Tuesday digest

- If you ask me, I think illegal immigration should remain just that: illegal. What message would it send to the rest of the world about the integrity of American citizenship, or citizenship in any G-8 country for that matter, if those who just happen to show up somewhere are afforded all of the benefits that accompany it?

- I wasn't going to blog about the death of John Kenneth Galbraith but everyone seems to be piling on so I might as well, too. Basically, this "economist"'s (with a bachelor's degree in animal husbandry) main claim to fame was his contention that the whole of capitalist society is a sham because we're all sheep who only respond to advertising, marketing and the like. For instance, that new house or car that you bought? Galbraith would say that you really don't need it, and deep down, you don't even want it. The only reason you purchased it was because big business brainwashed you into doing so. The logical conclusion of this argument is that regular people don't know what's good for them and they need others who are smarter and more sophisticated to make economic decisions on their behalf. This is central planning elitism at its worst, and is the reason why he's so reviled by those who would rather allow people to make their own decisions with their wallets. No wonder he was a left-wing icon.

- Anti-war correspondent Robert Fisk, who once said after being beaten by a group of Taliban sympathizers in Pakistan that he "couldn't blame them for what they were doing" because he's a Westerner, has gone completely off his rocker. According to Fisk, bin Laden and Zarqawi are simple "caricatures" created by the President so that we all have someone to hate.

What?

I wonder what Fisk would have to say about this warning from Iran. Just another imperialist power shell game, I suppose?

- Today is budget day in Canada. For a look at where your tax dollars go, see here. And while some rock-ribbed conservatives like me (note the lower-case C) are going to be wanting to see some big changes, it looks like politics are going to win the day. No doubt the minimal tax cuts that we're going to see will be described as "massive", "deep" and "severe" by the Toronto Star and CBC complete with comparisons to President Bush and lots of hand-wringing about the poor.

- On that, the Canadian dollar is trading at over 90 cents and some commentators are suggesting it will trade at par with the US buck within 12-18 months. Although it has negative effects for Canadian exporters, it's good that high-taxing, high-regulating governments won't be able to hide behind a low dollar because they don't have the political will to take real measures that will improve productivity.

- And finally, how about those Edmonton Oilers? Great stuff! I didn't think Detroit was going to do a thing in these playoffs. Now hopefully the Flames will dispose of the Ducks tomorrow night at home and we can all enjoy the Battle of Alberta!