Well, from the political side, 2011 in Canada brought in a Conservative government which is chipping away at some of their top priorities. In the US, well, Mark Steyn wraps it up.
Closing down 2011
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Steyn on Not So Great Britain
This is the logical dead end of the Nanny State. When William Beveridge laid out his blueprint for the British welfare regime in 1942, his goal was the “abolition of want” to be accomplished by “co-operation between the State and the individual.” In attempting to insulate the citizenry from life’s vicissitudes, Sir William succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. As I write in my book: “Want has been all but abolished. Today, fewer and fewer Britons want to work, want to marry, want to raise children, want to lead a life of any purpose or dignity.”
Replace “Britons” with “People” and you have 80% of the planet fitting that description.
Big Government means small citizens: It corrodes the integrity of a people, catastrophically. Within living memory, the city in flames on our TV screens every night governed a fifth of the earth’s surface and a quarter of its population. When you’re imperialists on that scale, there are bound to be a few mishaps along the way. But nothing the British Empire did to its subject peoples has been as total and catastrophic as what a post-great Britain did to its own.
Occupy that. I’m going to start reading Steyn’s columns to my kids at bedtime. Forget the stupid fairy books they make me read to them now.
Raffi doesn’t like Cherry
Cavoukian [Raffi] said he hopes people tune out Cherry’s first-intermission segment during today’s Leafs-Canucks tilt as a statement to try to stop the current rash of concussions and eliminate fighting from the game.
Raffi’s music gives me post-concussion symptoms.
Jason Kenny takes on Amnesty International
I must confess that my first reaction upon reading your open letter to Minister Toews and myself was one of surprise and joy. For your organization to muster its formidable powers of suasion against the orderly and innoxious proceedings of the Canadian immigration system must mean that the world’s most truculent regimes have discharged their last political prisoners and advocates of democracy are free to march in the streets of Tehran and Pyongyang.
Dennis Miller at the Reagan Library
The best thing about living in Finland. They don’t get Newsweek.
Saving 20 Billion
“But until we get through these difficulties, we’ll hold back some of the money that the American taxpayers have committed to give.”
Responding to whether that figure was “some $800 million,” Daley said, “Yep.”
The New York Times, citing three unnamed senior U.S. officials, reported that altogether, “about $800 million in military aid and equipment, or over one-third of the more than $2 billion in annual American security assistance to Pakistan, could be affected.”
$2 Billion annually goes to Pakistan. I can think of a way to save $20 Billion over 10 years. I’d like to know which American taxpayers committed the money.
Questions for Obama
Why isn’t your cabinet unionized?
Most can be used for Layton as well. Iowahawk is on fire.
Two Days from Now
Christopher Klein shares an interview published two days from now.
Humourous Look at the Royal Visit
I was warned by various female friends I had to give a full account of the outfit, hair, shoes and clutch bag. They were, then, navy, auburn, peach and beige, respectively.
John Ivison does a fantastic job of bringing sarcasm to the family most deserving of it.
Holding Rioters Accountable
The mayor and police were using tough words last night and this morning, promising to hold the “few” troublemakers and hoodlums responsible for the riots, accountable for their actions.
Talking in my carpool this morning, we could not come up with a form of punishment that would actually do so. I had thought about caning last night. It may work but this morning I thought of this method which may actually provide the public humiliation necessary to prevent things like this from happening in the future.
A week in this contraption BEFORE the jail time. Store & vehicle owners get the first crack at them.