As some of you may have noticed, and those that have welcomed me on their own blogs, I'm proud to say I've raised the flag. The Red Ensign Flag. I'm apparently the 50th member of this ever-growing group of Canadians who are more than a little fedup with the path our country is taking.

Our Maple Leaf flag, the symbol so well known across the world, was chosen in an art competition and raised in 1965. For me, I remember no other flag but I do remember that we used to be proud of who were were on the international scene. Now, as our leaders continue to change their minds more often than their underwear, waffling and dithering, I am sad.

When I first found the Red Ensigns, I wrote a post here. I waited and watched for the past few months, getting to know a few of the members and now am glad to say I am part of the group.

We have an amazing country here, but lately it seems the policies of the government has sunk us in the views of the international stage. Take gun registry, for example. Billions of dollars for what? Criminals who have their guns for nefarious causes aren't going to register. Do you think Jim Roszko registered his gun, given his arms-length's rap sheet of violent crimes? Would it have made any difference? And a step over that, why did he have a .308 semi-automatic, in the first place? With it's body armour piercing bullets, it's certainly not for hunting wabbits!

Our Prime Minister, Mr. Dithers as he was so lovingly coined, has less balls than Kim Campbell, and that's not saying a lot. We're in missle defence, we're not, we're in, we're not... No wonder it took Bush a week to call. Would you want to make the call to someone who can't seem to give you a straight answer?

Don't even let me get started on the military underfunding. Buying rusty old subs, second-hand equipment that puts our armed forces in mortal danger. How many more Canadian Forces will die before they grab a clue? How many more Lt. Chris Saunders will there be?

A friend once said to me 'How much of Canada's perceived Anti-Americanism is envy?' Of course, I clocked with my hockey stick, but it did make me think.