Some Thoughts

 Some things I want to get out while I'm thinking about them. I've been thinking about the recently forced back to work Canada Post employees. I wonder if there's a little extra behind the hate and the "Just privatize the whole outfit" rhetoric. 

Canada Post, much like the USPS, is a federal mail service. It's a Crown Corporation. It was a Government Department until 1981, when it was moved from a department to its own entity owned by the Government. 

Now, a Crown Corporation is an entity that has more independence than a department and is there to provide services to areas that private enterprise would not want to establish service. 

So what I'm thinking is this: People get upset about the strikes and demonize the workers because any statement is about money. The workers might be trying to get better working conditions, but the main talking point always pointed out is money. The only thing I ever heard discussed by people was the wage increase. Not the Union trying to protect Full time jobs and benefits. Yes, the Union is asking for an increase. The number I heard and the context didn't make sense until I looked into it more and saw it's 20% total over 5 years.. 

I've read many calls to cut service to once a week, install neighbourhood mailboxes, and just outright elimination of Canada Post and have a Private entity take over service. 

Now... I've lived in a few places over my life. I grew up in a small northern town. Our mail was at the Post Office. We'd go pick up our mail in the box. 

Most of Canada is rural. My hometown, Terrace Bay, is on the north shore of Lake Superior. It's 3 hours form Thunder Bay, 6 hours from Sault Ste Marie. 12 from Toronto. There are a number of small towns on the way along highway 17. There's also what amounts to a three hour window of nothingness between Wawa and Sault Ste Marie. 

Greyhound left Canada because of the rural nature of the country. Do you really think a company knowing the challenges of how much rural territory there is would take over service for that area? 

People talk about email and online apps for bills etc. Ok. How about your driver's license. Health card? People worry about being tracked and scammed out of their money sometimes.. Do you want your bank card to go through the same device that can be used to track and possibly scam you?? Places that are isolated would be completely unserviced. 

"Oh the Postal Workers are lazy blah blah blah" 

Are they? At one time I could walk quite a bit. For areas that still have mostly door to door serivce, that's a way of life for the postie. The funny thing is the people who want Canada Post to go to once a week and to Neighbourhood boxes would be causing the laziness issue they're so worked up about. 

"Canada Post is losing money"

Yes.. It has been losing money for a while. But is that the workers' faults? Or is it the people in charge of the Corporation? 

If it was a Private entity, seven years of losses, the CEO would have been fired long ago. If it was a Private entity, they would cut unprofitable locations. Much like Greyhound did before they Noped out of Canada. One of the first routes cut by Greyhound was the Toronto to Thunder Bay route. They kept the routes in the more urban areas because they made money. It would be the same for any Private Mail Carrier. 

So really, rather than getting upset at the workers, (and I know it's easy to get upset at them) look at both sides of the issue. Or, you know.. If you think they're so lazy and the job is so easy for what they're paid, Go get a job as a Postie.. 

This actually went a little off the rails.. I hope this long winded rant made some sort of sense.. 

Stupidity...

 I don't know how it started, but I'm seeing a lot of "Canada should be the 51st State" nonsense a lot online today.. 

I think it started from Trump "joking" that Canada should just become the 51st state and Justin Trudeau would be Governor. Now.. We know what happens when Trump "jokes." It tends to be some insane idea he has that he's testing the waters of maybe following through with, depending on the reaction. 

Here's the sad part.. There are a number of people, mind you many of them are Albertan and hate Canada to begin with, that welcome this. They would welcome becoming part of the United States. They somehow think it'll benefit Canada. 

No....

People are looking at the 2nd Amendment and salivating (again, the Texiburtans) while others think the 1st Amendment is stronger than the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees "The Freedom of conscience and religion, freedom of thought, belief, opinion, and expression including freedom of the press and other media of communication."

The people looking at this and wanting this are so blinded by hatred of Justin Trudeau that they would rather willingly lose their Canadian identity and institutions in order to become part of the United States. One said this move would strengthen Canada.. No... It would make Canada cease to exist. Unless it's a Puerto Rico style thing, at which we'd basically be forgotten about until they need something from the land. 

Others, quite rightly, are saying that a single state Canada would not work. There would be a need to either keep the current provinces, or to divide the Provinces even further, depending.. We all know Texas' ego would be severely bruised if they're not the biggest.. They may not like the fact that another source of oil would be available. 

Others are talking about travel being easier and yes, that would be a benefit... However, giving up a Canadian Passport to ultimately get an American one if you want to leave North America isn't that appealing to me. 

Canada would be exploited for its resources. Canada has the most freshwater lakes in the world. Think countries wouldn't want that should something happen to their water supplies, like drought? This way it could be taken without a second thought. 

I don't think people realize how much being ill in the United States costs.. The same people who are complaining about high prices here will have their jaws hit the floor when they get their hospital bill.. 

If I was in the US when I was near death in 2021.... I don't want to know what my bill would have been. I was in hospital for a year and a half. I most likely would have been sent home before I was ready and ended up not being here. 

My friends in the United States... By no means is this rant a slight at you. I do see benefits to the "joke" plan, but I also see more drawbacks that people are discounting in their blinding hatred for Justin Trudeau. More than a few people said they'd rather it be the US than China, forgetting the fact that it was the previous Conservative Government that signed the agreement with China that allowed for things like Chinese Police Stations in Canada. 

Either way, it's a clown show.

December

 It's December once again. Many people are ramping up their Christmas related activities.. Shopping, parties, decorating, etc.. 

As usual, I'm not partaking in any of it this year. I'll go to the Christmas party thing that Thrive is putting on.. Thrive is the company that I have housing supports under here in Peterborough. 

Aside from that, no decoration, no other parties, no shopping aside from groceries. 

Why? Aside from the obvious "I can't afford it" there is the fact that, as a single adult, Christmas has no real meaning to me. It brings back memories of things past, things lost, things never to return... 

I miss the times where having a dimly lit room with the Christmas tree decorated and lights on to make the room look cozy. I miss the time spent with family. But I've always hated this time of year, even when I was younger. Starting around 12, I would get depressed at Christmas until after New Years. Thinking about the passage of time. Thinking about things that happened. Events that were so vivid at one point, now doomed to be lost to the ether. 

I know I'm not the only one who struggles this time of year. There tends to be a spike in calls to crisis lines during this time of year. Some don't even make that call. Some feel so alone and uncared for that they just end it. 

In the last 10 years, I think the only time I ever felt I was thought of was the year I ended up being in the hospital at Christmas. I got some gifts and got a chance to talk to a couple nurses for more than 10 seconds. 

Before that, it was at home when I would visit my family before 2006.. When I got married I always felt judged by my in laws. I never felt like I fit in there. There are a lot of times I just don't feel like I fit in period. 

I know some people will say that this emptiness and whatever other words used to describe this feeling is from not having children to share the magic of Christmas with.. I've never been able to mask my sadness.. I don't think it would change the feeling I get this time of year. A feeling I've gotten since I was a kid myself. 

Anyway, for those who have families, enjoy the time you have with them. If you know anyone who is alone, check in on them. Make sure they're ok. 

Election Fatigue

 Greetings

Today I want to go over a feeling that's hit me recently, other than the wanting to no longer be on the planet anymore (again) 

That feeling dear friends, is Election Fatigue. 

Now, I'm Canadian. Our Federal Election isn't scheduled for another year (Oct 2025) yet for the past, I guess 8 months or so, we have had a politician campaigning basically illegally (Our elections rules state you can only campaign once an election has been called) across Canada. Really, he's campaigning to campaign for an election, so he can campaign normally.. 

His followers, who are very vocal on social media, have been yelling for an election and whining that the government isn't listening to the will of the people.. Other people, who are perfectly willing to let the current administration run its course, are being called every name in the book because they're not calling for an election like they are, and are willing to stay the course, or even vote to keep the same person in power for another term. 

There were two provincial elections recently and the whining has been nonstop.. Calling into question the validity of the results in one province, and just outright disbelief in another. In both cases, the party followers doing the most whining and crying of rigged and fixed are the Conservatives. 

Now, Federally, we have 5 major parties. Liberal, Conservative, New Democratic Party, Green, and Bloc Quebecois. 

The Bloc-heads are a Federal party but only operate in Quebec... Liberals are, I guess, like the US Democratic Party. The Conservatives are like the Republican Party. NDP is... I dunno.. Somewhere... 

Provincially, we have the same parties in general, but some places have their own as well.. British Columbia is weird. They have 13 registered parties. The Liberal party is there but under a different name (BC United) They also have NDP, Conservative, Green, Libertarian, Communist, Freedom, Christian Heritage, Action, Vision, Cascadia, Direct Democracy, and the Party of Citizens Who Have Decided To Think For Ourselves & Be Our Own Politicians.

Well, the Conservatives had a lot of votes in the mountains and other rural areas. Liberals and NDP got votes in the populated areas. One of the issues was storage of the ballot boxes after the election. In some areas, there isn't a nearby Elections Canada office, so the boxes had to be taken to peoples' houses. Eveyone has accepted the results except the people who don't like the Federal Liberal and NDP parties. 

The other province that had an election was Saskatchewan. Now, there's only 7 here.. 

Buffalo Party (seems to be one of those For the People, By the People deals) 

NDP

Progressive Conservative (this was the former name of the Conservative Party Federally)

Green

Saskatchewan Progress Party

Saskatchewan Party (re-elected)

Saskatchewan United Party

Again, people are complaining about the result.. I know people will complain about the result no matter who wins, but it's tiresome.. 

And of course, there's the Three Ringed Circus south of the Border. It's almost constantly an election or near to an election there it seems. 

On Social media I'm hearing the same bullshit from the same side on both sides of the border. 

(If Trump/Poilievre doesn't win, USA/Canada is screwed beyond hope! If Kamala/Justin wins it has to be rigged/stolen/work of the mysterious New World Order that wants to enslave humanity and lock us into evil 15 minute cities where our movements will be tracked!) 

Now, I don't watch the news. I don't enjoy seeing this constant bombardment of shit. I don't like the constant negativity of hearing Canada/US is broken, only I (Poilievre/Trump) can fix it. I mean, if people think the place is so broken, why do people still immigrate to both places? If they think it's so broken, why don't they get out from behind the keyboard and actually do something in the community to help fix it? There are places that need volunteers. There are community associations that can work on the issues you directly face. 

I'm tired. It's a circus that never ends and leaves us all as chumps no matter who wins. 

September

 Hello again..

It's been a little while since I've posted anything here. 

Been up and down mental health wise and emotionally, really. With it being rainy the last few days, I've been really stuck in my apartment. The building I'm in used to have a common room for us to use, but it was taken over by admin during Covid. 

So.. People who need a place to gather and converse with others have nowhere to do so now, unless it's nice outside. 

I haven't been able to get into anything else that would occupy my mind and maybe make me happy.. Video games aren't really appealing to me right now. I want to get some work done with my cards, but I need my space figured out more.. It's very annoying. 

To add onto all of that, I ran over my door opener, so I had to get it replaced, and I dropped my phone and broke it. I was able to get that replaced, and already had help with paying the amount owing on my old phone to do so.. 

Still, The last little while hasn't been the greatest, but I do have a few good friends in the building. 

Is it strange to want to get more cards despite needing to organize what I have still? 

Is it odd to find absolutely nothing you find enjoyable to be.. well.. enjoyable?? 

Anyway, I really don't know what else is floating around in my mind right now, so I'll end this here.. 

July

 Hello!

I know it's been a while. 

Just want to let you all know I'm ok. Been dealing with a lot of dizziness, but ok. I also just got a new computer so for a while I didn't have anything set up.

I hope everyone's ok. I'm at a concert today for Canada Day.

The group is Road Apples, a tribute band for the Tragically Hip. 

I'll post more later when I'm not on my phone

Am I Cynical?

 Greetings!

I've been having a laugh about a couple things lately, and getting tired of seeing another thing. I'm going to talk about them today..

First: The doom and gloom over 15 minute cities.

People seem to be absolutely convinced that trying to return to a 15 minute city, or lets be real... NEIGHBOURHOOD model is the first step towards limiting movement, tracking people, and whatever other whacked out idea they have thought of..

Before the big box stores became king and the suburbs weren't sprawling all over the place, we had neighbourhoods. The neighbourhood would have a shopping centre with a bank, a grocery store, a department store, and some other stuff.. You'd still have to go outside the neighbourhood for things.. But 80% of what you needed was right there. 

Then box stores came into prominence and new residential developments were just that.. Residential with maybe a park.. Any retail was outside that 15 minute radius. Because this model has become so ingrained in the lives of the people, they forget, or weren't born/conscious enough to remember the neighbourhood model that was around really until the early 90s. 

The other thing I'm having a laugh about is I was told that, because I would rather see the Criminal Code definition of Crimes Against Humanity be used and as a result, the proper channels for said, I'm complicit to crimes against humanity. All because I'm not blindly bleating to throw Justin Trudeau in jail without due process...Am I happy with his tenure as PM? There were good and bad, just like any. The power of hindsight shows us maybe the lockdowns were a little extreme, but at the time given the information we had, it was the right move. The "Freedom Convoy" people are taking that hindsight look and applying it like we had a crystal ball for the future. 

The funny thing is they only blame Trudeau for the border being closed. They conveniently forget or are unwilling to accept that it was a mutual decision by Trudeau and Biden. 

Now.. The thing I'm tired of seeing.. We're a little different up here when it comes to election campaigns. Officially, you can't start campaigning until an election has been called. Well, Pierre Poilievre has basically been campaigning for the last year or so.. Our election won't be until next year.. People are already annointing Pierre as our next PM. They think things will be different.. Better... 

Nope.....

The country will be the same, just with a new coat of paint. Nothing changes because there's no incentive to change. At a Federal level, it's all a theatrical performance. Provincially, there's more impact on our day-to-day lives. (for example, people needing social assistance are still impacted by a guy who ran the province in the 90s.. Healthcare and schools also haven't rebounded.. And are just being made worse by the current regime)

Indeed, Pierre has some nice slogans.. But that's all he has. 

Axe the Tax

Build the Homes

The Tax he's wanting to axe is the carbon tax implemented by the current government. 

We've got a housing and affordability crisis in Canada.. Some areas it's almost $1000 for a room.. Other areas have no vacancies, and because of the market pressures, and houses for sale have a premium on the prices. Of course, that's unsustainable. But it's the Provincial governments' job to work with the municipalities to build homes. The Federal government basically makes the Crown Land available.. The Province of Ontario wanted to build homes on the Greenbelt, a protected area that is used for farming. After much outcry, they backed off, no Plan B in sight. 

So I'm tired of seeing any level of government, but I'm also sick of the "Oh this person's going to make things so much better!!!" No he won't.. We'll follow the same path as before, people will get sick of the new leader, then vote the party they voted out previously, while two other Federal parties that could take a kick at the can stand on the sidelines. 

(Our system, though having multiple parties, is essentially a revolving door of Liberal and Conservative. We also have the New Democrat Party, the Green Party, the People's Party of Canada, and Bloc Quebecois, which only is in Quebec) 

So dear friends, that's what's been on my mind lately..