Comments on: Mechanizing the Famous Mounties (Oct, 1933) http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/07/27/mechanizing-the-famous-mounties/ Yesterday's tomorrow, today. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:33:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Blurgle http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/07/27/mechanizing-the-famous-mounties/comment-page-1/#comment-362804 Blurgle Sun, 29 Jul 2007 16:58:39 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/07/27/mechanizing-the-famous-mounties/#comment-362804 By the way, in many towns and small cities the RCMP handle criminal complaints while the town or city's by-law officers handle parking problems, animal control, etc. When I lived up in Yellowknife, one of my neighbours called the RCMP because there was a litter of fox kits behind our apartment building. The RCMP showed up, ascertained that indeed there was a litter of kits, and asked the complainant whether he wanted the foxes arrested or not. The by-law officers in these towns are often thought to be resentful and jealous of the RCMP. Hence the old song (sung to the tune of Octopus's Garden) that begins: I want to be RCMP By the way, in many towns and small cities the RCMP handle criminal complaints while the town or city’s by-law officers handle parking problems, animal control, etc. When I lived up in Yellowknife, one of my neighbours called the RCMP because there was a litter of fox kits behind our apartment building. The RCMP showed up, ascertained that indeed there was a litter of kits, and asked the complainant whether he wanted the foxes arrested or not.

The by-law officers in these towns are often thought to be resentful and jealous of the RCMP. Hence the old song (sung to the tune of Octopus’s Garden) that begins:

I want to be
RCMP

]]> By: nlpnt http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/07/27/mechanizing-the-famous-mounties/comment-page-1/#comment-359043 nlpnt Sat, 28 Jul 2007 02:37:26 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/07/27/mechanizing-the-famous-mounties/#comment-359043 The first Mounties I saw WERE on horseback in ceremonial red. I'd been to Montreal several times and never saw RCMP there. About 5 years ago, I went to Ottawa, and the Mounties on duty at the Houses of Parliament are indeed mounted redcoats. The first Mounties I saw WERE on horseback in ceremonial red. I’d been to Montreal several times and never saw RCMP there. About 5 years ago, I went to Ottawa, and the Mounties on duty at the Houses of Parliament are indeed mounted redcoats.

]]> By: Blurgle http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/07/27/mechanizing-the-famous-mounties/comment-page-1/#comment-358619 Blurgle Fri, 27 Jul 2007 23:34:23 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/07/27/mechanizing-the-famous-mounties/#comment-358619 Most Americans do. They also expect that they'll be riding horses. The RCMP handle all policing matters in smaller cities and rural areas outside of Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland & Labrador (which have their own provincial police forces). They also handle interprovincial crime, international crime, drug trafficking, smuggling, search & rescue, organized crime, railway crime, and official security. They do the work of your FBI, Secret Service, BATF, INS, state police forces, highway patrol, small-town police, and even handle some functions of your NSA, CIA, and Army. It may be hyperbole to say they do all these things more successfully, but they certainly do perform them more cheaply: Canadians pay about one-tenth per capita for the work the RCMP does compared to what Americans pay for their barrel of alphabet organizations. Most Americans do. They also expect that they’ll be riding horses.

The RCMP handle all policing matters in smaller cities and rural areas outside of Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland & Labrador (which have their own provincial police forces). They also handle interprovincial crime, international crime, drug trafficking, smuggling, search & rescue, organized crime, railway crime, and official security. They do the work of your FBI, Secret Service, BATF, INS, state police forces, highway patrol, small-town police, and even handle some functions of your NSA, CIA, and Army.

It may be hyperbole to say they do all these things more successfully, but they certainly do perform them more cheaply: Canadians pay about one-tenth per capita for the work the RCMP does compared to what Americans pay for their barrel of alphabet organizations.

]]> By: J. Bennett http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/07/27/mechanizing-the-famous-mounties/comment-page-1/#comment-357468 J. Bennett Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:43:47 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/07/27/mechanizing-the-famous-mounties/#comment-357468 The first time I vacationed in Canada, I was irrationally disappointed to find that Mounties dressed like any other highway patrol cop. I unconsciously expected them to wear their dress uniforms all the time. The first time I vacationed in Canada, I was irrationally disappointed to find that Mounties dressed like any other highway patrol cop. I unconsciously expected them to wear their dress uniforms all the time.

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