some of what you'll hear on today's show: Sunday, January 22, 2012

Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party and member of parliament will join us to share her thoughts and views on U.S. President Obama's denial of permits for the building of the Keystone XL pipeline.

Tea Party member and executive director of Regular Folks United and university professor Ron Miller will speak to Newt Gingrich's South Carolina Republican primary vote win.  Mitt Romney has announced he'll release his 2010 income tax information on Tuesday.

Margaret MacDonald is an 82 year old B.C. woman who tells a story of being bullied by RCMP officers, accused of and charged with drunk driving, was shouted at and made to stand outside in the midnight chill for two hours, having to "beg" to go to the bathroom.  This all stems from a driving incident and Ms. MacDonald told me she was stone cold sober.   So many listener emails about Margaret MacDonald that we're speaking with her today.  The B.C. Attorney General is looking into the situation which saw Margaret MacDonald fined, have her car towed and charged by police.  She is out $6,000 and can't afford it (had to hire a lawyer).  This 82 year old senior also suffered a stress related heart attack.

When a 12 year old girl kissed a 12 year old boy on the cheek at a Florida school, the vice prinicpal called state authorities and made an emergency call to the county Sheriff worrying about sexual harassment.  We'll have that story for you
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the fact that (hang on to your mittens)....some Texas school districts have their own police forces and they have issued Class C misdemeanor tickets to children as young as 6 for misbehaviour.  The children have to attend municipal court and can be fined up to $500.00 and more!  This goes on their record and can cause difficulties later as far as college admission and job searches are concerned.  Texas state legislator Helen Giddings introduced legislation to put an end to this practice.  how did that turn out?  We'll ask Representative Giddings on the show today.

A massive labour rally in London, Ontario yesterday (labour estimates 15,000 in attendance) to challenge the lockout of CAW members by Caterpillar International.  Ken Lewenza is the president of the CAW.  He'll join us and talk about the lockout and the fact that Caterpillar, according to the CAW, is looking to cut wages by as much as $18.50 an hour.  Maximum pay at the plant is $35.00 we're told.  Is Caterpillar's intent to close the London plant and move the jobs to Indiana?  London, by the way, is the second hardest hit Metro area in Canada as far as jobless rates are concerned.  You may not be a union supporter, but this situation deserves a real review and by the federal government!

Catherine Swift, CEO/President of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and Linda Leatherdale, one of Canada's leading business journalists at www.lindaleatherdale.com, and the Green Show's MONEY panel will address the MP Pension plan. I'll read an email from NDP MP Wayne Marsten sent to me about the plan. Mr. Marsten believes many MPs took a pay cut to become members of parliament.  I like Wayne and have known him for years, but come on, most MPs were earning more than the $157,000 base salary? That we need proof of..! 
Linda has real concerns about the gap between the most wealthy and the average person and finds herself siding with Bob Rae (that's a first) on one point at least.  She'll explain.
and small business in Canada (CFIB reps them) have complaints about treatment by Canada Revenue Agency auditors.  Catherine will explain.

We'll talk about the Costa Concordia Captain Francesco Schettino and how he and the Italain coast guard captain Gregorio De Falco have become to Italians a metaphor for what's wrong in their country.  Dr. Donato Santeramo from Queens University will explain
and
staying with Schettino, what's the difference between fear and cowardice?  When does cowardice begin to make its presence known and felt in a situation where fear is present?  Dr. Stanley Coren, professor emeritus in psychology at UBC speaks to that.  Congratulations as well to Dr. Coren for being a finalist for the Maxwell Medallion from the Dog Writers Association of America.  When he's not dealing with human psychology, Dr. Coren is one of the world's most widely read and admired authors on books on dogs.

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Comments

[Todd]

How ironic that you should mention Wayne Marston and be discussing the MP Pension Plan with him!! The year 2012 is a big year for this Member of Parliament. Wayne Marston has reached the six year mark in Parliament and is now fully vested into the lucrative MP Pension Plan (along with a few other MP's). Did Wayne mention this to you at all during your discussions? Not likely...