Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Monday, October 20, 2008
OK, NOW I'm back
So my posts here have been sporadic since returning from my blogging sabbatical that lasted for most of 2007, and part of 2008. Well, the reason for that sabbatical has now past, and I can explain in detail why I went on it.
First, there was election readiness, which I could not talk about for obvious reasons. That kept me quiet on the political front, because unlike others, I didn't want to be quoted as some "Liberal Insider". I spent the better part of two years there, trying to find a candidate in the NWT, and trying to relay the association's concerns to the national party. It was tedious, and incredibly frustrating, but it was an excellent learning experience, and I feel I am richer for it. Does that mean I want to take up a similar role in the future? Maybe. At this point I would rather not, but it may be the disappointment talking there.
Second, the more recent thing that kept me reading Web 2.0 and not contributing to it was I spent September and October managing the campaign of the Liberal candidate in the Western Arctic. Also incredibly frustrating, and also a huge learning experience, and something I would advise against for anyone with a rookie politician running. Don't get me wrong, for the time we had with Gabrielle, I think she did very well, but we would have been able to contend a lot better if she had declared earlier and we had had the summer to prepare and begin the campaign. We got creamed, losing a huge amount of support to the NDP and the Conservatives (some key people in the other towns in the NWT turned traitor, and took on roles to get a Tory elected here).
The most obvious lesson here is that much like with the national party, the Liberal brand needs to rebuild in the North. Throughout the campaign, I struggled to keep the office open, and watched as our supporters in the communities sat on their hands. We need to work on addressing the lack of enthusiasm in the north for our party, and we still need to address the change in the manner money is raised here. With another minority government in Ottawa, I expect to see the same shortfalls we observed in the last period. There will be difficulty finding someone who will put their life on hold in order to go out and fight for a better Canada. There will be financial difficulties, as the Western Arctic is the second largest riding in Canada, and has half the population of southern ridings.
With regards to the national party, it looks like the boss will be stepping down today. I wish he wouldn't, but the wind is blowing that way this time around. So the party will spend the next 8 months in Leadership mode, and we'll have a new leader in May. I was with Dion from the beginning of convention, for the simple reason that his vision of Canada most reflected mine, and now, I'm left wondering where I will go. With a potential 42 delegates from the NWT, I would like to see some lobbying on the part of the leadership contestants up here, but it remains to be seen if they will try to swing up here at all. I will probably be involved in a campaign, but it remains to be seen if anyone can wow me. If no one does, I will go to convention in my Dion gear.
First, there was election readiness, which I could not talk about for obvious reasons. That kept me quiet on the political front, because unlike others, I didn't want to be quoted as some "Liberal Insider". I spent the better part of two years there, trying to find a candidate in the NWT, and trying to relay the association's concerns to the national party. It was tedious, and incredibly frustrating, but it was an excellent learning experience, and I feel I am richer for it. Does that mean I want to take up a similar role in the future? Maybe. At this point I would rather not, but it may be the disappointment talking there.
Second, the more recent thing that kept me reading Web 2.0 and not contributing to it was I spent September and October managing the campaign of the Liberal candidate in the Western Arctic. Also incredibly frustrating, and also a huge learning experience, and something I would advise against for anyone with a rookie politician running. Don't get me wrong, for the time we had with Gabrielle, I think she did very well, but we would have been able to contend a lot better if she had declared earlier and we had had the summer to prepare and begin the campaign. We got creamed, losing a huge amount of support to the NDP and the Conservatives (some key people in the other towns in the NWT turned traitor, and took on roles to get a Tory elected here).
The most obvious lesson here is that much like with the national party, the Liberal brand needs to rebuild in the North. Throughout the campaign, I struggled to keep the office open, and watched as our supporters in the communities sat on their hands. We need to work on addressing the lack of enthusiasm in the north for our party, and we still need to address the change in the manner money is raised here. With another minority government in Ottawa, I expect to see the same shortfalls we observed in the last period. There will be difficulty finding someone who will put their life on hold in order to go out and fight for a better Canada. There will be financial difficulties, as the Western Arctic is the second largest riding in Canada, and has half the population of southern ridings.
With regards to the national party, it looks like the boss will be stepping down today. I wish he wouldn't, but the wind is blowing that way this time around. So the party will spend the next 8 months in Leadership mode, and we'll have a new leader in May. I was with Dion from the beginning of convention, for the simple reason that his vision of Canada most reflected mine, and now, I'm left wondering where I will go. With a potential 42 delegates from the NWT, I would like to see some lobbying on the part of the leadership contestants up here, but it remains to be seen if they will try to swing up here at all. I will probably be involved in a campaign, but it remains to be seen if anyone can wow me. If no one does, I will go to convention in my Dion gear.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Pat McMahon
This is sad news. Pat was a woman of exceptional character, and has been a fixture in the community since I was born. When I got married back in January, part of my plan was to have the whole thing be a Liberal affair (I'm a dork I know), and I asked Pat if she would be the Justice of the Peace to perform the ceremony. She agreed, but ended up in the hospital on the day of the wedding. From her hospital bed, Pat called all the other JPs in order to find one who could fill in for her. She is missed.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Capitalism
I just read an opinion piece in the local rag by Dan Wong (candidate in the 2003 election for the riding of Yellowknife Centre at the tender age of 18), about how Capitalism needs to be Stopped. No, that is the actual title of the article, and it is not toungue in cheek, it is deadly serious in it's delivery. The underlying argument Dan makes is that Humans have been around for thousands of years, and we are more unequal now than we have ever been, and that this is capitalisms fault. This is bullshit.
Capitalism is not evil, capitalism is, um, well:
cap·i·tal·ism - –noun - an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations, esp. as contrasted to cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth.
To say that humanity was better off before the rise of the merchant class, or that a society that is based on reciprocity and redistribution is in some way superior to the current one is simplistic and logically unsound.
For one, before the rise of corporations, and publicly traded companies, humanities wealth was controlled by the ruling hereditary elite, elite due to their circumstances of birth, not necessarily due to any actual financial acumen or governing ability. Secondly, capitalism has allowed for advances in sciences, with medical advances allowing for humans to live longer and better lives than they did under the yolk of the hereditary rulers of the past. The potential for profit has not only advanced science, but also art of all kinds. Humans have more free time, and the wherewithall to enjoy it. Where there is a market for profit, there is an avenue for development and for philanthropy. In essence, I disagree with the assertion that the rise of capitalism has been bad for the world, I would say the contrary is true. I am not a rabid free-market liberal of course, I think there should be balances to abuses of wealth (and there are, thank FSM), and I don't see regression to the sustenance based lifestyles of the past as an answer to anything.
Life is not about merely staying alive, it is about enjoying what we have, something that has been dramatically improved since the decline of the hereditary rulers.
David Brin has stated that one of the greatest things about the enlightenment is that it transformed society from a pyramid to a diamond (in terms of shape, well to do at the top, poor at the bottom). That is not something that should be stopped, but rather encouraged.
Capitalism is not evil, capitalism is, um, well:
cap·i·tal·ism - –noun - an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations, esp. as contrasted to cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth.
To say that humanity was better off before the rise of the merchant class, or that a society that is based on reciprocity and redistribution is in some way superior to the current one is simplistic and logically unsound.
For one, before the rise of corporations, and publicly traded companies, humanities wealth was controlled by the ruling hereditary elite, elite due to their circumstances of birth, not necessarily due to any actual financial acumen or governing ability. Secondly, capitalism has allowed for advances in sciences, with medical advances allowing for humans to live longer and better lives than they did under the yolk of the hereditary rulers of the past. The potential for profit has not only advanced science, but also art of all kinds. Humans have more free time, and the wherewithall to enjoy it. Where there is a market for profit, there is an avenue for development and for philanthropy. In essence, I disagree with the assertion that the rise of capitalism has been bad for the world, I would say the contrary is true. I am not a rabid free-market liberal of course, I think there should be balances to abuses of wealth (and there are, thank FSM), and I don't see regression to the sustenance based lifestyles of the past as an answer to anything.
Life is not about merely staying alive, it is about enjoying what we have, something that has been dramatically improved since the decline of the hereditary rulers.
David Brin has stated that one of the greatest things about the enlightenment is that it transformed society from a pyramid to a diamond (in terms of shape, well to do at the top, poor at the bottom). That is not something that should be stopped, but rather encouraged.
Western Arctic to Northwest Territories?
Ah, our illustrious tax-payer funded MP is at it again, rather than representing the North on issues that matter, Dennis Bevington is playing semantic games again. You may remember a year or so ago, he wanted to change "sea to sea" to "sea to sea to sea".
Well now, in a fit because no one knows where he is from, he wants to change the name of his riding from Western Arctic to Northwest Territories. Here is a quick recap of some other topics he could be fighting for:
1. Poverty in aboriginal comunities
2. Lack of adequate health care in northern communities
3. Lower education levels in northern communities
4. Patronage appointments of former conservative candidates to federal positions
etc.
Okay. So rather than do his job as MP, Dennis wants to work on changing the name of the riding he represents. Super.
So, I know, I'm partisan as all hell, but frankly, this is not what an MP should be doing. A friend of mine sent me an email regarding another NDP member's thoughts on Dennis:
"He said that Dennis is a great cook, and that he frequently hosts dinners."
Dennis Bevington: Hosting dinners, pushing semantics, and not addressing the real issues in the north since 2006.
Well now, in a fit because no one knows where he is from, he wants to change the name of his riding from Western Arctic to Northwest Territories. Here is a quick recap of some other topics he could be fighting for:
1. Poverty in aboriginal comunities
2. Lack of adequate health care in northern communities
3. Lower education levels in northern communities
4. Patronage appointments of former conservative candidates to federal positions
etc.
Okay. So rather than do his job as MP, Dennis wants to work on changing the name of the riding he represents. Super.
So, I know, I'm partisan as all hell, but frankly, this is not what an MP should be doing. A friend of mine sent me an email regarding another NDP member's thoughts on Dennis:
"He said that Dennis is a great cook, and that he frequently hosts dinners."
Dennis Bevington: Hosting dinners, pushing semantics, and not addressing the real issues in the north since 2006.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
The Increadible Hulk
Dave watch Hulk.
Hulk big, Hulk Strongest, Hulk Smash.
Movie funny. Movie not bad. Hulk good use of $11.
That all.
Hulk big, Hulk Strongest, Hulk Smash.
Movie funny. Movie not bad. Hulk good use of $11.
That all.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Bill C-51
I was sitting around, doing some painting while Christina surfed Facebook a few evenings ago, and she turned to me and said, "Dave, your sister is in a group opposing Bill C-51."
"What's bill C-51? That's not the film censorship bill...I haven't heard of it", I say while diligently trying to drybrush.
"It's a Bill to regulate Natural Health Products, like those Herbal Magic people"
"Oh. Good," I say, "The pricks who sell that crap should all be thrown in jail for preying on people when they are at their most desperate."
Now, the Bill doesn't actually do that of course (Not that the Throw the Bums in Jail has worked before...see Kevin Trudeau), it just seeks to regulate an industry that is known to have sectors that make outrageous claims. Anyway, go read here to see where the opposition comes from and why it reaks of irony when they accuse people of only backing this bill to help "Big Pharma's" profits. I swear to FSM there is a South Park episode about this.
"What's bill C-51? That's not the film censorship bill...I haven't heard of it", I say while diligently trying to drybrush.
"It's a Bill to regulate Natural Health Products, like those Herbal Magic people"
"Oh. Good," I say, "The pricks who sell that crap should all be thrown in jail for preying on people when they are at their most desperate."
Now, the Bill doesn't actually do that of course (Not that the Throw the Bums in Jail has worked before...see Kevin Trudeau), it just seeks to regulate an industry that is known to have sectors that make outrageous claims. Anyway, go read here to see where the opposition comes from and why it reaks of irony when they accuse people of only backing this bill to help "Big Pharma's" profits. I swear to FSM there is a South Park episode about this.
Little Pop Culture Tidbits
I'm a bad blogger, I know. I can easily go for weeks at a time without bothering to write anything. So now, I'll make up for it by covering several topics in one go around:
1. Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull Thingie was this year's Spider-man 3. In that I mean it will make a lot of money, and there is a point in the movie where it all falls apart as Spielberg decided to do a sequel to a different movie. It's not that I found old Indy bad, it's more that I had my suspension of disbelief shattered by the utter silliness of the final act. And once that happens in an Indy movie, you are pretty much screwed.
2. I find Sex and the City offensive to humanity. Not the Sex part, not the City part, more the privaleged, and pampered need to find a rich man to take care of all my needs part. There are some lines people have that can not be crossed, regardless of how well written or funny something is. This of course is not discussed at home since my wife loves the show and the movie.
3. I picked up the Onion Movie on DVD. It is worth checking out, if you have a soft spot for Kentucky Fried movie, or you like critiques of how mass media operates.
1. Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull Thingie was this year's Spider-man 3. In that I mean it will make a lot of money, and there is a point in the movie where it all falls apart as Spielberg decided to do a sequel to a different movie. It's not that I found old Indy bad, it's more that I had my suspension of disbelief shattered by the utter silliness of the final act. And once that happens in an Indy movie, you are pretty much screwed.
2. I find Sex and the City offensive to humanity. Not the Sex part, not the City part, more the privaleged, and pampered need to find a rich man to take care of all my needs part. There are some lines people have that can not be crossed, regardless of how well written or funny something is. This of course is not discussed at home since my wife loves the show and the movie.
3. I picked up the Onion Movie on DVD. It is worth checking out, if you have a soft spot for Kentucky Fried movie, or you like critiques of how mass media operates.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Tricked by a magazine company
I'm not one for gossip rags, I can't stand the infatuation with actors/musicians/heirs to fortunes since none of it stems from their actual talent. Your average "entertainment" section of a paper or news broadcast is seldom about what movies are coming out, and how good they are, but rather about the stars of some movies and how they got married or dated or fought with stars of some other movie/television show/very special episode of Blossom. So, when I heard about the controversy regarding some child that is jointly owned by Disney and some former country musician, I promptly ignored it.
But then to my surprise, the magazine that the photos were published in printed an issue dedicated to Bobby Kennedy. So I unintentionally added my money to the fracas. FYI: Vanity Fair is a very confused magazine. Too many ads, not enough of substance. The RFK article is good however.
But then to my surprise, the magazine that the photos were published in printed an issue dedicated to Bobby Kennedy. So I unintentionally added my money to the fracas. FYI: Vanity Fair is a very confused magazine. Too many ads, not enough of substance. The RFK article is good however.
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