Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Top Political Minds
My friend Matt Bufton has started his own blog, which I urge everyone to check out.
If you do check it out you will notice that his profile claims "Matt is #3 on Gerry Nicholls' list of Canada's Top 5 Political Minds."
I will neither confirm nor deny Matt's ranking as my list is a closely guarded secret.
However, I will say that Matt did show extraodinary political judgement when he invited me in the Spring to speak at the Windsor Liberty Seminar which he organized.
Oh and he is from Windsor which also gives him bonus points.
If you do check it out you will notice that his profile claims "Matt is #3 on Gerry Nicholls' list of Canada's Top 5 Political Minds."
I will neither confirm nor deny Matt's ranking as my list is a closely guarded secret.
However, I will say that Matt did show extraodinary political judgement when he invited me in the Spring to speak at the Windsor Liberty Seminar which he organized.
Oh and he is from Windsor which also gives him bonus points.
End the Wheat Board Monopoly
A government task force is recommending the Canadian Wheat Board's monopoly be phased out.
All I can say is, what took them so long!
The National Citizens Coalition has been pushing for an end to the Wheat Board monopoly for more than 10 years.
What it boils down to isn't economics or wheat or trade. It's about individual freedom.
Simply put, western grain farmers should have the freedom to market their own crops to customers of their own choice.
All I can say is, what took them so long!
The National Citizens Coalition has been pushing for an end to the Wheat Board monopoly for more than 10 years.
What it boils down to isn't economics or wheat or trade. It's about individual freedom.
Simply put, western grain farmers should have the freedom to market their own crops to customers of their own choice.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Discretion is the Better Part of Valour
The House of Commons Justice Committee is going to study the federal government's decision to axe the Court Challenge Program, and I was invited to give my perspective on the matter at one of its hearings.
I refused.
OK, I know what you're thinking.
"Gerry you're one of the top five political minds in the country. It's your duty to appear at these hearings and give the MPs the benefit of your political wisdom."
But take it from me. These hearings usually degenerate into anti-NCC smear attacks.
Here's what would have happened, had I agreed to appear before the Justice Committee:
Me: Well, Mr. Chairman this is why I think the Court Challenges Program is a waste . . .
Some outraged MP: Excuse me Mr. Nicholls, before you go on, can you please tell us why the National Citizens Coalition is a super-secret, right wing group that wants to overthrow the government.
Me: The NCC is ....
Some Other Outraged MP: And isn't the NCC the group that ran newspaper ads comparing me to a fat ugly pig!!!
Me: Well to be fair it was actually a cute litte pig but . .
Outraged MPs: Arrest him!
Me: !!
Yeah, it's much better if I pass on these type of affairs.
I refused.
OK, I know what you're thinking.
"Gerry you're one of the top five political minds in the country. It's your duty to appear at these hearings and give the MPs the benefit of your political wisdom."
But take it from me. These hearings usually degenerate into anti-NCC smear attacks.
Here's what would have happened, had I agreed to appear before the Justice Committee:
Me: Well, Mr. Chairman this is why I think the Court Challenges Program is a waste . . .
Some outraged MP: Excuse me Mr. Nicholls, before you go on, can you please tell us why the National Citizens Coalition is a super-secret, right wing group that wants to overthrow the government.
Me: The NCC is ....
Some Other Outraged MP: And isn't the NCC the group that ran newspaper ads comparing me to a fat ugly pig!!!
Me: Well to be fair it was actually a cute litte pig but . .
Outraged MPs: Arrest him!
Me: !!
Yeah, it's much better if I pass on these type of affairs.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Real Scary game kids!
Here's a little Halloween game that's fun for the whole family, that is if you don't mind sarcastic skeletons!
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Tigers Lose! Say it Aint So
Well my Tigers played like kittens in the World Series.
It's hard to take, but I will get over it . . . by April.
There is also something wrong with a World Champion only winning 83 games in the regular season.
Still I'm sure the Tigers will win the next time they make it to the Series in 2026.
Update:
As usual Paul Tuns has some insightful analysis of the World Series.
Friday, October 27, 2006
We Told Bob So
Liberal leadership candidate Bob Rae now admits his fiscal policies as NDP Premier of Ontario -- high taxes, huge budgetary deficits -- were wrong.
I guess that's another way of him admitting the National Citizens Coalition was right!
After all, during his disastrous term as Premier, the NCC -- through its project group Ontarians for Responsible Government -- hammered away at his ruinous economic agenda.
He didn't listen, of course, and got swept out of power.
Now I hate to be the guy who says, "I told you so", but we did in fact tell Rae so.
It would be nice of him to now acknowledge the NCC's wisdom.
Lively Seven Going to Court
The Lively Seven's fight for workplace freedom is about to proceed to the next level.
Who are The Lively Seven and what is their fight about?
They are seven female bank employees who live and work in Lively, Ontario, which is near Sudbury.
About a year ago, the United Steel Workers of America unionized them against their will.
These women don't want to be unionized, they don't want to be forced to pay union dues.
In fact, during the certification drive, they sought intervenor status with the Canadian Industrial Relations Board to make their voices heard.
But the Board didn't give them a chance to have their say.
So now, with the help of the National Citizens Coalition, they are taking their case to a federal court, arguing, among other things, that their right to due process was denied.
To learn more about this important fight for work place democracy go here.
Who are The Lively Seven and what is their fight about?
They are seven female bank employees who live and work in Lively, Ontario, which is near Sudbury.
About a year ago, the United Steel Workers of America unionized them against their will.
These women don't want to be unionized, they don't want to be forced to pay union dues.
In fact, during the certification drive, they sought intervenor status with the Canadian Industrial Relations Board to make their voices heard.
But the Board didn't give them a chance to have their say.
So now, with the help of the National Citizens Coalition, they are taking their case to a federal court, arguing, among other things, that their right to due process was denied.
To learn more about this important fight for work place democracy go here.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Harper, Gag Laws and the Wheat Board
The Winnipeg Free Press quotes me in a story concerning Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Canadian Wheat Board.
Part of the story concerned Prime Minister Harper's move to prevent the Wheat Board from spending money on advertising to defend its monopoly.
The reporter, Paul Samyn, asked me if I thought such a move was hypocritical given that Harper opposed election gag laws when he was president of the National Citizens Coalition.
Here's how the Free Press reported my answer:
I also told Samyn the big difference is the election gag law prevents citizens or groups from spending their own money to promote their own political ideas.
The CWB, on the other, hand was spending other people's money to promote its agenda, an agenda many Western grain farmers oppose.
When he was our President, Stephen Harper always opposed forcing citizens to finance political agendas they opposed -- he opposed, for instance, using forced union dues for politics.
In other words, Harper's stance regarding the Wheat Boards and gag laws is perfectly consistent.
Part of the story concerned Prime Minister Harper's move to prevent the Wheat Board from spending money on advertising to defend its monopoly.
The reporter, Paul Samyn, asked me if I thought such a move was hypocritical given that Harper opposed election gag laws when he was president of the National Citizens Coalition.
Here's how the Free Press reported my answer:
But that's only half of my answer.But Nicholls said there is no inconsistency between Harper's concerns about advertising limits during the CWB elections and those his government has now imposed on the CWB. Nicholls said what Harper was upset about while at the NCC was advertising restrictions that made it a crime for people to spend their own money to influence the board elections. By comparison, Nicholls said, the cabinet order is only there to ensure the CWB doesn't use its own resources to advance its own agenda.
I also told Samyn the big difference is the election gag law prevents citizens or groups from spending their own money to promote their own political ideas.
The CWB, on the other, hand was spending other people's money to promote its agenda, an agenda many Western grain farmers oppose.
When he was our President, Stephen Harper always opposed forcing citizens to finance political agendas they opposed -- he opposed, for instance, using forced union dues for politics.
In other words, Harper's stance regarding the Wheat Boards and gag laws is perfectly consistent.
Happy St. Crispin's Day
Today marks the 591st anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt.
The National Post features an excellent article to commemorate this milestone called "Day of the Longbow".
Check it out.
The National Post features an excellent article to commemorate this milestone called "Day of the Longbow".
Check it out.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Ontarians Want Change?
There's an interesting poll on the Ontario political scene that seems to contradict itself.
The poll says the Ontario Liberals have a sizable lead (41-34) over the Progressive Conservatives but that 47 percent of Ontarians also believe it's time for a change in government.
How can this be?
Well the short answer is Ontario voters do want a change, but they don't see PC leader John Tory as representing change.
And no wonder.
Tory has done little to distinguish his party from the Dalton McGuinty Liberals in terms of policies.
So the voters are likely saying, if we have to choose between a real Liberal Party and a pseudo-Liberal Party, might as well choose the real deal.
The poll says the Ontario Liberals have a sizable lead (41-34) over the Progressive Conservatives but that 47 percent of Ontarians also believe it's time for a change in government.
How can this be?
Well the short answer is Ontario voters do want a change, but they don't see PC leader John Tory as representing change.
And no wonder.
Tory has done little to distinguish his party from the Dalton McGuinty Liberals in terms of policies.
So the voters are likely saying, if we have to choose between a real Liberal Party and a pseudo-Liberal Party, might as well choose the real deal.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Revamped NCC Site
We have jazzed up the National Citizens Coalition website.
You can check it out here.
And for future reference the URL for our website is now www.nationalcitizens.ca
We also have a new ad campaign, which you can check out here.
You can check it out here.
And for future reference the URL for our website is now www.nationalcitizens.ca
We also have a new ad campaign, which you can check out here.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Things I Just Learned
My wife injured her back recently and me being a good husband picked up the slack around the house.
And in doing so, I learned many things.
For instance:
* When doing laundry you should always make sure to separate the dark clothes from the white ones.
* When cooking a meat loaf always resist the temptation to press buttons on the stove just because you want to see what will happen.
* You need a masters degree in engineering to figure out how to open the lids on certain cleansers.
* The container for laundry detergent looks an awful lot like the container for orange juice.
I also learned that it's better for me not to do too much around the house.
And in doing so, I learned many things.
For instance:
* When doing laundry you should always make sure to separate the dark clothes from the white ones.
* When cooking a meat loaf always resist the temptation to press buttons on the stove just because you want to see what will happen.
* You need a masters degree in engineering to figure out how to open the lids on certain cleansers.
* The container for laundry detergent looks an awful lot like the container for orange juice.
I also learned that it's better for me not to do too much around the house.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Heartless Need
Just to let everyone know, I am currently writing a trashy novel called Heartless Need.
It’s all about a government secret agent named Dirk Warren who with the help of beautiful scientist Arlene Julia, seeks to stop Geneshare, an evil high-tech company which is selling the toxic drug Zitrel to terrorists.
Ok none of the above is true.
I just found a cool website called Name-O-Rama which generates names for companies, novels, bands, drugs and boys and girls, and I was just fooling around with it.
But you know, now that I think about it maybe Heartless Need would make a good novel.
It’s all about a government secret agent named Dirk Warren who with the help of beautiful scientist Arlene Julia, seeks to stop Geneshare, an evil high-tech company which is selling the toxic drug Zitrel to terrorists.
Ok none of the above is true.
I just found a cool website called Name-O-Rama which generates names for companies, novels, bands, drugs and boys and girls, and I was just fooling around with it.
But you know, now that I think about it maybe Heartless Need would make a good novel.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Devil's Dictionary
Came across this online version of the Ambrose Bierce's Devil's Dictionary. Even though it was written 100 years ago, it's definitions still ring true today.
Here are some examples:
* APOLOGIZE, v. To lay the foundation for a future offense.
* CONGRATULATION, n. The civility of envy.
* CYNIC, n, A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.
* CHRISTIAN, n. One who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbor. One who follows the teachings of Christ in so far as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin.
* BORE, n. A person who talks when you wish him to listen.
* COMFORT, n. A state of mind produced by contemplation of a neighbor's uneasiness.
* PATIENCE, n. A minor form of despair, disguised as a virtue.
* PEACE, n. In international affairs, a period of cheating between two periods of fighting.
* POLITICS, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles.
* SELF-ESTEEM, n. An erroneous appraisement.
* ULTIMATUM, n. In diplomacy, a last demand before resorting to concessions.
* VOTE, n. A freeman's power to make a fool of himself and a wreck of his country.
Here are some examples:
* APOLOGIZE, v. To lay the foundation for a future offense.
* CONGRATULATION, n. The civility of envy.
* CYNIC, n, A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.
* CHRISTIAN, n. One who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbor. One who follows the teachings of Christ in so far as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin.
* BORE, n. A person who talks when you wish him to listen.
* COMFORT, n. A state of mind produced by contemplation of a neighbor's uneasiness.
* PATIENCE, n. A minor form of despair, disguised as a virtue.
* PEACE, n. In international affairs, a period of cheating between two periods of fighting.
* POLITICS, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles.
* SELF-ESTEEM, n. An erroneous appraisement.
* ULTIMATUM, n. In diplomacy, a last demand before resorting to concessions.
* VOTE, n. A freeman's power to make a fool of himself and a wreck of his country.
Going Green?
These are heady days for the Green Party of Canada.
The media is fawning all over Elizabeth May, the party’s new leader, rumours abound that suspended Tory Garth Turner will become its first MP, and a new poll shows that 28 percent of Canadians agreed with the statement: “I would vote for the Green party even if they can’t win.”
Yet the one sticking point for the Greens is that no one really knows what they stand for other than they are “pro-environment.”
And when you look at their platform, it quickly becomes apparent that the Greens are actually pretty red.
One example, is their cultural program. It’s just old-fashioned cultural protectionism mixed in with statist elitism.
Here’s what they call for:
* Increase support for community arts programs and facilities across Canada by establishing stable base-funding at a set percentage of the federal budget.
* Establish stable base-funding for young artists.
* Protect Canada's cultural identity during trade negotiations.
* Expand support for regional arts festivals that bring new Canadian art to a wider audience.
* Provide stable base-funding for the CBC to provide quality television and radio programming in both official languages.
* Direct the CRTC to reserve more bandwidth for independent and non-profit stations.
* Introduce a law mandating cinemas and video chains to have 20 per cent Canadian content.
In other words, it looks like the Greens don’t care about polluting our environment with “art” no one wants to see.
The media is fawning all over Elizabeth May, the party’s new leader, rumours abound that suspended Tory Garth Turner will become its first MP, and a new poll shows that 28 percent of Canadians agreed with the statement: “I would vote for the Green party even if they can’t win.”
Yet the one sticking point for the Greens is that no one really knows what they stand for other than they are “pro-environment.”
And when you look at their platform, it quickly becomes apparent that the Greens are actually pretty red.
One example, is their cultural program. It’s just old-fashioned cultural protectionism mixed in with statist elitism.
Here’s what they call for:
* Increase support for community arts programs and facilities across Canada by establishing stable base-funding at a set percentage of the federal budget.
* Establish stable base-funding for young artists.
* Protect Canada's cultural identity during trade negotiations.
* Expand support for regional arts festivals that bring new Canadian art to a wider audience.
* Provide stable base-funding for the CBC to provide quality television and radio programming in both official languages.
* Direct the CRTC to reserve more bandwidth for independent and non-profit stations.
* Introduce a law mandating cinemas and video chains to have 20 per cent Canadian content.
In other words, it looks like the Greens don’t care about polluting our environment with “art” no one wants to see.
1968 Redux
I was glad to see the St. Louis Cardinals win the National League pennant, because it sets up a rematch of the 1968 World Series, which in my humble opinion was one of the best on record.
But that's just my bias, because the '68 World Series is one of my earliest memories of baseball.
And it was a classic that featured the Tigers coming back from a 3-1 deficit to take the Crown.
Game 7 pitted fireballer Bob Gibson of the Cardinals against Mickey Lolich a portly southpaw in a dramatic showdown.
In those days, World Series games were played during the day and I was lucky my school principle permitted a TV to be set up in the gym.
Oh the Tigers and Cardinals also met in the 1934 World Series which also went 7 games, but even I am not old enough to remember that one.
But that's just my bias, because the '68 World Series is one of my earliest memories of baseball.
And it was a classic that featured the Tigers coming back from a 3-1 deficit to take the Crown.
Game 7 pitted fireballer Bob Gibson of the Cardinals against Mickey Lolich a portly southpaw in a dramatic showdown.
In those days, World Series games were played during the day and I was lucky my school principle permitted a TV to be set up in the gym.
Oh the Tigers and Cardinals also met in the 1934 World Series which also went 7 games, but even I am not old enough to remember that one.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Curing American Health Care
One book on my "Must Read" list, is The Cure: How Captialism Can Save American Health Care.
The title alone makes it worth reading, but the real appeal is the author: Dr. David Gratzer.
Dr. Grazter is one of Canada's most articulate and intelligent critics of the socialist health care model and a man whom I greatly respect.
It will be interesting to see his comments on the American health care system.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Bryan Media Update
For some media coverage on the Paul Bryan constitutional challenge see here.
I will also be appearing on the Dave Rutherford Show on Wednesday at about 12:30 PM EST to discuss this case.
I will also be appearing on the Dave Rutherford Show on Wednesday at about 12:30 PM EST to discuss this case.
Debate Kit
The hotel I am staying at in Ottawa provides complimentary ear plugs to help you sleep.
It occurs to me, they would also help you endure the Liberal leadership debates!
It occurs to me, they would also help you endure the Liberal leadership debates!
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