Politics

Generally reading and learning about the politics of the country we are visiting ranks fairly high with Ken and I. Those that know us know we take our politics very seriously.

At the moment in Alberta the municipal elections are in full swing. Calgary for the first time in a very long time has something to talk about. The last Mayor and councilors ran the city into deficit and the tax payers have had enough. I really do believe that there will not be a single alderman re-elected. To replace the group are hungry eager new blood. I do believe all will turn around!

Now if you believe that I have some swamp land for sell in Florida. I would like to believe it was as easy as voting in new people but reality is that it is the people working in City Hall, the paid people at the top tat overspend and under deliver. The duplication of services for each different department costs $100,000's dollars. The kiss system should be implemented. The only down side I see to making it work is that there would be lose of some jobs. In the private sector a business must be financially solvent or it ceases to exist. Why do we allow our governments to spend beyond the tax payers means? Social programs are great but if we cannot afford the swimming pool without going into debt, then don't build it. A big controversy in Calgary right now is the Calgary Public School Board.

When the Provincial government gives the school board money and it is spent on a modern new building for administration please quit shining that the poor teachers have to many kids in a class etc, etc. if the taxpayers money had gone into the classes instead of a not needed building everyone would have been happier. Teachers, students, parents and non school attending kids taxpayers.

Why did I pick this topic?

Ken was lucky (a unique experience)to witness partying in the streets in Colombia. The reason? The number one king pin of FARC had been killed by the military. We are told as travelers to stay clear of any political rallies or demonstrations so Ken just did that but he couldn't help but witness the excitement.

FARC is a peasant army which has proclaimed itself as a revolutionary party. It claims to represent the rural poor in a struggle against Colombia's wealthier classes, and opposes United States influence in Colombia, monopolization of natural resources by multinational corporations. It funds itself principally through ransom kidnappings, and the illegal drug trade. It is also known to exploit its own people with extortion. You could compare it to the Al Qaida.

Last week the number one leader Moo Jojoy was killed along with several other top people with a bomb by the air force. Colombia is taking a very serious approach to the stopping of drug trafficking. Zero tolerance.

The Colombian army this weekend stepped up efforts to capture or kill "Pastor Alape," a member of the FARC's secretariat and the presumed successor to Mono Jojoy.

This has all been reason for celebration and Ken says the partying has been going on the whole weekend.

Sometimes Current Events can be interesting. If we were not in Colombia we would not know this was even occurring. All this IS making Colombia a great place to go and visit becoming a much safer place than in the past.