The crotch bomber won!

Here we go again. The American authorities, in their never-ending mission to strip me of my personal liberty and dignity, have imposed new regulations for flying into the US in the wake of the recent bombing attempt.

As if stripping my belt and shoes off scores of times since 9-11 hasn't been enough harassment, I will now have to be subjected to a full pat-down prior to boarding, and I will be denied blankets or pillows during the last 60 minutes of flight. And no peeing 1 hour prior to landing either...flying with my small children just got more interesting.

All this in the name of the 'ILLUSION' of security. Never mind the fact that:

- Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab was on an FBI so-called 'watch list'
- he was on a Banned from Entry list in the UK for months now
- his father recently contacted the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria with concerns his son had "become radicalized" and was planning something!
- he boarded a flight with a ticket paid in cash, and with NO LUGGAGE!!!

Of course, I feel much better after seeing Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on TV saying "While we continue to investigate the source of this incident, the traveling public should be very confident of what we're doing now."

NOW? NOW? WTF! You couldn't set up a system to make sure a passenger agent properly signaled the authorities when a guy checked in for a flight from Nigeria to Detroit with NO LUGGAGE?

I see all the news sources calling this a "botched attack" but the only thing that was botched was the basic common sense of every individual that came in contact with Umar during those last 24 hours before he tried to light his pants on fire...

And even more botched, is the basic thinking that all this so-called security makes us safer.

Fighting terrorism can be done only one way - getting on with our lives and not letting them get to us. Because every time my Yankee friends panic and decide to start checking my underwear, the terrorists win.

Just when you thought America was going to get it right...free speech is dead

I would love to write something sophisticated and poignant about the health care debate in the US. As a matter of fact, I would like to be telling you that the US is finally about to take a step forward and join the rest of the developed world by offering a decent basic health-care plan for all of its citizens. But sadly, I am here to tell you about a most disturbing development in the history of American public policy and its debate.

Remember in college when we tackled the free speech debate: ''Is falsely yelling FIRE! in a crowded theater legal?'' was the example usually used. Well I would like to recommend teachers update the reference to the following:

''Is it legal, in order to destroy a health care bill in congress, to falsely tell a xenophobic senior-citizen their new black president is going to euthanize them?''

But why change the FIRE! test? It's so much easier to remember...

You see, it had appeared that mobs of stupid people had gained control of the public debate on whether or not the US government should once and for all administer a public health insurance option for its citizens. When I say stupid, I don't mean stupid as in 'dude, you're stupid' stupid - I mean stupid as in the Webster dictionary says: lacking intelligence or reason stupid. (really folks, YouTube these folks...their stupidity is startling! I couldn't make this stuff up.)

The following examples of stupidity read like the plot of the next South Park: The Movie installment, but I fear even Trey Parker and Matt Stone might not have seen these coming... Here is a sampling of their key talking points:

• Health care reform means "socialism" or a "government takeover" of all health care, closing down the insurance companies and forcing everyone onto a 'Canadian-style' system that rations care
• Government will pay for 'abortion on demand, 'in-vitro for lesbians' and 'sex change operations' with tax-payer money
• (and my favorite) Government will create 'death panels' to decide the fate of senior citizens - yes, they are talking about euthanasia, and they are doing it seriously. (people have been seen in tears at protests over this supposed clause...)

Any half-intelligent, truly concerned American citizen looking for real information on the health care reform debate shouldn't look far. The actual bill is a public document by law, and the ins and outs of every clause can be examined and read. I'm Canadian and I was able to debunk these points in 15 minutes on the web. Now I realize I may be more skilled than most using the web and its search capabilities, but isn't the future of health care in your country worth some of your time?

But back to free speech...

I did say 'it appeared' that stupid people gained control of the public debate. Sadly I must report that the truth is even worse...the medical industry and conservative (=crazy) lobbyists have successfully hijacked the debate. They are the money and organization behind these so-called 'grass-roots' groups of angry people sent to and drown out public debates on the vitally important topic of American health care reform. (They have in fact done so successfully and without even hiding it very well...)

While this storyline could be made funny were it woven into the plot of the South Park movie follow-up, the actual health care debate in the US lies helplessly in tatters, as do the 1st and 14th amendments of the US Constitution.

The stupid will always be there, as will those who will manipulate them. But those who lend the manipulators credibility are the true offenders.

Every day American society allows the likes of Bill O'Reilly, Ann Coulter, Glenn Beck et. al. to spew their hate-speech-camouflaged-as-free-speech. These pawns of corporate interests are allowed to go on the air and present their opinions as fact and distribute lies to sway the opinion of their less-than-intelligent watchers and listeners. And it seems to me there might finally be a way to shut these ''liars-for-hire'' down once and for all.

But excuse me, oh wise one, how are they infringing on the right to free speech? Aren't the stupid and the ugly protected too? Well in the case of the health care debate the Schenk v. US test may apply in that false statements are presenting a clear and present danger to the United States and its citizens.

''The question in every case is whether the words used are used in such circumstances and are of such a nature as to create a clear and present danger that they will bring about the substantive evils that Congress has a right to prevent." - Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., Schenck v. United States, 1919

If we assume that the destruction of the health care reform bill would mean:

• 47 million uninsured Americans will stay uninsured and therefore die younger than those with insurance.
• Americans will continue to fall uninsured when they lose or change a job, then facing the horror of trying to qualify for benefits at their next job as a new applicant
• Insured Americans will continue to fall victim to the new (and very profitable) practice of recision, or in layman's terms, kicking people off their insurance once they get sick
• The eventual bankruptcy of the American economy as the current system is unsustainable at current cost levels

Then doesn't the US Congress have the right to prevent the above-mentioned evils??? Only a daring US lawyer ready to take on the corporate healthcare establishment would be able to put this to the test...I suggest somebody find one immediately.

As a Canadian with universal health care, I truly wish the same for America. But sadly I am convinced that they will be denied again and the hijackers will win...and in the process destroy what little is left of the US Constitution.

That's my opinion and it should be yours too.

My first post...

So here we are - my first post. Let me begin with the following disclaimer:

I am fully aware and conscious that many of the opinions I will share in the blog will shock, provoke and perhaps even insult some readers. These posts will be made up of words and only words, and to quote one of my heroes the great George Carlin, there are no such things as good words or bad words - only good or bad intentions. Therefore let me make it clear that my only intention is one of self expression and whenever possible to provoke thought and perhaps a laugh or two. Please know that your reaction to my post is purely your own responsibility.

Now on with it then...

I have been racking my brains on where to begin...the PQ and their silly would-be-Premiere Marois? Herr Harper and his band of rednecks? Bob Gainey and his obsession with midgets? Perhaps something light such as why Shepherds Pie is known as Chinese Pie in Quebec...

As luck would have it, a discussion on a finance chat board led me to the golden trough of opinions to be vented. Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, as my first post I deliver unto you - my opinion (should be yours too)

The context of the chat:

In response to a plea for financial advice from an unemployed man with few options but personal bankruptcy, the gentleman below recommended he should give away all his remaining money to the church and trust God to save him. At first I laughed and kidded with this gentleman thinking it was a joke - alas it was not.

The post that invited my opinion:

Tomorrow everything will be taken from you, and the question will be asked, "What have you done with the gifts God has given freely?" Everybody has a choice, what is yours? Open your heart to truth, and you will see what I see.

My first reply:

My choice is to believe in the potential for goodness in men without the need for a God or a fear of God...just out of pure humanity. More unspeakable atrocity has been committed in the name of "God" than any other guise... if anything the choice is made even clearer by this - stay away from "God" and chances are you will be a better person. As for seeing what you see - no thanks! I opened my eyes 3 years ago and have never seen so clearly in all my life. I only wish the same for you some day.

To which he responded:

I think you are mixing religion with God. Religion is mans attempt at understanding God. Man has a conceited streak which contaminates truth. That is why we have so many religions. Man also uses religion for his own personal gain. I am talking about truly knowing your maker, not about any religion. You can find God anywhere, not only in church. You have made your assumptions due to the life experiences you have encountered. Einstein believed in a Creator. E=MC2 was being taught by Jesus 1900 years earlier. With faith you can actually move mountains. When we study the tiniest levels known to science currently a theory, we see strings of energy in every atom. Unlocking this energy is the key to all miracles. God created the sciences for man to learn about Gods creation,. We are only infants in this wonderful universe.

Which left me no option but to bring down the full force of my opinion (should be yours too)

Nice apologist manifesto - and quite convincingly recited I may add. The true and awesome power of the universe is unlocked in science, fact and rational thought. And Einstein believed not in a "creator" as you say, but a creative force of nature...and where you got "E=MC2 was being taught by Jesus 1900 years earlier" I'll never know, but it is not only false, it is insulting to imply that the greatest scientist of our time was only spewing rehashed theories from a character in a book.

If you ask me to believe that somewhere down the study of creation we may stumble upon a creative force that is responsible for this beautiful universe, I may CHOOSE to believe it - with scientific proof and rational thought.

If you ask me to believe that this creative force is in any way divine, all-knowing, omnipotent, responsible for anything that happens in my daily life or the daily lives of any creature to have lived in the universe...I cannot. If you ask me to believe that this creative force sent messengers to earth, possessed people, spoke to people, I cannot. If you ask me to believe that this creative force has any effect whatsoever on the decision making capabilities of a man to choose between right and wrong, I cannot. To do so would be utterly ridiculous and irrational.

I choose to take responsibility for my actions, decisions and human experience. And the sooner the rest of humanity can do the same the more chance we have of making it through the next 200 years as a race. For the truth is that men of "God" can currently be linked to most of the non-essential struggles of our time, never mind most of the human atrocities of the past 5000 years...

Instead of working together as a race to lift people from poverty, desperation and desolation, we divide and destroy in the name of "God." So please spare me your apologist speak, because you and I both know that you believe in Jesus and the bible. At least assume responsibility for that.

And there you have it - the ice is broken and the first post is done. I welcome your comments, I only ask that they be kept in clean language and as rationally thought out as possible.