Those of us in the glorious frozen north like to get away from the cold in the winter when we can. My wife and I certainly do. Those of you who read the drivel I write in this space regularly know that. But media stories about Canadians who get killed, jailed or assaulted in Mexico are scaring some people away from that locale. Allow me, if you will, to debunk some of the fear.
First of all, when you leave Canada you automatically take on some risk no matter where you go. In fact, with the exception of some western European countries, Canada is just about the safest place in the world, so if you exit Canada, chances are that you're going someplace less safe. Want to know what the worst city in Canada was in 2011 for homicide? It was Edmonton, at just over 5.1 homicides per 100,000 people. That was an anomaly from the trend. In 2010 the murder capital of Canada was Winnipeg at 2.82 per 100,000. Edmonton was 2.71. Canada averaged 1.62.
What kind of risk to you take going elsewhere? Take a look at the USA, for starters. The USA's average is almost three times that of Canada's at 4.8 per 100,000. That's the whole country, mind you. What if you travel to some American cities? Let's take a look at them:
New Orleans: 49.1 per 100,000
St. Louis: 40.5
Baltimore: 34.8
Detroit: 34.5
Newark: 32.1
Those aren't typos, folks. Winnipeg: 2.82. New Orleans: 49.1
How about some tourist destinations for Canadians:
Los Angeles: 7.6
Anaheim: 2.1
San Francisco: 5.9
Miami: 15.4
Tampa: 7.8
New York: 6.4
Their capital, Washington DC sits at 21.9.
Mexico's national average is 18. That's the whole country, including the areas around the US border where the vast majority of the violence in Mexico is. It's a good bet that you're safer in Cancun, Cabo, or Puerto Vallarta than in Miami or LA.
What about how Mexico stacks up against some other sunny destinations:
Jamaica: 52
Bahamas: 27
Brazil: 25
Dominican Rep.: 22
Mexico: 18
How many Canadians have been assaulted in other sunny destinations? In the USA 41 Canadians have been assaulted since 2005, 40 killed. Where are the big headlines? Anyone scared to go to Disneyland? 59 Canadians have been assaulted and 13 killed in the Dominican Republic since 2005. 36 Canadians were assaulted and 8 murdered in Jamaica in the same time period. 69 Canadians were assaulted and one murdered in Cuba. All of this is according to Foreign Affairs Canada (and kind thanks to the Globe and Mail for publishing these stats on January 24 of this year).
Compare this to Mexico, where the assaults are higher at 194, but the murders, 24, are less than the USA. Yet the most popular place for Canadians remains the USA, with Mexico second.
In the end, you have to admit that if you're willing to go the USA, you're easily taking as much risk as going to Mexico.
So my wife and I will continue to travel to Mexico every year. Ole!
But that's just the way I see it.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
Drunk Driving? People Can't Drive Sober!
A lot of resources seem to be thrown at the problem of drunk driving. I've given my views on that before (0.05 is not drunk, sorry). But what about how badly people drive sober? My experience is that it's pretty awful pretty often.
No matter what a person's personality they have a different persona behind the wheel. Nice people turn rude. Rude people turn into full-on assholes. I never cease to be amazed by how awful people can get behind the wheel.
My biggest beef with other people is that so many don't bother to signal when they turn, change lanes or use traffic circles. Nothing out there has a greater chance of causing an accident than not signalling. Yet so many people are just too damned lazy to use that little switch that's right next to their hand. You don't have to look to use it.
Speeding is the other dumb choice that causes accidents. People who can't plan their day or get up on time and endanger other people on the road shouldn't be allowed to drive. Especially in a winter climate speeding is seriously dangerous. And I don't mean 5-10 km/h over. I mean 20 km/h or more over. You know who I mean...those morons blasting in and out of lanes and acting invincible. Too bad that they so often take someone with them to the grave.
What about the old person or slow minded fool that drives way under the speed limit all the time? The greatest indication that you don't have the skill to drive is driving super slow. Either that or you're stoned and shouldn't be on the road anyway. How come the cops never do anything about the dawdlers?
Too bad I'm talking about the vast majority of people on the road. No wonder insurance costs so much.
But that's just the way I see it.
No matter what a person's personality they have a different persona behind the wheel. Nice people turn rude. Rude people turn into full-on assholes. I never cease to be amazed by how awful people can get behind the wheel.
My biggest beef with other people is that so many don't bother to signal when they turn, change lanes or use traffic circles. Nothing out there has a greater chance of causing an accident than not signalling. Yet so many people are just too damned lazy to use that little switch that's right next to their hand. You don't have to look to use it.
Speeding is the other dumb choice that causes accidents. People who can't plan their day or get up on time and endanger other people on the road shouldn't be allowed to drive. Especially in a winter climate speeding is seriously dangerous. And I don't mean 5-10 km/h over. I mean 20 km/h or more over. You know who I mean...those morons blasting in and out of lanes and acting invincible. Too bad that they so often take someone with them to the grave.
What about the old person or slow minded fool that drives way under the speed limit all the time? The greatest indication that you don't have the skill to drive is driving super slow. Either that or you're stoned and shouldn't be on the road anyway. How come the cops never do anything about the dawdlers?
Too bad I'm talking about the vast majority of people on the road. No wonder insurance costs so much.
But that's just the way I see it.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Controversial Topic - Should You Take Their Last Name?
I recently had a discussion with several exceptional young women of my acquaintance about the last name you should take when you get married. To say that the reactions were passionate would be diplomatic.
The odd thing was that the reactions weren't uniform. The women who thought that changing your last name was fine were just as adamant about it as the ones who defiantly stated "I'll never change my last name!" I found the underlaying anger interesting, and have been dying to comment on it via this blog.
The first thing I would note is that times are changing. I would estimate that most men think that when they get married that name change is not something that they have to make a choice about. But they are wrong in thinking that and tend to find out the ugly way. Many women don't make the same assumption. Women are now asking the question, "why should I have to change my last name?"The fact that men haven't had to make that choice and make assumptions leads to that underlaying anger.
We've lived in a patriarchal society for millennia and it shows with respect to this debate. Men assume women will change their name. Women no longer want to. Men who would judge women too harshly ought to ask themselves if they would be willing to change their last name to match that of a woman.
Now my for my opinion, which I'm sure you've been waiting for anxiously. I believe that when two people get married they create a new family unit. Children or not, they are a family. And in my mind, families should have the same last name. And here's the kicker: it doesn't matter what that name is!
When my lovely wife and I got married, I told her that I would take her last name if she didn't take mine. Having the same last name was important to me. She chose, instead, to take my name to avoid the inevitable controversy (and, no doubt, to please me). And 10 years later I don't think she minds having that name. But I would have done the same. Hell, I would have made up a new one if that made everybody happy.
So, what about hyphenated names? Personally, I hate them. Where does that end? If a guy with a hyphenated last name marries a woman with a hyphenated last name they would have 4 last names. In 2 generations that becomes 8 names. All because somebody doesn't want to lose their identity? Personally I think that's selfish and shows a lack of commitment.
How much do you love the person you are going to marry? Enough to take their last name? Enough to lose the last name you've used all of your life? Enough to take an entirely new name? If you are creating a new family unit, then shouldn't the members of that unit share the same family name? We often hear the last name called a "surname". But for many years it was referred to as a "family name". Why is that somehow not important anymore? Forget your identity....what about your family's identity?
Without a doubt the patriarchal nature of this issue should be swept away. There's no way that men shouldn't be faced with the same choice as women always have. This should be a joint decision. But aren't many people just selfishly throwing the baby out with the bath water? Again I ask: how much do you love the person that you are about to commit your life to? Do you realize that you're committing your life to them and the family you are about to create? Do different names or hyphenated names reflect that? Not in my view.
Marriage. This isn't just playing house. This is a life long commitment.
But that's just the way I see it.
The odd thing was that the reactions weren't uniform. The women who thought that changing your last name was fine were just as adamant about it as the ones who defiantly stated "I'll never change my last name!" I found the underlaying anger interesting, and have been dying to comment on it via this blog.
The first thing I would note is that times are changing. I would estimate that most men think that when they get married that name change is not something that they have to make a choice about. But they are wrong in thinking that and tend to find out the ugly way. Many women don't make the same assumption. Women are now asking the question, "why should I have to change my last name?"The fact that men haven't had to make that choice and make assumptions leads to that underlaying anger.
We've lived in a patriarchal society for millennia and it shows with respect to this debate. Men assume women will change their name. Women no longer want to. Men who would judge women too harshly ought to ask themselves if they would be willing to change their last name to match that of a woman.
Now my for my opinion, which I'm sure you've been waiting for anxiously. I believe that when two people get married they create a new family unit. Children or not, they are a family. And in my mind, families should have the same last name. And here's the kicker: it doesn't matter what that name is!
When my lovely wife and I got married, I told her that I would take her last name if she didn't take mine. Having the same last name was important to me. She chose, instead, to take my name to avoid the inevitable controversy (and, no doubt, to please me). And 10 years later I don't think she minds having that name. But I would have done the same. Hell, I would have made up a new one if that made everybody happy.
So, what about hyphenated names? Personally, I hate them. Where does that end? If a guy with a hyphenated last name marries a woman with a hyphenated last name they would have 4 last names. In 2 generations that becomes 8 names. All because somebody doesn't want to lose their identity? Personally I think that's selfish and shows a lack of commitment.
How much do you love the person you are going to marry? Enough to take their last name? Enough to lose the last name you've used all of your life? Enough to take an entirely new name? If you are creating a new family unit, then shouldn't the members of that unit share the same family name? We often hear the last name called a "surname". But for many years it was referred to as a "family name". Why is that somehow not important anymore? Forget your identity....what about your family's identity?
Without a doubt the patriarchal nature of this issue should be swept away. There's no way that men shouldn't be faced with the same choice as women always have. This should be a joint decision. But aren't many people just selfishly throwing the baby out with the bath water? Again I ask: how much do you love the person that you are about to commit your life to? Do you realize that you're committing your life to them and the family you are about to create? Do different names or hyphenated names reflect that? Not in my view.
Marriage. This isn't just playing house. This is a life long commitment.
But that's just the way I see it.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
5 Funny Things I Saw On Vacation
Those of you who regularly read the drivel I post on this blog will know that I recently returned from my annual Mexican slothiday. It was a great time, as usual. My wife and I saw some funny things of note, that I will share with you, should you be bored enough to care.
1) First Class Parents, Economy Kids
We saw a lady and her boyfriend/husband/whatever sitting with us up in first class. Their 3 bratty kids aged about 6 to 13 ( and fighting constantly) were bought tickets in economy. Hilarious! Mom and dad wanted to enjoy the flight in luxury and forced the poor slobs in economy to deal with their kids. So selfish and ignorant that you have to laugh.
2) Orded Food From Where?
We were in a pub off the resort and decided to order a snack off of the menu. We noticed that there was no door to anywhere in the back. We wondered where the kitchen was. A while later a guy came up the street from another restaurant with our food, and a bill for the pub!
3) D'Ya Think I'm Sexy?
What is with European men and speedos? Seriously! It doesn't matter what shape you're in you look silly in a speedo. But tell that to the many fat French and Italian men I saw wearing these things. It's so odd that you can laugh so hard while being grossed out.
4) Bitchy Betty
This nickname was invented by another person in the party we were in. This lady was constantly giving shit to the resort staff over every little thing and then trying to spoil other peoples' holiday as they were checking in by telling them how awful the place was. My wife and I thought this was funny since the resort was 5 stars and all 5 of them for sure. Marble luxury everywhere. Great service, premium drinks, clean rooms, manicured grounds, spotless white sand beach. This lady claimed to have owned a jewellery store. Her poor staff!
5) Stupid Jay
Found a soccer jersey I liked in Playa del Carmen. They wanted $100 for it. I talked the guy down to $40. Then saw the same jersey in a shop on the resort for $25. D'oh!
I have 11 months 3 weeks until the next Mexican slothiday. Can't wait! But I find the planning fun, so onward and upward!
But that's just the way I see it.
1) First Class Parents, Economy Kids
We saw a lady and her boyfriend/husband/whatever sitting with us up in first class. Their 3 bratty kids aged about 6 to 13 ( and fighting constantly) were bought tickets in economy. Hilarious! Mom and dad wanted to enjoy the flight in luxury and forced the poor slobs in economy to deal with their kids. So selfish and ignorant that you have to laugh.
2) Orded Food From Where?
We were in a pub off the resort and decided to order a snack off of the menu. We noticed that there was no door to anywhere in the back. We wondered where the kitchen was. A while later a guy came up the street from another restaurant with our food, and a bill for the pub!
3) D'Ya Think I'm Sexy?
What is with European men and speedos? Seriously! It doesn't matter what shape you're in you look silly in a speedo. But tell that to the many fat French and Italian men I saw wearing these things. It's so odd that you can laugh so hard while being grossed out.
4) Bitchy Betty
This nickname was invented by another person in the party we were in. This lady was constantly giving shit to the resort staff over every little thing and then trying to spoil other peoples' holiday as they were checking in by telling them how awful the place was. My wife and I thought this was funny since the resort was 5 stars and all 5 of them for sure. Marble luxury everywhere. Great service, premium drinks, clean rooms, manicured grounds, spotless white sand beach. This lady claimed to have owned a jewellery store. Her poor staff!
5) Stupid Jay
Found a soccer jersey I liked in Playa del Carmen. They wanted $100 for it. I talked the guy down to $40. Then saw the same jersey in a shop on the resort for $25. D'oh!
I have 11 months 3 weeks until the next Mexican slothiday. Can't wait! But I find the planning fun, so onward and upward!
But that's just the way I see it.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Mexico 2012: The Good and the Bad
Being a guy who is still not scared to go to Mexico, I headed back there this year with my wife for the fourth year running. I'm not scared of Mexico because I tend to not get into arguments with people and I comply with authorities. Living in the frozen wasteland has motivated me to make sacrifices to save for that one week every year. It is amazing to think about just how much sacrifice my wife and I make in order to spend one measly week in the hot sun. Still, we go back for more every year because winter here is depressing.
Here's what we love about going to Mexico:
1) It's hot! This year the week we were away it was +28 in the Yucatan with a humidex of +35. At home it was -35. Enough said.
2) All inclusive resorts. You can get these everywhere in the Caribbean....or anywhere that's not the USA. The Mexicans make great beer, though. The vegetables are incredible and the tequila is far superior to the crap available in Canada.
3) Friendly Mexicans. Mexicans remind me of Canadians. Friendly, polite and laid back. These are broad strokes, sure, but this is what we've encountered both on and off the resort. The average Mexican gets a bad rep because of what's happening in northern Mexico with the drug wars. But our experience is that Mexicans are really cool.
Even though we love the hot weather, palm trees and friendly people, there are drawbacks to our annual tropical slothiday. Usually they centre on the stupidity or ignorance of other people. Here's what we don't like about our annual vacation:
1) Europeans. Going to Mexico is making me a bigot. Why is it that so many that I run into who speak French or Italian are so totally rude? Smoking everywhere, never tipping the staff, loud and obnoxious. I prefer the Americans I meet to the Europeans. Yanks get the bad rap, but it's the Europeans who are way worse. Most Yanks I've met are nice.
2) Stupid Parents. What kind of moron brings a baby to an all-inclusive resort? What kind of vacation is that? Face it people, if you have kids your life changes. Trying to pretend that it hasn't is just an ignorant way to inflict your crying brat on everyone else. Please fuck off.
This year we had a great trip. The resort was wonderful, our excursions were fun and the flights were great. A huge thank you to Air Transat for treating us great again this year. Before flying with them 4 years ago I had heard bad things. It's all crap. Air Transat has been great to us each and every time.
This year's rating:
Resort: 9/10
Airline: 10/10
Weather: 10/10
Europeans: -2228/10
We'll be back next year for sure!
But that's just the way I see it.
Here's what we love about going to Mexico:
1) It's hot! This year the week we were away it was +28 in the Yucatan with a humidex of +35. At home it was -35. Enough said.
2) All inclusive resorts. You can get these everywhere in the Caribbean....or anywhere that's not the USA. The Mexicans make great beer, though. The vegetables are incredible and the tequila is far superior to the crap available in Canada.
3) Friendly Mexicans. Mexicans remind me of Canadians. Friendly, polite and laid back. These are broad strokes, sure, but this is what we've encountered both on and off the resort. The average Mexican gets a bad rep because of what's happening in northern Mexico with the drug wars. But our experience is that Mexicans are really cool.
Even though we love the hot weather, palm trees and friendly people, there are drawbacks to our annual tropical slothiday. Usually they centre on the stupidity or ignorance of other people. Here's what we don't like about our annual vacation:
1) Europeans. Going to Mexico is making me a bigot. Why is it that so many that I run into who speak French or Italian are so totally rude? Smoking everywhere, never tipping the staff, loud and obnoxious. I prefer the Americans I meet to the Europeans. Yanks get the bad rap, but it's the Europeans who are way worse. Most Yanks I've met are nice.
2) Stupid Parents. What kind of moron brings a baby to an all-inclusive resort? What kind of vacation is that? Face it people, if you have kids your life changes. Trying to pretend that it hasn't is just an ignorant way to inflict your crying brat on everyone else. Please fuck off.
This year we had a great trip. The resort was wonderful, our excursions were fun and the flights were great. A huge thank you to Air Transat for treating us great again this year. Before flying with them 4 years ago I had heard bad things. It's all crap. Air Transat has been great to us each and every time.
This year's rating:
Resort: 9/10
Airline: 10/10
Weather: 10/10
Europeans: -2228/10
We'll be back next year for sure!
But that's just the way I see it.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
The Rich DO Pay Taxes!
Let's get one thing straight: the rich DO pay taxes in Canada. In fact, if you're not rich, you don't pay as much tax as a rich person does. There is a myth out there that the rich don't pay taxes. They do.
Here are the facts based on the latest data available from the Government of Canada (2009):
The top 50% of income earners pay 96% of all the income taxes in Canada.
Those who make $250,000 or more in Canada (0.75% of all taxpayers) pay 21% of all of the income taxes.
The top 5.67% of income earners pay 45% of all income taxes.
The bottom 50% of income earners pay 4% of all income taxes.
(source: Canada Revenue Agency http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/gncy/stts/gb08/pst/fnl/html/st2ca-eng.html )
In a time where people are easily swayed by class envy arguments and anti-corporate sentiments, it is important to keep the facts out there. So many people think that the rich owe them something. Well guess what? The rich are paying through the nose.
What about corporations? Well, let's see what the 2011 Public Accounts of Canada say about how the total tax bill is divided up:
Total tax revenues: $191.4 Billion
Corporate Taxes: $29.9 Billion (15%)
Personal Taxes: $113.4 Billion (56%)
Non-Resident Taxes: $5.1 Billion (2%)
GST: $28.3 Billion (14%)
(source: Public Accounts of Canada, 2011 http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/recgen/pdf/49-eng.pdf )
So of all the taxes paid to the Government of Canada, 15% of them are paid by those evil corporations, and of all income taxes, 96% of all of them are paid by the top 50% of income earners.
The rich pay taxes, my friends. Quit bitching about them.
But that's just the way I see it.
Here are the facts based on the latest data available from the Government of Canada (2009):
The top 50% of income earners pay 96% of all the income taxes in Canada.
Those who make $250,000 or more in Canada (0.75% of all taxpayers) pay 21% of all of the income taxes.
The top 5.67% of income earners pay 45% of all income taxes.
The bottom 50% of income earners pay 4% of all income taxes.
(source: Canada Revenue Agency http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/gncy/stts/gb08/pst/fnl/html/st2ca-eng.html )
In a time where people are easily swayed by class envy arguments and anti-corporate sentiments, it is important to keep the facts out there. So many people think that the rich owe them something. Well guess what? The rich are paying through the nose.
What about corporations? Well, let's see what the 2011 Public Accounts of Canada say about how the total tax bill is divided up:
Total tax revenues: $191.4 Billion
Corporate Taxes: $29.9 Billion (15%)
Personal Taxes: $113.4 Billion (56%)
Non-Resident Taxes: $5.1 Billion (2%)
GST: $28.3 Billion (14%)
(source: Public Accounts of Canada, 2011 http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/recgen/pdf/49-eng.pdf )
So of all the taxes paid to the Government of Canada, 15% of them are paid by those evil corporations, and of all income taxes, 96% of all of them are paid by the top 50% of income earners.
The rich pay taxes, my friends. Quit bitching about them.
But that's just the way I see it.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Pipeline Protests Show Enviro-Dishonesty
Let's get something out of the way for those of you who are just tuning in to this blog: I believe that climate change is real. I even believe that humans are contributing to it, even if they are not the sole cause. After all, science has proven that drastic climate change is nothing new in human history. In fact, it's nothing new in the last 1000 years. But the pace of change is what convinces me that humans are contributing to it this time. That said, I believe that the environmental movement is a haven for those who lost the cold war. It's anti-capitalist, anti-west and anti-human. As Europe's financial crisis has shown, those on the left side of the spectrum have fouled things up just as badly as those on the right side in America have. They just haven't lost any of their high and mighty attitude.
The thing about stopping or slowing climate change is that we don't know for sure that we can. If humans were the sole cause of climate change, then the solution would be to act as a species and reduce our CO2 emissions across the board, regardless of economy or state of progress. But that's not going to happen.
Let's face facts: the USA is not the world's only heavy polluter. In fact, western society has done more to reduce their impact on the environment than anywhere. Attitudes have changed. Transit services are now victims of their own success. Recycling programs are now big business. People's behaviours have been altered and continue to be altered. Is this the same in Russia, China or India? How about other developing countries? If we only reduce CO2 in the west but allow it to grow in the rest of the world will we achieve our goal? No, we won't. We can't. Will the environmentalists admit to any of that? Nope.
Canada is in a position to sell oil to the rest of the world. This is a unique opportunity for both Canada and the rest of the world. Canada can make money selling oil, and the rest of the world (which still wants oil, by the way) can buy oil from a country that doesn't harbour or fund terrorism (or treat women like slaves). If the rest of the world is willing to continue to buy oil, and is unwilling to reduce CO2 (blaming the west instead), then why shouldn't Canada sell oil to them? There's no reason not to. Nobody is taking humankind's contribution to climate change seriously, and that includes the environmental movement. All they want is to stop capitalism. Their actions and policies prove that. If they were serious they'd be as hard on China, India and Russia as they are on Canada and the USA.
So this brings us to the topic of building pipelines to bring Canada's oil to market. Barak Obama made the foolish choice to block a pipeline that would bring oil from Alberta to the USA, thereby keeping the USA addicted to Saudi oil. So Canada wants to build a pipeline from Alberta to the coast so that the oil can be shipped to China. The environmentalists are going nuts. As if every pipeline is an environmental risk. The reality is that there have been oil pipelines in Canada for 50 years, and while the record isn't 100% perfect, it's not the way the eco-mouths portray it. In the absence of nutty enviro-terrorists, they don't tend to cause environmental damage.
As much as oil companies, banks and other capitalist institutions lie to the public, they aren't alone, are they? The environmentalists always seem to give them a run for their money in the fabrication department. Looking at the way they paint Alberta oil vs. how they let China, India, Russia and Brazil off the hook is just one example.
Build the pipeline, sell the oil, get on with business. We're not going to stop climate change because nobody will be honest about it.
But that's just the way I see it.
The thing about stopping or slowing climate change is that we don't know for sure that we can. If humans were the sole cause of climate change, then the solution would be to act as a species and reduce our CO2 emissions across the board, regardless of economy or state of progress. But that's not going to happen.
Let's face facts: the USA is not the world's only heavy polluter. In fact, western society has done more to reduce their impact on the environment than anywhere. Attitudes have changed. Transit services are now victims of their own success. Recycling programs are now big business. People's behaviours have been altered and continue to be altered. Is this the same in Russia, China or India? How about other developing countries? If we only reduce CO2 in the west but allow it to grow in the rest of the world will we achieve our goal? No, we won't. We can't. Will the environmentalists admit to any of that? Nope.
Canada is in a position to sell oil to the rest of the world. This is a unique opportunity for both Canada and the rest of the world. Canada can make money selling oil, and the rest of the world (which still wants oil, by the way) can buy oil from a country that doesn't harbour or fund terrorism (or treat women like slaves). If the rest of the world is willing to continue to buy oil, and is unwilling to reduce CO2 (blaming the west instead), then why shouldn't Canada sell oil to them? There's no reason not to. Nobody is taking humankind's contribution to climate change seriously, and that includes the environmental movement. All they want is to stop capitalism. Their actions and policies prove that. If they were serious they'd be as hard on China, India and Russia as they are on Canada and the USA.
So this brings us to the topic of building pipelines to bring Canada's oil to market. Barak Obama made the foolish choice to block a pipeline that would bring oil from Alberta to the USA, thereby keeping the USA addicted to Saudi oil. So Canada wants to build a pipeline from Alberta to the coast so that the oil can be shipped to China. The environmentalists are going nuts. As if every pipeline is an environmental risk. The reality is that there have been oil pipelines in Canada for 50 years, and while the record isn't 100% perfect, it's not the way the eco-mouths portray it. In the absence of nutty enviro-terrorists, they don't tend to cause environmental damage.
As much as oil companies, banks and other capitalist institutions lie to the public, they aren't alone, are they? The environmentalists always seem to give them a run for their money in the fabrication department. Looking at the way they paint Alberta oil vs. how they let China, India, Russia and Brazil off the hook is just one example.
Build the pipeline, sell the oil, get on with business. We're not going to stop climate change because nobody will be honest about it.
But that's just the way I see it.
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