Taxes and Public Services

Well once again there is discussion about one particular political party suggesting a raise in taxes. And once again, the 'tax cutting' crowd is all over them.

You know the last time I looked, our health system; our education system; our justice system; our road system; our garbage collection system; our police, fire fighting, and ambulance systems are all funded by public funds. There are a lot of services we rely on and have been traditionally supported by taxpayers.

I don't like paying taxes any more than anyone else. But I see there is a need for public service providers to have sufficient resources to discharge public responsibilities. I think the 'tax cutter crowd'as usual is so 'wrapped up' in their ideology they never acknowledge an essential role for government in these vital areas of our society.

This 'tax cut' preoccupation seems to have started with the beginning of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan's periods of office. Our world has become a 'less caring' society because of that. Private sector (usually non-governmenta agencies) have had to 'pick up the slack'.

Whenever next election comes I will support any party that recognizes the reality that taxes may need to be adjusted to support public services.

Federal Cabinet Shuffle - Deficit/Debt

Hmmm... not much to say about recent federal cabinet shuffle except to note 'preoccupation' with deficit/debt reduction.

Government had to spend money to help people most hurt by recession. Yet my understanding is much of the overall deficit/debt is direct result of federal government reducing revenue from consumption taxes like the GST. Its ideology got the best of them in the first two years of office.

The problem with tax reductions for the sake of tax reductions is that it eventually restricts government from mobilizing financial resources to help those less fortunate. If a government wants to do that, it then goes into debt. Clearly the path taken by our federal government.

What makes this most distressing is it enables them to act out their personal ideological preferences. We will see lots of cutbacks in next six months or so.

How this will impact on public services is frightening. As baby boomers retire in droves the next few years, gaps will develop in the provision of public services - as there are severe hiring restraints.

Of course a cynic might say a reduction in public services is the underlying goal of this current 'ideological'- based government.

Our solution is clear....in a democracy the people decide on government direction. Canadians need to hold our current federal government accountable for its financial decisions since 2006. We need a federal government that works to reduce the public deficit and debt through a balanced approach.. and that does include tax adjustments where warranted.

Administrivia - Maintaining a Blog

Well I think it was a year ago yesterday I posted my first blog. I have learned so much about blogging the last year. I have covered lots of topics varying from the personal (our 40th anniversary last year and my June 2009 radial surgery) to very public things (talk show radio hosts; prorogation etc.)

I just reviewed many older blog entries and even deleted a few that are clearly dated.

I really like the opportunity to share my views on a wide variety of topics and will continue to do so....

Prorogation Again - Politics - Engagement (cont)

Well it came and went. I attended along with over 3,000 other people the rally this afternoon in Ottawa. It was great seeing so many ordinary people in attendance.

While some issues on 'several agendas' did appear present, the vast majority of attendees stayed 'on message'. Our Prime Minister needs to know (as do all Canadians) that a partisan-based move to prorogue our Parliament is unacceptable.

But you know facebook groups and rallies can only do so much. Neither can 'force' any change on any person's part. But Canadians can force change. We can change the people who run our government.

The way we do that is to have an election and vote for change. I know many Canadians don't want an election in 2010. But our current government has shown itself to be 'out of touch' with mainstream Canadian opinion on so many issues.

We need an election, in my view, to resolve this 'disconnect'. I hope it comes sooner rather than later.

Saturday January 23

This coming Saturday may be a significant day in Canadian political history. Widespread political cyncism in Canada may give way to increased political engagement. Canadians upset at the partisan prorogation of our parliament are attending rallies across the country.

The size of these rallies will give an indication of how serious our new found political engagement has become. While not every opponent of prorogation will attend, those who do will be exhibiting an increased political awareness.

I was pleased to see that a demographic analysis of participants in the anti-prorogation group on facebook shows that baby boomers are joining the anti-prorogation campaign as are younger men and women across Canada.

If you live in Canada, will you be at your local anti-prorogation rally... I know I will....

Violence in Hockey - Simple Solution

The recent incident in a minor hockey league where a player appears to have deliberately hurt another player is a sharp (or is it stark) reminder of how violent our so-called 'national game' can become.

Every times this occurs there are calls for reducing violence in the game especially at the minor league level. Tinkering may occur but violence is still there.

YOu know really only one league has to reduce violence in its game and everyone else will follow. There is no point in junior hockey leagues reducing violence if players' role models play in a league that allows violence. Commentators who report on that league invariably keep up the old line that 'violence is part of the game'. Certain elements of crowds get an adrenalin rush when a fight occurs.

The fact that the National Hockey League allows violence to occur is the 'cause' of other leagues doing the same.

Without giving it a lot of thought I think a solution is for the NHL to set the standard of what is acceptable conduct on the ice. Any action which violates criminal law in Canada or the United States if performed 'off ice' should be prohibited 'on ice'.

If the NHL ever adopted that standards it would have to agree to impose heavy suspensions on violators no matter who they are, or how popular they may be, and be willing to take a short term financial impact were some fans choose not to go to a 'cleaner version' of the game.

Prorogation Again - Politics - Engagement

Well there are over 200,000 people in the facebook group...personally I hope it indicates a real willingness for political engagement amongst Canadians.

One indication of this will be real turnout at this coming weekend's rallies... even though I personally sometimes doubt their effectiveness I intend to go to my local rally. I hope any enthusiasm generated by the rallies will continue in the weeks and months ahead.

It is imperative we keep up this new level of political awareness of what's happening in our federal politics. Sometime in the next two years or so Canadians will have the opportunity to pass direct judgement on the actions of our Prime Minister in prorogation to avoid accountability for government decisions. That will be the time to fully act on any new political awareness.

Maintaining the new level of political engagement will be a challenge... but I think possible through use of the evolving social/new media.

Helplessness With What's Happening in Haiti

Such a sad helpless feeling watching the videos from Haiti. The earthquake has had a devastating impact on that poor country.

I only wish I could do more...Giving money is the preferred alternative but....

The images are so horrible....such an unnecessary loss of life.

But I am buoyed up by the sight of all the major countries of the world working on the relief effort. I only hope after the immediate emergency has passed, that the international community will make real strides in raising up living standards in a place like Haiti.

Prorogation & Social Networking Activism II

It isn't very often I put out consecutive posts.. but this is becoming a key issue in Canadian public discourse

I heard some radio talk show hosts attempting to 'pooh pooh' electronic social networking activism. But it's becoming more and more clear that the level of public engagement is higher than it has been in Canada for many years. Who would have thought a term used only in parliamentary procedure literature would be the impetus for such a widespread public reaction to the 'shut down' of Canada's Parliament.

Prorogation & Social Networking Activism

If nothing else to credit our Prime Minister for, he should be thanked for teaching so many more voters the meaning of the word 'prorogation'. I suspect most Canadians now know the meaning of this word.

While I have had some reservations about the January 23 demonstrations I did decide to join (or maybe rejoin) the large Facebook Group. I did that as online social networking activism is the way to go in the future. I put up an entry on their discussion board about last winter's campaign here in Ottawa against some sexist and offensive ads on billboards and buses announcing the arrival of a new Ottawa radio station.

More recently I participated in a campaign organized by a group resisting any attempts to reduce a 'woman's right to choose'. The origin of the campaign was a Pro-Choice group on facebook.

I applaud those who are using applications such as facebook and twitter to 'get the word' out.

Profiling

So nationals from 14 countries are subjected to additional screenings...but it's not racial profiling... hmmm.. sounds like some type of profiling. While I guess you can call it 'geographical profiling' but you know, it really is the same thing.

One can understand extra measures may be needed resulting from the near miss on that plane near Detroit two weeks ago..

But if media reports are right there was intelligence about the individual in question. Connecting the information would have stopped the near tragedy and would not have resulted in the long lines at airports. Don't get me wrong... we have to make air travel as safe as possible. Perhaps the system of human analysis of passengers' unusual behaviour/demeanour may be a better approach.

Tamils on that boat/Geogrphaic profiling

Read a story in media suggesting most of those Tamil from that boat last year are being released. While no one wants known terrorist groups organizing in our country it says something about the 'paranoia' which has gripped the western world since the horrible events of 911

There was much made since that dreadful day of having to be vigilant against possible terrorist connections. Yet so many innocent (predominantly Arab or Muslim) men have been mistreated by our justice and immigration system.

And it doesn't help that in some quarters (read talk show radio) calls continue for even more stringent restrictions.

The December 25 scare in the US (a frightful experience for all those involved) has now resulted in 'geographic' profiling.

Profiling is stereotyping. It is an illogical jump to conclude that all must be like the few.

2010 - Municipal Election Year in Ontario

Heard on news today two items about candidates for mayor in Ottawa and in Toronto. The announcement that Alex Cullen is running for mayor in Ottawa is good news. I have met him few times and follow his views on council quite regularly. He is, in my view, a progressive local politician not beholden to any vested interests. He is also a very hard worker.

Unless there is a drastic reason for not doing so I will be voting for this candidate.

I know less about the candidates running for mayor of Toronto but clearly both who announced today are quite important candidates in that election.

What A Wonderful Medium

I like social media sites. Even more so today which happens to be my birthday.

Ever since I got up I have received many greetings from my facebook friends. Of course it helps that the site prompts folks about each person's birthday as it comes up. But still it's the thought that really counts.

Not doing that much special for the birthday.. regrettably most 'special' things costs ((:-()

New Ways of Communication

One of the most interesting events for me in 2009 occurred on a Saturday in November. I attended a four hour seminar on using social media by nonprofits. The presenters facilitated learning about how nonprofits can use outfits such as Twitter and Facebook to better get their message out.

But more importantly in my view, the seminar covered (as have several articles/books I have read since then) the need for organizations of all types to build what someone (not sure who) called the 'conversational' ability to communicate with its stakeholders.

This type of communication is 'two way'. Recipients of a 'message' should be encouraged to 'react' and 'comment' or 'respond' to a message. I think a key word (lingo) is 'collaboration'.

The seminar 'turned me on' to using social media even more than I have done in the past....since then I have lobbied 'hard' (some might say to the point of 'being a nuisance' ) for two groups to start using social media far more than in the past.

My efforts, while certainly not futile, have met with numerous objections.. but then my recollection is that is often what happens when one is advocating 'change'. Resistance to change is natural and human.

Readers of this blog are encouraged to respond especially to this post.

Thank you