Month: May 2013

More on fear: Attack Ads

Here in Nova Scotia we are approaching an election. This fall maybe? Who knows!

electionscanadaBut attack ads are in full swing, at least by the NDP government currently in power. They are taking shots at the other leaders with “facts” about how they approach things like job creation and sustainable energy. Not to mention the attacks being thrown at newly minted leader of the Liberal party by the Conservatives at the federal level.

Given my healthy skepticism of anything one political party has to say about another, I don’t believe any of it. It’s another attempt to use fear to cause people to not vote for the other party in hopes that they’ll vote for their own. If one party can throw enough doubt into the minds of voters about the other potential premieres or prime minsters, then they think they’ve done their jobs.

Here’s what I see happening as a result… Record low voter turnout.

So how’s that working for you?

Here’s what I look for when voting. Pay attention because you don’t seem to be getting it…

What are you going to do? 

Seriously, it’s that easy. Just tell me what you are going to do. I’m smart enough to compare it against the other person and decide for myself which I like better. And you know what? So is most of Canada.

So, some simple guidelines to follow, just in case you need it spelled out for you.

  1. Don’t go about trashing the other candidates
  2. Tell me what you are going to do
  3. Let me decide if your platform is strong enough

Do you need anything more than that? I don’t see anything else. This is all I look for, and so do a lot of other I talk to.

Notice how with negative attack ads increasing, voter turnout has dropped. It’s a concept called “cause and effect”. You talk trash, and people don’t care. Seems like a pretty solid connection to me. Americans use attack ads extensively, and their voter turnouts are abysmal. So keep it going if that’s what you want.

The ball is in your court. It’s a pretty simple lob at the net, try not and screw it up!

Science…. shmience

Here in Cape Breton there is a company wishing to build a wind farm. It’s often windy here in Cape Breton, we have lots of land, seems like a good fit.

linganwindThere’s only one problem.

Fear!

Fear is a powerful tool used by those who either have an agenda of their own or are too lazy to do their own research.

Opponents of the wind farm are citing “stories” of how wind turbines are noisy and affect the health of those nearby the power generating site. Science on the other hand, actual research, has found no such connection. In fact, science has shown that health declines near wind turbines only after the stories of these alleged effects begin to circulate. A reverse placebo effect if you will.

The proposed turbines are going to be placed over one kilometre away from any residences. Locals want that changed to two kilometres which will pretty much banish from the island.

So instead, they’d rather continue with the current strategy of living down wind from the coal burning generator which pollutes their air and creates a whole lot more noise. Try driving to Lingan and stop by the turbines there. Listen. Then drive a little further by the coal burning generator and listen there as well. Notice any difference? I sure did!

Governments are being lobbied. People are being misinformed. All for what?

Can we please stick with facts and think ahead for a greener economy for a change? My kids would appreciate it.

The Land of Milk and Honey

Well, it was bound to hit the fan at some point.

Politicians at all levels of government have been caught time to time with their hands in the cookie jar, accepting payments, making claims, all sorts of financial “magic” to get the most they are entitled to.

PHOTO BY DEVAAN INGRAHAM / THE CANADIAN PRESS
PHOTO BY DEVAAN INGRAHAM / THE CANADIAN PRESS

This week it’s Senator Mike Duffy.

Next week it will be someone else.

Yes I know it’s not each and every one of them, it’s just a percentage, and probably most of them are dedicated, honest, hard working people. But here’s what gets me.

They let it happen!

There’s no accountability. There’s not one of their peers standing up and saying “This is wrong!” It’s all hush hush and no one is talking about it.

It reeks if you ask me.

I live in a town with big unemployment issues. No jobs. Drugs and alcohol are huge problems. Welfare families with inadequate housing. Single moms struggling to raise their children. The list goes on and on.

And I read the news where government officials are getting very large housing allowances, even if they don’t live very far from the office. I read where Duffy gets a ninety thousand dollar cheque written for him because he broke the law???

Meanwhile, we are fighting, literally fighting, to get a lunch monitor for our school which does not have one. A school right on the main street of our town. The funding formula tells us we should have two. Instead we have none!

Yet the money keeps flowing to big businesses and those on the “inside”. The rich keep getting richer!

It’s not right.

This is not the land of milk and honey, at least not from my perspective. Although it sure does seem that way to the politicians!

I’m going to say something about it.

Join me?