Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Private Property=Child Labour

Herr Professor Marx would be proud. Tonight in the French language Leadership Debate in closing remarks about the Not Withstanding Clause, Paul Martin denounced private property, rights being enshrined in the Constituion, saying it would lead to Child Labour in Canada. No seriously that's what he said .

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Duffy Slaps Out Duffy

On the post Leaders Debate show on CTV John Duffy claimed that the Liberal attack ad which claimed that Harper would use the Military to Occupy Canadians cities, ala Pinochet, had been dropped. It still got Harper all upset.

Liberals release new series of attack ads
One of the ads however, suggesting Harper would put military personnel in Canadian cities, was later pulled, with the Liberal Party saying the ad had been circulated in error.

Harper spent more time on that in his post debate scrum than on the debate. Duffy, John tried to talk about something else, anything else when confronted about the ad by Duffy, Mike. Not important lets talk about soemthing else sez Duffy to Duffy. But Duffy, Mike gets upset and says it is news and news is his job as a journalist and then he lets the cat outta the bag.

During a break apparently Duffy, John, Liberal hack, told Duffy, Mike, CTV hack, not to talk about the ad. In fact during the on air discussion, Duffy, Mike, got red in the face and bitchslapped Duffy, John, on national TV saying that his dismisal of the ad as no big deal, not newsworthy, was an out and out lie, and that he had tried to pressure Mike not to talk about it. Wow. That should give Blogging Tory's pause. Here was usually pro-Liberal Duffy, Mike, attacking Liberal official Duffy, John.


When is an ad not an ad. Well according to John when it isn't bought and paid for and aired. This particular ad, part of a series of them, was posted on the Liberal website for all of us to view, and on CTV. So when is it not an ad, when it is like a draft document, or some plans you don't release says Duffy, John. Well not quite there John boy. The ad ran. On the internet. Thats advertising. See just check all those pop ups. Thats advertising too. So yes you did run it. Even for a few hours or a day , its an ad.

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A Note To Quebec Voters

If you love Jean Charest you will love Stephen Harper. Remember once a Tory always a Tory.

Why Harper win won't faze Charest

Charest imposes contract on public sector workers

Charest's first two years as premier were marked by stiff and vocal opposition to his policies by Quebec labour unions. The antagonism and negativity shared between his government and public sector employees, as well as his failure so far to cut taxes as promised, has left Charest sharply unpopular amongst the general public. Many have suggested, however, that Charest may make a run for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada should current leader Stephen Harper falter in the federal election in January 2006.

Charest says he knew nothing about Option Canada

Published: Tuesday, January 10, 2006

QUEBEC - Premier Jean Charest says he knew nothing about the creation of the little-known federalist group Option Canada during the 1995 referendum campaign.

He was leader of the federal Tories at the time of Quebec's sovereignty referendum and participated in the No side's campaign.

Charest said he and others named in a book about Option Canada's existence and spending
habits during the referendum are being unfairly targeted. Referendum book ignites firestorm

Gadzooks that sounds just like the Liberals excuses for the Income Trust leak.


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Nationalize the Oil Industry

Yep that was a question in tonights french language leaders debate. More than one NDP candidate to the left of Layton and the party war room has called for it during this election.NDP candidate wants government control of big companies, oil-gas industry Hurrah.

And Layton side steps the question.

9:27 p.m. EST
There's nothing like the big oil companies to get Canadian politicians twitchy. Mind you, Jack Layton does not like to be reminded that one of his candidates wants to nationalize the big oil companies. That is going a bit far for a comfortably squishy New Democrat; taxing is one thing, but nationalizing, no, not today.

Still Layton and Gilles Duceppe are fast to support public transit and stop tax gifts to the oil companies. That's where the line gets drawn in the debate, at least on that subject. Paul Martin and Stephen Harper are not going to get into any rough talk about the oil companies. Instead they agree on Martin's soft promise of "other options" to settle Canada's energy problems. —JG


Duceppe says the Harper gave billions and will give billions more in tax breaks to Big Oil. Good shot. Duceppe says BQ called for subsidizing gas for the poor, workers, truckers, taxi cab drivers, by eliminating tax breaks to Big Oil. Asked if he believes the Market controls oil prices, wait for it, Martin says Non.

Ok so who does? Why the state of course. Harper says the provincial state....but the state none the less....so why not nationalize it under worker and community control?

No real answer here as to why we shouldn't. Just good old capitalist apologetics and fear of Alberta's NEP hysterics.


Also see: Oil Crisis

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Harper Is About Choice....Except....

When it comes to gay marriage. And in tonight's French language leaders debate when it comes to assisted suicide and decriminlization of marijuana. Next time Harper or any of the Conservatives say they are Libertarians, the laughs are on them. You can't pick and choose choice issues. You either support the right to choose or not. In this case they support the right to choose private medicine and private day care, but not the right to choose doctor assisted death or the right to smoke pot. The NDP and the BQ support both. So whose more libertarian now.

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The Future of Werner Patels

Today I blogged my complaint of internet stalking and harassment by Werner Patels.

I requested blog sites to cease supporting and publishing his rantings, he remains a member of the Green Bloggers as well as being a member of Peters Politics aggregator.

He now appeared again on Canada Conversation, but in another of his multipleblogpersonalities, this time as "The Future of Alberta" blog.

Is this the kind of person you want blogging on your aggregate reader? I would hope not. And I would hope his mutlipleblog personalities would be removed post haste from access to Canadian Conversation, Breen Bloggers and Peter's Politics.

On the Future of Alberta he posted this defamatory comment, and it is indeed defamatory under Canadian law Herr Patels.

Another case of criminal libel involves an individual by the name of Eugene Plawiuk, in Edmonoton. A self-described communist, he, for some reason, feels the need to post silly articles about me, in which he lies about things I supposedly wrote or did not write, and he too incorrectly assigns ownership of other sites to me.


For Herr Patels sake I have some experience as a published writer, an editor of several publications, a former Vice President of Canadian University Press, and one who has experienced both ends of the defamation laws in Canada. There is defamation and there is libel but there is no such a thing as 'criminal libel'.

Because blogging is considered a form of media, I have published the Media Guide to Libel and Defamation below.

In the left hand corner of the sidebar of my blog you will see that I use the term, This Is A Fair Comment Blog and I use the defense of Truth.

So Herr Patels if you believe you have been defamed take it too a lawyer spend some money and weep cause it will get you nowhere. The truth hurts I know, but there is not much you can do as long as you publish your blogs and comments, I have the right to respond as this is public space and public debate. So put up or shut up.

As for the Truth, the other defense I claim in my right to publish, I do not and never have incorrectly attributed ownsership of sites to you. In my Fair Comment blog articles have correctly attributed some of the following sites to Werner Patels. Here is a complete list;

Calgary Observer (defunct slandered and defamed other bloggers had to shut down, now known as Alberta Avenue)
Alberta Avenue
The Future of Alberta
Alberta Liberal (aka Werner Patels Running For Alberta, Running For Alberta)
Abacus Translation Services
Translator: German-English-German & Spanish-English
Learn English - Learn German
Abacus Blogs
Welcome to Abacus Translation Services (old Site when Werner lived in Toronto in 2003)
Alberta-Canada Now (defunct slandered and defamed other bloggers had to shut down)
Google Search of Werner Patels

Welcome to the Internet Herr Patels where you can be tracked.

His claim that Alberta Avenue is an online magazine and he is just a contributor is another example of his pathological personality. If you check out his page Learn English - Learn German you will find that it is the same layout design template as Alberta Avenue.

And as Herr Patels has shown once again he pop's up with another blog once he is challenged and criticised for harassment and stalking of bloggers he opposes. This from someone who claims to be a professional translator who specializes in 'law' ! Herr Patels is obsessed with attacking people he disagrees with. Period. Along with his multipleblog personalities this is another aspect of his pathological condition.


Which he has done in the past and there is public documentation to this effect. For example;

Censure Werner

We have been had. A well known member of the Canadian blogsphere spent the past year or so lying about who he was, who he represented and the nature of his opinions. This morning, he admitted to me that it was all part of some "experiment". When I think about this, I am just sick about how much this sort of immaturity hurts the credibility of blogs. I hope that bloggers from all parties will agree with me that for this sham, the former Calgary Observer and current AlbertaAvenue deserves to be censured.


He attacks fellow Albert Blogger Grandinite.

He attempts to get Blogging Tory CIVITATENSIS FIRED!

Last August he was a tried and True Liberal, attacking Alberta, today he is a Tried and True Alberta Conservative attacking Ottawa. My what a difference a few months make for Herr Patels. Flip flop indeed, the term Kook was used to describe him and not by me.He has managed to tick off everyone equally. Conservatives, Liberals, Progressives and yes this Libertarian Communist.

Herr Patels is a one man Flame war not only in the Alberta and Canadian political blogosphere but in his own professional community.

He trashed ProZ.com - Directory of Professional Translation Services by Freelance Language Translators & Translation Agencies. in a letter to Translation Journal in 2002 to which one of the moderators replied;

ProZ—Pro & Con (again)
 I noticed Mr. Werner George Patels wrote a rather nasty letter about ProZ com. While he's, of course, entitled to whatever views he may hold, you may want to know that he's been 'evicted'/'expelled'/'ousted'... from ProZ.com on two different occasions after careful consideration by a.o. the ProZ moderators (there are about 100 moderators now).
Herr Patels was accused of Flaming, ( we have all experienced that) and Racism over his comments he made regarding non English speaking Translators;

k’alebøl » Translation bidding systems
Any site that does impose minimum prices would be discriminating against workers who are able to produce more for less because they are better translators or because they live in cheaper countries. (Werner Patels, the trade’s biggest price maintenance flamer, is openly racist in this respect).

To which he replied, and all of a sudden I am having a Deja Vu flash;
  1. Werner George Patels says:
    April 22nd, 2005 at 15:32

    Saying that a certain group of people are not native speakers of English is not racism.

    You are making it very easy for me to sue you. In fact, I can have you charged with criminal libel.


His attacks on me however have gone beyond comments on my blog or comments about my blog. He has taken to contacting people and threatening, this is stalking and harassment. Stalking and harassment Herr Patels are criminal acts. Stalking on the internet has consequences. Internet Harassment is a criminal act.You have been advised.

Werner G. Patels cease and desist in contacting anyone associated with me, cease and desist in refering to me by name (Eugene Plawiuk) or by my blogs name in your blogs, or any other public pronouncements that may be published by you.

Should you continue to do so I will be forced to take action in this regard.


LIBEL AND DEFAMATION

It's the civil aspect of libel that is most likely to affect the modern media. This is the non-criminal circumstance that arises when an individual feels he or she has been damaged by published information or comment, and seeks relief ($) from the courts.

If material is accurate and fair and prepared with normal professional care, the chances of being landed with a libel suit will be minimal, especially if the media person exercises some common sense and issues an immediate retraction, correct errors and apologize for the mistake if a statement that could be construed as defamatory is made.

1. Defamation is the umbrella term for libel and slander. Libel involves publication of defamatory matter in permanent form; slander involves publication of defamatory matter in transitory form. Thus, spoken defamation, uttered over the back fence, constitutes slander, while broadcast defamation constitutes libel (more serious than slander).

2. Libel is the false broadcast or publication communicated through words, pictures, sounds or gestures that harms a person's reputation by exposure to hate, ridicule or contempt in the minds of the average member of the community. Forms of harm include: damage to personal reputation, social contacts, and occupation. Ridicule and contempt are forms of damage. Some words used in a description can be libelous such as crook, slut, murderer etc.

False names are not necessarily protection if the circumstances are well known. A person's name does not have to be broadcast to be identified. Pictures, voice impersonations, physical descriptions, actions mimicked or described, specific job descriptions, addresses given, circumstances described, innuendo, omissions, extrinsic facts, can lead to identification.

Watch Those Guests and Callers

In law, liability for defamation doesn't depend on whether a media outlet shares or agrees with the opinion of guests or callers, it depends on whether it "publishes" the opinion-and "publishes" in this context means broadcasts or conveys to the public. Causing the opinion to be broadcast on the airwaves will be publication, so if it is defamatory, the media outlet, not the guest or caller, is exposed to liability regardless of whether it agrees with the opinion, and regardless of whether it has issued disclaimers.

Legal Defenses in a Libel Action

In all jurisdictions, the media person who has been hauled into court as defendant in a libel action has three basic courses of defense. However, if malice is proved it could defeat most defenses. Malice is intentional ill will in libel. It could involve a reckless disregard of the facts.

1. The Truth
Such a defense seems simple enough, but "the burden of proof rests upon the defendant." If proven, truth is an absolute defense that cannot be defeated by malice.

2. Fair Comment
Statements of opinion made upon matters of public interest fall under the protection of this defense (fair comment) if they are made in good faith and without malice. It must be a comment, it must be fair, it must be based on facts, it must be of public interest, there must be no malice.

3. Absolute and Qualified Privilege
There are some specific situations in which journalists enjoy the indirect benefit of complete protection, absolute privilege, regardless of the fundamentally libelous nature of works reported. There are other situations where journalists may benefit from a similar, but more limited protection, usually described in the law as qualified privilege. Qualified privilege can be defeated by malice!

Absolute Privilege: applies only to media coverage of court proceedings. Must be fair and accurate, without comment. Must be broadcast contemporaneously with the proceedings. Must provide a reasonable statement of explanation or contradiction on behalf of the plaintiff.

Qualified Privilege: a fair and accurate report of a legislative body (parliament), public administrative body (CRTC), a commission of inquiry constituted by a public authority, a meeting of any public authority in Canada (PUC), a meeting to discuss any matter of public concern whether admission is general or restricted, a notice given for public information by any aforementioned public authority, also art, science, religion, learning, trade, business, industry, professional, game sport or pastime organization.







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Could It Be Satan

Welcome to the bible belt, home of every kind of Christian sect and cult and nutbar. Here we go again, what was old is new again.

Remember when you ruined your record collection and stereo needle trying to find all those hidden Satanic messages in Led Zepplins; Stair Way To Heaven. Welcome to the digital age. Albertan finds Satan in music downloads Say it ain't so.

I always thought of Bill Gates as Moloch but Steve Jobs is Satan, who knew!




"I grew up hearing and believing there were satanic messages in rock music and I wanted to find out for myself," said Milner, a 26-year-old University of Lethbridge new media student. "I think it's cool, but there are some people who find it so gripping they spend the whole day listening. You might call it obsessive."


Yep I would. And I would call this generational satanic hysteria, since it was passed down from Father to Son.

"My dad thinks it's Satan influencing rockers to put it into the songs," he said.


You don't need to play the songs backwards there are lots of Satanic Black/Heavy Metal Bands out there, and then there is always Diamanda Galas.

The Black Metal/Death Metal movement is highly popular in Norway. And is associated in the public mind with Satanism. Norweigans also believe that George Bush is a satanist.




Norwegians confused by Bush family's "Satanic salute"

Associated Press
January 21, 2005

OSLO, Norway - Many Norwegian television viewers were shocked to see U.S. President George W. Bush and family apparently saluting Satan during the U.S. inauguration.

But in reality, it was just a sign of respect for the University of Texas Longhorns, whose fans are known to shout out "Hook 'em, horns!" at athletic events.

The president and family were photographed lifting their right hands with their index and pinky fingers raised up, much like a horn.

But in much of the world those "horns" are a sign of the devil. In the Nordics, the hand gesture is popular among death metal and black metal groups and fans.

"Shock greeting from Bush daughter," a headline in the Norwegian Internet newspaper Nettavisen said late Wednesday above a photograph of Bush's daughter, Jenna, smiling and showing the sign.

Bush, a former Texas governor, was simply greeting the Texas Longhorn marching band as it passed during a Washington D.C. parade in the president's honor, explained Verdens Gang, Norway's largest newspaper.

Just the same, the Internet was abuzz Thursday with speculation about what the Bushes really mean by the sign.


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Private Day Care Abuse

This is what happens when you allow unregulated, privatized Day Care. The real choice that the Conservatives are offering Canadians.

Day care denied licence renewal

A northeast Calgary day care must close its doors in 30 days after reports of corporal punishment and restraining children in their beds.

The owner of Creative Play Daycare said he will appeal the ruling and issued a statement to parents saying "we do love your children," and "we need you now."

On Monday, Child and Family Services notified day-care owner Jeff Dever and the facility's director, his wife Eva, that their licence would not be renewed on Feb. 10.

The decision followed a month-long investigation into complaints about the centre, said Blair Riddle, communications manager for the Calgary and Area Child and Family Services Authority.

While Riddle couldn't discuss specifics of the infractions, he said there was inappropriate physical discipline, inappropriate child restraints and an insufficient staff-to-child ratio at the centre.

"You can't use corporal punishment, plain and simple," he said Monday, adding he was not aware of any physical injury to the children.

Riddle said cases of the department refusing to renew licences are "quite rare."

In August last year, Child and Family Services did not renew the licence of the Berkshire Christian Daycare after repeated violations of provincial regulations.

In February of 2004, the licence for Treehouse Child Development Centre was cancelled after children were sent outside for a fire drill without shoes in -30 C weather.

Investigators said the drill was a form of punishment.

For more on child abuse see my article Christianity Is Child Abuse. Also see my articles here and at Defend Public Day Care



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Werner Patels is a Blog Stalker

The sick twisted multipleblog personality that is Calgary Observer, Alberta Avenue, etc. et al aka Werner Patels has really done it this time. Instead of keeping his comments about me to my comments section or to his own personal blog he has decided to email folks and let them know his opinion of me.

This is harassment and stalking and is unacceptable.

He has been dropped from the Progressive Bloggers list, but is still on other lists such as Canada Conversation. He should be dropped from any lists he is on since he insists on violating my rights by harassing folks I know.

In a comment to my blog article about one of his Alberta Avenue posts he wrote;
Anyway, I will be contacting all the organizations you mention in your banner and let them know what sort of idiot you really are. Let's see if they still want anything to do with you.

I took this with a grain of salt since he also threatened to sue me. Since he published information that was incorrect in his comment I removed it. To which I responded with this.

Since he has decided to go above and beyond the bounds of what I consider fair comment about me on his blog, which he is entitled to as I am on mine, by making personal attacks on me to associations and associates of mine then I feel justified in asking for the blogosphere to censor Herr Patels as a serial harasser and stalker.

Since you could be next if he decides he doesn't like you. Poor deluded sick puppy that he is.

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Harper Isn't Scary But This Is

A Conservative Majority Government.

Repeat this Mantra; Conservative Majority, Conservative Majority, Conservative Majority.

Because even Harper knows that scares the bejesus out of Canadians. So he is backtracking on the polls and his musings the other day about having a majority. It killed them in 2004 and if we keep repeating it maybe it will work again. But this time the alternative is NOT the Liberals but as Layton kept saying last night, it's the NDP.

Harper muses on possibility of majority win

Alberta Tories muse majority

Klein not unhappy election prediction may be wrong
Klein added that a Conservative government in Ottawa would be good for Alberta, because it would address issues important to the province, such as same-sex marriage, the Kyoto accord and the Canadian Wheat Board.

Klein pleased with Conservatives' new numbers



Leaders' Debate Analysis

9:56 p.m. EST
An interesting question to Harper about whether it would be better for the Conservatives to win a majority rather than try to strike an alliance with the Bloc. Harper wisely doesn't bite on the majority government question, and repeats his pledge to govern on an issue by issue basis.

Moderator: That's our time I'm afraid. Let's move on to the third question in this national unity phase. Mr. Harper, this is a question for you. A year and a half ago, many observers say that the Liberals won because you asked voters to give you a majority government in the last days of the campaign, and that spooked a few people and, as a result, many of them rushed back to the Liberals and, as you know, you didn't win. So let's try to go at this question again. Would it not be better -- tell me this; would it be better for you to win a majority government rather than a minority so you wouldn't have to make deals with the Bloc to stay in power?

Stephen Harper: First of all, let me just say that I dispute what occurred in the last election but I will say this; I'm certainly not going to be drawn in to any questions that can be used to have me making predictions. My role here is not to be a political analyst. My role is to explain to Canadians why we need a new government, a new government that will bring in accountability, and a new government that will deal directly with their concerns. What I tell Canadians is that I will be respectful, I will accept whatever wisdom they deliver at the polls. If, through that wisdom, they happen to give us a mandate, we'll accept the mandate that they give us. That requires us to work with other parties on an issue-by-issue basis, of course we will work with other parties. We're not naive. We have three national parties here. They have different platform planks. We have one party that's not a national party. That party may sometimes agree with us. We know when they do agree with us, even when they do agree with us, it's for entirely different reasons. We're not naive about that. We will govern this country in the interests of Canada as a whole.


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Is GST Best Tax Cut?

Well no. And folks keep forgetting that. The biggest tax cut that the Harper is offering Canadians is his 1% GST cut. Forget the other 1% it won't come into effect for five years, and no government is going to last that long after this election.

Leaders divided on cutting taxes
Harper said the best way to help low-income earners is to trim the goods and sales tax, which every person pays. And Harper said that, overall, "our tax package is larger, people will pay lower taxes."

So what did our earstwhile Globe and Mail blogging panel have to say about that part of last nights debate?


Marcus Gee, 8:59 p.m. It's encouraging that the 2 major parties are arguing about who would give the biggest tax cut. Last time around, Martin said Ottawa had no fiscal space for cuts. Now he's falling over himself trying to pose as Mr. tax cutter.

Marcus Gee, 8:59 p.m. I don't know. The GST cut is easy to understand and sell. Plus voters will trust the tories to do it, while they're not sure when and even if they'd get the Liberal cut.

Marcus Gee, 9:01 p.m. Even Layton says he wouldn't raise taxes!

Brian Milner, 9:01 p.m. But the GST cut is a stupid move.

Marcus Gee, 9:03 p.m. Agreed. Even the folks at the Fraser Institute, Harper's intellectual soulmates, say so. But it's smart politics all the same.

Yep thats all it is politics to get elected, and by the polls its working. As a trax cut well its useless. As soon as your gas prices or consumer prices increase, poof there goes your tax cut.

Economists dump on Harper's GST-lowering plan

Tory tax plan worries some business leaders


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Leaders Debate Winner is....

According to today's National Post the loser in the English language debates is.....Duceppe, do I note a bias in English Canada here....I thought he did well......and the winner is......a tie.

Post-debate poll finds Harper wins, but barely
National Post, Canada

Published: Monday, January 09, 2006

MONTREAL -- An Ipsos Reid poll conducted for CanWest/Global News just minutes after the english language leaders debate has found voters were pretty evenly split between the three major party leaders.

Stephen Harper was the winner, but both Paul Martin and Jack Layton exceeded the expectations of people polled before the debate.

Finally, when asked after the debate who they thought sounded and acted most like a Prime Minister, Paul Martin was the winner. He was the choice of 43 per cent of respondents.
And the Calgary Sun agrees that it was a tie.

Still confused in Calgary

Local voter remains undecided in aftermath of vote gabfest

QUESTION: How would you rate the overall performances?

ANSWER: "Harper did a good job, but I think he could have been stronger on a couple of issues. He didn't do any blunders. Martin was a very competent debater, but knowing his government's record, I don't know why anyone would vote for him. Layton did a really good job, probably because he wasn't being attacked."

QUESTION: Who won?

ANSWER: "That's a good question. I don't think anyone won the debate per se. I thought Layton was a bit too scripted at points, but I thought they all did a really good job representing their parties."




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