'Peak Intelligence', 'Just War Theory', and Canada's Election Fraud

Why oh why does the GOP, and our own Conservative Party of Canada act like they're already past their climax of  Peak Intelligence?

The Grand Old Party, or the Republicans Party they're otherwise known as,  wish to go to war with Iran invoking 'Just War Theory."  But, it seems like Canada's Conservative prime minister Harper would do so at the drop of a hat too.

While it's coming to light the Conservative Party of Canada is potentially guilty of  an illegal voting fraud in the last election which might have grave consequences if an actual investigation was held. But don't hold your breath...  don't hold your breath that is, about having an actual investigation...

We Like War and We Want War with Iran

Back in the mid-80's I worked for two Iranian brothers in Montreal who told me a harrowing story of how they came to be in Canada.

As Iranian army conscripts they were making a typical truck trip to fetch water and other supplies for a forward operating post they were stationed at. As they were returning sometime later, they discovered their post had been overrun by Iraqi forces.

The Iraqis were gone but had left extreme atrocities at the post. All their former friends and comrades were dead, or worse. The Iranian brothers decided right then and there they'd had enough of a life filled with this kind of bullshit and human misery and left Iran and escaped to the west before they could be stationed at another forward post.

However, I'll never forget what the Iranian brothers told me. They blamed Britain, the U.S., and Israel for creating situations that pitted the Persian countries to wage battle against each other. They cited the stolen democratic election in Iran of 1953 that ushered in a puppet dictator for oil hungry Britain and the west that began the modern problems for their country and neighboring hostilities. Instead of democracy, the brothers said they got perpetual war.

Shale Gas Not Very Feasible

I revisited an Allan Gregg clip with guest Jeff Rubin. It's from 2009 though I never commented on it at the time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhsMr49AKM8

Rubin was touring his book "Oil and the End of Globalization".  If you haven't heard about it or read it....Wait. It's not all bad news. Rubin is actually optimistic the end of cheap oil does not mean the end of society. Not by a long shot. Though things will change.

 Here's a quick synopsis: Much higher oil prices along with possible carbon taxes may force the end of  shipping many manufactured goods around the world. It's cheap to do it at the moment because of current low fuel prices.

So what does this mean? Not to worry though. This simply could mean we'll actually start getting serious as a society to do what we know we need to do; such as revisiting quality mass transit; localized manufacturing again which of course means jobs and skills, and an emphasis on sustainable energy and sustainable everything else.

Think of a 1950's lifestyle combining a smaller carbon footprint, but with a futuristic edge, and (maybe less cars, unless we can get all electric cars to run on and store solar energy, etc.)

Also, as an economist he explains a direct correlation between high oil prices and how it effectively creates slow growth in the marketplace. In order to have a sustainable market without dips (recessions), we need to get away from using oil as a mode of transportation. 

This is why using oil to access natural gas as in shale gas fracking (once all external costs are accounted for including the cost of maintaining roadway infrastructures for trucking, carbon emission allocations for venting  ((off-gassing) which there is none at the moment), replacing and trucking contaminated well water, site clean-up, natural habitat destruction, increased air pollution and ground water toxicities and accompanying medical costs for local citizens, etc)  then we begin an honest cost analysis of natural gas extraction and understand this is a non-feasible way of doing business.

It's all them terrorists that live over there...

Of course the rest of us know what will happen to oil prices on the open market if Israel and the U.S. decide to go to war with Iran; gas prices will rise sharply... besides of course  the thousands (thousands! or likely hundreds-of-thousands!) of women and children that will die or be maimed for life...

But, the following is why Republicans and the rest of the right-wing conservatives everywhere  want to go to war with Iran:
 

"Besides them getting nukes, it's all them terrorists that live over there in Iran that's making gas prices go up too. That's why we have to send our troops in there an' whup their asses...'cause I just bought me a new Chevy truck an' I want to afford to drive it..."

 

Don Forgeron: President & CEO, Insurance Bureau of Canada says Payouts from Increasing Climate Change is Real and Costly

I've spoken to a few individuals who don't believe in the science of climate change. That' to be expected. They tend to think it's a grand conspiracy theory designed to get carbon emission taxes out of us. I don't believe in carbon emission trading either since it is simply a charade something is being done when in effect the overall amount of pollution increases. And they're probably right that it is another tax or money grab from citizen's pockets. It's an easily transparent smokescreen.

But when a major player such as the insurance industry in the economy is saying they have proof of severe and increasing damages caused by storm events, then the rest of the media and private individuals should start paying attention.

If nothing else, if this information is still to be mistrusted by some, then forget about whether humanity's carbon footprint is responsible for these weather events...but consider the increasing amount of needless toxicities in our shared environment overall. Look at the cancer rates for a start...

Why the Republican Party continues to be Irrelevant to Sane people in 2012

I'm all for allowing everyone to have their fair shot at politics, but here's another prime example of why  the ultra conservative Republican party continues to be irrelevant in 2012.

To be considered as a potential Presidential nominee by serious people, you ought to be seen as  being a serious contender yourself. But then again, the Republican party can't be very serious if they continue to promote silly-speaking adults. So, here we go again. Before you have a chance to say, "Whew! I sure am glad Sarah Palin didn't get a chance to get any closer to the power of the Oval office in the last U.S. election", well look out, here comes another prime knuckledragger!

  Rick Santorum sounds exactly like he wants to follow up where the history-challenged Sarah Palin left off;  and that's to drag the country and most likely the rest of the world back to the sanctimoniously prescribed laws of the 15th century.

...and as if the our already long beleaguered environment needs someone like Santorum...watch the video, you'll understand...Santorum  is obviously using his extreme right-wing Christian heritage in employing doublethnk in his belief  'man has dominion over the Earth and its resources, though man should still be a good steward'...

Huh? Sure Rick. We're all sure what that means. As usual, this is neo-Christian-fascist-code for extracting  profit driven resources from the Earth until the environment is pushed past its brink. But, Oh! Don't worry! The Lord above will swoop down in the 'End Days' and save the righteous when the air is no longer breathable and water is no longer drinkable.

All I can say is...God help the environment.

BTW, 15th century bloodletting anyone?

Former shale gas worker from New Brunswick speaking out on how toxic the business is

 

You can also read the article here: 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2011/12/01/nb-daigle-shale-gas-concern-913.html