Category: Personal Responsibility

Video Games, Virtual Worlds And Stepping Beyond The Real.

On By WinstonIn Media, Personal Responsibility, Pop Culture, Society, Technology, Video Games1 Comment

As someone who is slightly outside the usual demographic for video gamers, I periodically get asked what the appeal is.  Of course, it’s usually phrased more like, “Don’t you have anything better to do with your life?”  That depends on how you define better.

The short answer is, “Nope.”  Told you it was short.  That’s because it’s the wrong question.  To more usefully address the implied question, I’ll need to address a common misconception.  Video games aren’t actually any worse than golf, clubbing, drinking heavily, watching sports, reading, watching TV or any other pass time.  From the start, they’ve been regarded as a brain destroying waste of time.  Just like all of the things I just mentioned.

With the exception of clubbing, I’ve indulged in all of them.  Oddly enough, I still indulge in most of them on an ongoing basis.  Not so much with the heavy drinking or sports watching, but you get the idea.  The short version is, most of the people who question my use of time, indulge in one or more of these activities themselves.  So why the negative perception of video gaming?  Because we have to blame something.

Let me use dogs to demonstrate that point.  At the moment, Pit Bulls are the “Dangerous Breed”.  Before that, it was Rottweilers, who came after Doberman Pincers, who followed German Shepherds.  The truth is, none of these breeds are particularly dangerous if trained, treated and handled properly.  But people love bad news, so that’s what the media focuses on.  If Dobermans are the evil dog, then the media are going to report every bad Doberman story they can find.  They might publish a hundred stories of Doberman attacks, but only a couple about the thousands of Dobermans who don’t attack anyone.

The same thing is true of video games.  They are just the latest “bad” thing.  The list has included, violence in Bugs Bunny cartoons, TV watching in general, cartoon watching in particular, horror movies, war movies, organized sports, lack of organized sports, reading any book except the Bible etc.  It depends who you talk to and when as to what answer you’ll get.  The simple truth is that there is no “bad” thing on that list.

Video games aren’t “bad”.  It’s how people interact with them and what they choose to invest them with that can lead to problems.  The media happily jump on a story about about an unfortunate young man who became so immersed in a game that he starved to death, or another who spent so much time gaming that his circulation failed and he ultimately died.  Whenever a gamer does something “bad”, it’s the fault of the games and not the person.

For me, video games are an entertainment.  They can provide an emotional outlet.  Like any well executed entertainment, they allow me a brief respite from the everyday.  Not to the exclusion of reality, but as a means to defocus.  Let me clarify.

In an episode of the show “Corner Gas”, the main character announces he is going to take a vacation.  He then takes his lawn chair, suntan oil, cooler etc and sets up on a nearby patch of grass.  When questioned, he refers to it as a “Staycation”.  That’s what video games are for me.  A restful opportunity to recharge my mental and emotional batteries to better deal with the real world.

Sure, I play games where I drive 180 mph, or get trophies for set numbers of head shots, or chuck someone out a window just because I can.  I also play games which involve building cities or civilizations, or solving puzzles or doing other non-violent things.  Each game is enjoyed for it’s own merits.  None of them carry over into the real world except in terms of slightly improved hand/eye coordination or logic processing skills.  Both of which are proven benefits of regular video game playing.

In the real world, I don’t do any of those things.  I don’t even drive, never mind at 180 mph.  I’ve never shot anyone, or anything, or thrown anyone out a window.  I’ve also never piloted a starship between systems, built a pyramid in Thebes, re-fought the Battle of Antietam, or flown a JN-4 Jenny along a mail route through the Appalacian mountains.  I’ve done all of those things in video games.  I’ve enjoyed them immensely.

It’s that ability to step beyond the real that is for me, the true appeal of video games.  As it is for a well written novel, a good movie, or anything else that so fully engages me that it takes me out of the world.  It refreshes my palate for the next serving of life.

Cheers, Winston

Conformity Is A False Comfort

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, Loving Life, Personal, Personal Responsibility, Society2 Comments

With no idea what to write tonight, I went and visited TED.com to surf for inspiration. I didn’t come away with the killer idea for my blog. That’s okay. I found lots of things to make me think, and they might lead to tomorrow’s post, or the one after that.

No. Tonight I want to write about something else. I want to write about interpretive reality. Which is to say, the way our brains process new information based on our existing experiences. I know it sounds fancy, but really it’s quite simple. What you see, isn’t always what I get.

Three people see a man dressed in brightly colored, flamboyant clothing. One might assume he’s homosexual and be disgusted, another might compliment him on his sense of style, while the third might be indifferent. All experienced the same thing, but react differently based on their past experiences. That is the core of interpretive reality.

I believe that our cultural passion for conformity stems from a subconscious realization that we are truly alone. Our instinct to reach out and seek acceptance is an outward manifestation of that understanding. The idea of the “soul mate” defines this urge. We seek that one person who gets us. The one who can totally understand us because they share our reality.

No matter how similar someone’s reaction may be to the same stimulus, it will never be identical to yours. But that’s what we’ve been taught to expect. That expectation is the basis of standing ovations, the wave at a ball game, or the phenomenon of social networking in general and Facebook in particular. It’s the quest for the hive-mind. We value our individuality, but we’d value it more if other people weren’t so different.

When we see that funny picture and post it on Facebook, we’re hoping that other people will find it as funny as we do. On one hand, we want to share this thing we enjoyed with other people. On the other, we want them to like it as much as we do. We are searching for that common binding response.

As I said earlier, we are a society that places an immense value on conformity. Anyone who has ever been made to feel less valued because they are different can vouch for that. We talk about individuality, but if anyone starts to be too individualized, they are made to pay. If we allow cracks in our cultural facade, it is only a matter of time until it crumbles and we have to face the truth.

That truth is simple and for many, it is horrible. We are all alone. No one can truly understand your experience because they will never have your background. What we need to do is to stop mythologizing our sameness. We need to celebrate our true diversity instead of just paying lip service to it. That is how to stop people from being singled out for their differences.

Understand that we are all different. We have all been singled out. It is our nature, and it is immutable. Now to understand that it is not a bad thing. We can still come together into a society because this doesn’t change who we are, only our understanding of it. Instead of striving to be a uniform crowd, we need to accept the idea of a crowd of individuals. When we stop trying to be the same, maybe we can start to celebrate our actual commonalities.

Just something to think about.

Cheers, Winston

Happy 40th Greenpeace!

On By WinstonIn Education, Environment, Global Issues, Green Energy, Personal Responsibility, Politics, Society, ValuesLeave a comment
http://www.greenpeace.org

Despite the fondest wishes of so many who opposed it, Greenpeace turned forty this year.  I remember as a child back in the early ’70s listening to all the talk about this group of “hippies” that were interfering with nuclear testing.  Because of the cold war, it seemed pretty obvious to a child like me that if no one could test nukes, maybe they wouldn’t be able to destroy the world with them.  Then I learned a little more.

From my late teens to my mid-twenties, I went through a more conservative phase where I believed they were a menace.  They hadn’t stopped nuclear testing to save me, but to save a bunch of wildlife.  I like wildlife as much as the next person, but let’s get our priorities straight shall we.  Then I learned a little more.

For the past fifteen years or so, I’ve been a dues paying member of Greenpeace.  I’ve watched the world stand by and allow the wholesale destruction of the natural world.  Only one group that I’ve seen has put out a consistent message backed by non-violent action to try an curb that trend.  That group is Greenpeace.

Contrary To Their Commercials, This Is What The Tar Sands REALLY Look Like

Yep, that’s beautiful northern Alberta in Canada.  The company’s that run the oil sands projects have been putting out commercials that make it look all clean and friendly.  (I was going to put a link to the ad here, but can’t seem to find that commercial anywhere.)

Greenpeace has been fighting for years to get some sort of environmentally responsible action from CAPP (Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers).  Activists have occupied sites, caused work stoppages and worked to make the rest of the world aware of this tragic rape of Canada’s wilderness.  It’s a slow process, made more so when the government at every level is on the side of those committing the crime.

They wanted to “save the whales” before it became a catchall phrase to describe anyone who cares about the environment.  They also worked to keep Antarctica free, to stop overfishing on the high seas, to stop deforestation in South America, stop toxic and nuclear waste from being dumped into high seas, to stop our society from creating toxic nightmares by selling our electronic waste to companies that dump it on impoverished, third world shorelines to be manually broken down, recycled and burned in open fires.

Yeah, I can see now why some people think they’re radicals.  Obviously, their opposition to genetically modified crops is just a ploy to cause famine.  It couldn’t possibly have to do with Monsanto and co. owning the genetic rights to an ever increasing slice of the worlds seed crops.   Nonsense, how could that possibly be a bad thing.  It’s not like they can claim the rights to seeds from plants which have been inadvertently been cross pollinated from a neighboring field.  Oh wait.  Yes they can.

So yes, I give money every month to Greenpeace.  I’m not out protesting or organizing or any of that stuff.  That’s not me.  Not at this time anyway.  Who knows what the future will bring.  I think it says enough that right now when money’s kind of an issue, I haven’t missed a payment.   Now I’ve learned a little more.

I’m still a dues paying member of Greenpeace.  Because once you learn some things, they can’t be unlearned.

Cheers, Winston

Occupying Protesters Are Taking The Easy Route

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, Global Issues, Media, Personal Responsibility, Politics, Pop Culture, Self Awareness, Society, ValuesLeave a comment

Okay, you’ve finally got me. I can’t take it any more. Our society is caught in a feedback loop and just like the feedback at a live concert, the whining is driving me nuts.

Someone says, “One percent of the population controls most of the money while the other ninety-nine percent struggles.” and a media person likes it so they make a sound bite out of it.  People hear the sound bite and like it so they repeat it.  More media people hear it being said so they  make a story out of it and even more people hear about it.  Next thing you know, you can’t read a paper without hearing it, and you can’t throw a rock without hitting one of the alleged ninety-percent who are out protesting about it.

According to this movement, the super rich elites took all the money and used it to buy all the politicians and the only way to change it is by having these massive protests.  These three points are what I like to call, delusional; accidentally right, but not for the reasons they think and wrong because it’s bloody stupid.  Now that I’ve annoyed a bunch of folks, let me explain.

First off, the super rich didn’t “take” all the money.  We gave it to them, and we continue to do so every day.  They aren’t evil.  We are gullible.  Bill Gates never forced anyone to use Microsoft Windows or Office.  People chose to give Microsoft, and by extension, Mr. Gates lots of money.  Likewise, the late Steve Jobs didn’t wait for people in dark alleys, steal their wallets and replace them with iPhones.  No hedgefund manager ever came to anyone’s door begging them to invest in their funds.  Banks didn’t force mortgages onto people who had no hope in hell of ever paying them off.  People did those things to themselves.  Blaming the super rich is a way of deluding ourselves by taking up our cultural battle cry of, “It’s not my fault!”

The other favorite cause of financial hardship is “Corporate Greed”.  Talk about delusional, blaming that is like blaming the Easter Bunny for childhood obesity.  There’s no such thing people!  Corporations aren’t greedy because they aren’t people.  It’s called anthropomorphism.  It’s our habit of trying to understand things by assigning human traits to them.  “Corporate Greed” is another way of pretending that none of this is “our” fault.  Surprise!  It is all our fault.  Those greedy corporations are actually all about HUMAN greed.  Before you start thinking about agreeing with that, you need to read on.

It’s not just the executives that are greedy.  That’s the easy out again.  Here’s the truth.  It’s damned near every single one of us.  That’s the truth.  Yes, the executives are in a position to get a visibly larger share than those elsewhere in the organization.  Let’s stop kidding ourselves though, they aren’t the only greedy ones.  If the CEO suddenly decides to give a percentage of the profits to whatever random charity you like, how long do you think he’ll keep his job?  The shareholders are just a greedy as the CEO.  What about the rank and file employees?  Do you think they’d take a pay cut if they knew the money was going directly to fight world hunger?  Yeah, that’s what I thought.

Stop blaming other people.  Stop blaming some imaginary bogeyman.  Accept responsibility for your choices.  We can’t change other people, only ourselves.  If we don’t like our world, it’s up to us to change it.  But it’s almost like the tagline from season one of the TV series “Heroes”, only in this case it’s, “Change yourself.  Change the world!”  Which brings me to my next point.

Do rich and powerful lobbyists use money to influence politics?  Of course they do!  (See, I told you they’re right about that.)  We need to be clear about why they do it though.  No it’s not because they are corrupt, or politicians are weak, or because the New World Order told them to.  Nope.  The reason once again is closer to home.  All those people who whine that the system is broken so there’s no point in participating,  they give carte blanche to the lobbyists and the politicians to work out any deal they like.  The system isn’t going to change itself, it’s up to the voters to do it.  So if you can organize thousands of protesters all over the country, how come you can’t get them to the polls.  It’s votes that put politicians in office. Organize block voting, and you could have a huge impact on who gets into office and who gets out.  But it’s a hell of a lot easier to sit in a tent in the park and blame the super rich and corporate greed.  Which brings me to my last point.

Protesting may raise awareness.  I doubt it, but it might.  Do you really believe that everyone else is so stupid that they won’t realize there’s a problem if you don’t camp in a park?  I recently lost my job because of greedy people making bad decisions.  Do you think I didn’t know that was a bad thing?  The biggest annoyance out of all this is the massive self-righteous arrogance of the protesters.  The idea that they are more aware or enlightened than the rest.  If everyone else understood what they do, we’d all be out there.  Well, not all of us would.  I know I wouldn’t because I understand something they don’t.  The protests won’t work because shortcuts never do.  If you really want to change things, you have to do the heavy lifting just like everyone else.

They’ll find out that taking the easy route almost never takes you where you want to go.  What they should really be occupying are some political activism workshops.  Maybe someone can host a few in a tent in a park.  Have fun with that.

Cheers, Winston

Didn’t Vote? Shut Up!

On By WinstonIn Global Issues, Humor, Personal Responsibility, Politics, Society, ValuesLeave a comment

So our provincial election is over.  Dalton McGuinty and the Liberal Party returned for a third round but with a minority this time.  That just gives them a handy excuse for anything they promised but don’t deliver on.  All of that is irrelevant because so few people showed up to vote.  We could have elected a totally imaginary party with an untouchable majority just off the no-shows.  The rest of this post speaks directly to those eligible voters who didn’t bother.

How Stupid Are You?

I get that you think the system is broken. The fact is, if you didn’t vote, you’re the one who broke it. That’s right kids. If you didn’t vote, YOU are what’s wrong with the system. Sadly for you, your whiny sense of disenfranchisement is now the mainstream.  You aren’t all special and superior because you alone see what’s wrong anymore.  Good news though, it’s not just the voices in your head.  Over half the people in Ontario are now officially as stupid and lazy as you.  Okay. Maybe you aren’t lazy and stupid.  I bet you’d prefer to think of yourselves as disenfranchised.

Well, suck it up buttercup, you aren’t.  The only person trying to disenfranchise you is you.  It’s not the government, or the corporations, or aliens, or the Illuminati/Templars/Bildenbergers, it is YOU!  It’s the truth.  You are your own worst enemy.  If there was a “New World Order”, and if I worked for it, I’d send out Thank You cards to everyone who didn’t vote.  You people are better than gold to an evil megalomaniacal group.

Did you ever hear of “Arab Spring”?  Those people gave their lives to bring down corrupt, repressive governments and dictators.  That vote you just threw away.  Someone in Somalia would have died to have it.  In the Middle East, thousands died so millions could have the freedom to choose their government.  Your refusal to vote spits on the grave of every person who died so others could have that opportunity.  An opportunity to get involved in remaking their world the way they want it to be.

The people of Syria, Egypt, Libya etc. didn’t protest in lieu of voting.  They protested so that they could vote.  They died so that next election, or the one after, other people could cast a ballot with more than one name on it.  They protested and died so that their children will have the freedom to select a government that reflects them.

So go ahead and whine, gripe, complain or whatever.  It doesn’t matter, because you don’t matter.  If you refuse to use your voice when it might make a difference, then the rest of the time, you’re just white-noise.  Annoying, but inconsequential.

Cheers, Winston

Anonymous Has A Plan To Save The World

On By WinstonIn Global Issues, Media, Personal Responsibility, Politics, Pop Culture, Society, ValuesLeave a comment

Apparently Anonymous has a plan to change the world.  Yay!  I’m so excited I can hardly keep from gagging.  For those not paying attention, that’s called sarcasm.  Why would I not be more supportive of a group trying to change the status quo and make the world a better place?  Fair question.

If I thought they were likely to make the world a better place, I’d be more enthusiastic.  If I thought their plan might work, I’d be more enthusiastic.  If the guy wasn’t wearing a V for Vendetta style Guy Fawkes mask while reading his little rant/manifesto, I’d have less of an urge to kick him in the “man-bits”.

A Guy Fawkes mask, really?  I think that annoys me mostly because I enjoyed the movie so much.  I might also point out that the actual heroes of the movie didn’t wear masks.  Of course that isn’t what Anonymous wants to hear.  According to them, their power lies in the idea that they are anyone and everyone.

Well, I can tell you they aren’t everyone, because they sure as hell aren’t me.  Oh sure, I share some of their concerns.  Corporations should be good citizens and take a leading role in charity work and community building.  Consumerism is out of control and we care more about things than people.  We need to close the gap between the very rich and the very poor.  Elected officials should have the interests of ALL the people in mind, not just the ones who gave money to their “war chests”, and never put their party above the people.

There are some key differences though.  I don’t think their protests are going to do anything at all.  I don’t think their plan is going to make even the tiniest bit of change happen.  Why?  Because I don’t think they understand the problem.  They complain about the uber rich and corporate greed and the deficit and consumerism and all their other issues, and they miss the truth.

The truth is, it’s not “them”.  It’s “us”.  We are the problem.  One of the terms I hear in connection with this is “Kleptocracy”.  This is just the sort of delusional misinformation I would want spread if I was one of corporate heads they claim to hate.  The idea is that those running things are robbing the people blind.  That we are in fact being run by thieves.

Truth be told, it’s actually a “Meocracy’.  We’re  being run by people who put themselves and their interests first.  Whether it’s corporate heads, the shareholders who drive them, or the unionized employees who demand more, they’re all me.  “Meocracy” is screaming for tax cuts because you don’t need the services they pay for, then screaming when the services aren’t there when you want them.  “Meocracy” is talking about poverty and starvation from the comfort of your home, with a full belly, a cellphone, laptop and big screen TV.

“Meocracy” is what drives our society.  The reason Anonymous isn’t going to change anything is simple.  Anonymous is the pinnacle of the “Meocratic” movement.  They are the ultimate expression of the denial of personal responsibility which is the hallmark of a “Meocracy”.  They see everything as someone else’s fault.  “People don’t starve because I didn’t feed them.  They starve because corporations didn’t feed them.  Billionaires didn’t feed them.”  This is the Anonymous mindset.

You can’t demand change.  Well, you can, but it won’t work.  The protests and other drama won’t change peoples minds.  If you really want to change the world, I’ll help you get started.  Give up your cellphone and your cable and your internet connection.  Take that money and give it to a homeless shelter, or a soup kitchen, or a reputable charity.  Do that every month.  Only buy domestically produced goods.  Stop supporting third world sweat shops.  Get involved in grassroots politics. Stop giving your money to corporations who don’t treat their workers fairly, or their communities with respect.  Educate voters.  Educate candidates.  Educate yourselves.  Stop believing your own press.  You’re not more enlightened than anyone else.

Do all of these things for five years.  Consistently.  Then  you can come and tell me your plan to change the world.  Maybe by then you’ll have thought up something more useful than protesting against things that mean nothing.  Maybe by then you’ll understand where Anonymous has it wrong.  What’s needed isn’t to band together against some powerful and corrupt “other”.  Change will only come when understand that the powerful and corrupt are us.

Here is a simple fact.  Apple has more liquid capital than the U.S. government.  They are immensely wealthy.  Does this mean that I’m going to give up my iPhone and boycott them as punishment?  Don’t be daft.  They haven’t done anything wrong.  They are a corporation.  Their job is to make money.  They just happen to do it very well.  They didn’t force me to buy their phone.  Me, I made that decision.

It was “Me” because I live in a “Meocracy”.  Apple, Microsoft, Chrysler, Hitachi, Acer, none of them are responsible for where my money goes.  I could as easily give it to a soup kitchen, but I choose to give it to these and other corporations.  It’s my money, and my choice.  That’s the lesson Anonymous needs to learn.  Changing yourself is your prerogative, changing me is mine.

You can’t force people to change.  No matter how much you might think they need to.

Cheers, Winston

When Different Is Deadly

On By WinstonIn Discrimation, Education, Personal, Personal Responsibility, SocietyLeave a comment

Fourteen year old Jamey Rodemeyer from western New York has allegedly killed himself as result of bullying and harassment over his sexuality. At a school dance attended by his sister who had just been to his wake, the dance organizers played his favorite song in his memory. Some of the students present chanted, “better off dead”.

Remember when you were a kid and someone said something mean? You’d report it to your parent, your teacher, whoever and you always got the same line. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” It’s a lie.

I was bullied as a kid. I committed the same crime as Jamey. Not homosexuality, the bigger crime. I was different. I was the only kid in my school who didn’t have electricity, or running water, or a phone. We didn’t have a lot of money, so most of my clothes were hand-me-downs. No electricity meant I didn’t watch sports, or the newest hit TV shows.

Yep, I was different, and some of my fellow students let me know every chance they got. I’m here to tell you, those words hurt. I’ve had my nose broken, my jaw dislocated, and been beat down once or twice. All of those injuries healed up and faded one hell of a lot faster than the hits my psyche took.

My parents and teachers were a product of their time. The stock answer was “Sticks and stones…..hurt me.” My Dad’s preferred answer was to stop whining about it and stand up for myself. My Mom was sympathetic, but pretty much followed Dad’s line of “Beat up the bullies and they’ll leave you alone.” Not the most helpful advice ever. Mostly because I weighed eighty pounds, but also because beating someone up because they said something mean tended to have repercussions.

I’ll be honest, there was a while when I thought it would be preferable to be dead than to endure another day of it. But I managed to endure it. I built myself a mental hole, crawled into it, and I stayed there. I’ve spent the last twenty years digging my way out again.

I can understand why Jamey did what he did. Sometimes it gets to be too much. There’s no way to fight back. There’s no where to go. There’s no consequences for your tormentors. Dead is the only out. At least right then. Later, with a different perspective, I understand some of my other options. Jamey will never have that luxury.

But the truth is, Jamey didn’t take his own life. He was killed. As surely as if they put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger. He was killed by every person who called him “fag“, or “queer“, or “girly girl“. He was killed by every person who heard them and didn’t call them out on it. He was killed by the guidance counselor who’s helpful advice was,”Stop spending time with girls.” He was killed by a society that allows bullying. A society that celebrates the cult of popularity where if you aren’t popular, you’re nothing.

He was killed by a society that allows students at a school function attended by Jamey’s sister to chant “better off dead”, and one student gets suspended.

He was killed by a society where it’s okay to make a fourteen year old boys life a living hell. He was killed by OUR society, where different is too often a synonym for victim. Where different is too often deadly.

Cheers, Winston

Just A Quick Random Thought

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, Personal Responsibility, SocietyLeave a comment

If the end justifies the means, what if there is no end?

Does anything ever truly end?  If not, then where is the justification for “by any means necessary”?  If the means are justified by a non-existent end, it seems safe to say they were in fact unjustified.

If there were no ends to justify those means, then those who authorized those means did so without justification.  The justification they offered in the form of “the end”, was actually false comfort offered only because they understood the lack of any better.

Anyone saying, “the end justifies the means”, knows the means are wrong.  They are simply too lazy to find a better way.  They claim that the means will bring about the desired end.  History proves that there are no endings.  There is only the infinity of continuity.  Each event builds on those which have gone before and in turn serves as a foundation for those which come after.

Ends don’t justify means.  People justify means.  Like anything else, a means in need of a justification is a means in need of changing.  We only justify things we know to be wrong.  We justify our abuse of the environment, the abuse of our fellow humans, our wars, our greed, our selfishness and a million other things we know we should change.

With no actual end to hang the blame on, it becomes clear that the means must rely on us for their justification.

Something to think about.

Cheers, Winston

Hoping For Horwath & The Provincial NDP

On By WinstonIn Personal Responsibility, Politics, Society, ValuesLeave a comment

For those who don’t know, don’t care, or aren’t from around here, we’re heading into a Provincial election here in Ontario.  For those in the US, that’s the State level.  For the rest of the world, it’s important to us, but likely most of the world won’t be greatly impacted by it.  Locally though, it’s a big deal.

If you’re new to this blog, I’ll get you up to speed quick.  I’m a big fan of social justice.  i think corporations have an obligation too be good citizens too.  I support social programming.and helping those who need it.  All of which is to say, I don’t generally vote for the Conservatives.  I used to vote Liberal because I didn’t want the PCs to get in.  That thinking changed with the changes Jack Layton brought to the federal NDP in the last election.

This time, I’m going to vote my values.  So far, that looks like voting for Andrea Horwath’s NDP.  If nothing else, her refusal to play gutter politics is very refreshing.  I also like the NDP plan to offer tax breaks to companies who hire and train new employees.  That’s an idea that directly rewards them for being “good corporate citizens”.  Sounds good to me.

Up until now, I’ve been voting Phil McNeely, My local Liberal MPP.  He’s done some good things for my local community, so it’s going to be hard for me to change.  On the other hand, the party as a whole leaves something to be desired.  The decision I have to make before election day is simple.  Do I vote for Phil because he’s good for me locally, or do I look at the bigger picture and hope Mx. Horwath lives up to her potential.

Decisions, decisions……  I’m just happy that I’m fortunate enough to live somewhere that I get to make them.  I can go to the polls without anyone threatening me or trying to kill me.  Once I cast my ballot, I am reasonably confident of a accurate count and legitimate winner.  If more people realized how rare and precious those things are in the world, maybe we’d see a better voter turn-out.

Instead, the pathetically apathetic non-voters will sit on their brains and waste one of the greatest privileges in our society.  You don’t have to vote in Canada.  Your also don’t have to eat, breath or not step in front of a bus.  None of those are any stupider than not voting.

I’ll close for now because I’ve got to go and do some pre-election homework.  See my fellow Ontarians at the polls.

Cheers, Winston

Larry Powell Should Be “Man of the Year”

On By WinstonIn Personal Responsibility, Politics, Society, Values9 Comments

If the spot’s still open, here’s my candidate for the Time Magazine “Man of the Year”: Fresno County School Supervisor, Larry Powell.

In case you missed it, this person decided to let go of $800000 in salary over the next three and a half years. The reason for his decision? He didn’t need it and he wanted to protect his pet projects from budget cuts and help restore faith in government officials.

In an era of political corruption scandals and massive unemployment in his region, Mr. Powell was looking to make a difference. While others look to take more out of the system, he decided to put some back. Among the projects he wanted to protect, is one geared to getting B and C students into college by teaching them note-taking and strategy skills.

“How much do we need to keep accumulating?” That’s the question that drives the Powell’s decision. To achieve his plan, he worked out a deal to retire and then get hired back at a much lower wage. In fact, he will be earning just $31000 a year. That’s about $10000 less than the starting salary for a teacher in the district.

There are two things that set him apart in my book. One is the realization that just because you can command a massive salary it doesn’t mean you should. In a cash strapped region, he and his wife decided they had all they needed and had no reason to take more. It’s hard to imagine a more radical idea in today’s world.

Oh wait, there is ONE idea that’s more radical, and it’s the other big reason he should receive “Man of the Year”. Mr. Powell didn’t feel the need to tell anyone what he was doing. It wasn’t until four days after the board meeting, that word got out. When it seems everyone is fighting for the spotlight, he didn’t feel the need. There were no press conferences to tell everyone what a great thing he was doing. Instead of a publicity stunt that could have landed him on half the talk-shows in the country, the privacy of his action is the hallmark of it’s authenticity.

Larry Powell: Time Magazine’s Man of the Year! Probably not, but he should be. He would make a great role model for us all.

Cheers, Winston