11/11/08

It is the 90th anniversary of Armistace Day, ending the First World War. I'm stuck here in the USA where a poppy is nowhere to be found. My roommate innocently asks during hockey broadcasts: "What's with the flowers that everyone's wearing? Why are they wearing them, how long does it last?" Meanwhile I sit here through Memorial Day (in May) and Veteran's Day (Nov 11) where in the US "It's a holiday so lets have a sale!" I couldn't imagine a Rememberance Day Sale. It's dishonourable, disrespectful, and downright wrong to have hyped-up sales on a somber occasion.

So here is my reply:

What's with the flowers everyone's wearing?

In Flanders Fields (1915)

by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD, Canadian Army (1872-1918)

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.

Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

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Why are they wearing them? (poppies)

The poppy is worn as a symbol of rememberance to honour all those who have fought and died in war. The green center was changed to black following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center to honour those who lost their lives in that event as well.

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How long does it last?

Poppies are sold by the Royal Canadian Legion and the moneys go to help veterans and their families. They generally start showing up in mid-october and are on sale up until a) they run out, or b) mid-November. I personally keep a poppy on display in my office year round.

The California Plan

California was 88 days late releasing a budget which had a 3 billion dollar shortfall and borrowed against future revenues because State lawmakers, both Democratic and Republican are more stubborn than a 10 ton boulder. Until recently, Governor Schwarzenegger claimed that California didn't have a revenue problem, it had a spending problem (which it does).

He announced yesterday that he plans to propose a 1.5 cent sales tax increase, and new taxes on everything from private repair services to veterinary visits. I wouldn't be surprised if you had to pay a tax the next time you went to the bathroom. The economy is in the tank, California's budget shortfall is now projected at 11.7 billion dollars, and the Governor is proposing large tax increases... So I guess we have a revenue problem and a spending problem now.

The problem: The state's requirement for a 2/3 majority to pass a budget. House Democrats won't cut spending, House Republicans won't raise taxes... Ergo, Spending problem and revenue problem.

What is among the Governor's immediate plans for spending cuts? 2.5 Billion dollars from education is top of the list, among other things like State workers being laid off 1 day per month and being asked to forego 1 to 2 holidays per year.

California is what? The world's 6th largest economy? There should be no revenue problem. The problem HAS to be a spending problem. Did I mention we just passed a bond measure to build a high speed train from SF to LA at a cost of 643 million dollars annually for the next 30 years... About 19.2 Billion dollars. The cost of which is only estimated to be partly recouped by rider fares.

The revenue problem has arisen from growing unemployment and consequently decreased tax revenues. Therein lies the crux. How do you create jobs and increase revenues without spending on infrastructure or by giving subsidies or tax breaks? It's something California is going to have to figure out, because it is out of money.

Taxes will HAVE TO go up. Programs will HAVE TO be cut. The system of direct democracy needs to go in favor of a representative democracy.

My only question is why are schools always at the top of the list for cuts? Can't we stop looking for John Connor?

Obama Wins

"It's time to see whether Obama will be Uncle Sam, or Uncle Tom"

-Ralph Nader (as he vanishes from the political landscape forever)

"I'm moving to Canada"
-Various misinformed Republicans who obviously think that Canada is for small government and less taxation

"We lost some of those moderate republicans, and we need to make sure they stay lost"

-Rush Limbaugh

"The reason conservatism didn't win was because conservatism wasn't even on the ballot"

-Rush Limbaugh

Mr Limbaugh's comments, are the exact reason that Obama won and McCain lost the election. Mr. Limbaugh would rather exclude anyone who doesn't agree with him (read: moderates) from the Republican party, and would prefer instead to fill his party of choice with firm right wingers and extremists.

Moderates are the "swing voters" if you exclude them, you lose. Simple. The fact that Mr. Limbaugh felt conservatism wasn't on the ballot is a little scary (Palin was on the bottom of the Republican ticket right?).

Did you see the crowd at the McCain concession speech? Old white people. Boos.

Did you see the crowd - 250,000 strong - at Obama's victory speech? Young, old, and in-between; black, white, asian, hispanic... everyone was there. Obama was inclusive, ran on hope, change, and opportunity; he appealed to the middle class, minorities, youth, and first time voters. First time voters, blacks, and youth - those typically apathetic about politics - voted overwhelmingly for Obama. This, I think was his greatest strength from the beginning: He got people interested in politics. That is why he won. (I can still hear Mr. Limbaugh laughing about Obama saying he was going to make politics "cool again." Eat your words, sir.)

Ballots counted, speeches over, President elected, it's time to get down to business. President-elect Obama will have high expectations thrust upon him to fix what is broken. He is suddenly the next leader of the free-world. It is time to take a good long look at the problems this nation, and this planet face, with new eyes, and try to chart a course.

Obama must work with his allies, and enemies both in congress and across the globe. He must be inclusive globally as he was with the American people. Americans sometimes forget, that we are part of this planet, and there are 5.7 billion other people and over 200 other countries. There can be no black and white, with us or against us, we must seriously consider the gray - the third or fourth options. As Obi-Wan Kenobi so eloquently states in Star Wars - Episode III: "Only a Sith deals in absolutes." We must all hope that President-elect Obama finds his inner Jedi and compels others to do so as well.

We've lived the Bush doctrine for 8 years, what now, will be the Obama doctrine, and the Obama legacy?

Mr. Limbaugh did say one thing that I agreed with though. "Thank you President-elect Obama for dispatching Hillary, at least we won't have her lurking around the White House again any time soon."