06/23/2008: "After the fog lifts" Do you remember the story of Creepy Pete? The "ever killed a man" guy with the ten-gallon bucket of hooch?

Right. Well. I LARPed with Creepy Pete this weekend. He's *slightly* less creepy, although I think that may be primarily because he was out of his 'bawn'. His burrow. His strange little warren.

One of the reasons I love my friends as much as I do is that we can spend an hour in vigorous debate and discussion over Marxist theories of political ideals, and then spend the next hour talking about how good the burgers were at lunch.

Here's something I don't understand: if our province is in the middle of an economic 'boom', why are we selling off some of our most successful businesses?

"It's a success!"       "Diaspora and those with the Tiniest Thoraces."

10 Comments

platypusnboots , on Monday, 23rd June:

The province is minority stakeholder in Saskferco, which is not a crown. Mosiac, the majority shareholder, is getting out of the business entirely. There is a certain amount of risk for the province staying as a minority shareholder during the sale.
By the province putting up its shares, it will increase interest in the purchase and better chance of getting a buyer who is interested in keeping the company running in one piece and I that believe that is better for the province in the long run.
There was a certain amount of criticism for government investing in private business to begin with ... but that is another issue.
This is the first decision the SaskParty has made that I can agree with.

If I were you, I'd start petitioning that the funds received by the province from the sale should be earmarked for culture and the arts in Sask.

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Aelius , on Monday, 23rd June:

I recall a meeting with the mayor once. Where he stated that he recieved more support from the voters when he stated that he was cutting funding to the Arts & Culture of Regina.

It makes me sad.

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cenobyte , on Monday, 23rd June:

I've mentioned this before, but in the last Conservative government in SK, when one of the MLAs stood up in the Legislature and stated "I'm pleased to announce, Mr. Speaker, that not one cent of taxpayers' money is going to fund the arts", there was a huge round of applause.

*shudder*

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Der Kaptin , on Monday, 23rd June:

How about this -- the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan buys out the Mosaic share of SaskFerco, and is flipped the government's shares, so then it does become part of a crown. WTP get the benefit of all those profits by having our services maintained and increased, while our taxes decline --for positive rather than negative reasons.

Think Bradley and Co. would go for that? If you do, then could I interest you in this diamond-bearing quarter of land I happen to own just next to Dead Moose Lake? (Well, it used to be just next to DM Lake. Now it's, um, closer.)

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platypusnboots , on Monday, 23rd June:

See, the beauty of it is that this is not money derived from taxes. This is profit from the sale of shares that exceeds the taxpayers original investment with the original investment being taxpayers money. Its like super extra fun debauchery money. And since it is debauchery money it should not be mixed in with the straight laced taxpayer money. It should go where it belongs with other debaucherous things - To the Arts!

(The above is not to be in any way confused with ruth, logic, sanity or anything other than a political statement)

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Cori , on Monday, 23rd June:

Did I meet creepy Pete?

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cenobyte , on Monday, 23rd June:

I don't think you did, Cori; I'm not sure if he played in subsequent games (after Friday night) or not. If he did, it would have been Vampire. He would have been heavily armed. And slightly odd.

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turk182 , on Monday, 23rd June:

George Carlin died today you stupid roleplaying assholes.

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cenobyte , on Monday, 23rd June:

Yeah. I LARPed with him, too.

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Smarty Pants , on Monday, 30th June:

Plus, if you're going to sell, sell when times are good. Get the most money you can for it (and put it into the debauchery fund - thanks Platy!) This would be / is better than waiting for a recession where you'll have a lack of buyers and get a low price, and the taxpayers take a loss on investment.

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