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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
- January 17, 2006
Editor,
It may be appropriate to have the federal election following Christmas. In the Christmas story three wise men from the East came bearing gifts and to pay homage. In this election we have three wise men from the East, Mr. Martin, Mr. Harper, and Mr. Layton bearing a super abundance of gifts as they pay homage to the Canadian people at the stable in Ottawa.
All three guarantee that government will raise the kids, look after the working people, even those without a work ethic and also care for the elderly. Not too much is said about personal initiative and responsibility.
The ruling Liberals can say "Canada is the best place in the world to live and we kept you out of Iraq. All this while we were in charge. So what's a little corruption? So we provided a haven for immigrant terrorists, street racers and drug dealers supported by perhaps the most lax justice system in the world. Canada is rich. The Canadian citizen has deep pockets and a bad memory. So why change a good thing? Besides, we have an aggressive Guardian Angel and
Canada's patron saint - St. Joseph covering for us - sort of a direct pipe line to higher authority."
The Conservatives can say, "we have a new generation of leadership and ideas. We are strong on law and order. Watching C.S.I. on T.V. is compulsory in our M.P. training program. As long as the Liberals are around Canada's security needs us. Should U.S. President Bush expand his 'Iraqi war for oil program' into war with Iran we will give serious consideration before he can drag Canada in with him or not."
The N.D.P .can say '"we offer a third option. We care deeply for the health of Canadians. As proof our plan is presently being implemented by our colleague, former B.C. N.D.P. Premier Dosanjh, now federal Health Minister embedded in the federal Liberal government. We are very proud of the number of women candidates running in this election. Remember even the devil fears the wrath of a woman. Sure we
don't have a record but it's impeccable. Something the Liberals can't say."
None of the three wise men seemed to address the marijuana issue - legalize it and tax it - or criminalize it with a 40 year sentence. No doubt the three wise men unanimously would appoint Quebec Bloc separatist Gilles Duceppe as Canada's unity and harmony ambassador to Iraq indefinitely.
There's a seldom heard old western tradition that during an election the aspiring politician rubs the tender nose of his horse and then rubs his forehead, hopefully to fill his mind with good common horse sense.
Rarely does the horse bite remembering the hand that feeds it - something politicians should never forget.
Regards,
Joe Schwarz, Princeton
To The Editor;
The Christmas Spirit is in our town!
The day before Christmas the Greyhound bus coming from the East broke down.
Being aware of the number of Christmas Gift parcels expected, Randy McLean (our very reliant, dependable Greyhound Agent), took a truck, and retrieved the parcels slated for Princeton.
His daughter kept the bus station open and phoned everyone when the parcels arrived - a cheery Christmas present for many of us!
"Happiness comes from things that touch the heart" because of people like you and yours, Randy. May you have a splendid 2006!
- Connie and Bill Miller, Princeton
Dear Editor,
The NDP is not going to be elected to govern Canada on January 23, 2006. Everyone knows and accepts that as fact. However, politics do make for strange bedfellows. Consider, for example, the strategy being used by Tasha Kheiriddin, the Conservative supporting and right wing Ontario Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
Ms. Kheiriddin's federal riding of Trinity Spadina (Toronto) is an unlikely seat for the Conservatives to win, so Ms. Kheiriddin is voting for New Democrat candidate Olivia Chow. Ms. Kheiriddin's theory is that by denying the Liberals the riding, the Conservatives are one seat closer to forming the government.
Considering the many dilemmas Derek Zeisman, our former Conservative candidate has created for himself, such as writing a controversial paper about eliminating the Canadian Charter of Rights, causing a serious car accident for which he is now under RCMP investigation, and facing charges of attempting to smuggle a Mercedes Benz and a very large quantity of alcohol into Canada, one must question his suitability as a candidate.
And for the Conservatives, it must be of considerable significance that he failed to disclose, even to his own political party, that he was under investigation on the smuggling issue. Stephen Harper, Conservative Party leader, finds all of this most distressing and is actively trying to distance himself and the Conservative Party from Mr. Zeisman.
It is a simple, yet confusing issue. Mr. Harper has indicated Mr. Zeisman is no longer running as a Conservative, even though he will still be noted as the Conservative candidate on the ballot, and even if elected, Mr. Zeisman will serve as an Independent and will not be welcome to sit with the Conservative Party until he is at least absolved of the smuggling issues.
Innocent until proven guilty, but the charges are considerable. While Mr. Zeisman's ability to put himself into such situations must be of concern for Conservatives, the relationship of trust needed between party supporters, party members, candidates, and the party leader, is completely destroyed.
Considering Mr. Zeisman's self created dilemmas, and accepting the increasingly unlikely chance of Mr. Zeisman winning the Southern Interior seat in any capacity, I am suggesting to anyone wishing to vote Conservative to apply the same strategy being used by ultra-conservative Ms. Kheiriddin and to vote New Democrat and perhaps deny the Liberals this riding, which would mean, of course, that the Conservatives goal of putting themselves one seat closer to forming the government would be served.
Most importantly though, remember to vote on January 23.
Yours truly,
Ken Carlson, Princeton
To the Editor,
It is shocking and despicable what is happening in our riding. Conservative candidate Derek Zeisman has been charged for smuggling!
But wait it gets better, Mr. Zeisman has not resigned. Conservative party leader Steven Harper has come out and said that if elected Mr. Zeisman would NOT be allowed to sit in the Conservative caucus meaning that if elected Mr. Zeisman would become an independent because his party will not have him.
I personally feel that if Mr. Zeisman had any class he would save his party and his riding the embarrassment and step down.
If Mr. Zeisman does decide to run and refuses to step down I urge all of you not to vote for Mr. Zeisman.
- Spencer Coyne, Princeton
