tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post50096906412815774..comments2024-03-28T19:18:40.387-04:00Comments on Northern Reflections: A Tale Of Two CountriesOwen Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-25321659289378368672014-01-16T05:01:22.496-05:002014-01-16T05:01:22.496-05:00Imagine the notoriety, e.a.f. A Third World countr...Imagine the notoriety, e.a.f. A Third World country in North America.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-13880074072366556612014-01-16T03:03:06.062-05:002014-01-16T03:03:06.062-05:00Perhaps it is time to check into immigrating to No...Perhaps it is time to check into immigrating to Norway. If Canada continues as it is now, we will just be another 3rd world country with a dictator running it.e.a.f.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-58775873900419794832014-01-15T17:12:19.376-05:002014-01-15T17:12:19.376-05:00The robocalls business and the Senate scandal are ...The robocalls business and the Senate scandal are all about honesty, Anon.<br /><br />Jack Layton warned us. We can't take Harper at his word.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-35815113777892974872014-01-15T16:13:39.357-05:002014-01-15T16:13:39.357-05:00Norway is also a very honest country and, that mak...Norway is also a very honest country and, that makes a big difference. Canada has become a, cesspool of corruption especially since, Harper's so called majority. <br /><br />Harper has buried Canada in debt. The 3 amigo's are meeting again. Watch out for the NAU. Big business is pushing for the NAU. They only want one government to deal with. That makes it easier for them to thieve. Big business also wants a huge, cheap labor pool. We were warned if, Harper ever won a majority? We could kiss Canada good-bye. Not that I believe Harper *won* his majority.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-3498335179740885642014-01-15T14:46:36.439-05:002014-01-15T14:46:36.439-05:00Excellent question, karen. It's clear that Mr....Excellent question, karen. It's clear that Mr. Harper believes he's not like the rest of us. He's exceptional.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-56421241389508174002014-01-15T13:51:18.592-05:002014-01-15T13:51:18.592-05:00"I don't believe any taxes are good taxes... "I don't believe any taxes are good taxes." <br /><br />I wonder if Stephen Harper understands where his paycheck comes from? <br /><br />karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11131927710530023725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-18891147012798369502014-01-15T11:59:37.342-05:002014-01-15T11:59:37.342-05:00You referred a couple of days ago, Lorne, to a let...You referred a couple of days ago, Lorne, to a letter in the Toronto Star. The writer concluded that Tim Hudak works for the robber barons.<br /><br />The same inescapable conclusion applies to Mr. Harper.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-75988505342492090502014-01-15T11:54:12.815-05:002014-01-15T11:54:12.815-05:00There was a reason the oil barons threw Lougheed o...There was a reason the oil barons threw Lougheed out of Calgary's Petroleum Club, Mound.<br /><br />He believed in responsible resource development -- and that applied particularly to the tar sands.<br /><br />He was what has become an endangered species -- a progressive conservative.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-62037036653528771722014-01-15T11:48:55.985-05:002014-01-15T11:48:55.985-05:00OI will go so far as to say that Harper's visc...OI will go so far as to say that Harper's visceral aversion to responsible taxation makes him a true enemy of the people, Owen.Lornehttp://www.politicsanditsdiscontents.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-34237282792643296612014-01-15T11:37:18.153-05:002014-01-15T11:37:18.153-05:00Unfortunately, Anderson, is wrong. Taxes have pla...Unfortunately, Anderson, is wrong. Taxes have played a tangential role at best in Norway's fortunes.<br /><br />The first part of the result is owed to a popular decision by the Norse not to treat their North Sea oil wealth as belonging to today's generation. The royalties were to be retained, invested for future generations instead of being taken into general revenues to be squandered.<br /><br />The second part was the decision that those retained royalties would not be invested in the Norwegian economy. The Norse realized that, injected in their own economy, their windfall would overheat their economy and much of it would be lost in boom & bust cycles.<br /><br />Alberta, by contrast, relies on oil royalties for 30% of their current budget spending and still runs deficits even as much of their supposed oil wealth evaporates in boom & bust cycles.<br /><br />"Please, God, Give Us One More Oil Boom and, This Time, We Promise We Won't Piss It All Away." - bumper sticker.<br /><br />The people of Alberta aren't coming out ahead. Their government isn't coming out ahead. Oil companies, however, with their grants,subsidies and 'never,never' deferrals are doing rather well.<br /><br />Meanwhile Peter Lougheed keeps rolling in his grave.The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.com