The Putsch

To be clear, the Conservatives in Canada's parliament are every bit as batshit crazy as the Republicans in Washington. The difference is that Stephen Harper runs his government with the discipline of Benito Mussolini and Dick Cheney. Boehner and McConnell on the other hand act like a couple of inept thugs trying to establish  control over the Hole-In-The-Wall gang.

But, as different as these two governments appear, in both cases the result is the same.

The Putsch:

The Koch brothers must be admired

They're relentless, they never got tired

And they mounted a coup

Before anyone knew

That a Pinochet putsch had transpired

The Libertarian

This multi-verse limerick was inspired by a recent online 'exchange' over the growing number of U.S. states that are implementing so-called 'Right to Work' legislation. The intent is not to try to sway anyone's opinion about Right to Work or any of the other libertarian agenda items. Rather, it's intended to show that there's very little use debating these issues with someone driven by ideology and not conscience.

He’s a ‘nothing or all’ kind of guy

Gather ‘round and I’ll tell you all why

With each subject he checks

If it seems too complex

Understanding, he won’t even try

Every issue is treated the same

In his cold libertarian game

When he says “Let’s be free”

He means “Me! Me! Me! Me!”

And this selfishness authors his shame

If he thinks there’s a smidgeon of waste

He will act with remarkable haste

Weed it out branch and root

In a headlong pursuit

To have safety net programs erased

If a union appears to have power

He will over-react and he’ll glower

He’ll remove labor rights

Earned through decades of fights

Till the middle class plight becomes dour

  

Then there’s voter ID, oh my god!

Even though there’s no actual fraud

When restricting the vote

He can’t help but connote

His concern is a racist façade

Any governance stirs up his wrath

Despite science, good conscience or math

His approach, you can see

Will consistently be
Throw the baby away with the bath

What's for Lunch?

This week, the US congress passed the devastating CRomnibus spending bill. This bill guts the Dodd-Frank financial regulations put in place to protect us from Wall Street's otherwise unchecked greed. It also lifts campaign contribution limits, allowing for even more corporate influence during elections. The bill weakens the EPA and effectively cancels the pro-pot initiative recently passed in Washington DC. Democrats voting for the CRomnibus defended their actions saying things would be worse if they delayed because the Republicans will soon control the senate.

A Democrat strategist said

"Though this CRomnibus bill we all dread

Wihen your choice is, to wit

Eat a sandwich of shit

Always go for the one with more bread"

But the logic he used is a trap

A canard that we all need to scrap

If you're living in fright 

Of a fight with the right

Then you'll always eat one percent crap

Paying it Forward

I heard this shaggy dog story a few years ago. At that time, it was attributed to Jimmy Pattison, a notorious Canadian one-percenter. I don't know if that part is true. The rest, of course is.

Years ago I was down on my luck

Out of work, I would sleep in my truck

And I often would curse

“Things can’t get any worse!”

‘Til the sole of my shoe came unstuck

When I walked it went “Flippity-Flop”

So I stopped at the shoe repair shop

But the cobbler was brash

And he said “Without cash

I suggest that you skip and you hop”

It was later that day, I recall

On my way to the hiring hall

My old shoe caught a crack

And I fell on my back

There I sat and I started to bawl

But a limo pulled up in the street

A tycoon helped me get to my feet

Then he pulled out a roll

That could choke any foal

Rubber banded to keep it all neat

He said “Son, I was once just like you,

And this might be the least I can do”

He then peeled off the band

Pressed it into my hand

Saying “This ought to bind up your shoe”