Canada

That place from which I ponder the global peace.

Lets Talk

Let’s talk George.

If ignorance of the law really is no excuse then it seems we need to do something about our ignorance.

If we are supposed to know and obey all these laws then it seems we must understand what the laws are telling us to do or not to do. Clarity is what we need. Clarity means that we need to understand what these laws mean. Clarity does not happen by magic. Clarity is enhanced by serious debate.

The expression “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” is what I think of when I read what is written into some of our laws. If laws do not protect the most vulnerable in our society then why do we force people to obey such laws?

That is what we need to talk about George. As a law-abiding senior Canadian taxpayer I expect some protection and service along the road to hell.

Your dime George.
A Quarter? Are you sure? Oh … A French Quarter …
Quarter
… For your thoughts, George.

And now … As we near the end … A word from our potential
sponsor

And do we forget about Ashley? No George … We could never forget about Ashley

Good Old Days

The Good Old Days?

Do you really belive in that George?  Hmmmm well in the late part of the last century … Was that before The New World Order George? No, I cannot recall exactly.  Well before the year 2000 … Actually before 1999 … Ahhh now that was an interesting year.  Yes George there was. Canada in 1999.  Who was in charge? No idea George.  Sounds too much like politics.

Talk politics? No George absolutely not.  What do I know?  Not much … But here you go …

http://strategis.gc.ca/scdt/invest/dfait/60020-e.htm

Trading a Forest for a Tree

Guns to protect oil? Did I hear you right George? Did you say they need their guns to protect the oil? 

Would that be the same sort of oil that is used to make that new Canadian  money George?  Is that why oil is so important? 

About that new plastic money … It just doesn’t have that same feel about it … And the smell?  

Remember when money used to be made of real paper George … Real fibre … One could almost say that it was like the fibre of our existance … OK George … I agree that I am no philosopher … That my words might well be an insult to the ears of a real Philosopher … Well … Those venerable folks attached to major universities with PhDs … Wonder if they have much to say about paper vs. plastic money.  Since I have little in common with the hallowed fellows … Being left to my own little furrow …
and you George.

Talking about paper … Is it  being replaced by oil in everything from … Well just about everything I can think of George. Who started all that … Does anyone know? And why was it done?

Yes George I do realize that there was a problem with trees disappearing from someplace called old growth forest and such … Then along came well-meaning people who gave their lives to serve and save the environment … Some turned it into a career … With speaking engagements and funding … And it grew and it grew and it grew …
And now everytime I want to buy a jar or carton of healthy juice … Just one more hidden tax George  that is what I think … when I am forced to pay a deposit on my bottle of juice  I am forced to support this whole new industry of big-talkers … 

No George This has nothing whatsoever to do with the story of Pinochio.

So back to the basics of old-growth forests … then people started complaining about all the trees being cut … Even extended it to banning paper because paper was made from trees … Even slowing down papermills that had been employing Canadians for a hundred years.  No George it was not quite so direct that anyone could see it coming.  

The strategy was more all the new little tacked-on government rules and regulations that took an army of lawyers to decipher.  Well nobody dared raise a voice in protest.  Who would dare disagree with new gods of the environmental movement its new army of the righteous leftists … Does that make sense George? 

And then the papermills started to shut down … And the independent wood-cutters were suddenly jobless. Here in Canada anyway … But what about China?  Were they not opening new mills in China? 

And guess what?  The wood that was being used in the Canadian papermills was a renewable resource George … Did anyone ever think of that?  It was not the same old growth forest wood that had originally needed protection.

The old growth forest  wood was being used for construction not paper-making … At least here in New Brunswick that was the policy.

By the way  … If you were to check the construction material in houses built by people who made their fame and fortune investing in environmental issues … Wonder what you would find … certainly not recycled papier mache pillars.

You know what George … If you cut down a tree that is used in paper-making … Well why not just plant one or even two to replace it …  R&D silviculture vs. mono-culture That was the way things might have been done before banning paper because well-meaning environmentalists perceived every tree as a tree sacred to old-growth forests. 

So we had paper-making mills using wood from trees that hardly lived longer than a few decades … And now these mills are closed and somewhere someone is opening new plastic factories.  Tell me George …
Why? Who is doing this?  What are the environmentalists saying now?

 By the way George … About oil investments …  Is that where the retirement funders retire pension money? 
Is that why oil is so important George? How big must it get before it gets “too big to be allowed to fail”? 

No George I have no idea who said that, when, where or under what circumstances. I read it somewhere.  But even if it was a good enough excuse for banks and such … Well is it really good enough for the rest of us …

Then again George … I am from a time when conservation and ecology were balanced with logic and good sense … A time when you did not pay a bank for their use of your money … When the bank paid you a decent interest  on the money in your savings account … A time when ethical people had rights and choices.  

One thing George … Plastic is an interesting comment on our moden world.

Black Friday

Is it really true George?
 … What they say about Black Friday … For instance … Everything I do from now until … Until when George? … That is the part I don’t get …
Anyway it seems that the results of my labours … My endeavours … My hard work … It is mine! All mine! I needn’t pay any taxes from now until whenever. Is that it?

Well George, I really don’t understand the whole concept.

Thick? No George. I simply don’t see how it can possibly make any difference to me. Here I am an elder artist and writer … One whose art and writings have no monetary value … Well if they did then I’d be making a living … Wouldn’t I George?  … As I was saying …

Can we get back to this George? I am busy at the moment … Trying to determine how I am going to spend my salary this month … Well I think you call it salary … Although to tell the truth George I am not sure … Is under $150 a week enough to consider a salary. Well George what I am talking about is my Elder Security check George.  

Well … Not exactly … No George I don’t know what it is called officially these days … Used to be called the Old Age Pension … Or am I getting that wrong … Well yes George I am happy to receive the check every month.  It is an affirmation that I did my time and now am able to lay back and enjoy the fruits of my labours.

Labour? Do you think George that being a housewife is not labour? 

Well yes … Labour of love … That too … 

I’m thinking about a vacuum this month George.  Well no not that one … It would take months of pension checks to pay for George. Yes George … I agree with you that I should be supporting by local business community by buying the more expensive vacuum cleaner from the local small business owner.  But look at it from the perspective of my not having any money to spend on anything else for the next several months.  

And don’t forget George! Christmas is less than a month away.  Well it is after all the short period of time that holds small local business together.  If they can make enough money  at Christmas then they are able to pay the banks the interest due on the money they have to borrow in order to stay in business for the rest of the years. 

The whole thing is a mystery to me too George.  I guess it is something best left to Economists and Accountants … Oh yes Bankers too … And yes George … Insurance Agents.

So you see George although I don’t really get this Black Friday thing and cannot really tender intelligent comments on the pros and cons of the financial world … There is one thing you must know for sure George.
I  am happy to report that I receive money  from the Canadian Government.  Yes George … Every month.

That little check might seem insignificant to you but it is mine and a lot more than I received during the years of being a stay-at-home mom when the family allowance didn’t cover the cost of … Well George let’s not talk about that right now.

Let’s just say I am appreciative. Yes … The check … That lovely little 500 $ plus a few dollars and a few cents  … Every month George … 

Yes … That lovely little greyish-brownish envelope … Is that what is meant  by a plain brown envelope George … With the  return address Matane Quebec, G4W 4N5

I love my little check from the Government of Canada. 

Canada Standard Sizes

Canada Standard Sizes
I am not insinuating anything George.  It really has nothing to do with me if so many people wear the same shoe size.  
The way things are going George, one of these days there won’t be a factory on this planet producing a sensible pair of good-quality shoes. So we won’t really need to worry anymore about shoe sizes.  Will we George?

Elder Pride

See you May 2015 in Gloucester County, New Brunswick, Canada

Meanwhile

 

 

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826); American Declaration of Independence, 1776”

Where did I find this George? Good question. (Look down below at the bottom of the page for *1) I’d like to explain — I was on this particular page because I had asked a question on another page. The question was about Elder Law. I had never before come across this particular expression and was wondering what it was.  As usual, not only did I not get a straight answer —- err no that is wrong George — the answer was quite straight — immediately under the little box saying “Ask A Canadian Lawyer Now” —- there it was plain as day: “Sorry the term Elder law is misspelled or the definition does not exist …” well yes there was more George … Basically telling me to look for it myself I guess.

So just to check the spelling and verify that I had it right — well George what I did then was I went back to the previous page where I had found the expression (*2 look below)

yep — there it was … Plain as day … Ah but then my eye was caught … Yes George … What I was saying was that I was distracted … A yellow box over on the far right of the page … And I read the contents of the box

Another quote George “The law … is a mistress only to be wooed with sustained and lonely passion; only to be won by straining all the faculties by which man is likest to a god. Those who, having begun the pursuit, turn away uncharmed, do so either because they have not been vouchsafed the sight of her divine figure, or because they have not the heart for so great a struggle.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1934”

Don’t be confused into thinking that this is about sex George … I believe it is more like a metaphor. Nice thought though isn’t it. Ah were I only younger George … Were I a man … And were I to have the financial resources … You know George … I might be tempted … As it is … Well that is another story George.

Back to the alligator swamp for me George — I still need to find out what exactly is meant by “Elder law” … Well yes George … I guess I do consider myself an Elder … For me at least … I try to follow my own best advice …  So I guess that makes me an Elder.

As for Elder law — well I did find an Elder law lawyer website (*3) so I guess there must be something called Elder law — which, by the way is a good thing — it is scary enough growing old nowadays George — all the stories you hear about old folks being forced out of their homes and into something called “special care homes” — sure George some people might like to spend their final days in a hotel atmosphere taking happy pills  — but where is the pool and sauna — and a cafeteria is not exactly my idea of fine dining — as for someone feeding me off a tray in the privacy of my room — that takes a lot of patience George.
As for Elders being told to ” eat up all the numm-numms” — well George I think I would not really like that —

Another thing is the signs George — tiny little printing — do you realize George that it is perfectly normal for Elders to have less accute sight in later years.  And ask yourself George can the Elder actually read the particular language on the sign?

Less acute eyesight can also affect colour choice — a brown sock and a blue sock might not look like a perfectly matched pair when your eyesight is perfect George … But no it is not necessarily a sign of senility — it is a more likely a sign of fading eyesight.

And if the dear old soul stops wearing makeup and a certain brand or style of clothing? That is not a legitimate sign of senility.

Talking about signs of senility — don’t be too quick to judge that one —
Changes in personaliy — well of course there are going to be changes in personality — as there will be changes in anything — Change can be very good — sometimes what the soul needs most is change.

As for Elders saying something peculiar … Well George … When the hearing starts to go and what you ask them is not what they hear — what can you expect but a somehat inappropriate answer to a perfectly straightforward question.

And if they look at you in a strange manner … Well maybe it is simply that they cannot make out what you are saying because your mumbling sounds more like obscenity than speech.

Have a little respect George. If you are speaking to an Elder — well you don’t have to yell but don’t mumble — speak distinctly and clearly.

About that Elder law — well I really am curious George.

hmmm look here: “… legal, social and health needs of older persons and their families. …” talks about what Elder law is about (*4)

Here is another one (5.)
And something here on an Elder Law Clinic (*6.)

I guess that is all good — wonder about New Brunswick — hmmm suppose that’s another story huh George?

Elder Pride? What do I mean by Elder Pride? Being an Elder and Proud of it!

References
*1.http://www.duhaime.org/LegalDictionary/E/Elder%20law.aspx Ask A Canadian Lawyer
*2.http://www.duhaime.org/LloydDuhaime.aspx Law as Mistress
*3.http://www.elderlawcanada.ca/english/index.html
*4.http://www.elderlawcanada.ca/english/what.html
*5.http://bcceas.ca/?s=Elder+law
*6.http://bcceas.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/elder_law_clinic_needs_assessment.pdf