Saddam Gone, What's Next?

I couldn't help but watch CNN last night, and all the hoopla around Saddam's execution. Based on all the stories and the court case, he did get what he deserved. But with the climax of his hanging, what is next?

Although this is an important step to rebuilding Iraq, there is still the issue of the sectarian violence around the current Iraq...Sunnis and Shiites against each other, with the execution of Saddam sure to be a catalyst for more violence. With an increase in violence, you can be sure that the coalition forces won't be leaving any time soon. There will be an increase in violence, and to be sure, the current Iraqi government is unprepared for the aftermath of the hanging. Given the situation, the best thing that could happen in Iraq, is changing the government. There is no way that the people will have faith to continue to rebuild just because Saddam is dead. If anything, it has created more turmoil towards the New World Order.

The quandry left after Saddam's execution is "damned if you do, damned if you don't". It is in the best interest of all parties, and if everyone wants to have an end to the Iraqi violence, then a clean sweep of the current Iraqi government is the most appropriate choice. Open elections and representation of the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds, working together from this day forward, is the only thing that will rebuild Iraq, and get democracy back on track.

I feel that although Saddam's tribunal did their job, the future of Iraq needs to start with a clean slate...that means a new government.

Let's hope that there isn't too much celebration over Saddam's death, as there is much work that still needs to be done.

'Tis the Season For Giving...and Receiving

Call this a rant or a request, it's time I got something off my chest. Charity is all well and good, however, what happens when it's you that needs the charity this time of year?

You are probably wondering that yourself...

There was an instance at work this week, where we were requested to contribute $10 for a lunch at work, with any leftover money to be donated to a couple of local families in need for Christmas. I didn't participate, because if I had, based on their wish lists that had been circulated, then they would have had a better Christmas than me. Is that fair? No...charity begins at home, and in my case, since I don't have anything for Christmas, then I don't need to be contributing to someone else. By the way, we got an email at work that their wish lists were filled, along with $250 in food for the holidays...

Things are bad enough with my situation. Because I pay my child support (no arrears, in fact, I have overpaid $5,000 in the last 3 years...good luck trying to get that back...), and I work regularly, I am penalized by the "system", and having to do without. What's worse is, my kids are expecting something nice from me, and it just won't happen. Their mom has basically forced me to "keep up with the Joneses", which I haven't been able to do. Do I see the kids? Yes, but not as often as the court order says. I don't blame them I guess...they would rather stay at their Mom's, where they have everything. Courtesy of my support, of course.

What really gets you down, is when you hear on the radio after a hard day at work, 4 days before Christmas, that MPPs have voted themselves a 25% increase in their salary...wow, what I would like to do with a $22,000 a year increase!! I would settle for half that, so I can get out of debt from the split with my ex...but, living pay to pay, that will never be. It's sad, but in order to have my support reduced to something in line with my pay, I have to have money to fight it.

The reason for this post is simple...I figure that out of all the times I have contributed to everyone else to improve their comforts and holidays, I might as well ask the world to do the same for me.

Would I like to have a nice Christmas for the kids? Most definitely...but under the current circumstances, it won't happen, unless my numbers come in for the lottery. Even then, you need to buy a ticket to win!

Feel free to make a donation...for once in my life, I would like to say that my Christmas spending on my kids actually met the Canadian Average for Christmas spending...this year it's $930. Maybe if I have a good Christmas for the kids, they will come down more.

Merry Christmas everyone, and all the best for the Holiday Season.

Making Ends Meet on $150,000 a Year

I don't think I have ever read an article that was more misaligned with the intent of the story, than this one.

If you get a chance, you can read how a leech of a husband, a former salesman no less, takes advantage of his wife's income of $150,000 a year as a psychiatrist, by staying at home, and insisting on making 2 rental properties work, even though they don't have any tenants. You can read how their hardship has left them to consider cancelling their $3 a month unlisted phone number, while maintaining a horse for their kids.

Give me a break!! Keep your ears open...I think I hear little violins playing in the distance for their misfortune.

Leave a comment and tell me how you wouldn't be able to manage on $150,000 a year...oh, the sorrow!!!

NYC Bans Trans Fat

With the latest intrusion into public life, NYC has mandated that all trans-fat be eliminated by 2008. Given that the FDA has already approved the trans-fat for consumption, they are overstepping their authority by banning it. It's a choice what people want to eat, and there are more pressing issues to deal with, besides trans-fat. Next will be Food Inspectors given the authority to write tickets for "personal gastronomical abuse"...fine? $100 worth of french fries.

Aspartame is known to cause cancer in high doeses...does that mean that Diet Cokes are now going to be banned, for the sake of saving the helath of citizents in the city? I think not.

Here is an idea...why don't local governments ban all fried food, and eliminate all fast food altogether? We know that it is bad for us, so get rid of it!

This municipal legislation is yet another example of where people can't think for themselves, and be held accountable...god forbid that it is an individual's choice to eliminate trans-fat from our diets. If the people and restaurants accept this, it just proves that we are going down the road where personal accountability goes out the window.

Having a few extra pounds on myself, I can't wait for the day where I can sue the government for letting me get fat...and McDonalds and other restaurants for giving me the choice to eat unhealthy...

Stephane Dion?

I had the chance to watch part of the Liberal convention on tv, just out of interest to see what was happening. I had followed the leadership race to see what was going on. Although I am not a Liberal, I have liked what they have done for the country. Conservatives need to adopt a better approach, similar to Harris' "Common Sense Revolution", for Ontario a few years back.

The one thing that I got out of the Liberal convention and their choice of a new leader...what is this obsession with people that can't speak English??? Cretien, and now Dion. I am not sure that this will bode well with English Liberals, and I can see a huge shift in the Liberal population demographics as a result.

Besides joining forces with the Bloc, I can see even more of a split within the country, which will ultimately result in Quebec withdrawing from Canada.

Let me be the first to say, I will be one of the first ones there to dig the moat around Quebec, to let them leave.

Give Michael Richards a Break

I think I have had enough of the latest news on Kramer's famous words at the comedy club recently. So what if he had a lapse in judgement and said a bad word? What about all the times fellow gangstas call each other "nigga"? No different coming from Kramer. He was merely inflecting his position on stage, and now the African American community is seizing on the moment to cry foul...shame on you!!

Kramer has said sorry, and this is all out of proportion. The way the black community has been acting with respect to this, you would think that they still have to sit in the back of the bus these days. Get over it!!! You and all the other "visible minorities" have made great strides, not only to reach an equal status in society, but have surpassed that equality, by becoming walking proof of George Orwell's pigs in Animal Farm..."all are equal, but some are more equal than others".

Get over it...the African American community and the rest of the visible minorities have the Charter of Rights in their favour. If you don't think you have equal standing in society, just think how far I would get in the justice system, suing for being called a "mangecake" by our Italian friends. I guess I should also cry foul for Borat calling the white hotel guy "vanilla face".

Get a life, Black Community...instead of bitching, complaining, and crying foul, do something more productive.

By the way, Kramer, no need to apologize any further.