain is like voting in contemporary Canada -- we are faithfully asking for what is never going to be given.

In my view, both Thermodynamic and Behavioural Economics having legitimate merit but (and even if they become self evident, given time) how can we break this playback loop from carrying on?

For heaven's sake, Ed, people don't even recognize the inherent criminality, the blatant absurdity, in the Bank of Canada borrowing with interest from private banks rather than creating its own interest free money.

It seems clear to me that we face the age old problem of usury, not credit. Outlaw usury and let's see where the chips land :)

Its the 30 Years War, not 100 Years War

Rafe, its the 30 Years War that led to the Treaty of Westphalia and modern nation-states. The 100 Years War refers to a series of wars between Britain and France and unless you're concerned about why Aquitane isn't on modern maps or you just love Henry V's Saint Crispens Day speech it has very little relevance to your topic.

Otherwise I agree about the Enbridge pipeline, a few jobs just isn't worth it to us.

Good one Rafe, you nailed it.

Good one Rafe, you nailed it. Wish your message could get into the mainstream media.

The most recent example of Diktat and Doublespeak has to be Joe Oliver's speech, which let out a little bit of the ignorance and fear mongering the Harper government is trying to feed to all Canadians.

It was the start of a planned attempt to preempt and sabotage any opposition to the Northern Gateway project, but oh so, so crude that Harpo must be grinding his teeth. Yet other interviewed Con. MPs stuck to the script like glue, spouting inane statements while ignoring serious questions as if they were never asked.

"Billionaire Socialist" is an oxymoron. Soros is, at best, a very successful but concerned Capitalist. Makes you wonder what the Harperites think a socialist is, perhaps they should provide a definition to clarify this for average Canadians. Name calling is so lame when it lacks any accuracy.

"Environmentalists and other radical groups". David Suzuki outlined how Joe's concepts were flipped 180* as the groups referred to were the conservatives while the fossil fuel industry and their political minions are the radicals.

"Good science", ha ha ha, only if it promotes the project. Just look at the "good science" practiced by the province and DFO vis a vis the open net fish farms. But this is immensely bigger, including the various risks, local and global.

As mentioned above, blaming foreign intersts in trying to stop this project is such a joke when compared to the immense foreign fossil fuel interests' lobbying and influence to rush this through.

And anytime you read or hear "jobs", substitute corporate profits.

The railway to Treblinka also provided lots of jobs, especially in the building phase. Of course, when the "product" (everything is now commodified, including human life) would run out, the jobs disappear.

If 70 or 80% of the people along the route, or even among all BCers strongly objected, would it still be pushed through? Is that why the Harperites want to have the decision their way in under two years, before their mandate runs out and aanother election is called?

I suspect that this and the Keystone XL are both done deals, if not this year, than next or possibly the following.

Prisons are paid for out of taxes, even if they are P3s, not by oil companies.

You're right Rafe, ..."as the scales fall from our eyes, we see the sham." Just not enough people have dropped the scales yet. Or they don't see a solution and feel stumped.

Canada's Democracy ? ?

Canada's political system IS a SHAM ! When 40% of those who bothered to vote makes a majority government, just makes a dictatorship, that really stinks. Harper is making Canada just a COLONY of the 21st Century Colonialists---the 1/10 of 1 % of the world's wealthiest. The New Colonialists do not need huge armies to exploit the whole world, just be the majority shareholders of all the Corporations that control all the industries and resources of any country. If maximum profits can not be made in one country then the industry is shut down---usually at tax-payer expense---and moved into the 3rd world where there are NO wage laws and NO environment laws. Free-Trade agreements allow the goods to be sold throughout the world without duties or prohibitions. The welfare of the citizens is of NO concern. The dog-eat-dog system has NO compassion. Poverty is only the concern of the poor---the Colonialist profiteer does not care. A citizen's democratic VOTE is basically just a ruse to fool the citizen into believing that they are living in a democracy, but in reality it is just a dictatorship running the country--paid for by the Corporation. If a President or Prime Minister does not do what the Corporate World wants, then that person is quickly removed or if necessary---just assassinated. Leaders are just as expendable as the workers. Nothing is to stand in the way of PROFIT ! It won't be long before the "BIG BROTHER" Corporations will implant a chip into everyone's brain at birth so all will be monitored--used and abused---will not be able to hide anywhere---a police state of the near future---everyone monitored by cameras and computers and satellites. All done for the profits of the Colonialists. Some of those Hollywood Movies are not too much of a fantasy to be the future of the world. SAD FUTURE ! !

igby....I look at myself as a

igby....I look at myself as a "general practitioner" who diagnoses the sickness and then lets people make up their own minds what to do about it.

We realized in our war and refugee years, even as teenagers, that there's something wrong with the brainwash we've been subjected to by our teachers, priests and governments of all ideologies and decided to search for ways to become as independent as possible, in friendly cooperation with others, trying to reach the highest degree of self sustainability.

Not competition, but cooperation between free people, not by ramming our ways down anybody's throats.

As far economics are concerned, I've spent a lifetime searching for the causes of history's repetitious tragedies, without finding a common thread, until I've read an interview with economics professor Herman Daly in the Mother Earth News in 1980. He pointed it out even then that the theory being taught and used was and is wrong. Yet, very few took notice.

Started reading economics in 1982 and by '85 it was very clear to me that the whole system was nothing more than a fraudulent religion to mislead people into giving up their freedom and properties.

Very similar to the tragedies, when families were urged by the priests and proud to see their daughters thrown into volcanoes, as ordered by the gods, to bring rain.

Without public support and the use of democracy, there's no hope for changes for the better, but the proof will have to come from the learned people and professors in our universities, not from an old guy in the sticks.

I've been maintaining it to my scientist and professor friends for many years, that the answer is in their hands, showing and proving it to people that the system is criminal, which can be proven very easily with the application of a few, well known physical laws, like Thermodynamics and Newton's laws on speed and reaction.

I can't do it, but they can, yet, all we can hear from them is silence, while their economics departments are going wild, destroying the Earth and humanity with the perceived power in non existing, imaginary capital licencing the biggest crime wave in history.

The solution is in the 2 definitions I wrote in my first note on top of these exchanges.

I think, there's a way and hope that humanity will wake up one day.

Ed Deak

Hey, lindi6676

Look a little more closely at this new "movement" and you will find that if they are not in a leading roll already then there are a bunch of leader wanna-bes that will soon start to run things the way they figure it should go. The new game may be afoot but it still does not represent significant change.

How it Works.

Anyone interested in how this country was designed to work should read Chantal Hébert's column published yesterday.

Anyone interested in a new and improved national energy program, or a national housing program, or any other similar, should read it too.

Rafe should read it too.

The Constitution of Canada is not about to be changed and the Supreme Court recently clarified the divisions between Federal and Provincial areas of jurisdiction.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1112925--hebert-liberals-top-down-view-of-federalism-out-of-date

Very interesting. In theory

Very interesting. In theory at least.

Unfortunately, we now have the most interventionist, top down , dictatorial government.

The so called "free trade agreements" destroying the democratic decision making powers of people, the great, tax free benefits given to the multinational corporate mafia and the forcing through of the environmental disasters of the Tar Sands and the Keystone and Enbridge pipelines are the best examples.

With the free trade rackets having destroyed Canadian industries and with them decent, well paying jobs, causing illness, poverty, foodbank lines, the country now has to "diversify". To use the immortal words of "conservative politicians" by selling everything the resources and soil to foreign "investors" and building up the economies of slave labour countries, like commie China, so their cadre can come back and buy up our housing and real estate.

If the "free trade" rackets, like the coming CETA, wiping out even municipal powers, are not top down interventions, what are they?

If foreign companies can sue for the loss of profits against Canadian decision making powers, what the hell are they if not top down dictatorships, with more and more to come, wiping out all democracy?

Ed Deak.

Ed Deak,

"Not competition, but cooperation between free people, not by ramming our ways down anybody's throats."

Agreed. Unfortunately people are far more moved (swayed, coerced) through emotion than reason. And the power elites always have the big stick. But this, too, may be a learned behaviour to some degree. We never seem to give cooperation and peace a chance.

Sham Democracy

At last, Rafe, you can see that we have to change the BC political system, not just keep changing the party in power. Ten years ago a BC party was formed to change our political system so that the people have decisive input into how we are governed. You were not ready to discuss systemic change 10 years ago, but now you are rightly crying out for people control of government – every day, not just once every four years. Such a political system has existed in a European country for over 150 years, and that BC political party still exists. It ran 22 candidates in the last provincial election. Your wish may come true yet ?