Porkbusters update

Crime Beat- that's one way of getting violent crime down............

Cox and Forkum- good faith??

Al Qaeda supports Hamas -Zawahiri

The Winds of War......................WSJ

"Today, this same dynamic is creating a moment of great danger. The radicals are becoming reckless, asserting themselves for little reason beyond the conviction that they can. They are very likely to overreach. It is not hard to imagine scenarios in which a single match--say a terrible terror attack from Gaza--could ignite a chain reaction. Israel could handle Hamas, Hezbollah and Syria, albeit with painful losses all around, but if Iran intervened rather than see its regional assets eliminated, could the U.S. stay out?"

Bad air days....environment

John Leo.....and the Award goes to............

Immigration Bill - today...........................................rightwingnews

Crime beat- three shootings in one night- those PR announcements by politicians are falling on deaf ears

Stop coddling or making excuses for violent criminals.Actions speak louder than words

Sue -Anne Levy- City taxes (revenue tools didn't go over too well)

" Faye Lyons, government relations specialist with the CAA, says everyone at the two sessions she attended were not only opposed to the taxes but concerned about the impact on the city's economy if implemented.

The fact that the vehicle tax was originally proposed at $40 and has now increased to $60 in the report only proves that "the whole consultation process was nothing more than a public relations exercise," Lyons said last week, noting she nevertheless intends to have her say at today's meeting. "The whole process was disingenuous."

She has no doubt the mayor's long-term goal is to introduce most, if not the entire roster of taxes in the future -- starting with a tax on liquor sales -- to grab much needed cash. ......"

Fallen soldiers given Highway Salute

Crime beat- Mothers Against Guns Inc

Board of Trade- Treat Taxation as a last resort

"It's more difficult, but more responsible, to propose alternatives. So, here are a few:

- Build on the first steps City Hall has taken to improve cost management. Toronto found savings of $100-million last year --a budget reduction of less than 1%. A 3% reduction would make the land-transfer tax unnecessary. The business community will be glad to join the budgeting process and help Toronto find realistic ways of reducing costs. -
Open the door to every solution, including alternative financing or service delivery ideas, as long as taxpayer interests are protected.
- Expand the employment of user fees to recover the real costs of city services, such as the recent sensible changes in garbage fees.
- Build a coalition to influence the province. Business, social agencies, environmentalists ? we're all feeling the effects of provincial downloading and funding shortfalls. We may be odd bedfellows, but we can make a stronger case for provincial uploading and cost sharing together".