Category Archives: 7- CURRENT NEWS

3- SOLVING WORLD PROBLEMS, 7- CURRENT NEWS

RACE BASED GOVERNMENT POLICIES CONTRIBUTE TO RACISM

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The Ontario government has published its priority list for who will be the first to receive the life saving Covid-19 vaccinations. Among the group consisting of anyone over the age of 80 are any healthy indigenous adults of any age living on or off a reservation.

If we are ever going to develop a culture that is fair to everyone and eliminates racism, all accepted government, and nongovernment policies that involve race should be applicable to any race, including white. Imagine the priority list above if Indigenous was replaced with White.

AS LONG AS WE HAVE POLICIES TREAT PEOPLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF RACE, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE TREATED DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF RACE

WE ARE ALL EQUAL!!!!!!!

Dave Lister

listerlogic.com

Note: I have deleted my blog post “WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CANADIAN” from 5 years ago as it no longer applies

3- SOLVING WORLD PROBLEMS, 7- CURRENT NEWS

GET THE PROTESTERS OFF THE TRACKS AND ROADS!

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In Canada, people have many views and are passionate about many things. If protesters were allowed to shut down our roads and rail service for any cause, Canada along with law and order would cease to exist. Treating one group of people differently because of race is exactly what Canadian society is striving not to do, in order for this to work it should not matter if this treatment is positive or negative.

Every Canadian has there say at the ballot box and the government is merely a reflection of the majority. People who disagree are free to voice their opinions but must respect the implemented views and opinions of the majority.

The expropriation of land in Canada by the government is nothing new. Although often emotional for anyone affected, it’s important and lawful purpose is necessary to allow the government to complete projects in the interest of the nation. Anyone in Canada could have their legally owned land taken by the government at any time. During the construction of highway 407 in Ontario, many people lost homes and farms that had been in the family for generations.

For those protesters that believe kidnapping of public roads and rail is necessary to bring awareness and support, they are only half right. I am aware but will oppose any cause that resorts to extortion and the torment of innocent people to get there way.

Dave Lister

listerlogic.com

3- SOLVING WORLD PROBLEMS, 4- HOW WE THINK, 7- CURRENT NEWS

POLITICALLY CORRECT INJUSTICE

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In the Canadian National News today, yet another high profile man is accused of sexual misconduct.  Despite no charges being laid by police, meager checking of facts, and an anonymous accuser, he is immediately fired from his job, and publicly disgraced.  Decades of hard work building a remarkable life,  gone in an instant.

In our hast to correct some long standing politically incorrect (or “PC”) social injustices, innocent until proven guilty in a court of law has been replaced with trial by media.   If that’s not bad enough, competition for viewers is driving even the most conservative media outlets to alter context and omit facts to sensationalize a story.  The result is a toxic culture that takes away the basic rights of the innocent.

Sexual misconduct and the “me too” movement have become the latest PC topics, it along with racism and discrimination often disproportionally dominate the news.   On Jan 12 in Toronto, despite a student being murdered on his way home from school it was a racism story about a girl claiming to have her religious clothing cut by an unknown attacker that headlined the national news.  All levels of government including the Prime Minister were quick to comment on it, condemning the attack and the person that did it,  vowing to use all resources available to quickly apprehend the perpetrator.  A few days later, after proper investigation by police it was found to be a hoax and never happened.  Luckily in this case an innocent suspect did not have their life ruined.

Other ways we try to correct injustices are also questionable but not so obvious.  In 2015, Our Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau was elected on a platform of being politically correct and fairness for all Canadians. In an effort to make government more fair and appear less sexist he set out to appoint his cabinet of being equal in gender, 15 men and 15 women.   Instead of appointing who is most qualified regardless of gender, he chose to correct a sexism problem with sexism. Hiring someone for the sole reason they are a women is no different then not hiring someone for the sole reason they are a women.

When it comes to some PC injustices “We will not tolerate it” is an expression frequently heard.  It is this intolerance that is taking away our basic right of freedom of speech through fear.  In a recent Facebook post, following a list of legitimate political concerns was written “Have the guts to repost this?”.  Their are some that will call this article sexist or racist for merely criticizing the unfair methods we handle these PC injustices.

Aside from promoting hatred, it’s important for everyone to feel free to express their opinions.  Changing sexist and racist views can only be done with dialogue, not condemnation.  The only thing worse then “sexist and racist views” is suppressed “sexist and racist views”.  I can’t help wonder if, and how much, suppressed views of how politically correct  problems were dealt with in the US contributed to the election of Donald Trump.

Let me make it clear, sexual misconduct, racism and discrimination are not only big problems in society today but in many cases a crime. They should be treated like all crimes and reported to police.    After a proper investigation if enough evidence exists, charges should be laid.  Injustices that are not against the law should be dealt with through litigation in the courts and be reflected  in future laws.  Its important to realize that changing peoples opinions can not be forced overnight, especially when unfair means are used.

As we struggle to find new ways to correct the unacceptable injustices that remain between us and a fair society for all, we need to make sure that by taking a step forward we are not taking 2 steps back.

Dave Lister

listerlogic.com

7- CURRENT NEWS

SHOULD KIDS HAVE CREDIT CARDS? CANADA ELECTIONS

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Sitting around the table for a family meeting, the heads of the household stand up and announce to the kids that they are now going to have an equal say on how the family budget will be spent.  In a serious voice they try to explain to the kids that there is a large amount owed to credit card debt but the card has not been maxed out yet.  With the amount of money coming in we can only afford to pay the household bills and make the minimum payment on the credit card but there is no money left over to buy any new toys.  The kids are then asked to vote: do we go without new toys and live within our budget or buy new toys and add to the balance of the credit card?  How do you think most kids would vote?

This analogy comes to mind with Canada’s Election for Prime minister only a few days away.

It seems many people think that change for the sake of change is good.  With this belief there are 2 main options to choose:

  •  The first is for raising taxes for corporations.  Although at first thought this sounds like a good idea, one of the biggest problems in Ontario along with the rest of Canada is large companies like the auto industry are relocating to other countries to save money.  By raising the tax they pay here, would that not only encourage them to leave and take 1000s of jobs with them , cause higher unemployment and undermine our economy?  Maybe we should even be lowering corporate taxes to attract more companies and jobs to Canada.
  • The other option is to borrow more money to stimulate the economy.  With Canada’s current debt over 1.2 trillion dollars, is our economy that bad that we need to add to that?  Do we even have the right to borrow money that future generations up to our great, great, great etc. grand kids will have to pay back.  Even if we do decide to borrow more money, should we not wait until absolutely necessary, after all Canada is not an economic Island and is swept along with the rest of the words economies.  What if China’s currently shaky economy collapses?  Besides the problems a world economic downturn could cause, what if interest rates currently below 1% go up even just a little, how would that effect the 1.2 trillion dollars we owe?  Could Canada become another Greece, but with no one to bail us out?

I, like most Canadians voting don’t have a degree in economics, yet we are all making these decisions unsure of the consequences.  Because of our lack of expertise, do we sometimes elect people that are better skilled in salesmanship then being able to run a Country?  Would we elect someone who had the best plans for our Country if they weren’t good at being a salesman?

Now a days, newspaper adds aimed at the majority of Canadians no longer show the price, interest rate or amortization period of that new car, only the low weekly payment.  The 2 year contract for a new phone only shows the discounted price for the first 3 months and not what you have to pay for the other 21.  When advertising like this works for many voting Canadians and without economic degrees is my analogy of giving our kids credit cards very far off?

Dave Lister

listerlogic.com