A week or two ago, outraged by Harper's cowardly hiding from the issues of Copenhagen, I began a "letter to the Editor". Then Harper prorogued Parliament to escape questions concerning the Afghan fiasco. What began as a letter became a lengthy tirade, too long to be published either as a letter or an editorial in a newspaper. If you represent a periodical, please consider my rant for publication therein. If you are an individual, feel free to forward it as you think appropriate.

OH CANADA, WHERE ARE WE?

I am extremely fortunate to be a Canadian. I have visited eight European countries, several islands of the Caribbean and of the South Pacific, Costa Rica, Mexico, at least twenty states of the U.S.A, lectured in universities in every province of Canada, and lived for extensive periods of time in New Zealand,
Hungary, Oregon, Arizona, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan and B.C. Thus I have several other countries to compare to my own. You might say that I feel blessed to live in Canada.

In my travels I soon learned that, when abroad, Canadians are often mistaken for Americans. It didn't take long to find out that Americans are often disliked beyond their own borders. That's because a small (but significant) number of wealthy Americans who travel abroad are seen to be arrogant, ill mannered, poorly educated and ignorant of anything not related to the U.S.A. Many of these appear to believe that everyone in the world would like to be an American. Some promote the idea that the American government, if necessary using military and clandestine means, owes it to humanity to assist other nations to become just like the U.S.A.

So, when I travelled abroad, I tried in a modest way, to make it clear that I am Canadian and not American. Until recently I had the impression that Canadians were generally well received overseas and that the Canadian government was admired for its role on the international stage. This apparently has changed. Canada's shameful rate of consumption and sorry record of environmental irresponsibility have drawn criticism from peoples throughout the world, including many Americans, and from foreign governments that once held ours in high esteem. On my next trip abroad, if not detained in some American airport, I do not intend to advertise my nationality.

It seems to me that much of the erosion of respect for my country can be attributed to the Prime Minister. Harper apparently rules his caucus with an iron fist but, like many a bully, he becomes a wimp when outside his own neighbourhood. On the rare occasion that he assembles enough courage to meet the press, all he seems interested in is the economy. He's the type who is concerned for consumers instead of people, believing as most economists seem to, that there is something noble in consumption. The corporations must love this guy. He told Peter Mansbridge that he thinks most Canadians are not very much concerned
about the Afghan fiasco.

Harper is apparently addicted to power; either that or he has convictions, like fundamentalist Christians and fundamentalist Muslims, that do not tolerate (let alone care to understand), the views of others. Witness the disgraceful rape of Mother Earth that he supports in exploiting the tar sands - to maintain power he needs the money from Big Oil to buy votes in Alberta.

Harper tends to bow to every whim of the multinationals. Because of NAFTA, in many respects he has no choice. Mulroney's surrender of Canadian sovereignty through NAFTA (especially Chapter 11 thereof) includes the following:

a) Canada no longer is allowed to set prices for its own energy - prices are determined by OPEC and the American market.

b) Canada cannot charge Americans more for Canadian oil and natural gas than it does Canadians. Canada is forbidden to ensure reasonable minimum prices for Canadians to sell petroleum products to Canadians. The petroleum corporations extracting oil and gas in Canada are largely American
owned. For further elaboration on this despicable deal made by Mulroney, see Mel Hurtig's "The Betrayal of Canada", especially pages 191 - 192.

c) American owned companies are allowed to sue the Canadian Government for loss of profits resulting from Canadian legislation. Here's a prime example: the Ethyl Corporation of Richmond, Virginia, manufactured an additive to gasoline called MMT, known to be a neuro-toxic substance. When the Canadian parliament moved to ban it in Canada, our friends in Richmond successfully extracted thirteen million dollars of our tax money from our government in an out of court settlement. For details on this and other travesties of justice, morality and courage, google NAFTA chapter 11 Ethyl Corp and look at "Green Party of Canada: NAFTA Chapter 11 Threatens Health......", among dozens of other tales of
greed, irresponsibility and moral decay.

A wise person recently characterized the last decade as one of fear and greed. In my mind, both are fueled by lies. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Blair come to mind along with those financial gurus who stole billions of dollars from thousands of Americans, forcing them out of their homes and into bankruptcy.

Then we have our Canadian CEOs whose average annual income is 174 times that of the average employed Canadian. According to their leader, John Manley, this is inevitable in a free enterprise society. Apparently morality, generosity and common decency have no place in the dogma of the religion of Capitalism.

In Michael Moore's documentary film "Sicko", he interviewed an American woman living in Paris who stated that the main difference between France and the U.S.A. is that in France the government is afraid of the people; in America, the people are afraid of the government -- food for thought.

In essence, multinationals rule the Western world by strategic monetary promises, bribes and threats at election time. Some corporations, partially owned by Canadians, foul the environment and enslave inhabitants of third world countries in search for and extraction of oil, gas and diamonds. Perhaps another
(peaceful) revolution is in order to free the world of corporate oppression and heartless heads of state, whose lust for power suppresses truth through control of the press.

Wars are extremely profitable for Halliburton and similar corporations controlled by the likes of Dick Cheney. Freedom of the individual, one of the greatest gifts of the American Revolution, has morphed into naked greed for lack of responsible regulation. It has been replaced in the U.S.A. by the fanaticism of fundamentalist Christians such as Jim Jones, Jimmy Swaggert and Jim Bakker.
These fundamentalists (having plenty of cash) pose a greater threat to humanity and Mother Earth than do their fellow bigots among
Muslim, Jewish or Hindu fundamentalists.

If you, gentle reader, find this stuff annoying, tell your local MP even if she or he is one of Harper's lapdogs. Fear not, you'll feel better and maybe it's your duty. Where can we find another Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Mandela, or Tommy Douglas?
If you are religious, pray for Obama.
Jesus wept.

John Baker, Lion’s Head, ON, 519-793-3203
January 22, 2010