So three young women protesting the Putin regime in Russia have been found guilty of hooliganism. They have been sentenced to two years in jail.
Harper must be envious - if only he could get this much control. Don't be surprised when he does exactly that - as this is proper order in society.
Time to wake up - really - governments afraid of students, scientists, peaceful protesters, and average citizens will make sure they are intimidated, prosecuted, sued and otherwise harassed to bring them in line.
Do you really believe we are that far behind Putin? Think again. While we are at it - how about attempted control of the media? Harper is great at that - comparable to his buddy Putin.
As for our own government - well they are out and out opposed to transparency - freedom of speech - and open debate. They must control anything and everything relative to information and policy. They now want to make sure that when you contact your MHA about a problem - personal and private - it must go through scanning at the partisan level.
Putin - Harper - Dunderdale three very bad peas in a pod clinging desperately to power - afraid of people - but legislating control. We are certainly regressing and that can only be to satisfy dictatorial politicians and the corporate masters they serve.
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Friday, August 17, 2012
Saturday, February 24, 2007
The best Politicians money can buy...
So you want to talk to your MP or even the Prime Minister or a Federal Cabinet Minister - no problem. What Joyce Hancock and the women that staged a protest in the fed status of women's office - were missing - was an elite membership in the Council of the Americas.
Instead of being escorted out by the police they could have been meeting with Bev Oda - they could have been dining right next to her at the head table.
Sometimes you know - we have to check that our combined intelligence even registers on the scale. How stupid or lazy we are - is measured by our inability to direct those people we elect and pay to represent us.
The Council of the Americas is:
If one becomes an elite member the benefits are:
Elite Level
- Exclusive invitations to the majority of small, private programs, events, and conferences with world leaders
- Preferred Head Table seating at select programs, events and conferences
- Complimentary admission to the annual Latin American Conference
- Complimentary admission to the annual Latin American Economic and Financial
Predictions Conference
- Complimentary admission to the annual NABC Plenary (held every other year in Washington, DC)
- Private annual briefing by Council of the Americas/Americas Society (AS/COA) President and Senior Staff to Corporate Member Board of Directors or Senior Management Team
- Opportunity to rent AS/COA HQ facilities at a reduced member rate plus overhead expenses, once per year, based on availability, and thereafter at member rates.
Now Joyce and the women who joined here were only ordinary Canadians and "voters" because you see corporations can't vote - and apparently they don't need to.
So last week we witnessed Peter MacKay tripping over himself and he stood next to Condoleeza again - and Stockwell Day - almost unable to control his excitement being with the Corporate Elite and officials of the US and Mexican governments.
When asked by a reporter when - let's say ordinary Canadians would get to speak to this North American Union concept - Stockwell - shoulders shifting all over the place - squeaked something about "other venues for that". At least Lou Dobbs had the guts to call it as it was - an elite gathering of politicians and corporations scheming in private. He at least called it dispicable. Our news people - appeared to be excited enough just to be included.
Anyway the group was reviewing a report prepared for them by the North American Competitiveness Council (NACC)- now who are they you ask...
Well they are:
The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) provides the framework to ensure that North America is the safest and best place to live and do business. It includes ambitious security and prosperity programs to keep our borders closed to terrorism yet open to trade.
The SPP recognizes that our three great nations are bound by a shared belief in freedom, economic opportunity, and strong democratic institutions. Since June 2005, the Canadian, Mexican and U.S. governments have worked under its auspices to strengthen economic growth and competitiveness and enhance security in North America.
That’s where the NACC came in.
So who is determining the priorities of Canadians?
Then there is a similar list from Mexico...
This is what is setting priorities for our government. And these few lousy numbers are kicking the crap out of democracy and denying our participation in this process. As parents we are supposed to have an innate need to protect our children. Well the typical lazy "lead me to wherever" is trumping the basic parental responsibilities in spades.
So if you got money - you have politicians whenever and wherever you want.
Instead of being escorted out by the police they could have been meeting with Bev Oda - they could have been dining right next to her at the head table.
Sometimes you know - we have to check that our combined intelligence even registers on the scale. How stupid or lazy we are - is measured by our inability to direct those people we elect and pay to represent us.
The Council of the Americas is:
A business organization whose members share a common commitment to free trade and open markets throughout the Americas. Our programming and advocacy aim to inform, encourage, and promote free and integrated markets for the benefit of the companies that comprise our membership, as well as of the United States and all the people of the Americas.
The Council supports these policies in the belief that they provide an effective means of achieving the economic growth and prosperity on which the business interests of its members depend.
If one becomes an elite member the benefits are:
Elite Level
- Exclusive invitations to the majority of small, private programs, events, and conferences with world leaders
- Preferred Head Table seating at select programs, events and conferences
- Complimentary admission to the annual Latin American Conference
- Complimentary admission to the annual Latin American Economic and Financial
Predictions Conference
- Complimentary admission to the annual NABC Plenary (held every other year in Washington, DC)
- Private annual briefing by Council of the Americas/Americas Society (AS/COA) President and Senior Staff to Corporate Member Board of Directors or Senior Management Team
- Opportunity to rent AS/COA HQ facilities at a reduced member rate plus overhead expenses, once per year, based on availability, and thereafter at member rates.
Now Joyce and the women who joined here were only ordinary Canadians and "voters" because you see corporations can't vote - and apparently they don't need to.
So last week we witnessed Peter MacKay tripping over himself and he stood next to Condoleeza again - and Stockwell Day - almost unable to control his excitement being with the Corporate Elite and officials of the US and Mexican governments.
When asked by a reporter when - let's say ordinary Canadians would get to speak to this North American Union concept - Stockwell - shoulders shifting all over the place - squeaked something about "other venues for that". At least Lou Dobbs had the guts to call it as it was - an elite gathering of politicians and corporations scheming in private. He at least called it dispicable. Our news people - appeared to be excited enough just to be included.
Anyway the group was reviewing a report prepared for them by the North American Competitiveness Council (NACC)- now who are they you ask...
Well they are:
The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) provides the framework to ensure that North America is the safest and best place to live and do business. It includes ambitious security and prosperity programs to keep our borders closed to terrorism yet open to trade.
The SPP recognizes that our three great nations are bound by a shared belief in freedom, economic opportunity, and strong democratic institutions. Since June 2005, the Canadian, Mexican and U.S. governments have worked under its auspices to strengthen economic growth and competitiveness and enhance security in North America.
That’s where the NACC came in.
The three governments established the NACC to collect guidance from the private sector. Members were charged with helping the governments focus their efforts by applying a cost-benefit analysis to the ideas on the table in order to “prioritize the priorities.”
So who is determining the priorities of Canadians?
Representing Canada are:
- Dominic D’Alessandro, President and CEO, Manulife Financial
- Paul Desmarais, Jr., Chairman and Co-CEO, Power Corporation of
Canada
- David A. Ganong, President, Ganong Bros. Limited
- Richard L. George, President and CEO, Suncor Energy Inc.
- E. Hunter Harrison, President and CEO, Canadian National Railway Company
- Linda Hasenfratz, CEO, Linamar Corporation
- Michael Sabia, President and CEO, Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE)
- James A. Shepherd, President and CEO, Canfor Corporation
- Annette Verschuren, President, The Home Depot Canada
- Richard E. Waugh, President and CEO, The Bank of Nova Scotia
Representing the United States are:
- Campbell Soup Company
- Chevron Corporation
- Ford Motor Company
- FedEx Corporation
- General Electric Company
- General Motors Corp.
- Kansas City Southern
- Lockheed Martin Corporation
- Merck & Co., Inc.
- Mittal Steel USA
- New York Life Insurance Company
- The Procter & Gamble Company (joined in 2007)
- UPS
- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
- Whirlpool Corporation
Then there is a similar list from Mexico...
This is what is setting priorities for our government. And these few lousy numbers are kicking the crap out of democracy and denying our participation in this process. As parents we are supposed to have an innate need to protect our children. Well the typical lazy "lead me to wherever" is trumping the basic parental responsibilities in spades.
So if you got money - you have politicians whenever and wherever you want.
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