The Pay Raise...did they EARN it?
Well, here we are experiencing a typical year in the House of Commons. Beginning with Shawinigate, Her Majesty’s Impotent Opposition, saddled with the task of beating on the Liberal Stonewall, achieves nothing. Nor were they expected to, because they were next. On the List of Smokescreens.
As so often is the case in Canadian Partisan Politics, One side, usually the one in Power, shows its usual crony-ridden mettle for all to see and the RCMP to ignore. The Opposition calls for resignations, and in this case, the Prime Minister produces a hastily-scrawled note on a piece of used paper as proof of his innocence. Good thing Revenue Canada didn’t see that piece of paper, because they would have rejected it as not meeting the criteria outlined for bills of sale. Not to Mention the GST owed on said bill. More on that later.
Now it is time for the first diversion. Not satisfied that they have flummoxed the general public with their proof of innocence, the Grand Mere Golfers call attention to the misbegotten cloak-and-dagger antics of the Leader of the Opposition, who has already proved himself a champion of paleontological doctrine. So what we now have is The Side in Power smearing the Side Not, to divert attention, albeit amusingly, from their little slip-up. This comfortably wastes five months of parliamentary business, and sets up the scenario further.
In keeping with the snotty little finger-pointing session that has just occurred, it is now time to introduce some legislation to a public anesthetized by the atrophy in Ottawa. A Parliamentary Pay Raise. Let me get this straight. You "public servants" on the Hill have done nothing for five months of 2001, save squabble ineffectively over each other’s apparent incompetence, and now, as an encore, you want to get paid more for it?
Tell me it isn’t so. Please. Further proof of the government’s inane business practices. The only sector of the economy to trade nothing for something, consistently, and then merrily reward themselves, at our expense, for doing it. In the business world, or with the home budget, there are other words for this practice…serial bankruptcy. And not only for those elected to do nothing, but those not elected to do nothing, the Senate.
Does anybody get the gist of this yet? Is anybody LISTENING? Where in the private sector can anybody get away with this type of economic embarrassment? Admittedly, in an election, we are faced with a poor selection of Idiots to choose from…those who can lie, and those who can’t. But the liars usually win, and in the process, starve us out of our hard-earned wages so they can be guaranteed a tax-free existence. It makes my blood boil. The same people who legislate themselves a raise also legislate the ways that prevent us from having any security at all. Shame on each and every Canadian, for sitting quiet while it happens.
The arrogance of these people. It is not enough for our prime minister to use his influence to profit from subsidy. He actually rubs our nose in it! If one could put words to it, it is as though he has said "see? You couldn’t catch me, and now, I am going to prove it! I’m going to steal some MORE!!" And all of this couched in the rhetoric about "serving the public" and "making sacrifices".
I consider myself one of the lucky ones. I have a good job, with good pay. I can hold my head above water relatively easily. I can pay taxes, taxes, taxes, and still have a few dollars left over. But what of those who cannot do that? What gives those public servants the right to legislate their security while simultaneously gouging the very people that elected them…and amazingly…increase their popularity in the polls? Obviously, they must write the Pollster’s questions.
And, the typical Canadian sits, stunned, while this happens IN THEIR FACE, and does nothing. I, for one, have had my national pride eroded into a perilous state. Write letters, people. Make Noise. But don’t sit idly by waiting for some improvement. It is not forthcoming until YOU begin to make your views known.