Yes, friends, we’re going back to elect more of the same. No matter how you slice it, it’s what we get. So.. Let’s go over our options, as nauseating they may be..
Stephen Harper: Our current Prime Minister. Like everyone, he’s made some good decisions, and some not so good ones. Of course, I only remember the not so good ones, like spending $1 billion on the G20/G8. I mean, really.. If he wanted to show the leaders a lake, bring them up north. Many many lakes in North-western Ontario. And the anarchists wouldn’t follow for the simple fact that you can fly everyone to a lodge for the time and be done with it. No plane, no way.. But of course, they wouldn’t go for that.. The leaders want to be pampered. Anyway, enough about that.. This is about the election..
Stephen Harper, I’ve been saying for a while now, reminds me of a used car salesman. Greasy smile, you know he’s lying because his lips are moving, and he’ll say anything at all so long as it means a sale. Of course, he’s also shown as much personality as a plank of wood, but that’s beside the point. He at least tries.. And sometimes even comes off as genuine, unlike our next contestant..
Michael Ignatieff or as he’s named in the papers, Iggy. The leader of the Liberal Party. One paper I read has dubbed him The Visiting Professor. The problem with Ignatieff is simple: He has a negative personality. I don’t mean he’s always bringing the room down or anything. I mean when he enters the room he sucks the personality out of the room. A Charisma Black Hole, if you will. He reminds me of someone who ran for president south of the border. Of course, he was unsuccessful. You may remember him.. John Kerry? Yeah... The odd thing is... They even kind of look similar..Michael Ignatieff here: http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/ProfileMP.aspx?Key=128315. John Kerry here: http://www.nndb.com/people/512/000024440/. You kind of wonder..
The third non-option is Jack Layton. He’s the leader of the NDP. I should say that for the most part, I’ve voted NDP in elections, as did my dad. For the most part, they were the only ones to “get” living in north-western Ontario. Unfortunately, Jack Layton is really taking the rabid Chihuahua approach: a lot of yipping and yapping, but no bite. And if he does bite, it’s just on the toe.
And one special case has to be mentioned as well. He’s only available in Quebec but insists on polluting our screens in the rest of Canada: Gilles Duceppe. He’s leader of the Bloc Quebecois. The federal separatist party that whines about unequal treatment while having many more special privileges for his province than anyone else has, all because they feel they should have their own country. Of course, the last time they tried to separate, they lost..Barely.. By percentage points, really. Part of the reason, I think, they haven’t tried again is the fact the natives have basically told the Quebec government “You leave, we leave and take our land with us.” I would take it further as a Canadian citizen by saying this: “You leave, we’re not helping you.” But that’s a separate issue. The fact is, this guy will never be Prime Minister since he only is in Quebec. He’s more of a pain in the rear than anything.
So there you have it. Our options, or non-options in this case, for Prime Minister. Of course, we don’t vote for these morons directly, but through the number of seats we give their party.
Since this is the 4th vote in 7 years, now more than ever we need a “None of the Above” option.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Wow..
I need to add a little preface to this:
It’s taken me a little bit to sit down and type this one out. The driver has since returned to work.
I know there’s a law against talking on your cell phone while driving, but there is too much wrong with the recent firing of a TTC streetcar driver for using his cell phone when the internal communications unit wouldn’t work.
The driver was initially let go for using his cell phone to call the department calling him to find out what they wanted to tell him. Basically, the unit they use allows for the drivers to be notified of emergencies or other issues. So, thinking there might be a problem, and being left with a non-functioning communications unit, he stopped the streetcar, put on the four-way flashers and called using his cell phone. He found himself jobless because TTC protocol is to stop, get out of the car, and find a landline.
My question is simply this: Why?? Why would you want the operator to leave a car full of passengers to try and find a landline to use? Depending on the area it could mean either bothering someone behind a counter to use the phone (and a lot of places won’t unless it’s to call 911) or knocking on someone’s door. The other option you ask? Finding a payphone where they don’t exist. Needle, meet haystack. Really, would it not be safer for all involved for the driver to do what he did? Or, should he have ignored the calls and gone on, possibly putting many lives in danger? It’s not like he was careening down the tracks at 50 km/h while talking on the phone to his wife on his cell.
The other thing that leaves a bad taste about the whole thing is the reaction by the leader of the Amalgamated Transit Union 113, Bob Kinnear. Mr Kinnear has his panties in a bunch already because Rob Ford is talking about making the TTC an essential service, thereby removing the right to strike. Well, now he’s throwing a hissy fit, saying this firing was done simply to demoralize unionized workers.
Tell me, does that compute with ANYONE other than Bob Kinnear? Anyone?? *crickets* Thought so..
The firing of Mohammed Aden (the driver) is not part of this “witch hunt” as Kinnear calls it. Just because you don’t agree with Rob Ford doesn’t automatically make everything about you, Bobby..
Yes, the firing was wrongful. (I am happy they reinstated him) Mr Aden should (and does) have his job back. He did everything in his power to ensure the people on his streetcar were safe. What Bobby SHOULD be doing is working with the TTC policymakers to update this obviously outdated policy. Not to mention getting the TTC to update their communication systems.
Now, I’m not a fan of unions. Too often I’m sickened by the whining and posturing that comes at contract time, especially when told the cupboard’s bare. But what Bob Kinnear needs to do is try to ensure someone else doesn’t get fired for this reason, rather than twisting the facts.
It’s taken me a little bit to sit down and type this one out. The driver has since returned to work.
I know there’s a law against talking on your cell phone while driving, but there is too much wrong with the recent firing of a TTC streetcar driver for using his cell phone when the internal communications unit wouldn’t work.
The driver was initially let go for using his cell phone to call the department calling him to find out what they wanted to tell him. Basically, the unit they use allows for the drivers to be notified of emergencies or other issues. So, thinking there might be a problem, and being left with a non-functioning communications unit, he stopped the streetcar, put on the four-way flashers and called using his cell phone. He found himself jobless because TTC protocol is to stop, get out of the car, and find a landline.
My question is simply this: Why?? Why would you want the operator to leave a car full of passengers to try and find a landline to use? Depending on the area it could mean either bothering someone behind a counter to use the phone (and a lot of places won’t unless it’s to call 911) or knocking on someone’s door. The other option you ask? Finding a payphone where they don’t exist. Needle, meet haystack. Really, would it not be safer for all involved for the driver to do what he did? Or, should he have ignored the calls and gone on, possibly putting many lives in danger? It’s not like he was careening down the tracks at 50 km/h while talking on the phone to his wife on his cell.
The other thing that leaves a bad taste about the whole thing is the reaction by the leader of the Amalgamated Transit Union 113, Bob Kinnear. Mr Kinnear has his panties in a bunch already because Rob Ford is talking about making the TTC an essential service, thereby removing the right to strike. Well, now he’s throwing a hissy fit, saying this firing was done simply to demoralize unionized workers.
Tell me, does that compute with ANYONE other than Bob Kinnear? Anyone?? *crickets* Thought so..
The firing of Mohammed Aden (the driver) is not part of this “witch hunt” as Kinnear calls it. Just because you don’t agree with Rob Ford doesn’t automatically make everything about you, Bobby..
Yes, the firing was wrongful. (I am happy they reinstated him) Mr Aden should (and does) have his job back. He did everything in his power to ensure the people on his streetcar were safe. What Bobby SHOULD be doing is working with the TTC policymakers to update this obviously outdated policy. Not to mention getting the TTC to update their communication systems.
Now, I’m not a fan of unions. Too often I’m sickened by the whining and posturing that comes at contract time, especially when told the cupboard’s bare. But what Bob Kinnear needs to do is try to ensure someone else doesn’t get fired for this reason, rather than twisting the facts.
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