Tis the Season to be Jolly . . . please!

I don't really know what your experience is this time of year while you were mulling around the department stores looking for that special gift for that special person in your life.  Like it or not, Christmas has become a time of year that families gather, exchange gifts, stuff their bellies with turkey and potatoes with gravy. Then nod off to sleep in a glutton-induced coma.

But the experience that I am really referring to is that simple word blessing that I used to hear so often while I was growing up.   That simple two word phrase that means different things to so many different people.  It is the smile and a “Merry Christmas” that I have missed.

I can tell you that I have only had two people say that to me this year, and nobody has even said “Happy Holidays”.  Not that I am all bent up over it.  However, a recent discussion in our office made me ponder.  Are we as a society afraid to say it?

This conversation was interesting because I started the discussion by asking one of our staff members if he was offended if someone says, “Merry Christmas” to him.  He stated in a very matter-of-fact manner, “No”,  but added that it is a little presumptuous for someone to offer that blessing. You see, the staff member I refer to is Muslim.  As a matter of fact, The Pipestone Flyer office is a real interesting mix of different beliefs.  Represented in our office are Muslim, New Age, Agnostic, Secularist and Christians.  Yes, we are an interesting group of people.

What came out of this discussion was very interesting indeed  and very much inline with what many surveys of this subject are stating.

One survey stated that 60% of people prefer the greeting, “Merry Christmas” and 23% prefer the less  religious greeting, “Happy Holidays”  and the remaining 17% are indifferent.  

But when you break the data down into age groups, a different picture surfaces.  People 65 years or older represented 64% of those who preferred “Merry Christmas” as a greeting.  In those people surveyed aged 18 to 29, only 28% preferred “Merry Christmas” while 59% didn't care one way or the other.  When it came to Secularist, 64% didn't care. Among Evangelical Christians, 73% preferred the traditional “Merry Christmas.”

What this speaks of is the  larger issue of religious censoring.

The same poll shows that 83% believe that Christmas displays should be allowed in public and yet the removal of such icons as Nativity scenes on front lawns at the request of special interest groups backed by pressure from authority is something we have heard of taking place in the USA and some parts of Canada.

Fortunately we have yet to have this issue here in Alberta, but perhaps it is this type of state run interference in people's faiths that may be the cause of many to remove the traditional greeting from the vocabulary during Christmas Season?  

There is no doubt that Canada is a diverse nation. With many cultures, Canada is a nation that is very much worldly and with that status we have many religions. To state the obvious, each religion has their own spiritual holidays.  It has been said that the removal of Christian icons from public view and traditional Christian greetings is imposed in order to “Not Offend” people who do not believe in the same religion.  To many, this capitulation by the Church to the State to comply with the atmosphere of political correctness is itself offensive and therefore should fall under the same protection as the latter.  Because the Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the free exercise of religion but it does not guarantee one the right to not be offended.  It does not even guarantee the right of one to be free of any social discomfort.

The cultural stifling of those who celebrate Christmas and prevent them from offering a verbal blessing by simply wishing someone a “Merry Christmas” is a clear indication that the political pressures of artificial correctness has become a social ill.  Because as other religions seek popular recognition in Canada for their specific holiday, the restrictions now being felt by Christians can one day become norm, and in turn gag and handcuff all religions.

Ideally, what should take place in a country where multiculturalism is embraced, is the open acceptance of all religions with state recognition of all spiritual holidays.

Granted, we would gain a whole slew of new statutory holidays to observe but at least I would experience more than two people offering me the verbal blessing of  “Eid Mubarak” or “Happy Hanukkah”.  I would also accept that as a verbal blessing and know that the person saying it has good intentions and  truly wanted  me to enjoy the holidays.

So, as a Christian and with the true spirit of the holiday, I would like to offer everyone a Merry Christmas, and a very prosperous New Year.

Esprit de Corps

The gunning down of four police officers at a coffee shop in Tacoma, Washington last month should have suspended society’s grumblings about authority.  Law enforcement has had a hard few years at the hands of negative press.   One such example is the public scrutiny the RCMP have been under with the tasering death of Polish visitor to Canada, Robert Dziekanski.  In light of Paul Kennedy, the Commissioner of Public Complaints against the RCMP's scathing report, the image police have in the eyes of the public is at an all-time low.

As the self-respect of the police profession is torn down by the actions of a few, the body as a whole suffers.  In fact, when a person dons the uniform, they go from someone who enjoys anonymity to the virtually known. With the uniform one adopts an array of perceptions of the person wearing it.  Some see a peace keeper, others see a rigid cold authority figure, and then there are those who see nothing but an object of scorn.

However, when a police officer enters a public place, they do not know if they walk among supporters, indifference or hate.  It’s not like the average Joe walking into a Walmart to buy a pencil.  You can enter the building virtually unseen with the exception of the Walmart greeter.   You can stealthily buy that pencil, walk out and be forgotten within seconds.  But when a uniform walks into the same building the people around them are drawn to the image.  

People don't really see the person behind the badge, they just see the badge for what it represents.  And, not so much the image it is supposed to represent.  For many, it was the ticket they got and are still angry about, or it can be anger at how they may have been treated when contact with authority was required.   Whatever the angst, the average member of your local police service is carrying that burden on their shoulders for every action of all who wear the uniform.  But like true professionals, most who wear the uniform did so with ideals ingrained in their personality that drew them to service.  And, they walk into that public place without showing that burden, because to them, its not just a job, it is a calling.  Because each member of that police service is keenly aware of what they represent.

How would you like to bear the weight?  

The term esprit de corp is precisely what binds men and women to the service of law enforcement.  Esprit de corp is the capacity of people to maintain a belief in an institution or a goal, or even in oneself and others.  It speaks specifically to the morale of an organization or an identifiable group.

This is clearly demonstrated when the dregs of society decide to act on their hate for the uniform.  Whether a police officer is gunned down, dies in an attempt to apprehend a criminal or is struck down by a drunk driver while issuing a traffic ticket, the act of killing a person who has dedicated their lives, and the lives of their family to public service is not only cowardly but is also an offense to each one of us.  That is because the ideals each member of a police service hold to their calling, is the sole purpose of protecting life and property.

Esprit de corp, or the solidarity of morale that police hold for their comrades was clearly displayed at the funeral of these four police officers, and is always displayed when a member of the law enforcement community has fallen.

In Washington over 900 uniformed police officers from Canada traveled across the border to show their respect, and to show their belief of what these four people represented to society.   The members who congregated to the service included 600 members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and 300 members of the Vancouver Police Service.  The remaining 700 police officers that stood beside the families of the fallen officers were from all over the United States.

And, what motivated these people to gather at a funeral of a person they did not know?  It was the belief that binds those men and women to the understanding that their purpose in life is a high calling.  It was the clear understanding that their service is not frivolous, it's not 'just a job' and it is not something that we can do without. It is the clear understanding that the job of a police officer is and always has been a dangerous duty, and that each person that wears the uniform is tackling the same task, together.  They are a unit. They are one in that calling and when one dies in the line of duty the entire body feels it.

So when you see a show of esprit de corp in the law enforcement community, stop asking  “I wonder who pays for that?” because quit frankly, seeing over 1500 police officers attending the funeral of one of their own, is a clear reminder to you and I that in spite of the fact that there are scumbags willing to kill them, they still hold true to their calling.  For that, they have my deepest respect and sincere thank you.

Much Ado About Nothing

A great deal has been said about the new bylaw in Wetaskiwin forcing liquor stores in that city to close their days businesses by 10:00 PM. In fact that controversial move has even hit the daily newspapers across the province. In the wake of acts of bullying by interested parties, council's original plan to have liquor stores close at 8:00 PM was changed. Even so, the end result is still be lauded as a damaging element for Wetaskiwin’s spirits vendors.

The Edmonton Journal quoted one vender as saying, “I'll lose thousands, thousands of dollars,” stating that she will lose $40,000 per month due to the 10:00 PM closing. She is further quoted as saying, “It's just kind of taking away our rights. This is supposed to be free enterprise.” If this was the position of just one person, we could write this off emotional nonsense, but this vendor seems to be echoing the sentiments of many.

I'll go out on a limb, a very sturdy one and say, this to will pass with no ill effect. It smells a great deal like the noise made over the provincial smoking laws prohibiting bars and lounges from allowing smoking in their establishments. Many businesses cried out foul play quoting projected financial losses. Some closed their doors in protest shortly after the law came into effect. But as time passed, the bars kept in businesses, and many adjusted their practices. Now over a year later, the emotional reaction is no longer heard. Simply put, all these establishments ended up in the same boat and on equal status. Their market remained stable.

The liquor business is made up of several buyer types. The occasional drinker, who only buys when they are hosting family and friends. The casual drinker, who likes to indulge in the privacy of their homes, drinking wine or beer with meals or watching football. The third type is the habitual drinker, who requires the consumption of alcohol to function, and likes to drink whenever the need arises. All three of these consumers type will ensure that when the need for alcohol arrives, they will buy before 10:00 PM. In the case of the third type of consumer, it is reasonable to assume there needs will be top priority.

It could actually be argued that this forced change will be beneficial to the liquor store owner, as they can close their doors in a timely manner. Staff expenses are reduced, along with utilities. Once the buyers adjust to the new timeline, all will be well.

The concerns of our liquor store owner quoted here seem to be arguments reached for in order to support a position that is tenuous at best. One should remember that before liquor sales in Alberta were privatized, it was the provincial government alone that controlled its final sale to the general public. Which simply means that there is no real “taking away our rights” as she put it. In this province, since alcohol is a regulated substance, it is a privilege to sell liquor and not a right. Further, the establishment of any business within a municipality, is controlled by the municipal governance. The issuance of a business license is a clear indicator that even hanging a shingle is a privilege and not a right.

The Wetaskiwin City Council identified a problem that they believe is exasperated by alcohol consumption. Ask any police officer what keeps them busy during their nightshift and they will tell you that nearly all complaints received have some component of alcohol abuse to it. In the City of Wetaskiwin’s wisdom they decided to do the only thing available to them, and that was to place some form of regulation on the sale of alcohol within the city boundaries. Although it is not clear how much effect it will have to close liquor stores at 10:00 PM, it is reasonable to believe that if they had forced closure at 8:00 PM, the influence on alcohol consumption in the city would be more effective.

It has been also suggested that 10:00 PM closures will force buyers, who suddenly find themselves dry, driving north to Millet to fulfill their cravings. With four liquor stores and one off-sales vender, the small town of 2,200 is poised to take advantage of Wetaskiwin’s new bylaw. All I see in this is a great strip of road for the Police to set-up Alberta Check Stops. In light of this, it would also be reasonable to assume that the Wetaskiwin consumer will adjust to the new business restrictions and avoid being pulled over.

The last concern that has been brought up to the media is the possibility of increased offences of bootlegging. Bootlegging liquor is prompted by people under age, and usually in a situation when they are out late at night not supervised. Do you think that possibly closing at 10:00 PM will actually reduce bootlegging, since you need a liquor store open to commit the offence?

In the end, bootlegging will not turn into a ‘prohibition era problem,’ liquor sales in general will not be affected, and operating costs will be reduced. Lets just hope that the bylaw has the effect that the City of Wetaskiwin council was looking for, reduceing  property crime, drunk driving and domestic violence. Because, in the end, the reaction to this new bylaw has been much ado about nothing.

We Really are a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts!

How often have you heard your family member or friend say, “I love people watching.”?  If you are honest with yourself, you may realize you are also a people watcher.    And, really there is a good reason for it.  As far as sideshows go, people are, and do the strangest things. Sometimes funny, sad, heart warming and in many cases, just plain stupid.

If we take just a seven day period it is interesting what we find people doing. So in order to run my people watching experiment, rather than sitting at an airport and looking like potential stalker, I decided to see what has been reported by other people watchers.  What I found was sick, funny, weird, stupid and even heart-warming.

First the sick.  In the world of strange romance, a South Carolina man,  Rodell Vereen was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to buggery. A judge also ordered Vereen to get counseling and to stay away from the Lazy B Stables when he is released.   You see, he was charged with having sex with a horse that was being stabled at Lazy B.  Being particular in mates, Vereen had a penchant for one member of the equine species.  The owner noticed her horse acting funny, so she decided to install a hidden video camera.  In the middle of the night she caught Vereen consummating the relationship.  This was not the first time he was caught with this filly; two years earlier he was found sleeping in her stable snuggled in the hay.  Odd, Vereen, is an anglicized spelling for the German word Verein, which means a union or association.  With what, the courts are still trying to decide.

As weird as some animal lovers are, a 39-year-old man is approached and asked,  “Is that a ferret in your pants or are you just glad to see me.”  With that Rodney Bolton pulls out his weapon from his drawers and points it directly at a 17-year-old pet-shop workers face.  The animals hisses and bites the young fella.  Since this happened in Florida where they take their personal protection seriously, Bolton is charged with brandishing a concealed "special” weapon and shoplifting.  I wonder if the ferret was loaded?

Then from the world of weird we go to just sad.  On Halloween night, a man dresses up for a party. He takes himself out for what is going to be a night to remember.  Wanting to send a message of responsibility, he dresses himself up as a roadside breathalyzer complete with a reading warning all drivers of the legal limit.  Four hours later, he is pulled over by the police still in costume.  He is arrested, and within 40 minutes blows over the legal limit, still dressed for success!

Not to be outdone, a woman only 100 miles away, in Granston, Wisconsin, 49-year-old Mary Strey, after an evening of binge drinking is driving down the interstate.  Worried for her safety and the safety of others on the highway, she picks up her cell phone and calls 911.  She connects and states, "someone really drunk is driving down Granton Road." When asked which direction the drunk is traveling Mary says, “they are going, um....”  The operators says, “are you behind them.” to which Mary replies, “I am them...” With that the 911 operator finally convinces her to pull over, stop and turn on her four-way flashers so the police could find her.  A few minutes later, the police arrive and arrest Mary for drunk driving.  She is booked into a cell next to a funny dude wearing a breathalyzer costume.  We really have to get these two together.

Two days later stupid checks in for action.  In Cyprus, a Moreno Tavares Lizason was arrested after leaving a commercial airline.  No, he did not quit a job as an airline steward, Moreno just got up from his seat on an Airbus A320, a 150 passenger jetliner, and decided to deplane.  The problem was the jet was already heading down the runway for take-off when he opened the rear emergency hatch and decided to slide down the chute.  Once on the ground Moreno ran, jumped a fence and was arrested on the other side.  His excuse, he says he wanted to test the aircraft's safety features.  Everyone needs a hobby.

But the heart-warming treat for the professional people watcher come to us from Colorado Springs. Two weeks ago 88-year-old Martha Michel, who has been walking around a nursing home in memory of her deceased husband has hit a milestone. Martha and her husband Lester Michel were the perfect couple and spent much time just walking.  You see, after his death in 1998 she dedicated a daily routine of walking, as her and her husband had made a point of doing each day around the Namaste Alzheimer Center.  Her dedication and love for her husband resulted in Martha clocking in her 10,000th mile this weekend which is the same as walking across Canada nearly three times.

Yes, many people tend to show us their bad side as these former examples of Darwinian science have proven, but if you 'people watch' long enough you are able to separate wheat from the chaff as exampled by Martha Michel.

Maybe Mr. Vereen's better half can run laps for him.

War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

Bertrand Russell once said that, “War does not determine who is right - only who is left” and with those cold words one is left with a chilling proposition; ‘Good does not always prevail over evil.’ Sobering thoughts because modern society is indoctrinated to believe that when faced with true evil, good will prevail. This indoctrination takes place through pop media. We see it in our movies, Saturday morning cartoons and pulp fiction. Every action hero of the silver screen that fights the bad guys, in the end they either walk off into a lonely sunset secure in the belief that everyone who witnessed the action are pumped for the next sequel, or, they get the girl, while the villain lies vanquished.

Four generations have passed since World War II, and another since The Great War, and in this country where military service is optional, many people today just don’t have the appreciation or the understanding of what the foot soldier has given them.

Jane Fonda, the half naked “Barbarella” of the 60’s and daughter to Henry Fonda, was only a child when World War II broke out. She lived through the threat of Nazi expansionism and the threat that Hitler and the death camps promised. But even though she had the opportunity to at least read and see in “Film Reels” these threats, she rallied her celebrity status to openly denounce not only the wars of the day, but the also the individual soldiers fighting. In an open rally she is quoted as saying, " If you understood what Communism was, you would hope, you would pray on your knees that one day we would become Communist.”   Later she would regret many things she said in the face of veterans. She asked for forgiveness when she said, "It hurt so many soldiers. It galvanized such hostility. It was the most horrible thing I could possibly have done. It was just thoughtless." Today at 72 years-old she speaks a different tune, "When you can't remember why you're hurt, that's when you're healed."  But the influences of like-minded individuals and the softening of the society has a way of diminishing or even trivializing what the war veteran means to society.

And there you have it!  As Fonda said,“When you can’t remember why you’re hurt.” This is precisely why we must don the poppy and take at least a day out and gather in remembrance.

Many people do not remember the fear of a world at war, and for that matter my generation does not live with that memory. Only recently with our Canadian military fighting in Afghanistan, do some families feel the effect of war, but the consequences of a military failure today has not been made very clear to each Canadian.

The veteran whose failure would have had dire consequences has either been killed in action, lived out his life or is languishing in a nursing home.  Very few people even take the time to ponder an alternate history, where men and nations run by despots would have won the largest military conflict the world has ever seen.

There were many villains in the theater of World War II. Our foot soldiers fought longer and harder than their American counterparts since that country stayed neutral for the first three years of the conflict.  By the time the Americans woke up to reality and joined the Allies, Germany's expansionism and doctrine of hate had spread to neighbouring nations.  Their sights clearly aimed at England and their submarines patrolled off the coast of Newfoundland.  Everywhere they went, they gathered citizens and interned them to labour or death camps.  And, it was our foot soldiers that were fighting and dying in battles slowing the progress of Nazi policy that was being executed by the Wehrmacht.

Time was not on the foot soldiers side, and every man that jumped out of an airplane, or landed on a beach knew that they were running headlong into their doom.  To say that the foot-soldier does not feel fear is naive.  They were put into a situation where they had to overcome their fears with a sense of purpose and duty.  War is not glamorous for when a mother nurses her baby, she looks lovingly into the child's eyes with no knowledge that in a short 18 years that same child would be fighting for it's life and the livelihood of people he had never met.  The war veteran is just that.  Someone's son, grandson or even father.  The war veteran is a person who has given so much and yet was given so very little. The war veteran is the soldier that made it home, while they live with the memories of their friends calling out to them from the mist of a battlefield in agony. They live with the understanding that when they left for war as a innocent teenager, they came back only a few years later with their innocence ripped from their soul.

So when you see a senior citizen pushed in a wheelchair dressed in their uniform, remember not only their sacrifices, but what that veteran has tucked away in their minds.  When you shake their hands and thank them for giving us this soft life, remember that in order to do that, the veteran had to shake off all that made him human and become something that his own mother didn't even see. For in the end, the war could have been been lost, for war does not determine who is right - only who is left.

Can I Offer You a Shot?

As a society we tend to send out mixed signals. Are we as a society; afraid, startled, concerned or indifferent over the H1N1 pandemic that has been slowly crawling across North America?  The reason I say this is that in light of the arrival of the H1N1 Flu Vaccine, many people I personally polled say that they have no intention of getting inoculated. “If you don't have a compromised immune system, then your O.K.,” Yvonne said to me.  And, “I'm not getting it!  It will only make you sick.” said Christina.  These types of responses are not out-of-step with many others in Alberta.

I really can't say that I blame them for taking this position.  Over the past decade we have seen the pharmaceutical industry treat the sick like a open marketplace, and the perception for many is that doctors dispense a broad range of chemical treatments too frequently rather than just treating the illness. The increase in homeopathic treatments and people self diagnosing themselves using the internet is at an all-time high.

But we are a very fickle bunch.  In the face of what has become a true health threat we snub what can actually be a treatment for the prevention of contracting H1N1.  This is rather ironic when one thinks that when the biggest “Prank” on society was running amok before the turn of the century.  That being another type of pandemic foisted on the masses, the Y2K computer virus.  People in that so-called-threat were all abuzz.  Prevention was not just a quick shot in the arm, it was an elaborate system of transferring money and sticking it in a can.  Many frantically developed corporate crisis policy to be implemented on New Years Eve, which in many cases included filling your bath tubs full of fresh water just in case it was last time the water would flow.  Everywhere you turned people either had an opinion or had heard of somebody who had prematurely come down with it and lost all their lifetime data!  It was pandemonium!
 

But in a recent survey in the U.S., clearly 40% of parents said that they would not have their children inoculated, and here in Canada the reception is not any different.   One headline in the U.S. stated, “Military People Will Soon Be Forced to Take Poisonous H1N1 Shot.”  With this jaded perception of the pharmaceutical industry and  media hype, it is no wonder why people are shying away from taking the H1N1 vaccine.
 

But let us at least step back and look at this without the jaded eyeglasses.  Alberta has now reported it's   ninth H1N1 death, and as of late August we had over 180 people in the hospital with the disease.  It is speculated that many have the virus at some level but have not needed hospitalization. 
 

Alberta is now in what has become the ‘flu season’ and we expect a higher level of flu cases. As an indicator of what is 'acceptable' for Alberta, the schools are normally required to report any absentee rate over 10% on any given day,  which when you look at that number is extremely liberal.  If, for instance, a school had a student population of 450, then if 45 students reported in sick or failed to come to school, it is considered serious enough to require the Principal to report that incident.  Would those numbers indicate that a school may have an influenza problem?
 

Well, last week in St. Albert, the Ecole Secondaire Sainte Marguerite d'Youville with a student population of 450 reported a one day absentee rate of  33%. That represented 148 students home sick.  In light of these numbers and what we are now seeing reported in Edmonton,  is it fair to say that perhaps the odds are better that you and I will get a serious flu or even H1N1, than winning the lottery?  And yet, in hopes of winning more people will buy lottery tickets than get in line to take a shot in the arm.
 

At some point we need to put aside our preconceptions caused by a particular mindset long enough to see if we may be wrong.  At least in that instance.  My skepticism is still in tact, but if it looks like poop, smells like poop, and feels like poop, then perhaps its not a Hershey’s bar.
 

So aside from the fact that it may be a good idea to get the H1N1 Influenza Shot, we are told that we  can practice four simple common-sense steps to stave off the virus. They are: frequent hand-washing, keep your  "Hands-off-the-face" and out of your nose, gargle twice a day,  and boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C.   The H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat and nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms.
 

So should we be taking the H1N1 vaccination?  In light of of how the disease is spreading, unless you  have a medical precondition preventing you, it would probably be a good idea.  And, before you say that you had the previous Swine Flu Vaccination and you are immune,  think again, that previous shot will not prevent you from getting H1N1. You see my reasons for discussing this here is purely selfish.  I just don't like losing readership. 

Three Time’s a Charm

Would it be safe to say that  Alberta will always be right?  The polls have always showed that any left thinking politician is pounding an upward climb in this province.  Until the last year, I would never have even given a second thought to a provincial Liberal governing body in Alberta.  But since Stelmach and his Tory cabinet have entered the slippery slope of popular opinion polls, it makes one ponder.

But then again we Albertans are not completely in love with any party based solely on the Conservative name.
The world is changing, and with it so does the political landscape.  For almost 36 years the Social Credit Party ran this province until Peter Lougheed displaced then Premier Harry Strom in 1971.  Nobody would have predicted that the Social Credit Dynasty would have crumbled under the pressure of the Progressive Conservative campaign.

History has a way of repeating itself, and now in light of the fact that the Wildrose Alliance Party has finally showed some life and voted in the new party leader, Danielle Smith, the next election will indeed be a must see.  So once again Alberta has two right-wing parties to choose from.

History records that the undoing of the Social Credit Party was their inability to adapt to the changing social climate of the day.   The rural based Social Credit Party was slow to adapt to the changes brought about as a result of the urban influences of Edmonton and Calgary.  The province was beginning to shift its economic center from agriculture to oil, and the Social Credit was still on the rural fence.  So much so that Strom timed the election to ensure that the farming community was not out working the fields.  With 36 years under the Social Credit power-belt, they became complacent.  This was demonstrated when Peter Lougheed's Progressive Conservative party promised free health care for all Albertans over 65.  Strom countered that offer with “almost-free” health care.  Strom was only going to charge the seniors one dollar a month.  Yes, the Socreds were completely out-of-touch with Albertans.

So today, we have Ed Stelmach running a huge deficit budget, after they had voted themselves a 35% pay increase.  When the people began to voice their displeasure with the deficit, the out-of-touch Tory government decided to offer a voluntary freeze of “new” wage increases.  The 'big' move was to rolled back the Premiers income by 15% and the cabinets by 10%.  Naturally this really didn't do anything for the confidence of the people because it will not touch the bonuses and allowances and still leaves them with a huge raise.  It sure smells like a one-dollar a month out-of-touch political gesture to me.

A recent poll has shown that Ed Stemach's approval rating has fallen.  Sixty-one percent of Albertans believe that Stelmach is moving in the wrong direction.  Twenty-two percent of Albertans strongly disapprove of Stelmach's performance.  In the same poll the upstart Wildrose Alliance Party received 22 percent of Albertans support.  Interesting since the Wildrose Alliance has yet to do anything.  It speaks volumes of what can be seen as impending doom for the Progressive Conservatives.

Stelmach had a great opportunity in his recent address last Wednesday to show Albertans that the Tory government had a plan.  But instead of outlining a detailed fiscal strategy to offer some economic hope to Albertans over the next few years, he offered up a weak four point plan.  They were; Freeze wages, spend savings to cover off revenue shortfalls, invest in public infrastructure and ensure the energy sector remains competitive.  There it is in a nutshell.

Albertans are voicing their displeasure for this weak response in the media.  The Edmonton Journal quotes a Paul Ferguson of Edmonton as saying, “We started out with Peter Lougheed being the cream of the crop.  Now, we have the dregs of the Conservative barrel in power.  For the past 20 years, I have watched with dismay the disintegration of democracy in Alberta.”

Ferguson is just one working stiff that has tossed in his two-cents worth. Stelmach may not be fully responsible for the recent displeasure of the masses.  Both Ralph Klein and Don Getty have had their hand in the weakening of the Progressive Conservative’s armour. However, he certainly has done nothing to turn opinion around.

But what Ferguson did say is revealing  when he referred to Lougheed as the “Cream of the Crop.”  More than anything the young lawyer from Edmonton, Peter Lougheed represented change, and he had a flair for innovative thinking.  Lougheed may not have been a knight in shining armour, but he represented the change that Alberta wanted and today the rumblings of the Alberta electorate of late are screaming for change.

The social and economic climate in this province is ripe for a change of the guard.  Once again we are seeing a shift in economic realities with the pressures for change in the energy sector, environmental issues and the aging voter population.  Could it be that with 38 years of holding power in Alberta a political upset is in the making?  Yes, history does have a way of repeating itself.  

We have had two different right-wing parties holding power since 1921.  Maybe three times is a charm.

The Ass in the Lion's Skin

An Ass once found a Lion's skin which the hunters had left out in the sun to dry.  He put it on and went towards his native village.  All fled at his approach, both men and animals, and he was a proud Ass that day.  In his delight he lifted up his voice and brayed, but then every one knew him, and his owner came up and gave him a sound cudgelling for the fright he had caused. And shortly afterwards a Fox came up to him and said: "Ah, I knew you by your voice." Aesop’s Fable

Two weeks before the February 1st deadline for Noble Prize nominations Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States.  By deadline Obama, according to his nomination, had already deserved recognition for a Nobel Peace Prize nod.

Like a silver tongued orator, his election night speech, “Yes We Can.” raised the hopes of many.  He has spoken out against nuclear weapons and in other speeches has called for peace between Israel and Palestine.  The Obama fervour began to dwindle after a short honeymoon period.  So other than pretty speeches, what has Obama really done.

Since his election Obama has committed an additional 21,000 troops to Afghanistan, continued the occupation of Iraq, launched deadly counter-terror strikes in Pakistan and Somalia, committed a 15 billion dollar military build-up in Guam, had 61 Peace Protestors arrested outside the White House and has humbly accepted the Noble Peace Prize.  It’s been a great run thus far.

According to the Nobel Committee that chose to honour Obama, he won the prize for "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples".  What did Obama do that was beyond what is ordinary or usual in the two weeks after his election or even between Feb. 1st and now?

Has he released all the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay?  He may have signed the order to close the prison within a year, but even before be took power the number of prisoners held had reduced from its peak population of 779 to 245 suspected terrorists.  Was this extraordinary, continuing a process started by the Bush administration?

Has he pulled his troops from Iraq?  Has he declared peace with terrorism? As absurd as that sounds, it is terrorism the United States had declared war on in the first place.  No, he has done none of these things because as the President of the United States is nothing more than the ‘ass’ in ‘lions’ clothing.

The good people of the Nobel Committee have done nothing but confused the international community, and I dare say Obama himself. "I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many transformative figures that have been honoured by this prize,"  he said. "I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations to confront the challenges of the 21st century."  Did you catch that?  He accepted the prize on behalf of all nations."  Apparently Obama sees himself as the leader of the world.  Interesting for a man who is the leader of the most warring nation on the planet.

His own words admit that he does not deserve the prize, and upon accepting the honour, felt it necessary to take actions to deserve it.  A ‘call to action’ is what he promises the international community.  Words from a man who is serving two masters.

In identifying himself as a universal citizen and virtual leader of a world under globalization.  He promises peace while America marches on with a foreign policy that is in direct opposition to a peaceful existence.

Obama is stuck between a rock and a hard place, and if the man is genuine as we all hope he is, his tenure in office will be anything but glorious.

So does Barack Obama deserve the Nobel Peace Prize?  Many would agree that at this point it is premature.  I tend to agree with Former Polish President Lech Walesa, who won the prize in 1983 when he said of the Obama‘s award, "So soon? Too early. He has no contribution so far. He is still at an early stage. He is only beginning to act."

Its too bad that Prime Minister Stephan Harper does not get an award for something he did not do.  But then again he is in the running for a Grammy for thrilling an audience with his duet with Yo-Yo Ma when he sang The Beatles' "With A Little Help From My Friends."  Harper was not going to let Obama show him up.

Feeling Nuts in Alberta

Looking across the room on any day most people can pick out a person not having a good day.  They can be downcast, tired looking and some what introverted.  This can be especially concerning for you when you remember this particular person to be usually bright and cheerful.  Some people you know may be too sprite, talk fast or are acting almost too cheerful.  Even if they are always in this state, it could be a cause for concern.  You may even know a co-worker who complains of lack of sleep on a daily basis, yet still functions as is they have an abundance of energy.  Are these people functioning at what we call normal?  Or are they suffering from a psychological disorder.

This is a tough call, and in many cases you will not know that your co-worker or family member has a bipolar disorder or even schizophrenia.   It would also be fair to say that it would take a person with special training and certification to detect and deal with such a problem.  Because according to statistics, one in five people have suffered or are suffering from a mental disorder.

Furthermore, less than 20 percent suffering from a mental disorder have received adequate treatment.  One could assume that this lack of treatment is the result of a person neglecting their own health or having no support structure within their family.  But to do that would be simply wrong.

In Alberta we have regulations for everything.  Traffic regulations, property controls, city bylaws, utility regulations, and federal regulation.  We pretty much live in a society where many believe that the government has it all under control.  We, although too much, trust the authorities.  A doctor can prescribe a medication and you will take that medication without question, because he or she is a physician.  They are educated and our government have certified them as being able to deal with our problems.  You have a toothache, you go to the dentist.  Again, you open your mouth wide as a man with a power drill drives the bit into your mouth.  We trust that person, because they have a certificate on the wall stating that they have read the owners manual for the drill and the government has vetted them, clearing them to provide treatment.  If we are honest with ourselves, we truly believe that the authorities have ensured that professionals are adequate, and talented to deal with our problems. … Yes?

Not so with mental health.  Until Alberta introduced the Health Professions Act, there was little in Alberta to identify and certify a person as being adequate to dispense psychological help.  But, the presence of this act will once again give us a false sense of security because of the art of language.  You see, even with this regulation the term, “Psychotherapist” is not protected under this act.  The H.P.A. does not address the term psychotherapist, which refers to the treatment of mental disorders as psychosocial intervention and identifies specific groups of people that can dispense psychosocial intervention.  Those are social workers, dietitians, licensed practical nurses, psychologists, registered psychiatric nurses and physicians.  On the surface it seems that the Alberta government has it completely covered.

But they don't. It came to my attention from a good friend who has a need to seek help for someone with bipolar disorder.  Seeking a therapist, they found a psychotherapist and was surprised to find out that this person was a practicing mystic. And, according to Alberta Connects, it was legal for this person to hold themselves out as a psychotherapist.  “Thank you for your query to Alberta Connects. While a number of professional titles are protected and reserved for the use of regulated health professionals in Alberta, the title "psychotherapist" is not one of them", came the answer.
This loophole is something that needs to be re-addressed in the H.P.A., and regulated in order to ensure that people don't fall into a case of mismanagement of psychotherapy.  Would it be fair to assume that if your neighbour takes an online training course on counseling, they can print up 500 business cards, hang up a shingle and hold themselves out as a psychotherapist?  This opens this field of treatment  to abuses which can in turn cause more anxiety or even peril for the patient.

People with depression can be driven to suicide.  Every two out of three people who have committed suicide have sought help the month prior.  The elderly are at most risk of suicide as a result of depression, as one fourth of total suicides are committed by the elderly.  Because the general public recognize the word psychotherapist as a person who is trained and certified to deal with the mental health of an individual, someone seeking treatment are in danger of not getting the help they need.  This can put the person as well as their family and friends in harms way.

This shortfall is serious, and if our government  wants to maintain the trust of the people, more care and attention to details need to be taken when introducing regulations in Alberta.  At least we don't live in Quebec where the law is completely silent in the field of psychotherapy.  Go figure.

Pucker Up Buttercup

What a horrible insult. Canada was hurt, spited, banned, blackballed and downright shunned. It would have been the highlight of St. John’s Newfoundland’s international status. St. John’s would have joined the ranks of Moscow, Paris, Rome and New York. But, the self proclaimed “President-for-Life” of Libya and confessed associate of the Lockerbie bomber that snuffed 270 souls, will not be pitching his tent on Canadian soil. Somewhere today in Newfoundland is a codfish poised in puckered position waiting for an intimate moment with a despot. But that intimate moment will have to wait, ‘Muammar, you don’t know what you’re missing’.

If you have not heard, the “King of Kings in Africa” had scheduled a refuelling stop and short camp-out at St. John’s, Newfoundland after being served an eviction notice from the Mayor of Bedford, NY. The former chair of the United Nations Humans Rights Commission, Muammar Gadhafi has not had a good diplomatic run in North America last week. It is enough to make the strongman weep. But to shun the good folks of St. John’s is just downright rude.

His problems started in New York when he arrived to address the United Nations. Gadhafi, who always pitches a Bedouin-style tent in the country he visits as a symbol of his nation, wanted to set-up camp in Central Park, New York. The fine folks of that city remembering this dictator’s former deeds, would have nothing of it. Instead Donald Trump steps in and has him pound stakes on some real estate in the town of Bedford. Not to be outdone the Mayor and Council there say ‘nay-nay’ and a court order is served. Muammar decides to ignore that order, but within days, a U-Haul trailer arrives and the dictator moves on. Historically, that moment became the first time an African tent trailer turned a wheel on American soil.

Meanwhile, waiting with bated breath is the city of St. John’s. Even Prime Minister Stephen Harper was expecting the arrival of our African visitor. Reports have it that Harper had planned on sending Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon to meet Gadhafi and express Canada’s displeasure over Libya’s hero welcome they gave the Lockerbie bomber upon his release from prison. But, in only what could be seen as either a diplomatic snub or a misdirected tent dwellers trip plan gone wrong, Gadhafi decides that he would visit another place of his choosing. Venezuela is where he found himself. Newfoundland…Venezuela… sounds similar, ok I’ll give him that one.

Visiting Canada aside, Muammar Gadhafi is one interesting subject. He admits to the world that his country was involved in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland killing 270 people. The Libyan agent involved was sent to jail only to be released on compassionate leave after being diagnosed with cancer.

Gadhafi has governed his country with a horrible record of human rights abuses. Freedom of speech, press, assembly, association, and religion are not freely respected in Libya. Records of arrest without grounds, torture of prisoners held without trial for long periods of time have also been reported. Yet in 2003 Libya was voted in the United Nations as the chair of the United Nations Humans Rights Commission. A time when Gadhafi was admitting his government’s involvement in terrorist activity and was still listed as a terrorist nation.

Recently in an attempt to be a kinder, and gentle tyrant, Gadhafi openly admitted to the Lockerbie incident, apologized and paid restitution for the deaths of the innocent. He even met the families of the slain and is quoted as saying, “It was a friendly meeting and encounter” and “very sentimental.”

Yet, last week when Gadhafi gave a 90 minutes speech in the UN and when he began to lose the attention span of his ‘colleagues’ he stopped and hollered, “Please pay attention!” Ego from a man who’s sociopathic behaviour have kept his country in nearly a four decade oppression. Although he has gone on record as hating America and all thing American, he views himself a friend and ‘brother’ to Barack Obama. In his long address to the world at the UN he stated, “We Africans are happy, proud that a son of Africa governs the United States of America.” With true ignorance of democracy he suggested to Obama that he take a cue from Libya and declare himself President-for-life.

So what did Gadhafi do instead of kissing a codfish in St. John’s? He landed a meeting with Hugo Chavez, another ‘reformed’ radical military man, and dictator. And, while the Mayor of St. John’s was looking for evidence of tent pegs on civic soil, Gadhafi and Chavez shook hands in agreement to build an alliance to form a “NATO of the south.” He is quoted as saying in Venezuela, “Those who were betting on NATO, we now say to them that we’re going to bet on SATO. We are going to have our treaty too.” Splitting the world into an old fashioned North against the South.

If only Gadhafi would have taken the time to visit Newfoundland he would have truly experienced the difference. Personally I blame Harper for scaring Gadhafi off. The fear of getting a good old fashioned Canadian chastisement by Lawrence Cannon could scare off even the stiffest dictator, or is Muammar just allergic to fish?

The Emperors New Clothes

In the Hans Christian Andersen story "The Emperor’s New Clothes," the king is swindled to believe that two con-men sewed him a new royal cloak, only to gullibly parade himself nude in the streets before his subjects. Many see this story as a lesson to scrutinize all you are told. But the better lesson is revealed when a child points to the king and yells, "He’s naked!"

Out of the mouth of innocence comes the truth. But in the story those who witnessed the buffoon leader parading like a fool stood in fear unable to speak out the truth. The story, has become a lesson to imply that the motive and rationale for not seeing the obvious truth has become so ingrained that the majority do not even realize that they are perpetuating a falsehood. The king in this story is nothing but a politician and the people are the electorate.

In walks Federal Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff speaking publicly on September 14th at the Canadian Club of Ottawa. The more I dwell on his speech titled, "Canada’s Place in a changing World" the more insulted I feel.

We have gotten used to the Liberals bad mouthing the governing Conservatives and visa-versa. It has become the ‘modus operandi’ of Canadian politics. For the most part, because many of us can see the whole picture from the side-lines, we can pick out the mouse crap in the wild rice, but to the uninformed, speeches like this do nothing but puff up a speaker and weaken the national pride that Canada has achieved over the years. You see, Ignatieff in his zeal to tear down Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservatives, publicly told us all that we as Canadians should feel shame and that we as world citizens just don’t matter.

He claims in his speech that Canada will only matter if it is run by the Liberal party led by himself. Take a look at a few words from the mouth of the ‘natural ruling party leader’. "After the last four years, it’s hard to remember how much Canada once mattered." and "For the Conservative government of Stephen Harper, the international scene exists only to score points on the domestic scene. And our credibility on the international scene has suffered in consequence. The Conservatives are giving up Canada’s place in the world." And then out of the mouth of a man who has lived too long out-of-his country he said, "Under this government, Canada is becoming the country that dares not speak its name."

Words of shame. How can this man look into the eyes of a Canadian soldier’s widow and say, "It’s hard to remember how much Canada once mattered." How can one be so ignorant as to look in the eyes of China’s restricted souls and say that when Canada stood against China’s human rights abuses that it was only a ploy to win votes for the Conservative party. Ignatieff trivialized communist China’s abuse of their citizens. Where is Ignatieff on this issue?

And, how do you as a Canadian feel when this man tells you that you live in a country that dares not speak its name?! To speak in this context is the same as flying our flag on international waters or on a foreign soil at our embassies, or on the battlefield along side other nations making sacrifices daily.

Ignatieff even stated that we as a nation have become mute. "They note our silence in international councils and ask; Where is Canada?" Apparently he does not consider our closest neighbours, the USA, as important, because it is under our Conservative government that relations have improved because of Harper’s open arm policy, meeting former President Bush and now Barack Obama on important issues concerning not only the USA and Canada, but other countries. The fact that under our current leadership Obama’s first out-of-country visit was to Canada in order to meet Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Do we as the electorate forget the insults hurled by the Liberals towards the USA, when in 2003 then Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish was heard saying on an open mike, "Damn Americans, I hate the bastards!" Only to follow up by stomping on replicas of the US President jeering that ‘he is a moron’ in an effort to denounce the war in Iraq. A war where Americans have lost their lives and spent billions to maintain. Is this the type of ‘national pride’ Ignatieff foresees for Canada? Do you think that if Obama’s rise to power would have occurred in 2003, he would have put Canada first?

This is a man not in touch with reality. He is parading in public in arrogant pride sporting a new wardrobe void of any real thread of credibility. He is a man who has stripped himself of the dignity of the clothed, and in this speech of September 14th revealed to Canadians what he thinks of our country, the men and women who serve our country and those who live here. In his own words, he said that we are people that dare not speak our names. I guess we just don’t matter.

Well, Mr. Ignatieff, I am a proud Canadian. When I shake the hand of a Canadian soldier, I do get a lump in my throat. A well of emotion builds up in me, those of gratefulness, pride and admiration. Grateful because of what our men and woman are doing for the people of Afghanistan. Grateful because I know that when the sole of a Canadian soldier steps off on foreign soil I know that Canada matters!

This latest insult by a Liberal leader only brings one image in my mind. It is the image of former Liberal Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau flipping British Columbians in Salmon Arm the ‘bird’. Only now the face has changed, and its not just a province this gesture is directed to.

Face to Face

Sitting on a public bus in Edmonton, around 10:00 PM, passing through Jasper Avenue and across the High Level bridge to finally encroach Whyte Avenue, one  sees many sights. I highly recommend anyone from the country and suburbs to take the journey. I’m not talking about the view of the North Saskatchewan River, or the bright lights of the city skyline at night. Yes, these sights are rather impressive. No, the view I speak of is the people that ride public transportation late at night, or the fellow on the street corner yelling at a sign post in a drunken stupor, or a stupor for which Prozac may provide relief from.

I need to say that I am a true believer that a divine creator brought life to the earth through intelligent design. But this journey exploring Edmonton streets tends to make one believe that perhaps we may have been evolved from some lower life form, and perhaps a few genetic throwbacks may have missed the ‘bus’ so-to-speak. Because the man standing on the street corner with a plumber crack breezing in the wind, or the ‘working-girls’ looking to ‘hook-up’ with the man named ‘John’ tend to shake my faith in ‘intelligent design’.

In this we can agree, that whether science has all the answers or people of faith know the truth, one thing holds true, and that is that the truth shall be revealed through observing nature as laid before us by the Great Architect.

Just last week, again scientific academia engaged in a debate amongst their peers regarding, what Darwin coined as "The Origin of a Species" .

Two scientists in particular, a Jeffery Schwartz and John Grehan, have postulated that humans most likely evolved from orangutans and not chimpanzees as once concluded by the smart folks that write our text books. "Scientists go out on a limb to say we're more like orangutans than chimps." Edmonton Journal Sept. 6, 2009. This revelation may have shook the foundation of the scientific faithful, because as we have all been told, it was the chimp that gave us the characteristics we see in others while riding a city bus.

According to science, DNA shows that humans have more in common with the chimp, then the gorilla followed by the orangutans. But it has been proven that the orangutans are the smartest apes on earth, next to the dude talking to the sign post.

Popular culture was way ahead of Schwartz and Grehan when in the 70’s the scifi movie, "The Planet of Apes" had portrayed the blonde haired orangutans as the scientific leaders in the community and the keepers of the faith.

Schwartz and Grehan argue that DNA is not the only indicator for evolution. They argue that the orangutan share more physical characteristics with humans than do the chimps. They said that, ‘DNA analysis is problematic and conventional chimpanzee theory is not backed up enough by fossil evidence.’

Did you catch that, two respected anthropologists in an effort to push through their scientific position, have admitted that evolution of man from chimps (apes) are not backed up by fossil evidence. This is something that many people who believe in intelligent design have been stating. The truth is that the evidence for the entire "Evolution of Man" charts proudly displayed in our public schools are based on a fossil collection that can barely cover the surface of a pool table. The amount of conjecture by science is as ‘wholly’ (pun intended) as that of Schwartz and Grehan. Sadly it is this ‘science’ that rewrites text books on a continual basis and no scholastic publisher ever prints a retraction, resulting in generations of children carry into adulthood the imaginations of mere men.

So we have scientists today disregarding DNA evidence and side with Hollywood by concluding that the orangutan ‘is our man.’

The reason for this conclusion, that the orangutan is the missing link, is based partly on scientific observation that they are the only members of great apes that build their homes above ground and they finish the job by adding a roof.

Hell, that’s enough evidence for me. Forget trying to find the transitional fossils. Roofs on huts, thats the key! Thanks for that Schwartz and Grehan, I think tonight I’ll find some mud and straw and grunt behind my wife’s back.

In light of these earth shattering observations which include my learned observations from a bus, I find it interesting that humans are so fascinated with the ape in the first place.

Do other animals gravitate to similar species in the same way. Perhaps horses congregating near the stables discuss their origins. Do they look at the mule or donkey while snorting and kicking signals back and forth arguing whether they came from the donkey? I would even suggest that the mere thought of it would be insulting to the ‘thinking horse’.

"I am not evolved from that Ass!" would be the quip from Seabiscuit.

But I should be fair to these two learned fellows. It was not just the above ground dwelling topped with a roof observation that made them think that the orangutan is our close relative. No, they say that they have other very important identical human developments. The nuts on the topping was their observation of the apes mating practices. You see, they concluded that the Orangutan mate longer, and they mate "face to face".

“Face to Face” these fellows really need to get out more. I’ll stick with Intelligent Design.

Defenestration: A Voters Choice

Dressed in her business best last week, our Minister of Finance, Iris Evans walked up to the podium to announce to her people that all was good, except a slight miscalculation of $6.9 billion dollars. The same government that appointed Evans to probably the most sensitive post in public service, will run a budget deficit the like of which has not been seen since the Getty years.

The government propaganda machine was hard at work to soften the blow to Albertans. Some news agencies printed stories that pointed to other provinces as being in worse shape, in an effort to make us all feel 'Alberta Superior.' The Edmonton Journal ran a column from Gary Lamphier titled, “Alberta's financial troubles would be the envy of other provinces” stating “unlike most other provinces, states and countries, for that matter – will remain debt-free and cash rich, even after this year's fiscal carnage is over.” Pheew, why didn't you say so in the first place. I feel so much better.

I smell smoke mixed with cotton here folks! I believe its about time we called a spade a spade. By all appearances, its looks like our government is running our cash register with the 'no sale' function stuck.

In the last twelve months Iris Evan's budget projections have gone from a $8.5 billion dollar surplus to a $6.9 billion dollar deficit. That's a spread of a mere $15.4 billion dollars. In case you missed it, our Finance Minister’s projections were off by $15.4 billion dollars.

The reasons cited for the budget over-run was offered in two forms. The first culprit was the recession, and the second was a direct result of the first, the drop in the price of natural gas. Interesting how these causes chosen to justify the failure of the government are those problems outside their control. They would rather have Albertans believe that a reduction in Natural Gas prices, that being the cost going from $5.5 per gigajoule to $3.75. That represents a $1.75 reduction behind the cause of our situation. Admittingly, this drop would account for a reduction in resource revenue, but when it comes to governance, income is only one side of the equation.

To the public, Evans squarely blames the recession for the budget overrun even to the point of demonizing the economy, “We haven’t seen the last of that scoundrel, that recession. We haven’t seen the last of it, but in Alberta we’re on the right track to be stronger than ever as this recession is over.” She said during her April 7th budget delivery.

By July, Evans began to hint that her projections may be a bit off. With news showing that the overall Canadian economy was showing life she is quoted as saying, “It’s going to be a little longer for Alberta to feel that bounce…. I will be much more satisfied that we’re on the way to recovery when I see higher gas prices.” And, there it is… once again she is hedging her bets on higher gas prices.

By all accounts, the Alberta government have been making one bad decision after the other, during a time when the public purse should be tightened. Take for example the decision to crumble under popular pressure to introduce a $4 billion dollar carbon capture program, only to revise that plan to only a mere $2 billion dollars. Or the illusion of free health care for Albertans. A plan that in the end will only see more medical treatments de-listed to meet the reduction in revenue.

I could go on, but the end result would see me, a life long conservative, suffer through a rapid case of cognitive dissident.

But the real problem is not one of revenue. It is a problem of spending. Overruns are just that, the result of spending more than you have, and our government must be spending the tax dollars like a drunken sailor. In our case, our government have spent $6.9 billion more than we had.

What needs to really happen is our government moving away from being revenue dependant when the commodity prices and surpluses are too high to a deficit position when prices are low, causing the government to dip into the sustainability fund.

Although our government have promised Albertan’s no new taxes, and have come out with statements that suggest that no employee layoffs are considered. It is hard to believe that in light of the extreme shortfall, the old certainties in life do not hold true in this province. That being death and taxes. Maybe one should consider defenestration when casting your next vote.

The Rumour Mill, a Menacing Web

As rumours goes this was a doozy! But before we dwell on it, let me say that what is buzzing about social circles, and the internet is just that, an unsubstantiated rumour based on a projection from one man. It was a rumour that was started by an American online newsletter and picked up several other bloggers. The rumour is that one of Canada's largest banks is close to financial collapse. The interesting part of all this was that it spread throughout the world, and when I got wind of it, it morphed into word of mouth.

It is important for all involved to note that the source of such an alarming rumour originated on the internet, and “as of our press run,” no reputable journalist print source had broke out with the story. Sadly, this is truly the acid test when sifting through the chaff. Because, this type of rumour mongering has the effect of becoming a self fulfilled prophecy and can affect stock trading, which in turn can cause a loss of income for those people investing in the markets.

The source of this is a Mr. Dan Amoss, a Chartered Financial Analyst® and managing editor of the online Strategic Short Report. In a four page blog titled, “The Next Major Stock Set to Crash,” the blogger Stock Gumshoe reports that Amoss will expose this Canadian bank as using shady accounting tricks to hide losses and lying about being able to pay a massive $1.5 billion dividend scheduled for 2009. Amoss teases the internet community by stating that this bank is 192 years old and employs over 37,000 people. The conclusion was from Amoss that, “The news of this bank dropping like a stone would hit the financial markets so hard — creating a tsunami of fear in a previously thought “safe” banking niche — that it’d make the panic of 2008 look like a cake walk…”

The internet community was quick to research the clues on such 'reputable' sources as Wikipedia. In very short order readers began to comment on these blogs putting their two-cents worth into the discussion. Such as “The bank never goes 'broke'. If the bank runs out of money, it can issue as much as needed by writing it on an ordinary piece of paper. In Canada, the banks can print as much as they need,” and “He did not say what his source was. The bank was described to him and the one that fit closest was BMO,” and my favourite, “Stop this, my mom works for the BMO, your scaring the hell out of me!”

This type of news is somewhat easy to believe in light of the current economic environment we find ourselves. Bloomberg News on the same day this rumour was milling about reported “Profits Decline at Two Canadians Banks.” stating that both the Bank of Montreal (BMO) and the Bank of Nova Scotia reported third-quarter earnings decline on rising loan costs. According to these reports the BMO's net income for the period fell 21 percent in it's fifth straight profit decline. In the same report the ScotiaBank reported a 1.9 percent decline in profits.

In the USA, where our banking institutions would enjoy some foreign investors stock trading, the banking story is extremely bleak, so much so that in contrast to the American experience just last February, Barron's, the online journal from The Wall Street Journal, reported “A Canadian Bank Plays It Safe…and Smart,” which painted the Canadian banking experience as strong in light of the global economic crash, and singled out the Scotiabank as “tight-fisted and old-fashioned, and has boosted its earnings and dividends consistently for more than a decade.”

But let us consider the source. When Amoss came out with his projection, he did not name the bank under scrutiny. In fact, he announced that at noon on August 24th he would come out and expose the Canadian Bank that was going to crash. Interesting that he picked a time and day of his release, after giving the world a clue to which institution this was. In fact, his report was scathing in accusations, so much so, that if he was only using conjecture he was opening himself up to legal scrutiny. Amoss is a financial analyst, and like many of those who believe to be connected, or in the know, may use their sources to their financial advantage.

Noon came on the 24th, and what was discovered was interesting. By the time his deadline was met, the internet community had already come to the conclusion that the bank in dire straights was the BMO. Now the interesting facts. At the open of the trading day, the Toronto Stock Exchange was trading BMO stock at $51.20. By 1:30 PM the same day the stocks fell to $49.13 and closed the day out at $49.10. This from a stock that held its trading between 51-52 dollars.

Whether the $1.85 day drop in trading was influenced by the rumour mill surrounding the BMO is really not the question. It would be fair to say that those trading knew of Dan Amoss’s report and could very well have been caused the selling of the shares that lowered their value.

Whether the BMO is in for a financial beating we still do not know, however by the end of the day, the BMO had cuts its dividend. One thing for sure, in today’s unstable economic outlook, rumours of financial collapse in any sector cannot help the situation. In the world of the internet, the rumour mill has become a menacing web.

The Phrase that Shames

What do you say to the mother you witness yelling, while pulling on their child’s arm in anger only to notice the mother immediately breaks down in penitent tears as the child says, "That’s OK mommy, I'll be a good girl."? Do you think maybe there is a history of abuse and the child has accepted her fate? Would the mother in this illustration feel shame that her child takes blame for her own behaviour or maybe existence in spite of her mother's shortcomings. Would it be fair to say that at that moment 'our' mother feels humiliation, shame and a sense of disappointment in her role as care giver, protector and mentor.

I think at some point we have all felt a sense of disappointment in ourselves in some shape or form. It may come at something we said, or how we behaved in a group. It may have come later in life when we are having that "Remember when...." conversation with our now grown up son or daughter and discover that their perception of us was different than what we thought it should be. Those are the moments when we feel shame and disappointment in ourselves.

Last week, I felt something similar when I had a conversation with a good friend. Strange as it may seem, it was not my lack of inner monologue that made me take a 'gut shot'. It was my perception of myself as a proud, enlightened, tolerant citizen of Canada that took the hit.

Just so you understand, my friend was born in Toronto, the son of immigrant parents from Uganda. Suffice it to say, my friend is in his early 20's, dark skin, black hair, clean cut, university educated, and yes, an observant Muslim. Having roots in Ontario he travels often from Edmonton to Toronto by air, and last week when I asked him how his flight went, he began to tell me how he was selected and subjected to what he felt was an unreasonable search and examination.

My first thought was, 'OK, it must be the new airport screening procedures.' But my friend did not stop there. He told me that on numerous flights within Canada, he has been singled out and physically frisked and questioned about his comings and goings. At one point he was surrounded by security, taken to a room and closely examined, only to be told that he was on a no-fly list. It was discovered that another man with the same 'Muslim' sounding name was on the no-fly list. But this fellow was forty years older. When asked what he could do about being detained in airports, security just said, "change your name."

At one point, in an effort to give security no reason to single him out, on another flight when he came to the airport he made sure he had no metal in his pockets or clothing. As he walked through the security gate, amazingly it went off. He was then pulled aside again. After the humiliation of being singled out and placed back amongst the passengers, is it reasonable to assume that other passengers were nervous at his presence during the flight?

That was when it happened, after what was a 'matter of fact' conversation, he said, "Ya, but I'm getting used to it." This from a person who was born in Canada, who's only 'offense' is to be born brown and into a Muslim family. Me, as a Canadian who bought into 'we live in the best and most accepting and enlightened country' I felt sorry for my fellow Canadians, and shame at the fact that we as a nation have come to the point where people like my friend are getting "used to it." Should anyone just 'get used to' being profiled, scrutinized and examined in their own country?

The 49th Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, Aga Khan said, "Canada is the most successful pluralist society on the face of our globe," and "a model for the world." This perception of Canada is not isolated to Aga Khan. In the past eight years Muslims from around the world have seen Canada as the preferable nation to immigrate to, fearing profiling, anger and hatred from other possible homes like the USA as a result of 9/11.

The tone for multiculturalism was set in 1935 when our then Governor General of Canada The Lord Tweedsmuir stated that immigrants "should retain their individuality and each make its contribution to the national character," he further stated, "the strongest nations are those that are made up of different racial elements."

Canada is a pluralistic nation where multiculturalism is viewed that each culture or subculture contributes uniquely and brings valuable cultural aspects to the whole. This spirit of Canada as a cohesive culture was formalized in 1971 and in 1988 the Canadian Multiculturalism Act received Royal Assent.

This targeting of Muslims for the sake of airport security should not be casually accepted by Canadians. One should not stand by as a fellow Canadian is subjected to unreasonable detention and search, something that is forbidden by our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In the post 9/11 world, we can accept increased security in the form of metal detectors, discrete x-ray screening and air marshals on-board, but to accept the sole discretion of fearful airport security officers who are profiling by skin colour or how a person is dressed in traditional or religious garb is unacceptable.

Cultural profiling is a faulty policy and is motivated by fear which is not the best security counsel because as best selling author Meg Cabot once said, "Courage is not the absence of fear but the judgment that something else is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all. For now you are traveling the road between who you think you are and who you can be."

The Insignificance of Mankind

“The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse.” British Statesmen Edmund Burke

Mankind, culture, people, nations, business and self. These are just the few descriptors of what we see mankind as. But as a complex bunch we are the driving force behind it are everyday emotions, pride, ego and self esteem. Many position themselves through life whether consciously or subconsciously above others.

The skilful have the ability of achieving leadership status within their personal groups or circles of influence. These people can be seen in positions of authority and for the most part are looked at by others as deserving. For many others, the struggle to achieve recognition takes on other forms

The old childhood game of “King of the Castle” is an ongoing drama that children take into adulthood and whether they are aware of the dynamics involved, role play over and over again for those people who are not natural leaders and have been slotted into subordinate roles. But for those who do not feel deserving of the humble station in life tend to ‘just take’ power. For those people, manipulation, force, violence and cunning are all the tools they use to make themselves feel significant.

This struggle for influence and power brokering can be seen on a large scale in world politics. Mankind walks this earth and goes about their business as if our species deserve to dominate this planet. Wars are waged through power of the elite. Corporate greed is sought after through people whose self worth is only satisfied through corporate manipulation usually at the pain of others crushed beneath their feet. Foreign policy of nations trample on the human rights and value systems of countries identified as less developed or third world. Terms used to publicly identify theses cultures as beneath those in power and worthy of occupation. Terms used through propaganda to justify the trampling of others in the pursuit of international self worth.

Closer to home in the work-force, conflicts flourish through ‘empowerment’ management. This simple concept preaches that those in power should share. Power taken by the micro-masses, misused in the hands of some individuals in businesses and organizations are abused through cunning, manipulation and greed of those who need to achieve more self worth. The end result are emotionally beaten souls at the hands of those undeserving thumping their chests in self fulfillment.

These power struggles in the work place, although destructive, will never go away because mankind will never change. The game of “King of the Castle” is an ongoing serialized theme.

For some who have been fed upon by micro-empowered brokers come home at the end of working day and in an effort to achieve self-worth target their own families. Sheltered abuse reigns in families where spousal and child abuse flourishes. The offender through cunning, deceit, manipulation and learned behaviour at the hands of others plays out their craft on the down-cast spouse or child.

Beatings, verbal and emotional abuse reduces these family members to the lowest common denominator. The victims develop hatred and self-loathing. The abuser having embraced their new achieved self-worth through dominance thumps their chests in victory, some woefully unaware of the destruction left in their paths. The game of “King of the Castle” continues with its next move.

Through these acts of hill climbing, clutching at power taken from less fortunate societies, spouses whose only claim to fame was to love the abuser, children whose only shame came at the trust of their abusive parents, the power hungry human is seen as truly significant in their own eyes. Walking high in tall cotton, chest pushed out, the power hungry member of mankind is truly the center of the universe.

Afterall, we have achieved technological feats that seem magical, conquered flight, harnessed and redirected energy and recreated life. Powers that truly demonstrate mankind’s dominance in nature. In our egocentrical conquest for power, achievement, recognition and control we have placed ourselves above everyone and everything. So high that we can see the four corners of the earth with arms stretched out saying, “All this can be ours.”

Then a bubble bursts as one morning the sun shines, dark clouds roll in from the northwest. Starting in Edmonton the power of nature comes full force. The power of the earth roles across the prairie and rapidly collapses a stage killing someone’s daughter and injuring 15 others. Huge trees are uprooted and property damages soars. Continuing south in Calgary an innocent child is killed as debris is blown around her. During natures fury we were all held in fear for what really was a brief moment in time.

At that moment all that walk this earth are equal. The bullies, family abusers, power brokers are blown about as nature puts mankind in it’s place. For in the end, mankind is truly insignificant.

We are only visitors on this earth, for those structures in nature will survive each and every one of us. We can feed on the emotions of our families, neighbours and fellow workers in order to climb over the heap of those we perceive beneath us, but to this planet we call home, we are nothing but an insignificant creature created from dirt.

This past weekend was a humbling experience, as the storms tore throughout Alberta leaving death, injuries and property damage. Our hearts and condolences go out to the families forever touched by nature’s power. But for the rest of us, it is a reminder of just how insufficient our clamouring for power truly is, for in contrast to nature, mankind is truly insignificant.