BACK IN THE U. S. OF A. ...

BACK IN THE U. S. OF A. …
by Timothy Rollins, Editor and Publisher

First in a Series

July 25, 2003

EDITOR'S NOTE: With this column, Tim begins a series on his return from Canada and reports on his observations on his life up there and the differences and the similarities between the two cultures, and how the freedoms there are also very different. We hope you enjoy this series.

Man, is it ever good to be home! As I crossed the border, I had this incredible feeling like I was being led into the Promised Land. It's not like I'm Moses or anything - it's just a much better deal overall.

I figured out the secret to Customs and Immigration: It's all about taking on an anal nature for a few minutes. Because I had an extremely detailed manifest of EVERYTHING in my vehicle and trailer, Customs had the dog do a walk-around of my vehicle and cut me loose in about two minutes. When my then father-in-law and I went to Arizona in 1994 in his pickup, I was cleared in five seconds and he was held up for well over an hour. I guess they didn't like something about him for one reason or another. They even went through every piece of paper in his wallet - for whatever reason I never knew.

As for great to be home: Case in point - with the exchange rate and all, after you convert the liters into U.S. gallons, one finds gasoline about 85 cents a gallon cheaper, milk two dollars a gallon less, sales tax for example goes from 15 percent in Ontario (8% provincial and 7% federal Goods and Services Tax) to 5.6% in Wisconsin. The speed limit goes up slightly, and it just feels nicer. There really is no place like home. Auto insurance goes from $2000 to only $700 a year for the same coverage. Who's getting ripped off up there? Everyone.

I quickly found a place to live and am pleased with that. Now that things are settled somewhat, I am getting TAP back up and running, which is a joy in and of itself. This move wasn't made without some sacrifices, and there are some battles still to be fought, but that will be done at the appropriate time and place.

Just as important is being back in a free nation in which free speech is allowed where one can speak out without fear of being indicted for speaking their mind. Oh one can say what they want in America and be thought an ignoramus, a redneck or even a moron, but only in exceptional cases would they get charged. Under the moronic, idiotic and outright asinine laws of Canada - hate speech is indictable because you singled out a group - such as 'picking on the gays' or the black population, yet treasonous and seditious speech is protected under the law - despite the imminent threat to national security such speech poses. Is it me or is somebody's thinking suffering from cranial-rectal impaction here?

Another contrast that bears study is that of the two country's leaders. President George W. Bush of Texas is a no-nonsense leader who takes the bull by the horns and doesn't take flak from anybody. Since 9/11, he's made it clear if you aid terrorists, you'll reap severe consequences. The Hussein Brothers found that out the hard way just a couple of days ago - for the last time.

On the flip side of the coin is the weenie from Shawinigan, Quebec that passes himself off as the Prime Minister - Jean Chretien - who in reality, is nothing more than a thug within the ranks of the Liberal Party who climbed a body stack within his own ranks to get his present position. He's the touchy-feely kind of guy who's more interested in avoiding a confrontation at all costs - even if it means getting overrun by an avowed enemy. He'd talk out of both sides of his mouth - if he could.

Chretien is so neglectful of his domestic responsibilities and obsessed with what the world thinks of him that he sends peacekeepers off for the impotent UN, despite the fact he has insufficient troops to defend the shores at home, and thus has to call on Washington to defend Canada's shores as well as the United States' as well.

Fortunately, Chretien leaves office next year with no tangible legacy - yet like Clinton, he's desperately looking for one. Perhaps he'll be best remembered for being the 'leg breaker' of those who crossed him at varying points along the way. Kind of like Clinton - except people who crossed Clinton's path had a nasty habit of turning up dead. Chretien's people merely ended up getting fired.

And they thought they had it bad … Given Canada's employment picture - especially in the political arena at the moment, maybe it is a fate worse than death, come to think of it. ***

Photo of Timothy Rollins courtesy of staff files