I WRITE ABOUT ALL KINDS OF THINGS . . . BUT THIS TOO IS REALLY IMPORTANT:
I’m Writing This Now . . . Because It’s Fresh In My Mind.
Normally – On The 15th Of Each Month, I Ask the Readers of Galganov.com to help Support this BLOG, but I’ll Do That In Tomorrow’s Editorial, since I think this Editorial should be A STAND ALONE PRESENTATION FOR ALL OF US TO THINK ABOUT.
The Following Illustrates Why I Am Certain About The Collapse Of Our Societies.
THE MEDIA, POLITICIANS & BUREAUCRATS ARE HIDING THE TRUTH:
Anne & I are Far from Being Financially Flush. But we’re also not Broke. And that said, the Distance Between Being Comfortable & Not . . . is Far Closer than Most People Care to Think About, Admit or Realize.
THE FOLLOWING IS NOT ANECDOTAL . . . IT’S A HARSH REALITY:
Last Night, Anne and I met with another Couple to Break Bread Together in the Big/Small Town of Cornwall Ontario, which for Anne and Myself is about a 40-Minute Drive.
Because of the Distance, and the CRIMINAL COST OF GASOLINE, about $5 & MORE PER GALLON IN CANADA, we decided to take Anne’s Miata Sports Car, which gets about 32-Miles Per Gallon, opposed to 10-Miles Per Gallon for my F-250.
BUT . . . Then it Dawned on us – I had to Pick-Up some Trellis to Finish off the New Gazebo I just Constructed on the Deck, so we took the F-250, and decided to suck-it up and Pay the Outrageous Cost in Gas. And if we were to be Driving the Truck, Stryker gets to Come Too . . . WHICH IS ALWAYS A BONUS.
At Cornwall, we Stopped at Home Depot to Purchase the Trellis and some 2×4’s. And at about 6:15pm, on a Gorgeous Early Evening when we arrived at the Home Depot Parking Lot, the Store was Pretty-Much Empty of Customers, which in itself Said A Lot.
But Also . . . There wasn’t anyone around from the Home Depot Store to give Service, which also Said A Lot. The Store was also Plenty Askew, which I had Noticed in Previous Visits. The Lumber wasn’t Neatly Stacked or Displayed. The Aisles were Clogged with Discarded Products, and the whole Store seemed Sullen, Instead of being Warm, Inviting & Geared to Promote Sales.
SO . . . Not only did they not have what I wanted within Reach, other than for some Broken & Discolored Pieces, there was No One Available for me to even ask about taking some Product down from an Elevated Storage Shelf by Forklift . . . SO I LEFT. I Bought Everything Today . . . AT LOWES IN CORNWALL.
We met our Friends at BOSTON PIZZA, which, when Brand New several years ago, used to be a Popular Cornwall Restaurant. So, we sat down, Anne ordered a Coffee, I a Soft Drink, and our Friends a Glass of Wine and a Coffee.
We Caught-Up on Life-Stuff, Spoke about Politics, the US Embassy Move to Jerusalem, Summer-Travel, their Adult Children . . . And The Menu.
The Cost of their Food was EXORBITANT, Especially for Italian Food, which is little more than Pasta, Flour, some Greens & Sauce, which, for Literally PENNIES, I can Cook (and do) at Home, and much Better may I add, than what we can Usually Buy in a Restaurant.
But, we Wanted a Night Out, and I Realize that the Cost of Operating a Restaurant in this Day & Age, with the Costs of Real-Estate, Light, Heat, Electricity, Gas, Insurances, Food, Salaries, Maintenance, Marketing . . . & TAXES, TAXES, TAXES – has become Prohibitive.
SO . . . If We’re going to be Spending as much as, and more than $60 On Pasta, Soft Drinks and a Coffee, for just the two of us, Including Food, Tax & Tip – I better get something Worthwhile, such as PLEASANT, EFFICIENT & ATTENTIVE SERVICE, Great Food, an Excellent Atmosphere & Cleanliness . . . NONE OF WHICH was Provided by the Cornwall Boston Pizza, especially when we Looked at the Two Teaspoons, one each in Two Separate Coffee Cups, which were Both REALLY GRUNGY.
I Got Up . . . Found the Manager, and Told him we were Leaving, because his Restaurant was Dirty, his Spoons were Unwashed, and we wanted no Part of his Atmosphere. He didn’t even Bother to say he was Sorry.
We Went To East Side Mario’s down the Street a bit from Boson Pizza, which was also Devoid of Patrons, Where we were also served by a Waitress WITHOUT much Personality or Appreciable People Skills, but the Food was Good, and before Long, the Waitress seemed to have got the Message.
At the end of the Meal, when the Waitress gave us the Bill, and I “needed” to add the Percentage of the Tip to the Total, I told the Server, that I didn’t know if I was going to give her any Tip, but since she came through in the End, I tipped my customary 20%.
TELL ME THIS ISN’T INSANE:
With Food, Taxes & Tip . . . With No Liquor, Beer, Wine or Dessert for Anne or Myself, Anne & I Spent $55.12 On Pasta with one Soft Drink & one Coffee. And if you want to add-in the Cost of Gas . . . This Simple Supper Out with Friends, COST US MORE THAN $100.
We Are Not Going To Do This Again . . .
There’s Nothing Smart About Getting Ripped-Off.
A FEW DAYS EARLIER, we also had to take Stryker to the Vet, because Stryker Developed a Hot-Spot on his Tail, probably from being Bitten or Stung by an Insect. The Visit took about 10-Minutes. There was some Basic Treatment, some Medication, and some Heart-Guard to Protect against Heart-Worm – $400.
Anne and I were Planning a Trip to Thunder Bay in June by RV, but with the Canadian Carbon Tax and the Cost of RV Parks during the Height of the Vacation Season – A Simple Drive of 2,000-Miles (Round Trip) would have cost Anne and Myself about $4000. So Instead, we decided to Rebuild the Deck with a New Gazebo & BBQ.
Our Friends, with whom we had Supper Last Night, were Planning with Anne and Myself for a Three Night Trip in July to North Conway New Hampshire, until we did the Math, and it worked out, that this Simple, RV Getaway, was going to cost Anne & Myself about $1000, because of Inflated RV Park Costs, Fuel & Restaurants . . . We’re Not Going.
Instead . . .
We’ll Go To Watertown NY At A Fraction The Cost With No Less The Pleasure.
The Restaurants, Home Depot & Other Places Aren’t Empty For No Reason.
BECAUSE OF THE INSATIABLE BUREAUCRACY – WE’RE NEAR THE END:
Why are we Being Taxed to Death? Why are the Politicians Imposing Draconian Taxes like the Carbon Tax? Why are the Politicians Forcing-Up Wages? Why are the Politicians Creating & Imposing Draconian Regulations?
It’s One Thing To Say Everything’s Hunky-Dory . . . It’s Another To Tell The Truth.
It’s Not How Much You Earn . . . It’s How Much The Government Allows You To Keep. And with Every Passing Day, the Cost of Government Grows. The Size of Government Grows. The Entitlement of Government Employees Grows. The Un-Funded Pensions of Government Employees Grows – The Incompetence of Government Grows . . . AND THE PEOPLE TO PAY ALL OF THIS SHRINKS.
I Can Write Whatever I Want . . . But The Truth Is In The Seeing.
I know what I was able to Afford Several Years Ago. And I know what I can Afford Today . . . AND I’M NOT UNIQUE. I’m one of you. I’m one of the Retirement Or Working Poor, Who Used To Be Called The Middle Class.
AS THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES . . . On It’s Path Of Incompetence – Restaurants, Renovation Centers and other Non-Essential Retail Establishments will Continue to Decline, which is the Real Harbinger, which is No Longer about the Things to Come, but which are Already Part of our Reality.
THE ECONOMY, MUCH LIKE A BALLOON, CAN ONLY EXPAND UNTIL IT BLOWS:
The American LEFT has no Idea how Lucky Their Country is for the Election of Donald Trump, even though They’re Too Stupid To Realize It. And because of Generations of LEFTIST Group-Think & Socialism, it Really Might be Too Late for even America to Avoid Financial Catastrophe, but at Least America has a Fighting Chance.
FOR EUROPE & COUNTRIES LIKE CANADA . . . Look to Venezuela for an Inkling of what Awaits us, because our BALLOON is Plenty Full, and not Very Far from Bursting. And it won’t take much.
Just Ask The People Who Own The Restaurants.
Best Regards . . . Howard Galganov
22 Comments
HOWARD MADE A POINT I WAS RELUCTANT TO POST, I READ IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND SAID “YUP WHAT THE HELL”, IT DOES MAKE SENSE, HOW CAN I NOT POST IT IF IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH HOWARD HIT THE “NAIL RIGHT ON THE HEAD WITH ALL 3 MEN OUR POLITICAL VOICES SO IT GOES. A CUT AND PASTE FROM A LG. ARTICLE, AS THIS IS WHAT I WANT YOU TO GRASP! ######## The LEFT is almost ALWAYS on the wrong side of every debate, but no matter how wrong they are, you will NOT SEE, HEAR OR READ THE FOLLOWING:
1 – The wrong-sid
Spot on Howard. The Ggod Lord givith the government schmucks take it away.
Mr. Howard, Why don’t you and Miss Anne just move on down to Huntsville, AL ? We are growing leaps and bounds and you have to wait for a table in most every restaurant, and we have plenty! I too, hear the rumble of trouble ahead. People have literally lost their minds, and the adults in charge of the hen house are letting the foxes in every night to thin the flock! Crazy stuff going on, but, other than sending a Democrat to Washington a few months ago, we are still mostly conservative
I couldn’t agree more Howard. The minimum wage increase has not helped matters either, hence staffing shortages at large retailers like Home Depot. The service industry is waning everywhere as the sense of entitlement grows more and more. An entire people’s mindset is now required to change….I don’t like our chances.
I agree Howard. I won’t go out for steak any more because they never cook it right and the ones I grill at home are cooked the way I like them and have nice flavor because seasoning is my thing. I’m tired of paying for improperly cooked, gristle-filled steaks. I’m to the point now where I don’t want to spend the money n fine dining because it’s not worth it any more and I am tired of paying top dollar for something I can do better at home. Costco: Restaurant quality & below supermarket cost!
Beurocies running wild right across the country…..snivel servants dream up more and more rules and regulations to make themselves look good to the political masters. Here in Calgary a Micro Brewery wanted to put two tables out for a patio. It would have been a simple matter to say yes or no. However, it took 11 months of back and forth requirements from different departments before the ‘expansion’ was granted at great expense. UNBELIEVABLE 😩😰😡
And our governments fudge the numbers on inflation to keep the pension indexes low. We experiencing a rampant cost of living increase. Buy a package of cookies and you will find 20% fewer, each biscuit smaller, but government does not record a price increase. Your Ford has probably doubled in price over 10 years but government says it is twice as good so no cost inflator. Our “leaders” are liars and crooks.
After American Idol TV is cancelled, landline in 2 months. Turned the furnace off April 1. Popcorn and movies at home. Travel when necessary and cheap gas. Minimize every cost. This province & country is done. I am preparing for after the storm. I will be here to clean up the mess. Government will be limited to supplying basic services. The people will be in charge. It will be a Privilege to be a Civil Servant. Leave people alone to live their lives without government looking over your shoulder.
I am among the American poor but I have some funds to keep me going. I also lived in Venezuela for two years and know what happened there. Pray liberals wake up before it is too late. Maybe they are too brained washed to think for themselves. Keep writing. Blessings to you and Anne.
Until recently, I spent one to two monhs per year near the 416 and out beyond Perth. Within the past year I read about all the regulations and added costs coming to Ontario. I have no clue how anyone can afford to live there. I no longer visit but still have numerous friends there. Within the past month I was communicating with a friend and she was so depressed. I asked her: “Must I come up and bring you back down here to get you back to normal.” The response was: “How soon”.
Unfortunately all True HG . Standards are gone , costs are up on necessities, and the Smoke from the Gov. says otherwise . And yes I’m likely a Bigot of some sort BUT I see nothing but money being spent on Bad Schools , Bad Hospitals , Piss Poor public services , AND lots of funding for Immigration , needle exchanges and a budget forecast of a 40 Million Loss , first year to roll out Marijuana . What other Drug Cartel is forecasting a LOSS ? AND WE ARE WAY PAST getting this back under control.
Excellent Editorial. I no longer go to the ‘movies’ because it costs too much. I no longer go to Sporting Events because it costs too much. I do go out to eat with friends, once a month…I have to plan for it in my budget. I prefer preparing my own meals. It is not just in Canada these things are happening…Trust me. As a retiree on S.S. only, it is the pits. The taxes on my property are rising so fast and the utilities, etc. It has to STOP.
You are right on. Here in CA the governor is going crazy. He is building a high speed railroad to nowhere and raising the gas tax to pay for it. We are old but still able to take care of our own expenses. How long I am not sure. If we can get a republican governor next election, we might save the state. Money is moving out of state and so are producers. Thanks for Trump in DC. Liberals are not realizing what is going on, just more taxes and more regulations. hope Trump can stop them.
Howard, completely agree with your article. As a small business owner can say that since JT/liberals have come into power my costs (utilities, business expenses & TAXES) have skyrocketed and my revenues have decreased dramatically. The way I see it, Canada has very little time left. When you add in all THEIR refugees/illegal aliens the time bomb is ticking.
Figure that Canadians had best prepare by stocking up: food, water, supplies, first aid needs, wool clothes, guns/ammo & medicatio
Welcome bak 2 Cornwall. Increased min wage all restaurants jackd up prices, opportunity to increase profits. Hamburger n fries costs $10+, outrageous. Best value, Family Restaurant, corner, Pitt/Nine. Boston Pizza is rip off, we askd price n never went any further. Gas prices over bridge r stable for weeks, this side much higher, varies much as 10c/lit. I am convinced companies n stations are gouging. Bears Den fill up n 5g can, no duties, saves $20 over cost here. Alexandria gas $ lowest.
Been retired since 2008. Have not gotten a raise except for $2 on social security. We don’t go out to eat anymore. We don’t waste funds anymore. I guess they will start charging for TV soon since we don’t do Netflix or any of that costly stuff. Things are going backwards instead of forwards. I don’t know what will happen to tomorrow but I do know Who holds tomorrow and may HE come quickly. PS will we have to pay $2.55 for gas from now on, too??????
Howard How about and article on Doug Ford for Ontario Many of the items you speak of he is addressing I will hear him Thursday night in Kitchener
$2.55 may be low for gas from what I heard on the news today. I hope the oil levels off and things come down. I have a good retirement, but am also seeing such an increase. Cutting government is our only hope!
Sorry to hear about the changing times in Canada. I think the question is…did you have the same issues during your visit here in Austin – or anywhere on your way back home? In other words, what might the comparison be between the two countries?
Spot on Howard! I had read recently that a member in the “drama queens” government up here wants to introduce a private members bill so that everyone in the country working or not, can have a ‘living wage; what ever the hell that is. I REALLY HOPE that I am wrong about this. IF they do this, then they have total control over the population. After all, if you control the guns and then how much you earn, you will be dependent on them just the way they want it. Colin Miller Victoria B.C.
AMEN, Howard! Spot-on “blog”!! LIBs can’t see what they’re doing to our great USA!!! Thank goodness for Pres. Trump, but he “can’t do it alone”…..DRAIN THE SWAMP, AMEN!!!!
There is only one way to avert the future,….conservativism, BY ALL, (including the government, in fact more so the Gvnmt!). It’s even looking like “instituting term Limits” is too late. “WE THE PEOPLE” have the power to make term limits WORK NOW, simple procedure “IF THEIR IN OFFICE NOW,….THROW THEM OUT, IF THEY ARE NEW VOTE ‘em IN, how bloody simple is that???? We still have the ultimate hand to play and should never forget it!
Spend ten minutes and read the CONSTITUTION!!!
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