Thoughts on BC Politics and More

  Britain is out from under the cloak of the European Court. That, in itself, makes the Brexit deal worthwhile.    As Melanie Phillips, a keen observer of the British scene says; ‘ That’s principally because the deal frees the UK from the European Court of Justice, and thus from the power of the EU to impose its will through laws that bind the British parliament. So the UK is now able once again to create its own laws and policies in accordance with the democratically expressed wishes of the people, as well as trade with the EU without tariffs or quotas .’   So, the rest of the deal, 1200 pages, is really a trade deal and in that there was give and take. There will be arbitration boards, and some losses there can be expected, but it will be on things like tariffs and not on sovereignty — unless future governments, like many of the past, get soft and gradually cede the hard-fought gains to remain sovereign.   Is anyone listening in Ottawa and Washin...

  Trudeau’s Christmas message focuses on the bright side. PM says Canadians should ‘give thanks for all that unites us’ ~~ CBC News ~~ Dec 24, 2020 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Christmas message calls on Canadians to stay united as a country and see the silver lining in a chaotic year. In his statement released Thursday, Christmas Eve, Trudeau acknowledged that this holiday season was unique in Canadian history and many across the country would be having a very different experience than in past years, with fewer family gatherings and visits with friends.   “This time of year is supposed be full of joy, light and family traditions,” Trudeau said. “But this Christmas is different.” ..... CLICK HERE to read the full story     With a few million others, I have hope that we can rid ourselves of this pompous ass early in the New Year. Our 2020 Christmas is a direct result of his failed COVID-19 coronavirus containment strategy. Mr. Trudea...

  On Christmas Day I read a story to my daughter from Norman Rockwell’s Christmas book.   I assume most North Americans my age or older know Normal Rockwell’s photo-realistic paintings of small-town American life of the early to mid 20th century. I loved Rockwell’s work from the time I was a kid because a house that my parents lived in shortly after I was born was insulated not with fiberglass batting, but dozens of editions of the Saturday Evening Post, the weekly magazine that featured Rockwell’s illustrations for half a century, starting in 1916.   My folks salvaged a number of these covers, framed them, and hung them in the hallway (one of these was for April Fool’s Day 1943 ; children have fun finding everything wrong with it). Libertarians will be pleased to know that among his most famous works are the Four Freedoms paintings. His beautifully illustrated Christmas Book has seasonal stories, poems and carols. The one I read to my daughter was Laura In...