Pursuing Truth, Goodness, and Beauty
Surprisingly, there are folks who don’t seem to be bothered by the debt load the Ontario government has incurred. For many Ontarians, it just doesn’t matter. But, here’s why it should. Simply put: Interest payments on government debt eat up revenue at the expense of other priorities. Interest payments on government debt in Canada consume…
Through the ages, our Canadian Prime Ministers have had a few elected bench mates who loyally served them as their trusted wingmen – their closest advisors, often the Cabinet’s Mr. Fix-It or a dependable Party workhorse. Often, we can look back at the PM’s tenure and see the successes (or failures) of their governments as…
With MPs back in the House of Commons, By George thought it helpful to provide our elected representatives with proverbial wisdom that, if taken to heart, could lead to a more productive (and civil) legislature. (If our By George Journal readers are so inclined, this list of 10 proverbs would be a perfect missive to…
Here are some of our favourite “election” quotes for this election year: The only thing we learn from new elections is we learned nothing from the old. – (American) Proverb Elections are won by men and women chiefly because most people vote against somebody rather than for somebody. — Franklin P. Adams The election is…
This past weekend I was at a breakfast gathering of politically engaged folks, who had the pleasure of hearing guest speaker Paul Wells, Maclean’s political editor. Canadians will know Paul for the insight he espouses in his Maclean’s blog – Inkless Wells In his Saturday morning address, Paul spoke of experiences related to his…
It was a crowded, excited audience at Mississippi Mills Council Chambers last evening as the new Mayor and Council were being sworn into Office. What a great evening when good friend Shaun McLaughlin was presented the Chain of Office. Here are a few photos and links related to the evening. News links: Millstone’s photos ,…
“A prudent man should always follow in the path trodden by great men and imitate those who are most excellent, so that if he does not attain to their greatness, at any rate he will get some tinge of it.” “He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.” “The lion cannot protect…
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead Many readers of this Journal will know that Chris George has been preoccupied over the last number of months with managing Shaun McLaughlin’s campaign for mayor of Mississippi Mills. Read…
Parliament has now been in session for a couple of weeks and it appears the cast has been set for what Canadians can expect from the federal scene for months to come. There are three key matters that are dominating the Ottawa agenda. The reference point for all arguments and activities is the 2015 election….
Every now and then, it is helpful to contemplate where a country may be heading and, in doing so, create an opportunity to make things better for its citizenry. Recently McGill University brought together some of Canada’s leading thinkers for a Canada Remix symposium, an event that delved into the country’s current state of affairs…
This past Spring a friend of 20 years approach me to manage his mayoralty bid in the community our Family had just chosen as home. For a good part of 15 years, I have steered clear of a managerial role in a political campaign; but this time there seemed to be every good reason to…
Here are a dozen insightful quotes on Canadian politics, recently observed by Canadian political pundits and media. “When you allow people to choose between the corrupt and the stupid, they will go for the corrupt.” – Arthur Finkelstein “Like an episode of Seinfeld, Canadian politics has become a show about nothing.” – Alex Himelfarb “Brokerage…
“When one gets in bed with government, one must expect the diseases it spreads.” – Ron Paul “Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.” – Ronald Reagan “Government can’t give…
30-years ago today, the Progressive Conservatives swept across Canada in a remarkable election that ushered in Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. This government did a lot of small things wrong, and Mr. Mulroney wasn’t the most popular of Prime Ministers. However, he and his government got a few big things right: Canada – US Free Trade…
For many libertarian-minded people, Ronald Reagan’s observations on government probably comes closest to their perceptions of “government.” Former U.S. President Reagan stated: “I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism. I think conservatism is really a misnomer, just as liberalism is a misnomer for liberals… The basis of conservatism is a desire…
Canadians are spending more and more on government. In fact, we are spending more on government than we do on our families! The Fraser Institute produced a new research study that shows the average family brought in $77,381 in 2013, paying out 41.8 per cent of that in total tax, and 36.1 per cent on…
All government, of course, is against liberty. Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance. Democracy is only a dream: it should be put in the same category as Arcadia, Santa Claus, and Heaven. Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods. For every complex problem there…
The day after the night before – and I am both irritated at how the election played out with the public sector unions ruling the day; and I am troubled about what the next 4 years will bring with a Liberal majority government. We all work hard; pay our fair share of taxes; and should…
Thursday we choose between our generous Step-Mom, who is treating us and partying with Dad’s credit cards and Dr. No, who we are told will enforce our bed time We are either Wynners with all our wishes, wants and desires; a celebration for the here and now forever! or we are conscientious objectors who pronounce…
The Truth about Trudeau by Bob Plamondon is one of those books that is destined to redefine the manner Canadian historians and writers pen biographical accounts. This is a book that makes an unchallengeable case on the record of a Prime Minister, wholly contrary to the prevalent narrative of our country’s liberal, chattering-class. Bob Plamondon’s…