While this was written in Canada are things much different in the good
old USA
Something to think about. An election is coming.
At first I thought this was funny.... Then I realized the awful truth of
it. Be sure to read all the way to the end!
Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table
At which he's fed.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.
Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for peanuts
Anyway!
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.
Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears..
Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass.
Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid.
Put these words
Upon his tomb,
'Taxes drove me
To my doom...'
When he's gone,
Do not relax,
It’s time to apply
The inheritance tax.
Accounts Receivable Tax
Airline surcharge tax
Airline Fuel Tax
Airport Maintenance Tax
Building Permit Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Death Tax
Dog License Tax
Driving Permit Tax
Environmental Tax (Fee)
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment (UI)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Gasoline Tax (too much per litre)
Gross Receipts Tax
Health Tax
Hunting License Tax
Hydro Tax
Inheritance Tax
Interest Tax
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Mortgage Tax
Personal Income Tax
Property Tax
Poverty Tax
Prescription Drug Tax
Provincial Income and sales tax
Real Estate Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Retail Sales Tax
Service Charge Tax
School Tax
Telephone Federal Tax
Telephone Federal, Provincial and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Water Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
--- and in 2010 in B.C., the HST
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, & our nation was one of
the most prosperous in the world.
We had absolutely no national debt, had a large middle class, and Mom
stayed home to raise the kids.
What in the hell happened? Can you spell 'politicians?' And I still have
to 'press 1' for English!?!?!?!?
I hope this goes around CANADA at least 100 times!!!!! YOU can help it
get there!!!!
GO AHEAD - - - be a CANADIAN !!!!!!!!!!
Presented By Larry Guzda
This Article May Be Copied, BUT, NOT Changed In Any Way
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
A Simple Trick To Increase Your Conversions Up To 500%
"A Simple Trick To Increasing Conversions Up To 500%"
There is an almost fool-proof way to increase the conversion rate of your online offer. And not any minor increase. I'm talking MAJOR increases in conversions of up to 500% or more...
The secret is to offer a free trial period, or free trial of some sort.
Don't make the mistake of overlooking the POWER of free trials just because the concept sounds simple. Some of the best converting sites online are those that offer free trial periods.
Think about it. The big "road block" to ordering online is skepticism. People aren't sure about what they'll get, or what happens when they click that order button. So what you want to do is eliminate all doubt on the part of your customers with the free trial offer.
If offering a monthly membership site, offer a 7 day trial period. You DO want to take the payment information up front. But assure your customer that they won't be billed until after the 7 day trial is up. And assure that they may easily cancel at any time BEFORE the trial period expires.
If offering an ebook (as another example), offer a couple chapters of the book (at different timed intervals) to your customers during the trial period. Make sure to "leave 'em hanging" so that they'll really want to receive the next chapter when their billing begins.
This isn't rocket science! Obviously there are some situations in which it's just not practical or possible to offer a free trial. But in nearly every case I've tested, offering a free trial increases conversions AND paying customers is a big, BIG way.
Get creative and see how YOU can offer a free trial to your prospects. And watch your sales increase!
There is an almost fool-proof way to increase the conversion rate of your online offer. And not any minor increase. I'm talking MAJOR increases in conversions of up to 500% or more...
The secret is to offer a free trial period, or free trial of some sort.
Don't make the mistake of overlooking the POWER of free trials just because the concept sounds simple. Some of the best converting sites online are those that offer free trial periods.
Think about it. The big "road block" to ordering online is skepticism. People aren't sure about what they'll get, or what happens when they click that order button. So what you want to do is eliminate all doubt on the part of your customers with the free trial offer.
If offering a monthly membership site, offer a 7 day trial period. You DO want to take the payment information up front. But assure your customer that they won't be billed until after the 7 day trial is up. And assure that they may easily cancel at any time BEFORE the trial period expires.
If offering an ebook (as another example), offer a couple chapters of the book (at different timed intervals) to your customers during the trial period. Make sure to "leave 'em hanging" so that they'll really want to receive the next chapter when their billing begins.
This isn't rocket science! Obviously there are some situations in which it's just not practical or possible to offer a free trial. But in nearly every case I've tested, offering a free trial increases conversions AND paying customers is a big, BIG way.
Get creative and see how YOU can offer a free trial to your prospects. And watch your sales increase!
Check out Magnetic Sponsoring
Presented By Larry Guzda
This article may be copied,but NOT changed in any way
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Larry's Home Business News And Reviews - 5 Easy Ways To Get Your Creative Juices Going
Writing an article doesn’t just mean putting down thoughts into words then typing and writing it. You have to capture the interest of your readers and get them to keep on reading. To send your message across you have to get the attention of the reader and have a firm grasp of their interest and pique their curiosity.
The main ingredient in baking up an article is a large dose of creativity. While creativity may come natural to many people, some just gets into a block or something to that effect that can drive someone crazy. Many writers have literally torn their hair out when they get writers block and just can’t seem to get their creative juices flowing.
Putting words into images in the readers mind is an art. A clear and crisp depiction requires a certain flair that only creativity can provide. Similes and metaphors help a lot, but the way an article gets entwined word for word, sentence by sentence then paragraph by paragraph into a whole article develops the essence of the article.
So just what do you have to do when nothing comes to mind? There is no surefire ways to get the perfect ideas but there are easy ways to get your creative juices flowing. No one can guarantee you of having the perfect mindset but many methods may aid you in achieving that state of mind. Here are five easy ways for that.
1) Keep a diary or a journal with you always. Ideas can be triggered by anything you may hear, see, or smell. Your senses are your radar in finding great ideas. Write all of them into a journal and keep it with you for future reference. You may also write down anything that you have read or heard, someone’s ideas could be used to develop your own ideas and this is not stealing. Remember that ideas and creativity can come from anywhere; it’s the development of the idea that makes it unique.
2) Relax and take time to sort things out. A jumbled mind cannot create any space for new ideas. Everyone must have a clear mind if one wishes to have their creativity in full speed. Get rid of all obstacles that can be a hindrance to your creativity. If you are bothered by something, you cannot force your mind to stay focused.
Try to relax every time that you can and think about your experiences and interactions with others. Your experiences are what shape your mindset and your opinions which could be reflected on your writings. Try to discover yourself, find out what triggers your emotions. Discover what inspires you and what ticks you off. You can use these emotions to help you in expressing yourself and your ideas, with this you can grow creatively.
3) Create a working place that can inspire your creativeness. Your working place can be quite a hindrance if it doesn’t make you feel happy or relaxed. Creativity comes from being in a good state of mind and a messed up workplace that causes distraction won’t be conducive in firing up your creative flow.
Surround your working place with objects that makes you happy and relaxed. You may put up pictures, or scents, objects that inspire, or anything that can get your creativeness cranking. A clean and well organized workplace also rids of distractions and unwanted hindrances. With a good working place, you can work in peace and never notice the time pass by.
4) Set the mood. Setting the mood requires you to just go with the moment or to induce your self to feeling what makes your mind works best. Finding out what makes you tick could help you find ways to get your creative juices flowing. Set the pace and tempo for your mood and everything else will follow.
There are many ways to set the mood. Some writers have been known to use alcohol, a little sip of wine to stir up the imagination. Some would like some mood music while others let the lighting of the environment create the mood.
5) Go on a getaway and just do something unlike crazy. Letting yourself go and have fun produces adrenaline that can make your imagination go wild. Take an adventure or a solemn hike. Whatever it is that is unusual from your daily routine can take the rut out of your schedule. In no time at all, your creativeness will make use of that experience and get your imagination to go on overdrive.
Become the hunted instead of the hunter with Magnetic Sponsoring
Presented By Larry Guzda
This Article May Be Copied, BUT, NOT Changed In Any Way
The main ingredient in baking up an article is a large dose of creativity. While creativity may come natural to many people, some just gets into a block or something to that effect that can drive someone crazy. Many writers have literally torn their hair out when they get writers block and just can’t seem to get their creative juices flowing.
Putting words into images in the readers mind is an art. A clear and crisp depiction requires a certain flair that only creativity can provide. Similes and metaphors help a lot, but the way an article gets entwined word for word, sentence by sentence then paragraph by paragraph into a whole article develops the essence of the article.
So just what do you have to do when nothing comes to mind? There is no surefire ways to get the perfect ideas but there are easy ways to get your creative juices flowing. No one can guarantee you of having the perfect mindset but many methods may aid you in achieving that state of mind. Here are five easy ways for that.
1) Keep a diary or a journal with you always. Ideas can be triggered by anything you may hear, see, or smell. Your senses are your radar in finding great ideas. Write all of them into a journal and keep it with you for future reference. You may also write down anything that you have read or heard, someone’s ideas could be used to develop your own ideas and this is not stealing. Remember that ideas and creativity can come from anywhere; it’s the development of the idea that makes it unique.
2) Relax and take time to sort things out. A jumbled mind cannot create any space for new ideas. Everyone must have a clear mind if one wishes to have their creativity in full speed. Get rid of all obstacles that can be a hindrance to your creativity. If you are bothered by something, you cannot force your mind to stay focused.
Try to relax every time that you can and think about your experiences and interactions with others. Your experiences are what shape your mindset and your opinions which could be reflected on your writings. Try to discover yourself, find out what triggers your emotions. Discover what inspires you and what ticks you off. You can use these emotions to help you in expressing yourself and your ideas, with this you can grow creatively.
3) Create a working place that can inspire your creativeness. Your working place can be quite a hindrance if it doesn’t make you feel happy or relaxed. Creativity comes from being in a good state of mind and a messed up workplace that causes distraction won’t be conducive in firing up your creative flow.
Surround your working place with objects that makes you happy and relaxed. You may put up pictures, or scents, objects that inspire, or anything that can get your creativeness cranking. A clean and well organized workplace also rids of distractions and unwanted hindrances. With a good working place, you can work in peace and never notice the time pass by.
4) Set the mood. Setting the mood requires you to just go with the moment or to induce your self to feeling what makes your mind works best. Finding out what makes you tick could help you find ways to get your creative juices flowing. Set the pace and tempo for your mood and everything else will follow.
There are many ways to set the mood. Some writers have been known to use alcohol, a little sip of wine to stir up the imagination. Some would like some mood music while others let the lighting of the environment create the mood.
5) Go on a getaway and just do something unlike crazy. Letting yourself go and have fun produces adrenaline that can make your imagination go wild. Take an adventure or a solemn hike. Whatever it is that is unusual from your daily routine can take the rut out of your schedule. In no time at all, your creativeness will make use of that experience and get your imagination to go on overdrive.
Become the hunted instead of the hunter with Magnetic Sponsoring
This Article May Be Copied, BUT, NOT Changed In Any Way
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
When A Soldier Comes Home
|
Presented By Larry Guzda
This Article May Be Copied, BUT, NOT Changed In Any Way
Picture is Worth1000 Million Words
This Picture is Worth
1000 Million Words (minimum!) . . .
We truly take a lot for granted.
Forget the football 'heroes' and movie 'stars'. AND MICHAEL JACKSON!
Pass this on so that all may know the price of freedom.
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you,
Jesus Christ and a Soldier.
One died for your soul; the other for your freedom.
Presented By Larry Guzda
This Article May Be Copied, BUT, NOT Changed In Any Way
1000 Million Words (minimum!) . . .
We truly take a lot for granted.
Forget the football 'heroes' and movie 'stars'. AND MICHAEL JACKSON!
Pass this on so that all may know the price of freedom.
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you,
Jesus Christ and a Soldier.
One died for your soul; the other for your freedom.
Presented By Larry Guzda
This Article May Be Copied, BUT, NOT Changed In Any Way
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Larry's Home Business News And Reviews - How Can I Profit from Resell Rights products ?
There are many ways to profit from resell rights products. The first way, of course, is to simply resell the product. However, there are ways that you can realize even more profits. It just takes a little thought and creativity.
When you sell the product, have an additional product or products to sell as an upsell or backend product. For instance, sell the resell product at 39.95, then have an upsell, or a related product, that you offer either on your order page for an increased price, such as 49.95 or 59.95. Your upsell could even be a membership website, for which you would collect monthly membership fees from your customers.
You can also advertise a backend product on the thank you page. This is a product that is offered after the purchase of the original product is made, for a different price. Backend products can cost more than the original product, the same, or even less.
You can also profit more from your resell rights products by repackaging it, including more products, and raising the value of the package – which in turn raises the price. If you have master resell rights of the product, which allows you to sell the resell rights as well, you can create a nice package of various related products and sell resell rights to that package as well.
You could even simply sell the product, or give it away if you are allowed to do so, in order to use a squeeze page to collect quality leads. A large list of quality leads opens many profitable doors. For instance, you could enter into joint venture deals to sell high ticket products to your list, or rent your list out to other companies for a fee.
However, before you start using various methods for increasing your profits with resell rights products, it is very important that you read your license agreement to be certain that you are not in violation of any of the terms.
Visit Magnetic Sponsoring for help with marketing your product.
Presented By Larry Guzda
This Article May Be Copied, BUT, NOT Changed In Any Way
When you sell the product, have an additional product or products to sell as an upsell or backend product. For instance, sell the resell product at 39.95, then have an upsell, or a related product, that you offer either on your order page for an increased price, such as 49.95 or 59.95. Your upsell could even be a membership website, for which you would collect monthly membership fees from your customers.
You can also advertise a backend product on the thank you page. This is a product that is offered after the purchase of the original product is made, for a different price. Backend products can cost more than the original product, the same, or even less.
You can also profit more from your resell rights products by repackaging it, including more products, and raising the value of the package – which in turn raises the price. If you have master resell rights of the product, which allows you to sell the resell rights as well, you can create a nice package of various related products and sell resell rights to that package as well.
You could even simply sell the product, or give it away if you are allowed to do so, in order to use a squeeze page to collect quality leads. A large list of quality leads opens many profitable doors. For instance, you could enter into joint venture deals to sell high ticket products to your list, or rent your list out to other companies for a fee.
However, before you start using various methods for increasing your profits with resell rights products, it is very important that you read your license agreement to be certain that you are not in violation of any of the terms.
Visit Magnetic Sponsoring for help with marketing your product.
Presented By Larry Guzda
This Article May Be Copied, BUT, NOT Changed In Any Way
Ten Great Tips For 2010
Ten Great Tips For 2010
1. Stay out of trouble.
2. Aim for greater heights.
3. Stay focused on your job.
4. Exercise to maintain good health.
5. Practice team work.
6. Rely on your trusted partner to watch your back. Take your time trusting others.
7. Save for rainy days.
8. Rest and relax.
9. Always take time to smile.
AND
10. Realize that nothing is impossible.
This should make you smile:
Presented By Larry Guzda
This Article May Be Copied, BUT, NOT Changed In Any Way
1. Stay out of trouble.
2. Aim for greater heights.
3. Stay focused on your job.
4. Exercise to maintain good health.
5. Practice team work.
6. Rely on your trusted partner to watch your back. Take your time trusting others.
7. Save for rainy days.
8. Rest and relax.
9. Always take time to smile.
AND
10. Realize that nothing is impossible.
This should make you smile:
Presented By Larry Guzda
This Article May Be Copied, BUT, NOT Changed In Any Way
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Larry's Home Business News And Reviews -Is It Really Possible To Make Money On The Internet For Free ?
This is Larry Guzda with an important thought for you to ponder.
Is it really impossible to make money for free? Yes and no.
Most would tell you so. But the old adage, “It takes money to make money”
was stated long before the development of the Internet. Its true if you’re in
real estate, but there are now infinite options available through the Internet.
This is nothing new of course. There’s no limit to the number of people
with systems who will charge you anywhere from $70 to $3000 for
their “industry expert secrets”.
You’ve all been there before. Some flashy page filled with promises,
followed with a spot for your Visa Card Number, and you receive
all of their “highly-confidential secrets” in the form of some long,
complicated book, eBook, training course, or video series.
So you’ve spent your money, and so far, you’ve definitely not
gotten anything in return, other than continued promises that all of
these things you just payed for will somehow materialize into that
beautiful vacation home you’ve been dreaming of.
Trust me, I’ve been there.
So now, you’ve got your eBook, video series, which you’ve paid
tons for, and if you want any shot at making anything, you’re
going to have to spend hours on your own trying to figure it all out.
That’s not so horrible, to have to put in a little time and effort, but
keep in mind, you’ve already payed a significant amount to get to
where you are.
Then, maybe if you work really, really hard, and get really, really lucky,
you’ll make some money.
Congratulations. Now you just have to recover your investment.
There is an easier (and cheaper) way.
There are programs and applications out there that are specifically
designed to allow you to make money for just using them.
You probably never found them
That’s because most people who know them will charge you hundreds
to show you where and how to use them.
But careful searching can find programs created as a way to put together
all of these free systems, and provide a huge net of members that will all
benefit from multiple free systems, thus increasing the amounts of money
that are being generated by these free systems.
The secret is out, there are free ways to make money on the Internet, and
while they may be hidden gems, you certainly shouldn’t have to pay for the
treasure map.
But you do have to use due diligence, spend a lot of time, and effort to find
them.
When you do find them, they will require a lot of effort to make them work.
So when it comes right down to it there is NO FREE RIDE, just consistent,
determined, effort for success.
Building On A Budget will help, check it out.
Good luck in your search
Presented By Larry Guzda
This Article May Be Copied, BUT, NOT Changed In Any Way
Is it really impossible to make money for free? Yes and no.
Most would tell you so. But the old adage, “It takes money to make money”
was stated long before the development of the Internet. Its true if you’re in
real estate, but there are now infinite options available through the Internet.
This is nothing new of course. There’s no limit to the number of people
with systems who will charge you anywhere from $70 to $3000 for
their “industry expert secrets”.
You’ve all been there before. Some flashy page filled with promises,
followed with a spot for your Visa Card Number, and you receive
all of their “highly-confidential secrets” in the form of some long,
complicated book, eBook, training course, or video series.
So you’ve spent your money, and so far, you’ve definitely not
gotten anything in return, other than continued promises that all of
these things you just payed for will somehow materialize into that
beautiful vacation home you’ve been dreaming of.
Trust me, I’ve been there.
So now, you’ve got your eBook, video series, which you’ve paid
tons for, and if you want any shot at making anything, you’re
going to have to spend hours on your own trying to figure it all out.
That’s not so horrible, to have to put in a little time and effort, but
keep in mind, you’ve already payed a significant amount to get to
where you are.
Then, maybe if you work really, really hard, and get really, really lucky,
you’ll make some money.
Congratulations. Now you just have to recover your investment.
There is an easier (and cheaper) way.
There are programs and applications out there that are specifically
designed to allow you to make money for just using them.
You probably never found them
That’s because most people who know them will charge you hundreds
to show you where and how to use them.
But careful searching can find programs created as a way to put together
all of these free systems, and provide a huge net of members that will all
benefit from multiple free systems, thus increasing the amounts of money
that are being generated by these free systems.
The secret is out, there are free ways to make money on the Internet, and
while they may be hidden gems, you certainly shouldn’t have to pay for the
treasure map.
But you do have to use due diligence, spend a lot of time, and effort to find
them.
When you do find them, they will require a lot of effort to make them work.
So when it comes right down to it there is NO FREE RIDE, just consistent,
determined, effort for success.
Building On A Budget will help, check it out.
Good luck in your search
Presented By Larry Guzda
This Article May Be Copied, BUT, NOT Changed In Any Way
I AM HONORED TO DO THIS!!
I AM HONORED TO DO THIS!!
Did you know that the ACLU has filed a suit to have all military cross-shaped headstones removed
and another suit to end prayer from the military completely. They're making great progress. The Navy Chaplains can no longer mention Jesus' name in prayer thanks to the wretched ACLU and our new administration.
I'm not breaking this one.
If I get it a 1000 times, I'll forward it a 1000 times!
Let us pray...
Let us pray...
Prayer chain for our Military.... Don't break it!
Please send this on after a short prayer. Prayer for our soldiers Don't break it!
Prayer:
'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands Protect them as they protect us Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen.'
Prayer Request: When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world.
There is nothing attached. Just send this to people in your address book. Do not let it stop with you. Of all the gifts you could give a Marine, Soldier, Sailor, Airman, &others deployed in harm's way, prayer is the very best one.
GOD BLESS YOU FOR PASSING IT ON!
Presented By Larry Guzda
This Article May Be Copied, BUT, NOT Changed In Any Way
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Larry's Home Business News And Reviews -The Good The Bad etc etc
Here is copy of a recent article from the Edmonton Sun by Christina
Spencer on the H1N1 pandemic???? or government aggravated mass
WHAT WENT RIGHT
Advance planning (1)
Canada has had a pandemic plan of some kind since the late 1980s. After SARS killed 44 Canadians in 2003, more action followed: A federal chief public health officer was appointed, the Public Health Agency of Canada was created, and federal and provincial governments agreed on an up-to-date pandemic influenza plan. A prototype vaccine was tested on the H5N1 bird flu, and a stockpile of antiviral medications (for treating influenza) was set up.
Canadian science
The public health agency's National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg was first to map the genetic code of the H1N1 Mexican flu virus back in April. Canadian scientists have continued to produce significant research on H1N1 ever since, says Dr. Paul Hebert, a critical care physician and editor-in-chief of the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Doctors and other experts nationwide have worked closely to share information.
Communications (1)
As Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq is fond of pointing out, the federal government has held more than 42 press briefings since last spring. She has also ensured briefings for opposition politicians. Until recently, most of the federal government's messaging to the public was measured in tone, reflecting the nature of the illness itself for most people, says Dr. Richard Schabas, Ontario's chief medical officer from 1987 to 1997. Most important, Canadians know about the virus and are actively discussing their options.
A good vaccine
Canada signed an agreement in 2001 for a domestic supply of vaccine in case of a pandemic. Yes, there's controversy about whether we should have arranged more than one supplier, but as Aglukkaq keeps repeating, we're doing well compared to much of the world: almost 6.5 million doses were in the field by the end of this past week. Furthermore, the vaccine itself is highly effective, particularly its adjuvanted version, according to chief public health officer Dr. David Butler-Jones. And it's also very safe. The World Health Organization said Thursday that among the millions of shots given out so far this fall, no unusual side-effects have been found.
Priority groups
The federal, provincial and territorial governments all agreed generally on who should go to the head of the line for the vaccine. "There's a lot of judgment that goes into how one interprets the data to put people on those lists," Hebert says. "They made the right choices." After initial confusion, most Canadians, at least those who aren't professional hockey players, have tried to respect their place in the pecking order.
Dr. David Butler-Jones
Hebert thinks Canada's first chief public health officer "has done a great job" and praises the Public Health Agency of Canada for good advice to provincial health authorities and Canadians in general. Even politicians who are critical of the government's overall approach respect Butler-Jones, and many wish he had more power.
A weak virus
The best development, however, is that H1N1, although a pandemic, has been mild. This isn't smallpox, diphtheria or polio. Most healthy people will get over it at home.
"It's a bit like being bomb-proof," says Schabas, "I'm bomb-proof if the bomb's a dud."
WHAT WENT WRONG
Timing
"There were lots of reasons, even in July, to think we would see an early flu season," says Schabas. Yet Canada slowed vaccine production by placing an order for unadjuvanted product, which is harder to make than adjuvanted. "If you wanted unadjuvanted vaccine, that's fine, but because production is so much smaller, it should only have come after we had a large number of adjuvanted vaccine," he says.
Federal officials did rush some vaccine out to the public ahead of the original launch date of early November, but have ended up having to assure people that inoculation will still be fine even if we have to wait until Christmas. Meanwhile, in parts of the country, experts think the flu season has already peaked.
The World Health Organization
Though Canada has followed the evolving advice of the international body, some people, such as Liberal health critic Dr. Carolyn Bennett, say we should make our judgments independently. The WHO, for instance, advised countries to finish production of regular seasonal flu vaccine before manufacturing H1N1 vaccine, which delayed H1N1 shots. It also advised making unadjuvanted vaccine available for pregnant women, which delayed the general vaccine rollout. The WHO came under fire from the British Medical Association Journal for what is perceived as a too-liberal definition of the term "pandemic."
Communications (2)
Health authorities over-promised and under-delivered on vaccine availability, notes University of Ottawa health economist Doug Angus. "Telling people that the whole Canadian population is going to be vaccinated -- the reality is that's not true. They don't have enough doses to accommodate even half the population," he says. "Putting out those kinds of false assurances I think has created some anxiety."
In late summer and early fall, Butler-Jones was peddling a gentle line about the flu's severity, says Schabas. But when health officials began to worry people wouldn't get the vaccine, they cranked up the rhetoric. Then, a few weeks after that, "they realized they had created demand they couldn't meet. So now they're scrambling in the opposite direction." Communication has also been muddy around which vaccine is best for pregnant women.
And there have been unfortunate PR tangents such as the controversy that erupted when 100 body bags were ordered for remote aboriginal communities in Manitoba.
Only one supplier
Bennett and other opposition politicians say Canada should have, and could have, had agreements with more than just GlaxoSmithKline to manufacture vaccine. The feds made their initial arrangement for vaccine back in 2001, to ensure a made-in-Canada source in case a serious pandemic led countries to close their borders. But Rob Van Exan, director of immunization policy for Sanofi Pasteur, says Canada should consider a second supplier. In the wake of bottlenecks in production and rollout, many critics now agree with him.
Advance planning (2)
Part of Canada's plan should have included vaccine programs in schools and through physicians' offices, Angus says. He feels there has been a lack of oversight, a gap that led to instances such as H1N1 vaccine being offered to private, for-profit medical companies. But, a bigger problem, Schabas argues, is that public health officials didn't know when to diverge from their plan.
Canada's pandemic planning assumed a more severe illness, in which up to 50,000 people might die. But H1N1 hasn't been such a plague. "For healthy people . . . the risks from H1N1 are very tiny," he says. "Does it really make sense to put a huge amount of public resources and do all this stirring up of public anxieties for the purposes of people being immunized against a disease which really isn't going to be a big problem for them anyway?"
christina.spencer@sunmedia.ca
Presented by Larry Guzda
Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease.
This article may be copied but not changed in any way.
Spencer on the H1N1 pandemic???? or government aggravated mass
hysteria promotion.
WHAT WENT RIGHT
Advance planning (1)
Canada has had a pandemic plan of some kind since the late 1980s. After SARS killed 44 Canadians in 2003, more action followed: A federal chief public health officer was appointed, the Public Health Agency of Canada was created, and federal and provincial governments agreed on an up-to-date pandemic influenza plan. A prototype vaccine was tested on the H5N1 bird flu, and a stockpile of antiviral medications (for treating influenza) was set up.
Canadian science
The public health agency's National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg was first to map the genetic code of the H1N1 Mexican flu virus back in April. Canadian scientists have continued to produce significant research on H1N1 ever since, says Dr. Paul Hebert, a critical care physician and editor-in-chief of the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Doctors and other experts nationwide have worked closely to share information.
Communications (1)
As Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq is fond of pointing out, the federal government has held more than 42 press briefings since last spring. She has also ensured briefings for opposition politicians. Until recently, most of the federal government's messaging to the public was measured in tone, reflecting the nature of the illness itself for most people, says Dr. Richard Schabas, Ontario's chief medical officer from 1987 to 1997. Most important, Canadians know about the virus and are actively discussing their options.
A good vaccine
Canada signed an agreement in 2001 for a domestic supply of vaccine in case of a pandemic. Yes, there's controversy about whether we should have arranged more than one supplier, but as Aglukkaq keeps repeating, we're doing well compared to much of the world: almost 6.5 million doses were in the field by the end of this past week. Furthermore, the vaccine itself is highly effective, particularly its adjuvanted version, according to chief public health officer Dr. David Butler-Jones. And it's also very safe. The World Health Organization said Thursday that among the millions of shots given out so far this fall, no unusual side-effects have been found.
Priority groups
The federal, provincial and territorial governments all agreed generally on who should go to the head of the line for the vaccine. "There's a lot of judgment that goes into how one interprets the data to put people on those lists," Hebert says. "They made the right choices." After initial confusion, most Canadians, at least those who aren't professional hockey players, have tried to respect their place in the pecking order.
Dr. David Butler-Jones
Hebert thinks Canada's first chief public health officer "has done a great job" and praises the Public Health Agency of Canada for good advice to provincial health authorities and Canadians in general. Even politicians who are critical of the government's overall approach respect Butler-Jones, and many wish he had more power.
A weak virus
The best development, however, is that H1N1, although a pandemic, has been mild. This isn't smallpox, diphtheria or polio. Most healthy people will get over it at home.
"It's a bit like being bomb-proof," says Schabas, "I'm bomb-proof if the bomb's a dud."
WHAT WENT WRONG
Timing
"There were lots of reasons, even in July, to think we would see an early flu season," says Schabas. Yet Canada slowed vaccine production by placing an order for unadjuvanted product, which is harder to make than adjuvanted. "If you wanted unadjuvanted vaccine, that's fine, but because production is so much smaller, it should only have come after we had a large number of adjuvanted vaccine," he says.
Federal officials did rush some vaccine out to the public ahead of the original launch date of early November, but have ended up having to assure people that inoculation will still be fine even if we have to wait until Christmas. Meanwhile, in parts of the country, experts think the flu season has already peaked.
The World Health Organization
Though Canada has followed the evolving advice of the international body, some people, such as Liberal health critic Dr. Carolyn Bennett, say we should make our judgments independently. The WHO, for instance, advised countries to finish production of regular seasonal flu vaccine before manufacturing H1N1 vaccine, which delayed H1N1 shots. It also advised making unadjuvanted vaccine available for pregnant women, which delayed the general vaccine rollout. The WHO came under fire from the British Medical Association Journal for what is perceived as a too-liberal definition of the term "pandemic."
Communications (2)
Health authorities over-promised and under-delivered on vaccine availability, notes University of Ottawa health economist Doug Angus. "Telling people that the whole Canadian population is going to be vaccinated -- the reality is that's not true. They don't have enough doses to accommodate even half the population," he says. "Putting out those kinds of false assurances I think has created some anxiety."
In late summer and early fall, Butler-Jones was peddling a gentle line about the flu's severity, says Schabas. But when health officials began to worry people wouldn't get the vaccine, they cranked up the rhetoric. Then, a few weeks after that, "they realized they had created demand they couldn't meet. So now they're scrambling in the opposite direction." Communication has also been muddy around which vaccine is best for pregnant women.
And there have been unfortunate PR tangents such as the controversy that erupted when 100 body bags were ordered for remote aboriginal communities in Manitoba.
Only one supplier
Bennett and other opposition politicians say Canada should have, and could have, had agreements with more than just GlaxoSmithKline to manufacture vaccine. The feds made their initial arrangement for vaccine back in 2001, to ensure a made-in-Canada source in case a serious pandemic led countries to close their borders. But Rob Van Exan, director of immunization policy for Sanofi Pasteur, says Canada should consider a second supplier. In the wake of bottlenecks in production and rollout, many critics now agree with him.
Advance planning (2)
Part of Canada's plan should have included vaccine programs in schools and through physicians' offices, Angus says. He feels there has been a lack of oversight, a gap that led to instances such as H1N1 vaccine being offered to private, for-profit medical companies. But, a bigger problem, Schabas argues, is that public health officials didn't know when to diverge from their plan.
Canada's pandemic planning assumed a more severe illness, in which up to 50,000 people might die. But H1N1 hasn't been such a plague. "For healthy people . . . the risks from H1N1 are very tiny," he says. "Does it really make sense to put a huge amount of public resources and do all this stirring up of public anxieties for the purposes of people being immunized against a disease which really isn't going to be a big problem for them anyway?"
christina.spencer@sunmedia.ca
Presented by Larry Guzda
Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease.
This article may be copied but not changed in any way.
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