Election 2006.We are rapidly approaching voting day and all panic stricken politicians are out beating the bushes looking for the support they need from the electorate to be returned to Ottawa and back to those comfortable seats in Parliament where time will pass and their self-authorized high salaries will keep them fat and secure until the juicy pensions kick in. Meanwhile what contribution to the governance of Canada will they, as back-benchers, be positioned to make? Without approval from the party leader no proposition they receive will ever be translated into action, unless, of course, it will have political advantage possibilities.

Now, during the run-up to the election, each party is busy promising to fund programs with taxpayers’ money that failed to receive attention before the election was called while the opportunity was there. Now it becomes a method of winning votes from the dumb electorate who cheer when announcements about funding are made. But, one must keep in mind the record of election promises made by the Liberals; the promise to eliminate the G.S.T. Never happened! And so goes the failures that mark our government.

Looking back one is appalled by the costly decisions made by governments and the weak and unqualified creatures we tend to elect. Those who could serve effectively are not prepared to join in the ongoing corrupt practices that continue to mark government; consequently the pickings are thin and very limited.

The general public, whose taxes pay for this continuous crap, look desperately for that honest person who might, just might, change things and see that justice works hand-inhand with honesty and good government.

Recently we heard the president of the C.A.W., Buzz Hargrove, praising Paul Martin and the Liberal party, a complete reversal of his previous convictions and full support for the N.D.P.

What, one should ask, is to be the pay-off for this change of heart? He stands before his C.A.W. membership and calls for the return of the Liberal party to power with a stronger mandate than the party had in the last election. How could a thinking person even consider returning this corrupt bunch of thieves to the place where they could continue robbing Canadian taxpayers. How many times must the voting public be screwed by those they elect to govern before they say, ”Enough.”

This Liberal party has proven itself to be the party of conscienceless thieves, interested only in power and their personal interests-mostly moneyand the comfortable pensions that they have voted for themselves.

If the Liberal leader really loved this country, as he frequently states, he would register his steamship company here instead of offshore in Barbados, hire Canadian seamen and pay his share of taxes to Canada.

It is mind-boggling that these unabashed crooks have the gall to address themselves as “The Honourable so and so” and decorate each other with the awards and honours they themselves created. These orders were originally intended to recognize and honour those who had distinguished themselves in some significant manner that brought credit to Canada.

Now the Generalissimo Paul Martin has announced that he intends banning public ownership of handguns. A knee-jerk concept that has failed in every jurisdiction where it has been tried. In Britain the results of banning handguns led to a forty percent increase in crime, and it was also unsuccessful in Australia. The gun registration multi-million dollar program intended to take guns away from criminals led to greater illegal gun trafficking and a huge increase in murders in the G.T.A.

The Liberal party must be held accountable for that boondoggle as well as the numerous other shameful failures for which it is responsible: The Ad scam scandal, now being swept under the rug. Millions of taxpayer dollars funneled to Quebec supporters and no one yet serving time for participating. The Dingwall affair, (now slipping into the shadows.) Head of the Canadian Mint receiving $260,000 per annum and still not satisfied. Accused of diverting $739,000 to his personal use via his expense account before resigning his lucrative post. Now he expects to receive a separation package of $500,000

Then we have dear Mr. Coffin; he steals $1.5 million and the judge sentences him to serve two years lecturing on ethics! No hard time, no incarceration, merely a guarantee of a healthy bank account when his “sentence” is up. You steal a loaf of bread to feed your kids and the same judge would give you ten years.

There is the H.R.D.C. scandal and a dozen other acts of abuse of power including the removal of old Allied soldiers from access to veterans’ benefits despite their Canadian citizenship and presumed guarantees under the Charter.

With less than 6000 left alive one would think caring for them in their remaining years would be automatic, but, of course 6000 votes are not worth pursuing.

One could rant on forever but what’s the use most of those we eventually return to office will continue to practice the long established habit: me, mine and more, practice of the verb “To get” so the best of luck when you vote and may the future be bright for our country.

Ken Hayward Town of Mono