Potpourri for $1600, Alex
A few random musings at the end of the weekend:
There's another case of conservative projection taking shape in Canadian politics. Many conservatives are complaining about anti-Americanism on the part of certain politicians and non-Right-thinking Canadians in general. But the kind of disdain they are attributing to others toward the U.S. is what they themselves feel toward Ontario and Toronto. Most of us who have questions about U.S. policy are not vindictive toward that country or its citizens, just critical of those who make policy. On the other hand, the Western conservatives in Canada truly despise their compatriots who are of a different political culture.
So, the U.S. government is now in the business of spying on its own citizens. That all seems to be par for the course when there is a president in charge who regards the U.S. constitution as " just a goddamned piece of paper." But what I find strange is that, in the same breath, Bush can talk about the necessity of the program, while criticizing those who made it publicly known. Huh? If it's justified, then why keep it a secret. Just telling your people that you're monitoring their phone and e-mails doesn't tell them who you're spying on specifically. But you'd have to be totally naive to think that every target of this NSA project is terrorism-related. For shame.
Yesterday I bought a computer desk from Ikea, and assembled it that day. And everything was great. Except that there was a little plastic piece missing. So I had to drive all the way back there again today just to take a number, wait to be called up to the desk, and ask for this little plastic piece. The gas to drive there probably cost over 100 times more than that little plastic piece. I have very little bad to say about Ikea - it's one of my favourite places to shop. (And the return trip allowed me to enjoy another 75 cent frozen yogurt cone, and have another whiff of those cinnamon buns.) But since they are in the business of selling unassembled furniture, they should include extra pieces of all the assembly hardware, to ensure that a good customer doesn't get shortchanged and have to make a long journey back to pick up a little plastic piece needed to complete the assembly. But I'm not bitter.
UPDATE: Hat tip to Mustard Man for providing this tidbit in the comments section. It appears that if there's real hatred, it isn't coming from our side of the border.
There's another case of conservative projection taking shape in Canadian politics. Many conservatives are complaining about anti-Americanism on the part of certain politicians and non-Right-thinking Canadians in general. But the kind of disdain they are attributing to others toward the U.S. is what they themselves feel toward Ontario and Toronto. Most of us who have questions about U.S. policy are not vindictive toward that country or its citizens, just critical of those who make policy. On the other hand, the Western conservatives in Canada truly despise their compatriots who are of a different political culture.
So, the U.S. government is now in the business of spying on its own citizens. That all seems to be par for the course when there is a president in charge who regards the U.S. constitution as " just a goddamned piece of paper." But what I find strange is that, in the same breath, Bush can talk about the necessity of the program, while criticizing those who made it publicly known. Huh? If it's justified, then why keep it a secret. Just telling your people that you're monitoring their phone and e-mails doesn't tell them who you're spying on specifically. But you'd have to be totally naive to think that every target of this NSA project is terrorism-related. For shame.
Yesterday I bought a computer desk from Ikea, and assembled it that day. And everything was great. Except that there was a little plastic piece missing. So I had to drive all the way back there again today just to take a number, wait to be called up to the desk, and ask for this little plastic piece. The gas to drive there probably cost over 100 times more than that little plastic piece. I have very little bad to say about Ikea - it's one of my favourite places to shop. (And the return trip allowed me to enjoy another 75 cent frozen yogurt cone, and have another whiff of those cinnamon buns.) But since they are in the business of selling unassembled furniture, they should include extra pieces of all the assembly hardware, to ensure that a good customer doesn't get shortchanged and have to make a long journey back to pick up a little plastic piece needed to complete the assembly. But I'm not bitter.
UPDATE: Hat tip to Mustard Man for providing this tidbit in the comments section. It appears that if there's real hatred, it isn't coming from our side of the border.
posted by Jaymeister at 12/18/2005 11:28:00 p.m.
3 Comments:
Good post. But some Conservative Americans are sure vindictive against us:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200512160012
I would agree. However, pulling ratings hacks who are more entertainers than they are policy makers sort of falls short. I mean, you could pull Pat Buchanan idiocies but no one voted for him. The problem in Canada is that it was our prime minister (lower case letters intended). It isn't some excuse for a commentator screaming for a new contract, or some southern govenor who has no interaction whatsover, it is our leader slinging crap into the neighbour's yard. If he wanted to talk about illegal overseas prisons I would have applauded him...but he didn't...he gawked about the Americans not doing anything, when in reality they are doing twice as much as we are. So when the time comes to be credible...we have none...
paul martin = jackass
I'm not giving Paul Martin a pass on this. I've said over and over again, his only ideology is power, and he thinks that he can make political hay by taking a few pot shots. As you mention, he has no legs to stand on when it comes to whining about Kyoto. (But let's not exaggerate the U.S. environmental record either.) Softwood lumber is a legitimate issue. But the perception that mainstream, central Canada is anti-American is a great distortion in my opinion.
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