Why is it that socialist politicos( Dips and Libs) if left to their own devices, ALWAYS construct political networks of patronage and bribery and produce political "bosses" not leaders or statesmen?

They operate much like the mob...we see Calgary and Toronto going into the "political boss" disparity with the standard patronage nets (media, developers,profiteers) supporting the boss and cronies on council.

It always escapes the media but some of the most corrupt nepotistic political operators are entrenched in municipal politics...it's like a breeding ground for the skanks that aspire to hit the national stage as fully finished oily shysters ready to form their nepotist networking magic at a national level.

If I recall correctly, the very left-leaning Paul Martin Sr was the Lib MP for Windsor.........coincidence or conspiracy?

...every time I read/see things like this happening, I can't but help recall a scene from "The Lion King" movie.

Remember the part where the jackals made a deal with the scrawny lion and took over?

What once was a beautiful and thriving jungle was reduced to a grey lifeless despota...

Windsor is a Lefty paradise, need we say more?

Well maybe we could say you get what you deserve when you vote for crap, you get rewarded.

I hear your anguish. Now hear mine. I'm a Maritimer. The government is up my a** every day. I sure as heck don't vote for that. Still waiting for a real option.

I invite all disgruntled people in Windsor, especially the entrepreneurial types and skilled persons to leave that cesspool and move out west. We need you in the West. We are booming and there is much opportunity.

Even though it is still Canada, you will enjoy a lot more freedom and fair play here than the gray workers paradise you presently inhabit.

The layoffs won't stop. The American Auto industry is on it's way down and it will take more time than you have to wait until they smarten up, get efficient and build cars for our new reality instead of the 60s.

Ontario generally cannot compete in the big world now that our money has value and extorted wages for marginal skills has peaked. UAW and their ilk have gooned their way as far as they can go. It's ending now and they will continue be less happy and probably more dangerous.

Leave all that leftist misery behind and do something new and different move to the future of Canada ... The West. And don't forget to leave any leftist views you may have back there with the fools who are reaping the rewards of their politics.

I would love to see a new Bistro on the waterfront in the Nanaimo harbor and I know the city would like it too. There is life here and growth, and prosperity. All that is missing is a bit of a larger skilled work force and a few more business people.

I was about to post a rant about the stupidity and failure of collectivist/socialist schemes going back as far as the nineteenth century, but I think I'll settle for this instead: can anybody think of an example of a successful socialist country? Where has this sort of thing ever actually done any good?

GDW

Great point and I have made it myself once or twice.

The fact that there has never been a successful Socialist state is evidence of the insanity of the Left who continues to flog the idea.

Doing the same think over and over and expecting different results is the recipe for insanity.

I night add that states such as Sweden don't count, they are a Capitalist state niche market provider (Volvo, Saab, Hasselblad, Ikea to name a few) with very high taxes, low population of civilized white people whose welfare ride will eventually come to an end. They are importing many third worlders and Muslims. That will be their death knell.

They also are now experiencing a lot more competition than they had before. The time has come for those folks to start exporting their hot blond women. They have no future in a semi Islamic culture.

My brother is a mechanical engineer living in Windsor. The number of shops has decreased from about 300 to 50 over the last few years. His previous place of work shut down a few months ago. The owner of the place brought my brother to the non-union shop he also owns.

My brother is the nicest person you will ever meet. HE WAS SO PISSED AT THESE UNION PEOPLE!!!
When he started there, the janitor was making $25 an hour. He'd get very generous Christmas bonuses that would even out that discrepancy.

The union manager apparently seemed happy when the doors to the shop were closed. Many of the people there will retire early. Others will collect unemployment for a while. If you want to buy real estate cheap, Windsor is the place to go.

Just out of gun-shot range of Detroit.

LizJ.. You hit the nail on the head.

Maritimer "gard", what else can the government do for you, besides be "up your ass"? Explain further, maybe we can offer you some answers.

It always amazes me that people vote in socialist governments then complain about the resulting job loss. People vote socialist then complain about the big brother attitude coming from the government. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results - isn't that a sign of insanity?

From another W Town with closed shops because of a surplus of ideologues on council - ditto. All politics is local.

St. Catharines Ontario is going through the same thing. A General Motors town since whenever.
The workers have priced themselves out of decent jobs thanks to the CAW and their Commissar, Buzz Hargrove.
Sad, but they have no one to blame but themselves.

From Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windsor,_Ontario

...and I'm suppose to feel sorry for them?

Like Liz said, you make the bed you sleep in.

-----------------------
Canada's twenty-first Prime Minister Paul Martin was born in Windsor.

His father Paul Martin (Sr.), a federal cabinet minister in several portfolios through the Liberal governments of the 1940s, 50s and 60s, was first elected to the House of Commons from a Windsor riding in the 1930s.

Martin (Sr.), practiced law in the city and the federal building on Ouellette Street is named after him.

Eugene Whelan was a Liberal cabinet minister and one-time Liberal party leadership candidate elected from Essex County in the 1980s.

Other public monuments to Liberal Cabinet Ministers include a recent bust and statute of Herb Gray at the foot of Ouellette Street near Dieppe Park.

Gray was a MP from 1962 through 2003, winning thirteen consecutive elections from the same riding which made him the longest serving MP in Canadian

Current representation

Currently, Windsor's Mayor is Eddie Francis, a Lebanese-Canadian. Windsor is governed by its City Council. The city is divided into five wards, with two councillors per ward. They are: Ward 1 (South Windsor), 2 (West Side), 3 (Downtown), 4 (East Windsor), and 5 (Far East Side).

On the provincial and federal levels, Windsor is divided into two ridings: Windsor West and Windsor—Tecumseh. Windsor is currently represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by two Liberal members, Member of Provincial Parliament Sandra Pupatello (Windsor West), and Dwight Duncan (representing Windsor—Tecumseh).

Federally, Windsor West was a longtime Liberal stronghold under Herb Gray, while Windsor—Tecumseh has traditionally been a Liberal-NDP swing riding. Both ridings are currently represented in the federal Parliament by NDP Members of Parliament Brian Masse (Windsor West), and Joe Comartin (Windsor—Tecumseh).

While not a Socialist, I'm not blind either.

The following countries are run by Social Democrats:
Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Holland.

I believe they all have similar qualities of life to Canada and the USA.

Also, Canada was run by socialists for a while, and although there are many complaints against them they did make this country into what it is today.

There are of course many examples of badly run socialist countries, but there are many of badly run non-socialist countries.

Jon... I have family in Germany - it's going to hell in a handbasket due to unsustainable government programs thanks to years of unrestrained socialism. Very little optimism and much emigration among the young and mobile. In Norway the cost of living would have you squealing like a pig. In Sweden and Finland, the mulit-culti socialists have reached the point of inserting their all-controlling fingers into the blogosphere and are actively prosecuting and shutting down those who dare disagree with governmental policies. Sorry, but your argument doesn't wash in the cold light of reality.

Canada was never run by socialists, sunshine. So they couldn't have made the country what it is. Crack open that history book. The closest we had was Trudeau, and the repercussions of his utter inability to comprehend economics or human nature for that matter, will be with us for a long, long time.

Anytime someone gets shot at Jane and Finch, or Jane and whereever in Toronto, and you see a family crying asking when will it stop, thank Trudeau.

Remember Windsor, folks. Toronto will be like that in 10 years.

Socialists are stupid people, just save your money and leave them to eat themselves.

The ACLU is socialists as ever why else are they trying to remove all mentions of christ from our lives

Caveman,
I think you're confusing the drain from the EU with socialism in Germany. In Norway the cost of living is high, but I live downtown Vancouver so, it's not actually that high in comparison. Either way, you just need to get a good job, I get by and I'm still pretty young. Wages tend to reflect the cost of living.

As I said, I'm young, I didn't live through trudeau, but I did ok in history and I know that a country with socialized medicine is socialist by any definition of the word. (other countries with 1 tier health care like Canada: Cuba, North Korea - need I say more?)

Plover,
Just because someone is anti christian does not make them a socialist. The ACLU is socialist but that's not the reason why their anti christian.

Western Canadian,

There are as many smart socialist as conservatives, just because they have economic deficiencies doesn't preclude them from being intelligent.

With Love,

Sunshine

their = they're...

sorry, classic rookie mistake.

I agree with John, MOVE out WEST.
You'll make money like you never dreamed!

And when you want to retire, move back East. The economy will be in the toilet, and you can buy NICE houses, for a song. It's happening now. Retirees who earned 100k plus, move east with THEIR pension$. ..and live a VERY good life.

Canada..what a country!!

Course you'll be taxed on your house.....

may sure you live west of Dryden when the whole mess breaks up. easy to shut the border there.

Sorry for the crappy typing job but it was late and a couple of drinks with no dinner.I thought it was brilliant but I was reading through slits for eyes.
The sandman was beating me to death .

I do not believe we bloggers here in Windsor are "virtuall against everything." We are against misinformation, spin and misrepresentation of fact by both our media outlet and elected officials.

Jon,

Your joking about Norway, right? Take a look at the snapshots:

http://www.deloittetaxguides.com/index.asp?layout=countryAllDtt

At some point in your life you may decide that you want to decide how to spend the money you earned ... but then, maybe not.

Norway also happens to have huge oil deposits - they get socialist welfare while not having as many of the associated problems.

To anyone in Windsor, St. Catherines, or East of Ottawa: move to Calgary/Fort Mac. Tons of jobs, not enough people. With Toronto's lovely council I'll probably be heading there or to (the real) London.

Not quite sure what you mean by "joking" about Norway. They're socialist yes? Cost of living is high, yes? GDP per capita $70,000 yes?

I'm pretty sure my original point was in response to GDW's point: "can anybody think of an example of a successful socialist country?"
Norway.

I get it, they have high taxes. They're still successful and socialist, having oil is beside the point.

Thanks for the link. We also have a Councillor here fighting the good fight - and blogging too.

AlanHalberstadt.com

Thanks for the link. We also have a Councillor here fighting the good fight - and blogging too.

AlanHalberstadt.com

Alan Halberstadt is another Garth Turner.Alan votes whats good for Alan .Do not insult me.

Norway:
http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1891543.ece

"a new survey indicates rising dissatisfaction and, in some cases, outright hatred of some taxes that are viewed as way too high and unfair".

By Christina Blizzard

http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Blizzard_Christina/2007/07/23/4361037.html

Mayor Eddie Francis says Windsor may be down -- but it's far from out.

Another major issue is the border. There is no direct link from Hwy. 401 to the Ambassador Bridge. And the city desperately needs to build either another tunnel or a bridge to the U.S. A study is due to be released mid-August that will recommend what type of connection will be built.

Francis points out that it is the most important border crossing in North America: 28% of trade between U.S. and Canada crosses the Ambassador bridge -- $150 billion annually in commercial goods.

And Casino Windsor is doing nicely -- with a $400-million expansion. The rest of the province shouldn't be envious of provincial cash helping out their casino, Francis says, since the profits help pay for government programs like health care and education.

"Although the expansion is taking place in Windsor, I can assure you that the Brinks trucks are driving to Toronto to drop off the cash," he said.

What else is in the cards for Windsor? For all Windsor's woes, few wannabes seem willing to take on the Liberals. While the NDP was strong here in the last federal election, so far they haven't nominated anyone to take on Pupatello or Duncan. Tory Lisa Lumley is running against Pupatello in Windsor West, but they, too, have not yet nominated anyone to run against Duncan.

Tomax7 since I live in Windsor and you don't I believe I have a better grasp of what is truly happening here in Windsor.
You sound like a Liberal mouthpiece praising only Liberal government funded projects only to help rake in more revenue for the province.
The casino is a bust !

Nemo2,

STOP THE PRESSES!
Of course there is dissatisfaction with rising taxes, I'm dissatisfied with our government's rising spending. It still doesn't mean that Norway is a failed socialist state.

Simo, of course I don't doubt you have a local perspective, and don't take my comments personally, but how do you expect me to find out what is happening down there?

So I check other sources, like online newspapers and Wikipedia, seeing I can't hear your AM880 (or whatever), west of Dryden for news.

And look, what a coincidence! In today's (Monday 23rd)Toronto Sun, Ms Blizzard has an article on Windsor. She says your good mayor (who was voted in by a majority via a democratic process), makes a statement everything is fine and the casino is bringing in big bucks and expanding.

Then I head over to Wikipedia (not the end all, but a good source) and see not only in municipal level, but also at the Federal level, voters in your town have backed a certain party for years and now in bed with the NDP.

So I feel your pain, but you can't bail the ocean out with a spoon, so maybe it is time to leave Dodge City, seeing they already left too.

;-)

Windsor will depopulate like Detroit did.

WHat will be left will be the old money, it never left, and the farms.

It has a decent climate, being further south than Oregon. With cheap real estate it may hold a wonderful future as a retirement capital, why move to expensive Victoria???

HAvng a trained workforce doesnt matter if they are tainted with Unionism...sorry to sya that but this is the truth. It is cheaper to train a bunch of farm boys 2 hours up the road than it is to invest in pre trained and pre unionized labour.

Sad to say but thats the way of the world. Windsor is no longer Fat City and never will be again.

Buzz and Bob White killed it over time.

Look up the 401 to Brantford On to see how this is gonna end.

Say hello to bedroom community status and a daily three hour commute for those not connected enough to the elite, ....SUCKERS!!

Richfisher: I'd rather be a bedroom community than a ghost town. Being called a bedroom community means that you are linked to a much larger and successful urban area. What would that be for Windsor? London?

Barrie was a bedroom community. It went from a population of 62,000 to 128,000 in just 15 years. It is now a major urban area for the Georgian Bay/Muskoka area.

Brantford is doing very well these days. It's encountering some problems with some older manufacturers, but by diversifying it's economy after the collapse of Massey Ferguson, the hits are not that big. The university campus continues to grow. The county and the city are talking about annexation to get more serviced industrial land. The province is studying a new highway 24 between Cambridge and Brantford (which local politicians support). Large retailers are coming the city. Sure does suck to be a thriving bedroom community.

Living in Windsor is a scary feeling right now. Being a young investor in Real Estate I'm getting very concerned. Vacancy rates are through the roof, and people are still leaving by the wheelbarrow full.

http://www.CanadiansTalk.ca

Vincent, "I'd rather be a bedroom community than a ghost town."

Well sure even dipper lovin people left in Brantford feel the need to stand on their hind legs sometimes, right?
The final and meek dipper war cry has changed so much since they forced out all the business 30 years ago, and the exodus began.
I don't rememeber so much the actual slogans the NDP used to get elected forever, but I don't think it was "Lets kill the economy and rely on our cheap houses and gas prices staying under a dollar a litre, for our future."

But, that future proposed highway talk and the reassurance that less truck traffic from the closer of Bluebird and that giant foundry that used to make the cast heads for GM, (sorry can't remember the name) should make your commute more and more comforting.

Are those big empty city buses still free, and do they still drive you to your front door?