Official Flower Of Statism

My town of Halifax---once a lush and green carpet of trim lawn---is now over-run with these ugly weeds. That tourism is one of this burgh's few generators of cash (since government jobs do not generate cash) gets lost in the mix. Fitting, of course, for the current aesthetic that is in vogue here.

With reference to bureaucratic totalitarianism, how about the edict in parts of Ontario, just overturned, that you could not hang your laundry wash outside on a clothesline because...it was 'unsightly'.

To whom? Toronto Hydro?

Put the welfare bums to work plucking weeds. Problem solved.

Here in Morontario, a denounciation by a cell phone equiped cyclist can result in a visit by a gummit "inspector" because you lawn has less...no any...dandelions.
When this clown arrived, I just happened to be conducting my morning hunt of dandelions with a kitchen knife. That and close, frequent mowing suppresses the lovely yellow flowers.
Then he announced he was going to conduct a thorough search, including my residence, for "illegal chemicals".
At that point I summoned the constabulary to "keep the peace".
I noticed a "cyclist" taking pics with his cell phone. I don't wish the geek ill luck but I confess a faint hope that WHO is correct about cell phones carcenogenic properties.

There is a serious mental health risk afoot in Canada and it's caused by the stifling of our freedoms through over-regulation and continual scare tactics used by government agencies to force us to hand over more an more control of society to them.

They are driving me crazy ... that is a health problem is it not?

A considerable number of our fellow citizens have bought into the junk science peddled by those who are against virtually everything except their efforts to control our lives.

On a recent visit to Ontario we were greeted by a sea of yellow dandelions that are choking out people's lawns. Disgusting.

Yeah, there are dandelions all over Toronto right now too. Not too bad on private lawns but the city property, parks and roadside strips, are full of them.

Now that we know that the dandelion is the official statist flower, maybe it's time to start mailing them to statist MP's postage free. They're not something I want to compost given their propensity to develop seeds even after being extirpated fairly young. Boxes full of dandelions at the HOC overwhelming every NDP MP's office -- that would be lovely to see.

Time to write the city.

But at least the birds can sing in the spring (sarc.).

I brought back a gallon of 2,4-D based weedkiller from a shopping trip to Buffalo a couple of weeks back. The lawn is weed-free.

sasquatch - great story. How did you contain yourself to prevent immediate strangulation of this interfering, sanctimonious 'social justice' idiot?

loki- great idea.

The lawns of Toronto are a mess now - not merely because of the dandelions but because the constant rain has meant: no mowing of the municipal lawns. They look like wild meadows. Oh for some cows and sheep.

Screw 'em. I have farmer friends who have BAGS of 2,4-D.

Is there any good that comes from Quebec being a part of Canada? They seem to be going in a different direction than the rest of us. Maybe they should go on their own and see how they do. When they come crawling back, we can dictate the terms under which they can rejoin Canada.

Health Canada's Final Decision on the re-evaluation of 2,4-D.

Not that it matters when emotion rules the day.

DOW should sue Greenpeace and all the other Eco Fascist groups for their business losses.

There are no Fascists like Eco Fascists.

It's called herbicide.
Pesticides are for the bugs.

Actually, insecticides are for the bugs.
Pesticides are for pests (bugs, weeds, rodents, and so on). A herbicide is a pesticide.

Wrong Aaron.

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: pesticide
Any toxic substance used to kill animals or plants that damage crops or ornamental plants or that are hazardous to the health of domestic animals or humans. All pesticides act by interfering with the target species' normal metabolism. They are often classified by the type of organism they are intended to control (e.g., insecticide, herbicide, fungicide). Some inadvertently affect other organisms in the environment, either directly by their toxic effects or via elimination of the target organism.

On the upside, my bees really like all the dandelions. They're the first nectar producing flower of the season and given the unrelenting rain and cold they're a real lifesaver.

All statism aside dandelions have a massive nutrtional output that is sadly neglected. Everypart is edible, even the roots uaed to be used during by gone times to make coffee, well a coffee of sorts.

I've wondered about this for a bit.... is herbacide (or even weed n feed) legal in Sask or BC?? Or have they too gone the way of the sheep.

Fortunately, I am able to buy the "good stuff" at the local farm chemical dealer. My brother still lives on part of the farm and I can use his address to verify that I am able to purchase such a dangerous chemical. I am not above dealing the stuff as well. None of the neighbors dare rat me out or they get cut off cold turkey. Toto, this ain't Tarana!

Well then eat them up Gray Lady. That's your choice. As for municipal bylaws, they are now likely invalid under the Constitution because the way in which they are written is under the duty of safety.

Many municipal bylaws are unconsitutional and hopefully many end up going to court and struck down. The municipal fascists are getting a bit too arrogant for their own good.

I, too, am a 2,4D Outlaw. I stocked up before the ban. I spot-spray the suckers and deadhead as many as I can, but thanks to the City of Ottawa's policy towards noxious weeds, it's a losing battle. Just drive around west of Ottawa and look at all the lovely fields of dandelions, not to mention the yards of those too lazy to cut the grass.

On the plus side, my Mom used to make killer dandelion wine. Dandelions, sugar, raisins, water & yeast - yowza - take your head off!

Ah to live in the country in Saskatchewan where we are not obliged to comply to Eco-facists and their too clean lawn approach. I use a chemical called Trillion for Dandelions, anything with Lontrel in it to kill Canada Thistle(maybe tough for urbanites to get this product) and roundup to get rid of the excess grass. This lawsuit I hope will change the political attitude of municipal politicians and allow products like 2-4-D to be used.

Wait until they want to come in your house and check out how many bedbugs you have.

Wait until they want to come in your house and check out how many bedbugs you have.
Posted by: Fred at June 1, 2011 5:37 PM

Yikes! I smoke cigarettes in the house and my better half and I drink beer - We have never had bedbugs as a consequence! Big trouble coming our way if your thought realizes itself!

Perspective, people. In Madagascar, there are weeds that eat small children.

Oh well - dandelion greens are nutritious and good to eat, and will provide a welcome free spring tonic next year after the global economy collapses.

Bedbugs? They inject a sedative when they bite, so their bites may be welcome among those who won't be able to afford pot next year.

My wife and I solved the problem of dandelions in our lawn by eliminating our lawn. Grass is ridiculous in Newfoundland anyway, except in the Codroy Valley.

We've got lots of gravel now. The red stuff is particularly attractive on a grey day (i.e. most of the time).

The dandelions revenged themselves by moving into our flower beds. And so did the grass. The latter,
and lots of maple saplings, are a much more tedious nuisance than the dandelions.

Ahhh, sweet government, overlord, thank you for this mess.

We should get all the "Greens" to "harvest" all the dandelions for their salads. We can charge them a small fee like they do for "U-Pick" strawberries, etc.

Now....when is somebody going to sue the eco-fascists for the murder of millions with the false ban on DDT?

Dalton McGuinty and friends would take us back to the bucolic, utopian days of the 19th century, without evil chemicals, where wind provided the required energy, and homes were lit by coal oil.
Personally I obtain my Roundup from a farmer friend and my 2,4D from NY hardware stores. I never sprayed my lawn untill McGuinty made it illegal to do so; now I consider it a requirement.

Are you still able to use MCPA herbicides? MCPA is another phenoxy-acid broadleaf killer, and is the main herbicide used for lawns here in Australia.

Better still, use glyphosate! Repeat until all those wretched grasses are gone. Get rid of your lawn, and plant something more interesting in its place - shrubs or flowers.

Here in Halifax, land of idiotic idealistic politicians, we had silly council ban the use of a "natural" herbicide that the provincial government actually approved. Seems that a few councilors thought that if it was available someone would go crazy and not use it according to directions.

And don't get me started on the tanning bed police...

Some trivia for SDA readers:
The very FIRST Canadian municipal chemical ban was in Hudson, Quebec. All other municipal bans that followed throughout Canada are modelled after what the hippies legislated in Hudson.
Hudson, Quebec is also the hometown of Comrade Layton...and he really should be wearing a dandelion in his lapel.

Tell me about them ... sigh

The point of all these idiot regulations - pesticides, bike helmets, gun registries etc. etc. et - bloody - c. ad - sodding - infinitum is to make us timorous, tentative, frightened, constantly second-guessing ourselves, always assuming we need to ask authority's permission to go to the bathroom.

And the maple is the weed of trees, so the dandelion should be our national symbol too.

(Anyone got any ballpark stats on how many deaths Rachel Carson might be responsible for?)

Be beligerant when they come for you .. some enforcers may be afraid and back off.

We have, here in Ottawa, a municipal ban on cutting down our own trees on our own property; I celebrated by cutting down two,yes TWO, trees of my own on my own property. I just did it. I didn't ask permission because I didn't need it; I can do with my own property as I wish.

A suggestion for Ontario PC's

Serious up...think very carefully before coming up with programs or initiatives.
Focus on the economy and spending, not lying like McGoo, and give us back our damned Killex!

Thinking back the other way:

There are no guarantee of property rights in the Canuck constitution, but, then again, there are no denials of them either.

So, when the government agency of your choice comes around demanding access to your property, ask them by what right they do this. Now, they will surely point to regulation x.y.z of provinicial act ABC. But, what constitutional clause makes that act's consequences upon your property legal?

Maybe it's time to become Johnny Dandelion Seed in Canada. That stupid #$@#$ Christy Clark is getting to ban in BC. What better lawn to spread the love?

BTW: Home Depot was first to go idiot in BC. You can still get Killex at Canadian tire.

I would spread the seed at Home Depot ... but, alas, they don't have even have a square inch of lawn.

We had 6 acres of yellow,when we bought our property.Went to the farm supply place (in Man) bought gallon jugs of Par-3..lawn is gorgeous now,and totally weed-free!

ET
"sasquatch - great story. How did you contain yourself to prevent immediate strangulation of this interfering, sanctimonious 'social justice' idiot?"

Actually, the circumstance that I summoned the constabulary should be an indication that, that person, much like my X, is living, breathing proof that I can exercise control.

He was long gone by the time the Police arrived. He didn't present a card and only flashed his ID and was driving a "plain brown wrapper". Whether this guy was genuine or a phony is moot....McSquinty's silly law/regulation is there and it is probable this was an over-zealous swivel servant. The police are investigating...concerned about the attempted search. I'm not paranoid just a very suspicious man.

This Health Canada/Quebec settlement is a dragon's tooth for my medicine bag.

Matt
You are skating on thin ice....at the best of times..importing such material without a specific import licence is a high jump....big offence.

can you smoke dandelion and get high?

A few weeks ago while browsing, double checking mixing rates for glyphosate, came across a website giving instruction on "safe natural do it yourself" type weed controls for the "organic" garden.

One concoction was touted as a "safe" alternative to glyphosate. The recipe consisted of 1tbsp dishsoap, 1gal vinegar, with 1lb SALT dissolved in the mix. F-ing SALT!!! Needless to say I'll be sticking with glyphosate for controlling quackgrass.

Am allergic to those beautiful yellow suckers. Have to live on Arius until this season ends. Who do I sue?

sasquatch

One day if you live long enough, perhaps they will have ahunting season on busybodies on bikes.
Good post dude.