Calmness of the woods, people don't know what their missing
I have to apologize to all who have been coming here regularly for not posting in almost a month. It’s just that XC mountain bike racing season has begun and I needed to dedicate some serious time into getting ready after a winter of begin a lard-ass. Its not that I haven’t been pissed enough about eHealth or other issues to comment, its just that cycling 3 times a week for a couple of hours really helps in releasing the tension. I just haven’t felt the need to vent using my blog. Cycling is very therapeutic.
I will try to post more regularly going forward. Now that my conditioning is coming along I can cut back a bit plus I have a some upcoming events so no big training before those.
About eHealth, what a bloody disaster this thing is. The real shame is that the media and the opposition have latched unto the wrong issue with this tar baby. The real issue is not the amount of money paid to consultants, I happen to think that it wasn’t that exorbitant considering the project sensitivity and required knowledge; nor is the real problem the sole-sourced contracts to Liberal friendly firms. No ladies and gents.
The real issue here is that Dalton and his gang are contracted the disease. the same disease that Jean Chretien, Mike Harris and scores of others get when they have been in power too long, insulated from the people and fed BS by their closest adviser’s. They start to think that the ends justify the means and that they know better than everyone else. Problem is, when that happens the populace picks up on that and tends to toss people out of office. Think back 30 years to all the arrogant leaders in office, most didn’t start that way (alright maybe some were a little arrogant) but they all ended up the same. Stepping down before being shown the door by voters or soundly rejected at the ballot box. Chretien did it to the Libs, Harris to the Ontario PC, Lord to the NB PC and that blowhard of leader to the NDP in Saskatchewan.
Mark my words, Dalton’s day are numbered. I predict that he will step down for “family reasons” before the next election once he realizes that they will lose their majority. Smitherman won’t be far behind.
Do we need Human Rights councils/Tribunals? I hate to say it but I think we do, not because society is inherently unfair, people are racist or people’s rights are being violated. I think that aspect is blown out or proportion by a few select groups.
I think we need them because at the rate that secular socialists, granolas and busy-bodies are changing societal norms it will become the best weapon with which to defend ourselves against incursions into our daily lives by the state.
Its easy for them to argue for expanded powers for HRCs and throw around accusations of fascism, racism and act indignant or aggressively towards anyone who doesn’t support their point of view, just look at Proposition 8 in California. But what will happen in 20 years when all of their goals have been achieved, ie. equality according to their world view and no more hurt feelings.
Enter HRCs. Socialists will be busy trampling rights and freedoms that they deem offensive to their orthodoxy only to have the mountain of previous rulings created to support their cause used against them. Everything from children’s education, targeted post-secondary scholarships, display of religious items at work and the list goes on will be subject to a complaint. It never ceases to amaze me that people don’t grasp that the pendulum swings both ways and as a tendency to over-correct, rarely will it stop in a balanced state. A fleeting moment at best, cherish it if you have ever experienced it.
Given enough time the struggle will be the same, only the players will have reversed position. Imagine a state where you had to have a licence to become a parent including state-sanctioned training and anything else it entailed because the children are deemed a drain on society and the environment. OK, that’s a bit much but what about having to prove you would be a good parent, according to the states definition. Anyone who has had children in Ontario in the last decade will know that the local health units can be rather persistent in wanting to come to you residence as part of a “follow up” visit. I don’t think its that far off where this will be made a public issue by some group or other. It will start with a mandatory 1 day class on childcare basics, who can argue with that, think of the children, and morph into a full fledged arm of the CAS. I’m probably just being paranoid, couldn’t happen here.
I resent the fact that politicians have abdicated their responsibilities in creating legislation on social issues to the Supreme Court and Human Rights Councils. This ensures a continuous struggle fueled by money and judicial activism, and who started this? Jean Chretien and the Liberal party of Canada when they lacked the backbone to pick a side in the same-sex marriage issue, hows that for an unintended consequence. Just because I resent it doesn’t mean I wouldn’t use it, that’s why I support the OHRC. In 20 years it will be only thing standing between you and state oppression, unless you think like the mainstream.
For the mobile readers, thanks for stopping by, I’ve added a vesion just for you. You don’t need to do anything, just visit with your Crackberry, iPhone or whatever you have and you will get the mobile version.
Michael Bryant is leaving the Dalton McGuinty Liberals and apparently this is big news, at least the Ontario MSM think so since its getting more play than the PC leadership race. Who knew that a second rate cabinet minister was that important, yes, SECOND RATE. What has he done in is political career under Dalton, an ineffective and unenforceable pitbull ban, backed Fantino in all his Common Law violations as Attorney General and watched the province’s economy fall apart as minister of Economic Development.
All the papers are praising him as a rising star of the Liberal Party and an anti-establishment politician. Maybe, but what I see is a guy who is not getting the opportunities he wants that’s betting the Libs will get at best a minority in the next election. Better to lay low while the HST, wind turbines and economy thing blows over, right Michael?
What happened to the moral purpose of politics? Politics use to be about serving your country, province, etc… For some its always been about managing their political career but for many if not most a political career had a nobler purpose, to better society for the benefit of others. Now its all about image, wedge issues and polls and all parties a guilty of this. No wonder the voter turnout is so low and getting worse. Whatever happened to doing something simply because its the right thing to do?
If the prevailing winds do not improve for Dalton (auto workers, economy, HST) in 12 months look for more bailers, maybe sooner if the PC elect a leader that’s more astute than John Tory was.
Bellwether it is!
