Seems like they’re getting results, and that the rubber-glue paradigm applies to the attempts by government and their media arm to smear them. So far, Alberta and Saskatchewan have opted for freedom.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
I don't know what to say about this situation, Mr. Helfner.
It always appeared to me that Canada was more a "rule of law" society than ours, but after this ongoing incident, one must wonder.
Trucking has always associated with the "Born Free" mindset, and especially within the two provinces you note - Alberta and Saskatchewan, where speeds are whatever a driver, motivated by hardly a Mountie in sight, are whatever the individual deems "reasonable and proper".
This of course is far different than railroading where Big Brother is always watching.
I think this Times column appearing in print today by Thomas L. Friedman really sums up the state of our society at present, whether it be manifest by the Canadian truckers or the ‘legitimate political discourse’ occurring January 6.
Posted by irishchieftain (Member # 1473) on :
Rule of law means abiding by the law as written. So-called mandates are rule of man.
What has been done to railroads on either side of the northern border of the USA is shameful, JFTR.
There are also rumblings in the news of a US version of the convoy that may visit DC.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Mr. Helfner, is wearing a mask other than for reasons than enacted legislation outside the authority of an executive imposing emergency measures for the common good?
I don't like masks and I'm "triple VAXED"; but the fact remains that a duly elected executive in this state has mandated all persons in any establishment that can be deemed a public place be so masked.
Do you think I liked it last August when some kid (likely a college intern they didn't know what to do with) wearing a DB badge ran me off the Munich Airport station because my mask (good enough to get me through Passport Control) wasn't "regulation"?
I have little empathy with those who choose to test such a mandate, but do hope that and any similar ones may soon be lifted.
We're getting there; but we're not there yet.
Posted by irishchieftain (Member # 1473) on :
Mandates are rule by man rather than law. Duly elected executives are not sent into their offices to rule as absolute monarchs or dictators, but according to the law. Many judges are ruling such mandates as unconstitutional even as we type here; took them a while, but better late than never.
The USA was founded upon the testing of mandates, enacted by a parliament in which no representation of the colonies was permitted.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Mr. Helfner, I see your points, and I fully respect, although do not necessarily agree.
For what it be worth (FWIW in Internetese), Illinois Gov. Pritzer (D) is set to announce a timetable for relaxation of the mask mandates presently in force. While he has a fomidable Republican opponent (Mayor Irvin) - in this one sided Democrat state - at this time. I fully intend to vote for Gov. Pritzer next year.
Posted by irishchieftain (Member # 1473) on :
Voting for Democrats is voting for the chaotic status quo, take note. What exactly do they stand for? The chaos extends far beyond mandates for wearing masks (having worked in pharmaceuticals, such masks do not work except to temporarily prevent pathogens from being breathed out by the wearer and must be changed frequently) and for messenger RNA concoctions called “vaccines” not made from the pathogen they are touted to battle; our standing in the world is at stake even at state and local level.
Take note that the opposite of voting for a Democrat is not necessarily voting for the Republican in opposition. And “relaxation” is not abolition.
Posted by irishchieftain (Member # 1473) on :
BTW, the paradigm I mentioned above extends to voting for Liberals versus Tories over in Canada. Much to be sifted through before one can find a statesman versus a politician.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Mr. Helfner, a Journal Editorial supporting your position.
Fair Use:
Canadian truckers opposed to a Covid-19 vaccination mandate used their rigs on Monday to block the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, the busiest international land-border crossing in North America.
This latest act in a week-long show of civil disobedience is more akin to political life in France or the U.S. That it happened in restrained Canada is a signal to the political class across the West: Large swaths of humanity are done with Covid-19 restrictions, mandates and excessive meddling in their lives. They want to go back to making their own health-risk assessments......The truckers should be prosecuted if they break the law, as we argued for Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matters protesters on the left. But as the Omicron virus shows itself to be less lethal and positive test rates fall, the truckers are sending a message to democratic governments that it’s time for the pandemic emergency orders to end.
Posted by irishchieftain (Member # 1473) on :
I’m sure everybody knows already about the hijinks that GoFundMe attempted and had to back down from. Also, the alternate funding site GiveSendGo just recovered from a hacking attempt.
Posted by irishchieftain (Member # 1473) on :
Being reported now that Peter Sloly, the police chief of Ottawa, has resigned. Apparently he has behaved in a bullying manner towards his senior staff; hopefully his replacement will not be as much of a loose cannon.
Posted by irishchieftain (Member # 1473) on :
Doug Ford, premier of Toronto, is backing off mask mandates while claiming he isn’t, or at least saying it isn’t because of the convoy.
Posted by irishchieftain (Member # 1473) on :
Well, the House of Commons voted along party lines to extend the Emergencies Act, to suppress legal peaceful protest. If the Senate goes along, Trudeau will be de-facto dictator unless either the Governor General or the Queen herself orders Parliament dissolved.
Posted by irishchieftain (Member # 1473) on :
Several news sources reporting the revocation of emergency powers. Guess the Senate was not going to stand for this.