Jeers: to propping up the economy with borrowed money. Here’s St. John’s Mayor Danny Breen, talking about St. John’s and the economy. “Although economic gains are expected from higher oil production, other indicators such as employment, household income and housing starts may soften as the economy continues to adjust to lower Muskrat Falls activity.” So what, you might ask, will happen when the economy has to “adjust” to actually paying for Muskrat Falls?
Cheers: to more food for fraud. You know how every cloud has a silver lining? How it’s an ill wind that blows no good? How, for some, the glass is half empty, but for others, it’s blissfully half full? Well, even the prison deaths of alleged child sex offenders are a golden opportunity for some. Take, for example, the latest email scam we got this week: “Dear Sir / Madam, I am Lawrence Pierre, financial assistant to late Jeffrey Epstein, Financier owner, an American billionaire who died recently in New York prison. Two days before his death he instructed me to give US$10,500,000 million dollars to an individual for charity work 30 per cent will be for you …” Well, though we’d enjoy our 30 per cent share of what appears to be US$10.5 TRILLION, we’re going to have to turn down your offer to send us all that cash in the next three days.
Jeers: to junk on our roads. From Friday’s RNC overnight police report: “RNC Operational Patrol Services, RNC Traffic Services, Provincial Highway Enforcement Officers and RCMP Traffic Services conducted a vehicle safety checkpoint in the area of Kenmount Road during the day. As a result of the checkpoint 169 summary offence tickets were issued and seven vehicles were seized.” But no, there’s no possible reason the province should require annual inspections of vehicles over a certain age, right? That would just be a tax grab…
Cheers: to the voice of the masses. From humble beginnings in 2006, Twitter has become a social media giant, able to bring individual voices of the electorate directly to the holders of the highest offices in the land — just kidding. You can reply to a tweet from an elected official, but only an underling will even glance at your missive. Still, the platform has brought us gems like this one: here’s Premier Dwight Ball, tweeting about the Northern Lights Business and Cultural Showcase in Ottawa last week. “With so much to offer, Newfoundland and Labrador always has a strong showing at Northern Lights. Whether you are seeking business, cultural or social opportunities, I wish everyone a productive and fun #NL2020.” The response, from Rich D, aka @sourdicky? “Taxed to death, weather sucks, cost fortune to get away for a holiday, fortune fir gas, electricity, grocery. Friendly and scenery only take you so far!!! Oh, I forgot, CORRUPT!!!!!!!” Another voter heard from.
