Carbon Tax?

My goodness, the arguments and outright rejections of the carbon tax. People really have to start thinking for themselves and stop listening to politicians like Scheer or Ford.. I was disappointed to hear Dennis King sing from the conservative song sheet at the recent leaders debate. Carbon tax isn’t a cure all for climate change but it’s a step in the right direction. It is discouraging to listen to the five PC provincial premiers. They argue fervently that the carbon tax is just a tax grab. Yet they offer no viable alternatives. Andrew Scheer has been promising a solution to climate change ever since he became leader of the federal PCs, but we are still waiting. I read the same excuses over and over, this tax will hurt the poor, or how about people driving miles to work each day. Well to those people I’d say this, we have a climate crisis now, and is getting worse each year while we do nothing. We have only one planet, if we lose it, nobody will be driving to work and it will no longer matter to the poor. During the Second World War, gas was rationed, food was rationed and there were shortages of everything. Strangely people survived , we walked, we cycled, we shared rides, we took the bus, we saved everything that could be reused. I remember those days living during the London blitz.  I wonder if   younger generations can understand this. We did what we needed to do or had to do. Today, We are facing an uncertain future, violent weather will cost us more than a carbon tax. It is fear mongering to say it’s a tax grab, it’s fear mongering to say this will hurt the poor and it’s fear mongering claiming to have to drive miles to work. The poor are already in dire straights, but is a gas tax their biggest worry. Maybe deciding to buy meds or food or rent is a little higher on their lists. Most of the arguments against the carbon tax is founded in political rhetoric . Politicians trying to score points or win votes. Climate change is very real and it’s getting worse while we argue over what to do. To the naysayers I offer this, come up with a better option or stop complaining about the present solution.  My final question. Are there no families actually worrying about the world we are leaving to our children?  God Bless and keep reading.

PEI Leaders Debate.

The clear winner in last nights debate was in my opinion Peter Bevan Baker. He spoke clearly and with an even tone, he explained his policies and was never shy to point to the liberal failures. Joe Byrne did a good job, he has no illusions of becoming premier, but put forth some very creditable ideas in health care and affordable housing. MacLauchlan, the sitting premier was very uncomfortable and declined to offer his opinion on election reform. It was ironic that he stated he would not comment but leave it up to the voters . In the 2016 plebiscite he did the exact opposite and denied the voters wishes. Awkward moment for him, and he appeared often to be angry. He offered nothing new, just the usual gabble-babel. The biggest disappointment of the evening was Dennis King. I particularly noticed a worrying trend from him. First off he claimed he was just a good ole country boy! Secondly, he was so very careful not to say anything that might offend MacLauchlan. Thirdly, and most unexpected was his position on the carbon tax. He has clearly joined the chorus of Scheer/Ford singing “why tax carbon then give it back to people”. If I were to describe the debate as a horse race it would be this. Peter Bevan Baker romped home in an impressive finish, close behind came Joe Byrne the outsider, and brining up the distant rear, neck in neck were MacLauchlan and King, both lumbering in the same old party style. So folks for me, my opinion remains firmly in the belief we need change. We need new fresh ideas and a new method of electing politicians.  Last nights debate,  if it taught me anything, it was the fact we still have the same two old party’s , Tory and the liberal with the belief they alone should govern this province.  God Bless and keep voting.

Politics by Arrogance!

I grow weary listening to John Barrett tell us we are not smart enough to understand MMP. If we just reflect on what FPTP has provided us over the last 12 years surely change is needed. Ghiz promised in 2008 that all islanders would have a doctor. Today, MacLauchlan is promising to hire new doctors. In 2016 a majority of islanders voted for Proportional Representation, MacLauchlan denied our vote. Around the same period MacLauchlan decided to close five schools. After months of meetings, debates, tension and stress, the liberal appointed panel came up with recommendations. MacLauchlan was receiving such a back lash he decided to change his mind. No school closures after all? Instead he concentrated on building more roundabouts with our money, much support to his construction family and friends. My personal experience with the MacLauchlan government was health care, perhaps I should rephrase that as no health care. I was diagnosed with a fatal blood disease that require chemo treatment. It wasn’t classified as cancer so I was denied the treatment. I contacted the Minister of Health, he apparently couldn’t help, wasn’t able to interfere with dept of health policy ??. Did I mention he was the Minister of Health? Do I really need to mention Geo Sweep, PNPs, HST, and the many other failed programs. How about the latest, carbon tax? Free driving license? Duh, reduce the excise tax to off set the new carbon tax? MacLauchan still receives money from this shady deal while islanders do not receive the federal tax rebate. So folks if you still think we should take advice from John Barrett then you will probably vote for more of the same corrupt and arrogant liberal governance. I’m voting Green and I’m voting Yes to changing how we elect politicians. I sincerely hope the majority of islanders will do likewise. If we fail to take this opportunity then we deserve to get the finger from Richard Brown. God Bless and keep reading

The Good Old Hockey Game?

Danger! might upset Hockey Fans.

This will be a risky blog, I’m sure to get some angry responses, angry being the key word. When I arrived in Canada in 1964 I attempted to have hockey replace my favourite sport of football (soccer). Football was none existent in Canada at the time, no satellite tv broadcasting so I lost touch with the game I’d played since I was old enough to kick a can in the street. However, I could never really enjoy watching ice hockey, oh course I’d never played the game. Indeed I’d only ever wore roller skates, never ice skates. My early and biggest problem was the puck, it was in the net and I didn’t even know the team had scored. Maybe the game was too fast for me, maybe the puck was too small. Whatever the reason hockey never became something I could watch. Nothing wrong with that, we are all different and like different things. These days I watch football from the UK every weekend, it’s great. I’m afraid what I see in today’s hockey is fighting and more fighting. It seems most if not all players become involved. Gloves and sticks fly and an all out ruckus ensues. Players, not the referees seem to control these sad moments. Fans appear to enjoy the spectacle and encourage their team to go all out. Are there no real penalties? Surely players involved should be ordered off the ice. They should receive severe financial fines and be banned for several games. If a team loses there top players for several games, coaches might consider making their players behave. In football if a player touches another player or the referee he risks a red card, fine and a three or four game ban. Red card means his team finishes the game playing a man short. In Roman times  gladiator fighting to the death was considered a sport. Are we going to allow hockey brawls to continue until someone is seriously injured or killed. I believe there have been some serious injuries in the past. Is this really what the sport of hockey has become, are the fans now like the Roman spectators of old. Sportsmanship appears to have disappeared in the game of hockey, that is so sad for our youth who try to emulate their particular hockey hero. Yes I’m an outsider in the hockey world but I’m sure many people would agree with me, violence has no place in any sport. That is my Monday morning rant. God Bless and keep reading.

Titanic Remembered

RMS Titanic = Then and Now
Posted on April 14th 2019
by irishroverpei

It is strange to think that over one hundred years ago this month, the great ship was only moments away from disaster. By the end of March 1912 the ship would have probably completed trials and passed the Board of Trade inspection. I can only imagine the excitement that bubbled around the Belfast shipyards as the ship left for her maiden voyage. My grandfather,James Alexander Arlow, helped to build this amazing vessel. He was a furnace-man, and heated the rivets that went into the hull plates. The same rivets that we now suspect were the wrong grade of iron and ultimately failed when the ship struck the berg. It is amazing the Titanic still commands such great interest. At least four movies have been produced over the years, and several books published. Museums display artifacts and replicas of the ship. In 2012 a local PEI a restaurant featured a Titanic night, serving the same meal as was served on that last fateful night . The staff and waiters dressed in traditional shipboard clothing. In the City of Belfast a huge complex known as the Titanic Quarter was nearing completion. It is building on the actual site where Titanic was originally built.
A sad yet fond and special memory from the grand old City of Belfast, and the ill fated ship built in her shipyards
God Bless and keep reading.

Something to think about

A little Distraction While we await the Provincial election results.
Posted on April 12th 2019 by irishroverpei

Colonoscopy Journal: (Insensitive time for Richard Brown to give the finger!!!!)

I called my friend Andy Sable, a gastroenterologist, to make an appointment for a colonoscopy.

A few days later, in his office, Andy showed me a color diagram of the colon, a lengthy organ that appears to go all over the place, at one point passing briefly through Minneapolis.

Then Andy explained the colonoscopy procedure to me in a thorough, reassuring and patient manner.

I nodded thoughtfully, but I didn’t really hear anything he said, because my brain was shrieking, ‘HE’S GOING TO STICK A TUBE 17,000 FEET UP YOUR BEHIND!’

I left Andy’s office with some written instructions, and a prescription for a product called ‘Go Lightly,’ which comes in a box large enough to hold a microwave oven. I will discuss Go Lightly in detail later; for now suffice it to say that we must never allow it to fall into the hands of America ‘s enemies.

I spent the next several days productively sitting around being nervous.

Then, on the day before my colonoscopy, I began my preparation. In accordance with my instructions, I didn’t eat any solid food that day; all I had was chicken broth, which is basically water, only with less flavor.

Then, in the evening, I took the Go Lightly. You mix two packets of powder together in a one-litre plastic jug, then you fill it with lukewarm water. (For those unfamiliar with the metric system, a litre is about 32 gallons). Then you have to drink the whole jug. This takes about an hour, because Go Lightly tastes – and here I am being kind – like a mixture of goat spit and urinal cleanser, with just a hint of lemon.

The instructions for Go Lightly, clearly written by somebody with a great sense of humor, state that after you drink it, ‘a loose, watery bowel movement may result.’

This is kind of like saying that after you jump off your roof, you may experience contact with the ground.

Go Lightly is a nuclear laxative. I don’t want to be too graphic, here, but, have you ever seen a space-shuttle launch? This is pretty much the Go Lightly experience, with you as the shuttle. There are times when you wish the commode had a seat belt. You spend several hours pretty much confined to the bathroom, spurting violently. You eliminate everything. And then, when you figure you must be totally empty, you have to drink another litre of Go Lightly, at which point, as far as I can tell, your bowels travel into the future and start eliminating food that you have not even eaten yet.

After an action-packed evening, I finally got to sleep.

The next morning my wife drove me to the clinic. I was very nervous. Not only was I worried about the procedure, but I had been experiencing occasional return bouts of Go Lightly spurtage. I was thinking, ‘What if I spurt on Andy?’ How do you apologize to a friend for something like that? Flowers would not be enough.

At the clinic I had to sign many forms acknowledging that I understood and totally agreed with whatever the heck the forms said. Then they led me to a room full of other colonoscopy people, where I went inside a little curtained space and took off my clothes and put on one of those hospital garments designed by sadist perverts, the kind that, when you put it on, makes you feel even more naked than when you are actually naked.

Then a nurse named Eddie put a little needle in a vein in my left hand. Ordinarily I would have fainted, but Eddie was very good, and I was already lying down. Eddie also told me that some people put vodka in their Go Lightly.

At first I was ticked off that I hadn’t thought of this, but then I pondered what would happen if you got yourself too tipsy to make it to the bathroom, so you were staggering around in full Fire Hose Mode. You would have no choice but to burn your house.

When everything was ready, Eddie wheeled me into the procedure room, where Andy was waiting with a nurse and an anesthesiologist. I did not see the 17,000-foot tube, but I knew Andy had it hidden around there somewhere. I was seriously nervous at this point.

Andy had me roll over on my left side, and the anesthesiologist began hooking something up to the needle in my hand.

There was music playing in the room, and I realized that the song was ‘Dancing Queen’ by ABBA. I remarked to Andy that, of all the songs that could be playing during this particular procedure, ‘Dancing Queen’ had to be the least appropriate.

‘You want me to turn it up?’ said Andy, from somewhere behind me…

‘Ha ha,’ I said. And then it was time, the moment I had been dreading for more than a decade. If you are squeamish, prepare yourself, because I am going to tell you, in explicit detail, exactly what it was like.

I have no idea. Really. I slept through it. One moment, ABBA was yelling ‘Dancing Queen, feel the beat of the tambourine,’ and the next moment, I was back in the other room, waking up in a very mellow mood.

Andy was looking down at me and asking me how I felt. I felt excellent. I felt even more excellent when Andy told me that It was all over, and that my colon had passed with flying colors. I have never been prouder of an internal organ.

On the subject of Colonoscopies…
Colonoscopies are no joke, but these comments during the exam were quite humorous. A physician claimed that the following are actual comments made by his patients (predominately male) while he was performing their colonoscopies:

1. Take it easy Doc. You’re boldly going where no man has gone before.

2. ‘Find Amelia Earhart yet?’

3. ‘Can you hear me NOW?’

4. ‘Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?’

5 ‘You know, in Arkansas, we’re now legally married.’

6. ‘Any sign of the trapped miners, Chief?’

7. ‘You put your left hand in, you take your left hand out…’

8. ‘Hey! Now I know how a Muppet feels!’

9. ‘If your hand doesn’t fit, you must quit!’

10. ‘Hey Doc, let me know if you find my dignity.’

11. ‘You used to be an executive at Enron, didn’t you?’

12. ‘God, now I know why I am not gay’

And the best one of all:

13. ‘Could you write a note for my wife saying that my head is not up there?’

Angry Pat Mella

I see another letter to the editor from Pat Mella in today’s Guardian newspaper (12th April 2019). A few things come to mind when I read her opinions. She is often angry, often opinionated, and often wrong. Her latest claim is PEI is not a country! glad she cleared that point up. However, I’m sure the great majority of islanders are aware we are just one of ten Canadian Provinces. MMP is not a threat to the voting public, it might be considered a threat by politicians from the two old party’s. There is nothing wrong with change, it’s not dangerous, most of us change our minds several times a day. The things that need changing are party promises that never materialize, as an example. In 2008 Robert Ghiz claimed his government would see all islanders have a family doctor, would have high speed internet. Twelve years later Wade MacLauchlan is claiming something similar. However, if anything has changed it has not been for the better. MMP may not be a cure all for what ails us, but isn’t it worth a try. We are not asking for change just for the sake of change, we want to do things better than has been the case for many years now. Even Pat Mella cannot deny the fact, in the last provincial election 60% of islanders votes counted for nothing. She can not deny when PR gained the most votes in the 2016 plebiscite, but MacLauchlan denied the people’s wishes and the rule of democracy. Prince Edward Island is a wonderful place to live, but we urgently need to change the way it is presently being cared for. We need politicians who show concern for soil erosion, fish kills, clean air, water, land ownership and health care. We need to change to system to where our elected officials answer to us not corporations. God Bless and keep reading.

Flip for flop

I see it coming! The island flip flop from liberal to PC. When will voters learn? Voting for either of these two party’s just prolongs the agony. We have Dennis King and the PCs promising to do things differently! Where have we heard that before? Remember MacLauchlan in 2015, ” I will do politics differently” then picked up where Ghiz left off. If voters elect the PCs all that will change will be the rewarding of patronage and contracts. We have to understand if Dennis King is elected, he will not be running the province, the backroom will. It was the backroom boys who chose King in the first place. It’s ironic that both the liberal and PC backrooms are run by lawyers from the same law firms. Where do you think all their party funds come from? From corporations, island contractors and businesses like the Murphy Group. Who gets all the contracts, forgivable loans and favours, the same groups that support these two party’s. Please give some very serious thought before you vote in this election, take a risk, be daring, throw caution to the wind, be wild, be different and vote differently. Try something new, do not be taken in by the same old empty promises and empty words. You will end up paying the salary of the person you elect, a very hefty salary and pension that most of us will never see. So when you hire the person, first be sure he/she will do what you are paying them to do. I’m voting Green because I truly believe they will do things differently. The Greens do not accept donations from corporations or contractors. They raise their modest funds through private citizens donations, and they are only beholding to us the voters. That is the big difference between liberals, PCs and the Green Party. Take a look at how the vote on election reform has been set up! It was certainly not done fairly or for the PR side to win, the vote is heavily stacked against us. Remember the 2016 plebiscite, a majority voted for MMP but MacLauchlan refused to recognize the will of the people. You may say, I don’t care I’m voting no anyway. That might be okay for now, but what happens when you want something and the government prevents it. A government that exists solely to stay in power is not good for the people or good for the province. Ask yourself this,  if on PEI you believe we live in a democracy? Really folks, what more needs to be said, surely you can see the two old party’s will stop at nothing to retain their power.      God Bless and keep reading

The Garden of the Gulf.

It seems so long ago now but I still have wonderful memories of my first days on Prince Edward Island. I arrived late evening on 31st October 1969, and recall swerving on the highway out of Borden to miss a pile of burning tires. I was joining the new Kmart store in the auto centre that was about to open. This was considered the big first major discount store to set up on PEI.  I recall Holmans, Rogers Hardware and a few other businesses were not too happy about it. Shortly after the grand opening I watch an elderly couple leaving the parking area in horse and buggy. It took me a while to adjust to my new surroundings. My first priority was finding an apartment, fortunately I rented a one bed room apartment on Hillsboro Street for $65 per month. A few days later I agreed to share with another Kmart employee, we paid $32.50 each. You might think we had it made, and in a way we did, but my monthly salary was around  $250.00. Entertainment was rather scarce too, one cinema, Johnny Reid’s and the Rollaway club to name the more popular watering holes, and two or three bootleggers. The island had a railway, the island phone company, and one pizza place. On Sunday the island closed down, well not the churches they were busy. The legion dodged around the Sunday closing rules by holding a movie night, the bar was quietly open! The motor vehicle dept were launching the first,Motor vehicle inspection requirements, oh boy did that stir up consternation amongst the motoring public. It cause me many a head ache in the auto centre too, trying to explain not very well thought out regulations. We had two hospitals, one for Catholics and one for Protestants, the schools were similarly organized . I found this rather discouraging having only recently left this sectarianism behind in Ireland. However, I was also quite adept at not putting my foot in it. A very attractive young lady from Bonshaw invited me home for Sunday dinner. The whole time I was there her father by asking me certain questions was desperately trying to find out my religion.  Being from Belfast I enjoyed not letting him know. Out side when I was leaving  I told my young companion to tell her father not to worry, I was Protestant! I grew to love the island and it was not a difficult decision to settle here and make it my home. In 1970 I met a lovely young girl from South Rustico we married in 1972 and have two beautiful daughters. I’m 80 years old now and my wife Linda is! oops sorry that is classified.  We live in a lovely little cottage in Abram Village with our two dogs Yoda and Rosie and our cat Little Bear. If you were to ask me if I like PEI, well,  I think you already know the answer  God Bless and keep reading.

 

Legion pretend Medals

I read an interesting comment the other day, a suggestion from a fellow veteran. He suggested that legion associate members decline from wearing their legion medals on Remembrance Day, only veterans should wear their genuine service medals on parade. I completely understand why he asks this, how do civilians determine who are actual veterans and who are not. Associate members parade wearing a large number of legion medals. Anywhere from six to a dozen, they wear the legion uniform and beret. They march around saluting and in many cases are in charge of the particular parade. Is it any wonder most people assume these people are decorated veterans. It seems to me this is completely out of control, to have civilian members posing as actual military veterans. I understand the need for civilians within the organization, however they are not veterans and should not attempt to portray that image. To the best of my knowledge no other Commonwealth Country legion organizations issues these pretend medals. The Royal British Legion issue lapel pins for various services. Indeed a few years ago the RCL national president attended meetings in the UK, he declined to wear his thirteen legion issued medals. One might ask why he did this? Embarrassment comes to mind. He would have been the only representative from outside of the UK wearing these silly adornments. Some associate members counter the argument of wearing legion medals, they offer the following excuse. Many organizations issue and wear medals, they cite Knights of Columbus, Masons, and even Cadets! The cadet organization is for youths aged 12-19, hardly a fair comparison with grown men. I’m under no illusions the associates will agree not to wear these medals, it has become far to common place in today’s legions. The great majority of members are civilians they make the rules, veterans, those that are still members have little or no say. However, if the associates had any real respect for veterans they should only wear these medals within the confines of the legion branches, at meetings and such. They might even see an increase in veterans joining or rejoining their local branches. Continue in the same old direction and the legion will eventually disappear. God Bless and keep reading.