Oh! Oh!

I'm trying not to read too much into this... but I walked all over the house today... looking for my glasses... while I had them in my hand!

Move to Canada!

 We had a reader send in this question for the answer man:

Would you move to Canada from the United States?

AN American curmudgeon answered:

If not for my wife adamantly refusing to go? I’d have left for Canada no later than November 2016!  (Trump!)

Why? My list is too long to put here, but I’ll just cite the top five…

Here in the U.S., should I suffer an arrest, I’ve the right to an attorney. If however I suffer a cardiac arrest? I’m financially ruined. Despite having health insurance, the monthly premiums for which exceed my mortgage payment by 35%. My last hospital visit (2021), comprising a four hour ER stay, a few tests, but no admission, generated a bill for $6,200 beyond what my insurance covered. In Canada, meanwhile, my tax dollars would be used toward a national health care system that would’ve greatly reduced if not eliminated that liability. Instead of worrying about particular doctors being on my insurance plan? I could see whomever I chose. I’d not have avoided seeking emergency care for months while my wife begged me to go; and I’m pretty certain I’d have spent less on a trip to the ER than I did my first car.

Here in the U.S., when we err by electing the bad (1976, ‘80, ‘84), the hopeless (2000, ‘04), or even the utterly batshit insane (2016) as a national leader? We’re stuck with them for four years unless someone takes one for the national team and etches their name into infamy by killing them. In Canada, meanwhile, during my lifetime there’ve been 3 instances where an incompetent or unpopular Prime Minister has been shown the door within a year of taking office. There, MP’s are held directly accountable by the electorate, with no seat truly in the stranglehold of one of its six major parties. Here, we literally tailor electoral districts to elect politicians rather than tailor the politicians to the people of the district.

Here in the U.S., there is a very vocal, very xenophobic group of people who if given the means would stand at the Mexican border and shoot dead anyone who dared try to cross it. In Canada, meanwhile, one in five Canadians is an immigrant, and they’re comparatively welcomed with open arms. Being multicultural is a feature, not a bug. Canada gets that.

Here in the U.S., we are paranoid as a society. Crime is allegedly rampant. We’re on the brink of destruction from the Chinese. Your neighbor could be a cross-dressing interracial pedophile. Despite actual crime being about half of what it was fifty years ago and violent crime down two thirds? We see fit to have our police are better armed than most nation’s militaries. In Canada, meanwhile, at least in rural areas house doors tend to remain unlocked. China’s seen in proper context and not some global bogeyman. Police possess common sense. Crime exists, but the people aren’t constantly fearing for their safety. Oh, and… people aren’t massacred in public settings on a regular basis.

Finally… have you ever met a Canadian? Unless you’re disparaging a Labatt or Molson, or claiming hockey’s a sport for wussies? Odds are, you’ll have a nice, civil encounter. By contrast, there are significant swaths of Americans who simply can’t resist injecting their religion, politics, or narcissism into a discussion within 5 minutes of meeting you. Canadians are, by far, better people to be in the presence of.

Had I my life to re-live? I’d have crossed the Peace Bridge at 18, and I’d have stayed there. While I’ve done far better than most Americans, I’d be exponentially better off had I gone to Canada; and if someone came to me with an offer to buy my business and properties at anything close to their fair market value… and I could somehow be assured permanent Canadian residence? Wife or not, anyone searching for me would likely only see a vapor trail heading north instead.

The American Curmudgeon!

Saturday Morning Confusion: DRUMPF!

 

Strike!

 We had a guy call into the Perspective Research Department and pose this question:

"If the United States got militarily aggressive towards Canada, is there any chance of deterring it?"

To which David Clark answered: Sure. Every Canadian working in the US calls in sick on the same day! 

Hollywood, the news media and all the hospitals would shut down by lunchtime. (Actors, directors, producers. Comedians (especially the funny ones) and nurses: mostly Canadian. . all book off!)

GIVE IT A REST!!!!!

I am just in the process of combining the four books I wrote about the "Philosophy of Religion" into one 500-page book (BEING HUMAN), and I have run into a problem, kids! 

 I did a whole bunch of editing on these documents... and when I did a check of the corrections I made... "lo" and "behold" when I got to the history of the Jews, some sort of a program... or dastardly deed in the computer (either "Word" or "Grammarly") took every word, like "Jew" or"Jews" and changed them to just read "J" so that I wouldn't offend anyone!

Come on folks..., I was writing about the "History of the Jews" here...! NOT "The History of the Jays" (After all... this isn't a sports blog!)

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This whole "WOKE" bullshit has gotten out of hand, folks...!

(I mean... it's not like I said shit or fuck... or something!)

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Now let's see what happens to THIS 'Post' ...eh?

BEATLES FOREVER!

Why is Canada so fake?

 Allan:

I am going to take a wild guess but I will put money on this question being written by an American whose extensive travel experience in Canada has been through Disney and Bugs Bunny cartoons.

What country is it whose president proclaimed the U.S. to be the “bright, shining city on the hill.” 

The truth is that Neon City is a shallow front. 

Behind that front is a second-rate country. 

Check the facts.

The U.S. cannot care for it’s people:

- lowest life expectancy of the developed countries, seven years less than Canada,

- highest infant/maternal mortality rate of the developed countries,

- and higher per capita SARS-COVID mortality rate than Canada.

- cannot educate its people — U.S. education ranked 22nd in the world, Canada sixth.

- cannot protect its people — 647 mass casualty events in 2022; Canada — zero.

- Canada is ranked sixth for freedom, the land of the free is not even in the top 20.

- There’s lots more but let’s leave it at that and ask why the U.S. is so fake because Canada is genuine, unlike the self-proclaimed greatest country on Earth.

Brenton Harding

Former Foreign Service Officer. (1982–1986)

Bob can be your uncle... but not Sam!

 ALLAN:

What is preventing the U.S. and Canada from merging?

It seems to me that the American people who post on here are either totally unaware of how alien their culture is to the rest of the world... or this type of post is trolling.

For the purpose of this reply, I assume that Americans are ignorant of how they are perceived by other nations.

We often see America as a failed or failing state because:

It is run by corporations, foreign countries and religions who own the political class.

The American education system is somewhat behind the rest of the world and rather than having an enforced national curriculum, it seems each country can change what is taught at a whim. 

Furthermore having school children pledge allegiance to the flag each day and teaching them “facts” about American history and achievements is much the same brainwashing technique used in North Korea. So please forgive us if we don't trust your indoctrinated “free citizens.

Americans seem to be taught that freedom is about having a gun/guns and killing people. When Trump was president he said something like everyone should carry a gun so that in the case of a shooting they can shoot the “bad guy.” (interestingly I didn't see Trump pull out a gun in the recent assassination attempt, I am sure that he will have an excuse) 

My point is that the rest of the world doesn't see having armed citizens as a good thing, in fact, most of the public in the non-American world don't want the proliferation of guns among the citizens. As a result, the only people in very many countries that have access to guns are those that can prove a need for them, school shootings are not accepted as a valid reason.

In the rest of the world, we care about the lives and well-being of others both from an ethical and economic standpoint, sick people can't work and that affects the economy. Also as I mentioned we are ethically concerned about the health of others.

The American healthcare system seems based entirely on schadenfreude and profiteering.

I started by saying this is the perception of non-Americans about America. Maybe it's wrong but it is the face you chose to show the world. It's anathema to what everyone else considers civilized so you can't expect any other nation to merge with the USA if for no other reason than you seem to be a country of politically corrupt, morally bankrupt, crazy people.

Ian Ellis

Back When?

 In 1978 I was thirty (30) years old and slowly leaving my youth behind!

It's a dog eat dog world out there folks!

 

All in the family!

 I ran across a post by my nephew Christopher:

Bring on the Fall!

I said I really wanted to enjoy the Summer and I did! 

I got outside quite a bit.

I explored and did some new things.

Now, I’m ready for a change.
I am almost done mixing and mastering this final track. 
When “Recollection” is done I will be taking a couple months hiatus from producing to put my efforts elsewhere.

Fall is a good time. 
I enjoy the cooler weather. 
I don’t mind the earlier nights. 
It’s Winter / Spring when it gets aaaa… difficult.

U have my blessing. Pumpkin spice it up!

Christoph Maitland

What are the perks of living in Canada?

 Allan:

I’ve lived my entire life in the US, and have recently moved to Canada. The advantages of Canada I’ve found include:

• A functional government with very little corruption
• An awesome health care system. In fact, it keeps surprising me how good health care is in Canada. I’ve used it a few times and it blows me away every time with how efficient and low-cost it is.
• A great business climate for small business, at least in BC. In fact, I relocated one of my businesses from the US to Canada.
• Awesome people. The jokes about how friendly Canadians are, aren’t really jokes.

Franklin Veaux

HOLY SMOKE!

If you tell people something...

Enough Times.....

With Enough Conviction...

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THEY WILL BELIEVE ALMOST ANYTHING!

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(Look at Religion!)

Sunday Morning Funnies!

Allan: 

Can you answer Alvian Eleven (alt)'s question: 

Q: "What will happen during the current retrograde of Pluto and Uranus?"

A: Absolutely nothing… you can’t have Pluto retrograded in Uranus because he’s only a fictional cartoon character!

A no win situation kids!!!!!!!

 I heard something on TV today that sort of brought up the situation in Ukraine with an amazing amount of clarity!

I have long suspected... but never actually articulated... what the situation over there was all about!

Well... what the woman on the TV said brought it all into "Perspective!" (God I love that word!)

She said: "The West... for their own political reasons... are giving the Ukrainians just enough HELP so that they don't lose... but not enough so that they can WIN!

I guess the number of people killed for political reasons is of secondary importance... eh kids?

THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER !

 Let's have a cheer... and a round of drinks for good ol' Hunter Biden!

Yup, his old man (The President of the U.S.of A.) decided to step down from the Presidency... AND SUDDENLY... there was no more need for the Republicans to "Hound the Hunter" so they had the DOJ cut a quick deal with the 'Presidential Prodigy' to plead guilty... and then a judge would give him a slap on the wrist with a wet noodle! 😏

Way to go Hunter... you're a stand-up guy for your old man!!!!!! 

(Whether you wanted to be... or NOT!)

Actually, I couldn't give a shit one way or the other about "Hunter..." I just find it incredible that Trump and his kids made "millions" through various shady and nefarious deals... so to take some of the heat off themselves... they had to pretend Hunter.... and by association... JOE... was crooked as well!

But now... it just doesn't matter anymore, kids!

H E L P !

 I was just reading the instructions for installing my new garden lights when I saw the cautionary note that I should not "ingest" the battery!

DAMN! (I was looking forward to a quick snack!!!!!!)

LIVING IN THE REAL WORLD!

University might not be for everyone kids... and there's a lot of good reasons for this:

What is... and what never should be done! (With apologies to Led Zep!)

 As a Canadian, I am obligated to act as an "Honest Broker" in matters of U.S. politics... that's why I had to post THIS... when I ran across it today!

David Letterman starts his new career!

 Ya can't just sit around the house all day folks... ya have to do something!!!!!