Fort McMurray wildfire

[Bonam]

That's exactly what my preference is.

And I give Trudeau credit for moving (ever so slightly) in this direction in the last budget.

My post above is intended to be satire poking fun at Harper's stupid tax cuts.

But my examples are probably too heavy on details that are derived directly from Harper's boutique tax cuts that few people know anything about so they are not funny to anyone but another accountant who is in the know.

Naw, I got it and actually smiled a bit reading it. But the followup post (that I quoted) wasn't satire, just a criticism of the home renovation tax credit, a criticism which I agree with but which seems really out of place in this thread.

[jacee]

29 people stayed behind, no phone no vehicle. Minimal looting.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/red-cross-to-transfer-50-million-to-evacuees-from-fort-mcmurray-wildfire/article29983405/

Insp. Kunetzki said police found 29 occupied residences, largely by people without vehicles or phones. He said police helped most of those residents leave, but in limited cases, occupants refused to go so police notified the emergency-operations centre for follow-up.

He also reported 100 cases of forced entry into homes. While all will be investigated, he said some may be cases of neighbours checking that others got out safely or rescuing pets. He noted police often saw valuables in the homes, suggesting something other than a criminal act.

One suspect in a break and enter has been tracked down by police and charged, he said.

The inspector said pets were observed in 80 cases and reported to animal control, or police helped evacuate them.

[cybercoma]

Or how about, in honour of the Harper government which clearly would have done better at this than Trudeau, some imaginative boutique tax cuts?

This post is hilarious.

[Spiderfish]

This post is hilarious.

And waay off topic. But whatever floats your boat.

[Spiderfish]

Most people shouldn't need any help. Lots of them will have 6 figure wages. There should be a means test to see if they should be eligible for support.

When first and last months rent and a months utilities costs you north of $8,000, a six figure wage doesn't go nearly as far as you'd expect it to.

Edited May 12, 2016 by Spiderfish

[msj]

And waay off topic. But whatever floats your boat.

If it is off topic then report it.

[Spiderfish]

If it is off topic then report it.

Loud and proud... go for it. Like I said, whatever gets you going.

[msj]

So you think the government is not going to provide any form of direct relief to YMM?

I've heard they are using prepaid debit cards which seems pretty efficient (although not without concerns about controls as to who gets the funds etc).

But a direct method which has the benefit of being efficient unlike indirect methods such as those proposed.

I'm just pointing out how stupid those indirect methods are in general as they apply to all of Canada.

Yet there will likely be programs (on the spending side rather than taxation side) that will spring up and waste money on administration for which we should be critical of.

Just like we should be critical of any stupid policy no matter who is the government and no matter who it targets.

Yet partisans will defend this policy and attack that policy based on who is proposing it rather than on the merits of the policy itself.

[Spiderfish]

I've heard they are using prepaid debit cards which seems pretty efficient (although not without concerns about controls as to who gets the funds etc).

Financial aid and disaster assistance is going to come on multiple levels from Federal and Provincial as well as through insurance. I think the prepaid debit cards are a smart idea and are an efficient means of getting much needed aid to those affected right away. Concerns about who gets this immediate funding is of little significance at this point, as pretty much everyone in Ft Mac has been affected and is need of immediate assistance regardless of income.

Yet partisans will defend this policy and attack that policy based on who is proposing it rather than on the merits of the policy itself.

You mean partisans like those who invoke Harper's name and use it as an opportunity to negatively criticize past "stupid tax cuts" in a thread about a wildfire in Ft Mac?

[overthere]

• IMAGE LINK

Edited May 12, 2016 by Michael Hardner
ADDED IMAGE LINK

[Topaz]

Just read an articles that says the oil companies set the fires. I guess anything is possible, businesses are hurting. Thoughts? http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/the-arsonists-of-fort-mcmurray-have-a-name/ar-BBsY6qb?li=AAggNb9&ocid=SK2MDHP

[msj]

You mean partisans like those who invoke Harper's name and use it as an opportunity to negatively criticize past "stupid tax cuts" in a thread about a wildfire in Ft Mac?

If you want to criticize my satire then go ahead.

The funny thing is is that I am a fiscal conservative which is why I criticize Harper because his policies clearly were not.

Is it partisan to joke about this? I suppose.

I was mostly just trying to have a bit of a laugh at the ways that people come up with "solutions" to various problems: the quick and easy prepaid debit cards which we both agree make more sense than cause problems.

Versus various stupid ideas and programs that may come forward in the coming weeks and months.

So, I do think it is on-topic now that we are moving on from the disaster itself to finding ways to provide disaster relief.

[msj]

Just read an articles that says the oil companies set the fires. I guess anything is possible, businesses are hurting. Thoughts? http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/the-arsonists-of-fort-mcmurray-have-a-name/ar-BBsY6qb?li=AAggNb9&ocid=SK2MDHP

They have not determined the exact source nor cause of the fire and yet, according to this article, there is "no doubt" the big companies are to blame.

Typical Guardian crap story that has a pre-determined outcome in mind and then writes to it.

Hey, here's an idea - lets wait for the investigative reports so we can base opinions on known facts.

Edited May 12, 2016 by msj

[overthere]

Just read an articles that says the oil companies set the fires. I guess anything is possible, businesses are hurting. Thoughts? http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/the-arsonists-of-fort-mcmurray-have-a-name/ar-BBsY6qb?li=AAggNb9&ocid=SK2MDHP

Two thoughts: anything published in The Grauniad is suspect.

And the author is a Montreal based nutcase who has a massive hate for anything related to energy, unless it is static electricity.,

[overthere]

There is no doubt the source of the fire was man made. That is not uncommon at all.

[Big Guy]

When a natural disaster takes place and the government gets involved in helping those who had no insurance, is the government then penalizing those who were prudent to satisfy those who were not?

[msj]

When a natural disaster takes place and the government gets involved in helping those who had no insurance, is the government then penalizing those who were prudent to satisfy those who were not?

No, the government is rewarding those who were/are not prudent.

Pragmatically I agree we must help these idiots.

But it bothers me that we must help them because they are idiots.

[msj]

There is no doubt the source of the fire was man made. That is not uncommon at all.

I agree that it is most likely human made given the circumstances (aren't forest fires that are close to cities something like 90% caused by humans?).

Have not heard this definitively but maybe you have a source?

[overthere]

I agree that it is most likely human made given the circumstances (aren't forest fires that are close to cities something like 90% caused by humans?).

Have not heard this definitively but maybe you have a source?

Again: there are only two causes of forest fires: lightning strikes or people. All lightning strikes are tracked in Canada. This is how they are tracked https://www.ec.gc.ca/foudre-lightning/default.asp?lang=En&n=D88E34E8-1

There was a different system that tracked lightning before this one started n 1998, If I recall correctly each province had their own.

There was no lightning in the area where the fire started at that time. By the process of eliminating one of the two causes......

[msj]

What? No spontaneous combustion? Or is that spontaneous human combustion?

Edited May 12, 2016 by msj

[jacee]

No, the government is rewarding those who were/are not prudent.

Pragmatically I agree we must help these idiots.

But it bothers me that we must help them because they are idiots.

Perhaps just be grateful for your gifts, and remember that heavy unemployment is Fort Mac's context right now too.

.

[jacee]

Again: there are only two causes of forest fires: lightning strikes or people. All lightning strikes are tracked in Canada. This is how they are tracked https://www.ec.gc.ca/foudre-lightning/default.asp?lang=En&n=D88E34E8-1

There was a different system that tracked lightning before this one started n 1998, If I recall correctly each province had their own.

There was no lightning in the area where the fire started at that time. By the process of eliminating one of the two causes......

Do you think perhaps you are failing to see the forest while looking for butts?

What condition was that forest in anyway?

Dry. Super dry.

Infected with pine beetle?

And I'm guessing it's not old growth, likely clearcut and replanted ...

Monoculture?

Just how vulnerable was it?

And what created those conditions?

Or who?

.

[msj]

Do you think perhaps you are failing to see the forest while looking for butts?

What condition was that forest in anyway?

Dry. Super dry.

Infected with pine beetle?

And I'm guessing it's not old growth, likely clearcut and replanted ...

Monoculture?

Just how vulnerable was it?

And what created those conditions?

Or who?

.

Ah, yes, so clearly human caused.

[jacee]

Ah, yes, so clearly human caused.

Corporate.

To quote ...

'If aliens were doing that to our earth and to our people, we'd be fighting them.'

.

[msj]

Who owns, operates, makes a living from, consumes the products and services of those corporations?

Oh, right, humans.

Unless the circus has come to town in which case it may involve animals.