Episode 5: Why Socialism Sucks

Episode 5: Why Socialism Sucks

This week I realized once again why I hold a centralist or maybe slightly right of center view. The reason, well because socialism and the lefts view of socialism just sucks.

By socialism I'm referring to a simplistic model as clearly defined by 2b by Merriam-Webster dictionary...

Definition of socialism

1: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods

2a: a system of society or group living in which there is no private property

b: a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state

So..Why..

Well I got married in 2018, which has been a good thing, however my household now has two incomes pushing me out of my modestly low tax bracket. As a result, according to the Canadian government, I was no longer eligible/entitles to a GST tax relief. Also, since I was married in October I was ordered to pay back the years worth of GST tax credit I had already received (that's about $850CDN). I understand the governments position, and upon receiving my assessment notice, quickly proceeded to make arrangement to pay my debt.

But this is not why I hate socialism...

On August 5. 2019 (receiving my notice that I owe $850CDN to revenue Canada) I quickly went online and paid my bill. I received a confirmation number from my bank, and figured I, as a proud and loyal Canadian, had done my part.

This is why I hate socialism...

On September 25, 2019 I receive another letter from revenue Canada, informing me I owe them $850CDN for outstanding GST repayment. The letter also states that if I have already made my payment to simply disregard this letter.
So I disregarded this letter.

This is why I hate socialism...

While extinction rebellion and Greta are all we see on TV, the Canadian government is still frantically chopping down trees, to mail out letters informing me that I owe them money for an already paid bill (which I did online, I might add). (Remember back when wasting paper was a thing? Don't hear about that anymore do we?) But it's all ok right, because come on, they (the Canadian government) offsets their carbon footprint by buying carbon credits, you know, the ones that the guy down the block sells out the back of his van. You know that guy, more famously known as "the guy who sold Jack his beanstalk beans", well he says we're all good, and we believe him, don't we?

On October 25, 2019 I receive another letter from revenue Canada, informing me I owe them $850CDN for outstanding GST repayment. The letter also states that if I have already made my payment to simply disregard this letter.

Worryingly I go online to check my account status with revenue Canada.
Amount owing 0.00
past bill due $850CDN
past bill paid $850.00CDN

WTF???

So I call the help line, hoping to find out why I am still getting payment notices when I should be receiving a receipt.

Why I hate socialism...

After a 30 minute merry go round with automated switchboards, I then had to wait over an hour to talk to an actual agent.
I finally get through to an actual human agent, and as I'm explaining my situation, they hang up on me. No rhyme or reason, I simply hear a click and then there is no one else on the line with me. I didn't even finish explaining the issue, I was mid sentence and click.

All I could think was "How Dare You" 

Foolishly I sat next to my phone for the next 5 minutes hoping someone would call me back, apologetically appealing for my forgiveness, but alas all for not.

Now to all my friends on the left, is this really what we want to see more of?
Is this the best that we deserve?
Shouldn't we be getting treated better?
Dare I say it, but shouldn't someone get FIRED!
Where is the accountability?

How does it take 2 months to verify a paid bill.
MasterCard & Visa don't operate this way.

Having served the retail industry for 30 years, I can't imagine a business promoting this kind of service and staying in business, well unless its a crown corp, or crown monopoly, but you get my sentiment.

I have watched the left as they say capitalism is bad, capitalism promotes greed, but in my opinion capitalism always gives better service and better quality products or you can simply choose to patronize another establishment, something that was said by socialism...NEVER.


Like always, please chime in to the comments and let me know what you think..

Episode 4: Microwave Potatoe Chips

Episode 4: Microwave Potato Chips

During the research, leading into "What I Learned This Week", I learned another small little tidbit of information. So... stay tuned until the end for a little bonus bit of knowledge.

Besides making popcorn, and reheating leftovers I can't honestly say I don't use the microwave to make anything. Well this may change everything...

Ok so I'm definitely going to try these this weekend, and I'll report back which technique worked better.

**Bonus Information**

Did you know that the plural of potato is potatoes? While I always thought potatoes was the plural form, I was of the understanding that the singular form was potatoe, and I honestly believe this is what was taught in Canadian elementary schools.

Like always, have an opinion?
Leave it in the comments...

Episode 3: Hydraulic Structures are Pretty Dam Weir...d

Hydraulic Structures are Pretty Dam Weir...d

If you ask me, hydraulic structures are pretty dam wier...d. So lets take a look at them.

According to Wikipedia...

A hydraulic structure is a structure submerged or partially submerged in any body of water, which disrupts the natural flow of water. They can be used to divert, disrupt or completely stop the flow. An example of a hydraulic structure would be a dam, which slows the normal flow rate of the river in order to power turbines. A hydraulic structure can be built in rivers, a sea, or any body of water where there is a need for a change in the natural flow of water.[1]

Hydraulic structures may also be used to measure the flow of water. When used to measure the flow of water, hydraulic structures are defined as a class of specially shaped, static devices over or through which water is directed in such a way that under free-flow conditions at a specified location (point of measurement) a known level to flow relationship exists. Hydraulic structures of this type can generally be divided into two categories: flumes and weirs.[2]

A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, aquaculture, and navigability. Hydropower is often used in conjunction with dams to generate electricity. A dam can also be used to collect water or for storage of water which can be evenly distributed between locations. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees (also known as dikes) are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. The earliest known dam is the Jawa Dam in Jordan, dating to 3,000 BC.

A weir /wɪər/ or low head dam is a barrier across the width of a river that alters the flow characteristics of water and usually results in a change in the height of the river level. There are many designs of weir, but commonly water flows freely over the top of the weir crest before cascading down to a lower level.

Have an opinion? 

Leave it in the comments...

Episode 2: Neuron Conduction Velocity = Time?

Neuron Conduction Velocity = Time?

Does growing older slow down our perception of time. Could it be that as we age, the neurons in our brains slow down, and thus we perceive time as speeding up?

You buy into this thesis, or do you have some other explanation as to why time seems to speed up as we age?
Leave it in the comments..

Episode 1: Dunning–Kruger Effect

Why Do Stupid People Think They're Smart?

In the field of psychology, the Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which people mistakenly assess their cognitive ability as greater than it is. It is related to the cognitive bias of illusory superiority and comes from the inability of people to recognize their lack of ability. Without the self-awareness of metacognition, people cannot objectively evaluate their competence or incompetence.

As described by social psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger, the cognitive bias of illusory superiority results from an internal illusion in people of low ability and from an external misperception in people of high ability; that is, "the miscalibration of the incompetent stems from an error about the self, whereas the miscalibration of the highly competent stems from an error about others

Have an opinion? leave me a comment