“Fracking Dave”
the old man in the hat
Sitting in the bleachers, it is always easy to criticize. Fun too!
It will soon be election time again. Fracking Dave will soon meet the test. Shale gas and pension reform, I am sure, will be big issues. Since the beginning of time, New Brunswickers either vote Tory Blue or Grit Red, so let’s consider what the Liberals are up to.
Right off the bat, I have concerns. I mean, the official opposition has zero sense of humour. The latest thing out of the Liberals is a demand that the province initiate an investigation into the special care home inspection process. They just can not understand how the “Forever Young” special care home could have possibly grown 550 marihuana plants without anyone noticing. Especially the “inspectors”.
Well boys and girls, I will give you a hint. What did you think kept the residents forever young? Geritol? Anyone that I know, myself included, has always known that “license” fees for “inspections” are a government con game, whether you run a business with a compressor, car lift, fuel storage tank etc., the only “presence” of big brother is the bill for the license fee that arrives like clockwork once a year. The inspectors, not so much- unless something goes wrong- a fire in the case of the special care home. Then someone show up to assign blame and increase the fee!
So what should the liberals be concerned about? Maybe they should wonder why there is a demand for anyone to be producing 275000 joints a growing cycle. For you small “c” conservatives out there that embrace the economics of Adam Smith, demand necessitates supply. Maybe the Liberals could bring a proposal for “licensing” “taxing” and “regulating” marihuana to the floor of the legislature for an intelligent debate on an issue that is relevant to the taxpayers of New Brunswick.
Fracking Dave thinks all the money is in gas. What a hoot! The real money is in weed- an organic, renewable resource that reduces carbon dioxide and global warming. What’s not to like? Reducing stress and saving the environment. I don’t think we will have to pay for 100 mounties up on Route 11 for this one. Just a couple for crowd control when the first” Grass “store opens.
Whether or not you agree with the widespread use of legal marihuana, there is presently widespread use of illegal marihuana. At one time we treated alcohol and gambling much the same way.
We made a decision as a society that it was better to have these activities occur in the open, in a legal framework, with provisions for those citizens who experienced difficulties if they over consumed these products. The province has a revenue shortfall. Legalizing and taxing a product that is widely consumed accomplishes two goals- increased revenues and a decrease in policing costs.
Discussion:
http://www.businessweek.com/debateroom/archives/2009/03/legalize_mariju.html
http://thethunderbird.ca/2012/11/21/new-study-says-b-c-bud-market-worth-500-million-per-year/
Comments: theoldmaninthehat@sissonridge.ca
