Here is a case of crony capitalism, State capitalism by any other name. Neo-liberal state capitalism Conservative style.
Senior bureaucrats say the final decision about a controversial $350,000 loan to a struggling amusement park was made at the cabinet table. Andy Hare, director of lending and special projects for the Office of Economic Development, sent briefing notes about the precarious business situation at Magic Valley to then premier John Hamm, then tourism minister Rodney MacDonald, and then economic development minister Ernie Fage. "Magic Valley was struggling. I wanted some kind of direction," Hare told an all-party committee investigating the loan Monday. The 30-year-old amusement park outside New Glasglow is owned by Bill MacNeil, who worked on Hamm's 1998 and 1999 campaigns. It has been losing visitors since Highway 104 was twinned and newer theme parks opened in Moncton and Upper Clements.
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Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Offshoring
Offshoring, outsourcing, these are terms used for sending production abroad, leaving a country the hewers of wood and drawers of water, while secondary and tertiary production is done elsewhere and then the finished product is shipped back to the resource based country. Like Canada, and like the current crisis Newfoundland fishers find themselves in with the State Capitalist FPI a fish processing company now shipping Canadian Fish and jobs to China.
Unlike most private companies, FPI is governed – to some extent – by the Newfoundland and Labrador legislature. The FPI Act sets limits on individual ownership and, among other things, stipulates that the company be headquartered in St. John's. FPI was formed in 1984 as a Crown corporation, from the ashes of a number of private fish companies. It was launched as a publicly traded company in 1987. In 1990, declining fish stocks forced it to close three plants and develop a business plan that emphasized marketing over harvesting. FPI said it and other seafood producers are being hammered by fierce competition from low-cost processing plants in China, as well as other factors, including the high Canadian dollar.
So FPI in order to compete with China ships production there. Makes sense. NOT.
But in reality, there is no Canadian seafood industry -- just a world industry. The typical fillet cooking on a North American grill has been harvested by a Russian trawler or raised in a Chilean fish farm, sent to China for gutting and filleting, and transported to Lunenburg, N.S., or Burin, Nfld., for slicing into portions, and neatly rolled, stuffed or slathered with sauce. The challenge is finding a profitable niche in this transnational supply chain. Sea change in the fisheries
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Unlike most private companies, FPI is governed – to some extent – by the Newfoundland and Labrador legislature. The FPI Act sets limits on individual ownership and, among other things, stipulates that the company be headquartered in St. John's. FPI was formed in 1984 as a Crown corporation, from the ashes of a number of private fish companies. It was launched as a publicly traded company in 1987. In 1990, declining fish stocks forced it to close three plants and develop a business plan that emphasized marketing over harvesting. FPI said it and other seafood producers are being hammered by fierce competition from low-cost processing plants in China, as well as other factors, including the high Canadian dollar.
So FPI in order to compete with China ships production there. Makes sense. NOT.
The Newfoundland and Labrador government plans to charge Fishery Products International for sending yellowtail flounder to China for processing, the fisheries minister said Tuesday. The company didn't obtain the required exemption under the Fish Inspection Act before shipping unprocessed fish out of the province, said Tom Rideout. "They shipped, and they shipped and they broke the law, and today they are under investigation and they'll be charged," Rideout told about 250 fish-plant workers protesting company plans to cut jobs and close plants in the Burin Peninsula.But here is the reality that Canada's fishing production industry faces. Globalization. Capitalism has industrialized Fishing and Fishing production on a global basis. Local based secondary canning production etc. now faces Fordist production models.
But in reality, there is no Canadian seafood industry -- just a world industry. The typical fillet cooking on a North American grill has been harvested by a Russian trawler or raised in a Chilean fish farm, sent to China for gutting and filleting, and transported to Lunenburg, N.S., or Burin, Nfld., for slicing into portions, and neatly rolled, stuffed or slathered with sauce. The challenge is finding a profitable niche in this transnational supply chain. Sea change in the fisheries
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Why we need regulations
Here is another example of why people like government, and need government to regulate the market. It's the nature of the state under capitalism. The State is the regulator, since self regulation leads to this;
Death sparks calls for piercing guidelines The death of a St. John's girl from an infection caused by a breast piercing is sparking national calls for tougher industry regulation.
Mike Grant, who runs a tattoo and piercing studio in Victoria, BC, said strict national rules would do more to guarantee the industry is safe.Now, some people who work in the industry say they would like to see Canada-wide guidelines. "We understand that surgical steels release nickel salt into the body, creates infections in piercings, or open wounds, or in surgeries or implants," said Grant. "Only titanium should be used. That's a regulation that I follow, which I don't have to, but I do because I know it's the right thing to do." Grant said he would like the entire country to impose rules similar to the ones already in place in Winnipeg – that city made changes to its tattoo bylaw earlier this year to include all body modifications. Tattoo and piercing studios in Winnipeg need to be licensed and employees need to pass a certification exam.
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Death sparks calls for piercing guidelines The death of a St. John's girl from an infection caused by a breast piercing is sparking national calls for tougher industry regulation.
Mike Grant, who runs a tattoo and piercing studio in Victoria, BC, said strict national rules would do more to guarantee the industry is safe.Now, some people who work in the industry say they would like to see Canada-wide guidelines. "We understand that surgical steels release nickel salt into the body, creates infections in piercings, or open wounds, or in surgeries or implants," said Grant. "Only titanium should be used. That's a regulation that I follow, which I don't have to, but I do because I know it's the right thing to do." Grant said he would like the entire country to impose rules similar to the ones already in place in Winnipeg – that city made changes to its tattoo bylaw earlier this year to include all body modifications. Tattoo and piercing studios in Winnipeg need to be licensed and employees need to pass a certification exam.
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The New Inquisition
Here is the Orwellian logic of the Inquisition in action. In Afghanistan.Where we are supposedly defending "democratic values".
"We will invite him again [to renounce Christianity] because the religion of Islam is one of tolerance," trial judge Ansarullah Mawlazezadah told the BBC on Sunday. "We will ask him if he has changed his mind. If so, we will forgive him." Canada concerned over Afghan facing death for being a Christian
Yep No One Expects The Spanish Inquistion in the 21st Century. Especially an Inquisition protected by Canadian Armed Forces.
"We will invite him again [to renounce Christianity] because the religion of Islam is one of tolerance," trial judge Ansarullah Mawlazezadah told the BBC on Sunday. "We will ask him if he has changed his mind. If so, we will forgive him." Canada concerned over Afghan facing death for being a Christian
Yep No One Expects The Spanish Inquistion in the 21st Century. Especially an Inquisition protected by Canadian Armed Forces.
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Spanish, Inquitision, Islam, Sharia, Law, Death, Chrisitanity, Afghanistan, Canada, Troops, NATO
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Too Much Money Not Enough Education
King Ralph is musing over the idea of giving Albertans more Ralph Bucks come the fall. Right now however both Edmonton School Boards, Catholic and Public, could use a few million bucks to balance their budgets, let alone bucks to build new schools as promised and a half billion for school upgrades. School board demands 'urgent need' school funding
Awash in money is the province. While the Edmonton Catholic school board goes cap in hand to the province having to put its property for sale just to clear a $10 million dollar shortfall because of Provincial government UNDERFUNDING.
Meanwhile the complaints are no different in Calgary, home of the ruling class in Alberta. CUPE has challenged the government to tour crumbling schools. Any takers?
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Awash in money is the province. While the Edmonton Catholic school board goes cap in hand to the province having to put its property for sale just to clear a $10 million dollar shortfall because of Provincial government UNDERFUNDING.
Meanwhile the complaints are no different in Calgary, home of the ruling class in Alberta. CUPE has challenged the government to tour crumbling schools. Any takers?
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Education, Alberta, Edmonton, Calgary, Public, Catholc, School, Boards, school, funding, Klein, crumbling, schools, infrastructure
Impeach Bush.....Over Peak Oil
Really. Thats what this article says.
George W. Bush and Peak Oil: Beyond Incompetence While it would be difficult to create an airtight legal case for impeaching George W. Bush based on his ignoring the very real threat posed by Peak Oil, nevertheless I believe that his actions—and inaction—in this regard constitute dereliction of duty on an unprecedented scale.
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George W. Bush and Peak Oil: Beyond Incompetence While it would be difficult to create an airtight legal case for impeaching George W. Bush based on his ignoring the very real threat posed by Peak Oil, nevertheless I believe that his actions—and inaction—in this regard constitute dereliction of duty on an unprecedented scale.
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Headlines We Would Like To See
Timmies We Can Hardly Afford Ye
Barely out with its share offering of Tim Hortons, Wendy's the U.S. owner of our esteemed Canadian Insititution is rrrolling up their rim a big cash winner. Wendy's Hits Year High on Tim Hortons IPO
Not satisfied with rrrolling in dough from Timmies now they want to gouge Canadian investors. Tim Hortons raises IPO price range
And Timmies is not even a socially responsible corporation. It does not support in purchasing Fair Trade coffee, nor is it unionized, unlike Starbucks the coffee company everyone loves to hate.
Which is why Monte Solberg will probably be investing in Timmies faster than you can say rrrroll up the rim.
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Not satisfied with rrrolling in dough from Timmies now they want to gouge Canadian investors. Tim Hortons raises IPO price range
And Timmies is not even a socially responsible corporation. It does not support in purchasing Fair Trade coffee, nor is it unionized, unlike Starbucks the coffee company everyone loves to hate.
Which is why Monte Solberg will probably be investing in Timmies faster than you can say rrrroll up the rim.
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Wendys, IPO, Tim, Hortons, Timmies, Coffee, Donuts, IWW, Starbucks, social, responsibility, corporations, Canada, US, Monte, Solberg
Clintons War
I have blogged about Canada's current 'humanitarian' war in Afghanistan being linked to the ideology of War to End Oppression which began with Bill Clinton and the attack on Serbia over Kosovo.
Blogger Let Freedom Chime, also notes that without that involvement the war in Afghanistan and Iraq would not have been possible.
The current sabre rattling over Iran's use of nuclear energy for domestic power, and the contradictory Bush India Nuke alliance bodes ill for the future.
Whether under Bush or a new Clinton regime.
Putting the Nuclear Genie Back in the Bottle
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Blogger Let Freedom Chime, also notes that without that involvement the war in Afghanistan and Iraq would not have been possible.
Recently, I came across an old WSWS article, 'Pentagon strategy for nuclear strikes revealed, Iraq--a testing ground for US militarism', from March 1998. It shows how, in the Clinton era, the US Military was already planning for the aggressive style of first-strike wars that Bush/Cheney are presently practising.
The current sabre rattling over Iran's use of nuclear energy for domestic power, and the contradictory Bush India Nuke alliance bodes ill for the future.
Whether under Bush or a new Clinton regime.
Putting the Nuclear Genie Back in the Bottle
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Why is this blog popular
That's the question that my personal right whingnut fan club asks. So I thought I would reply. First I have something to say. That's important. This blog does not care about how my hair looks, I have none, nor does it care about my teenage angst, cause I got through that when I was thirty. Nor is it because I am a dogmatic pundit of either the Right or Left.
It's because I am a damn fine writer with something to say.
It's 'cause of articles like my obituary biography of Anarchist author Ba-Jin, which is now listed in Wikipedia. And has been the basis of other printed and online biographies on the the author.
It's my contrarian dialectical analysis and tribute to Peter Drucker, who also passed away last year. Where those in the know have commented on my balanced as well as insightful perceptions of Drucker.
And the very many other articles I have written that are original. Not just comments on others writings, though I have done those too.
It's because I am an alternative journalist who gets his stuff published online as well as in print. And I am shameless in cross posting aritcles I think are of interest.
I use tags!
It's cause I am currently the #1 site on Critical Acclaim
I have over 1000 hits a week. Modest. But obviously enough to drive my fanclub nutz. Though he needs no help there.
And while I don't have lots and lots of comments, I don't have lots of trolls and rightwhingnutbars ranting here either. I say it, you read it, like it or leave it.
Which is probably why this guy is always ticked with me. Besides the fact he doesn't use Firefox, lacks a high speed connection (in Alberta, home of the High Speed connection services of Telus or Shaw), fails to use a pop up ad blocker.
Sorry folks but its the Libertarian Left link from Braveheart that keeps doing that. Which seems to be his biggest complaint.
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