Gordon Campbell Hates You... No, really. · Tuesday March 16, 2010 by colin newell
I am a bit of a fan of rabble.ca as well as some other left leaning websites, like TheTyee.ca and Georgia Straight online – heck, I was an impressionable 9 or 10 years old when I first peeked at this crazy looking weekly in the late 60’s with its hippie theme, free love mantras and dope decriminalization stance.
And this google search caught my eye today… you know the one where google fills in the blanks for you?
Well this is what it spat out when I typed in “Gordon Campbell”.
Gordon Campbell Hates You
Seriously. And I hardly know the man.
But the general consensus is, if the media (left and left of center is to be believed…):
Gordon hates the poor. Gordon hates the elderly. Gordon hates the weak. Gordon hates children… well, not all children, just children of the poor, elderly or the weak.
And who can blame him? The elderly are a burden to our tax payers – Shame.
To combat the blight of the elderly, he and his car dealing right wing cronies cut where ever they can to marginalize the elderly… and yea, drive them back where they came from…
Parents who are not wealthy create an extra burden by having children that they cannot place in private schools – and as a result end up burdening the taxpayers and province shareholders by sending their little ragamuffins to public schools and demanding stuff like books! Who do these un-wealthy folks think they are?
Do not get me started on the weak. Nothing riles Gordon and I up more than people who cannot hold down one of those great lower-than-minimum wage jobs in beautiful British Columbia. I mean, look what we have done for corporate North America: We have the lowest rate of corporate tax and the lowest minimum wage.
And if you are physically or intellectually challenged in British Columbia, Gordon and I have a message for you: Shape up and pull your weight.
Reality: The Gordon Campbell Liberals have systematically, methodically and willingly targeted the most vulnerable in our “Greatest Place on Earth” with cuts to seniors, cuts to schools, cuts to support networks for women in jeopardy while boasting the highest rates of child poverty in Canada and thumbing his nose at the United Nations report on poverty in Canada.
But does Gordon hate you? No.
He fits the description of a sociopath (by the actions of his government…)
So it’s not hate…
More like indifferent contempt.
I hope that knowledge helps my readers.
My name is Colin Newell. I am a Victoria area resident who supports local business and eschews community killing machines like Walmart.
Comment [1]
Winter all fun, food and frolic - America and the phony war on drugs · Monday March 15, 2010 by colin newell
Just listening to the CBC report on the current crisis in Mexico…
which is more of an American fueled crisis.
The war on drugs.
Seems America is going to crack down on drug traffic between Mexico and the U.S.A
…and between Canada and the U.S.A.
…and everywhere else and the U.S.A.
Some facts. One in every 32 American adults—are either incarcerated, on parole or probation or under some other form of state or local supervision. And 1 in 100 are behind bars… largely for non-violent drug related offenses.
The U.S. is the World leader in incarceration. China is second at 4 times the population but 18% of the rate of incarceration.
Why? Why put pot dealers in prisons?
American prisons are run by private firms. Privatized. For profit. There is money to be made with full prisons. Upwards of 2 Billion dollars (US) of profit are generated annually in these private incarceration “businesses”.
No war on drugs. No labor ready folks to be put in prison.
Here is how Canada and Europe differ on its perception of drug addition… versus the U.S. of A.
In Europe and to a much lesser extent, Canada, drug addiction is treated like a disease… a sickness. Which should be treated with sympathy, caring, empathy and treatment.
In America, it is a terrible, terrible crime and a blight on society. Watch an American news hour or an episode of Dog the Bounty hunter if you doubt my word.
But are soft drugs like marijuana a hazard to society?
I have never used illicit drugs. Never smoked marijuana. No desire.
Marijuana prohibition costs U.S. taxpayers an estimated $10 billion annually and results in the arrest of more than 829,000 individuals per year—far more than the total number of arrests for all violent crimes combined – including murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
And although I have never been a big fan of stoners – I did grow up in the 70’s and had my fill of harassment from pot heads and L.S.D. dropping school mates, none of whom ever posed any kind of threat to me and my family…
Other than breaking into my locker and stealing my Cheetos.
In the year 2010, the big prison eagle and the U.S. administration is eying Canada to make sure it keeps toeing the line – even our own Prime minister has spoken of building bigger and better prisons and getting tough on the rampant crime in Canada.
Canada does not have rampant crime. Violent crime is on a steady decline. In the Netherlands for instance, they are closing prisons… not enough bad people it seems. Good thing the U.S.A does not influence sensible Dutch folks.
Meantime, what we do is often what the big bad bald eagle wants us to do. With little wiggle room.
But there is always public opinion… and knowledge… and social action. – The War on crime and drugs in Canada and the U.S.A.
Keep your eyes on it.
Winter all food, fun and drink marathon begins - Love it live · Monday March 1, 2010 by colin newell
The International Olympic Committee has been really funny about live music at open and closing ceremonies for years.
One of their golden rules (that is impossible to break) is the one on live music at the ceremonies… and unattractive young girls (I reference the Beijing O.C.)
Their thinking is: To avoid mistakes, embarrassment and equipment failure, they run “tape” for the broadcast feed from the event through the studios to the media… and to you in television land.
Some claim that the performance is “live” in the stadium and tape to media (and your television set) – that might be, but I doubt it.
From my observations, the only open microphones at the O.C. and C.C. were during the dialog from Jack Roggue and John Furlong’s cringe inducing interpretation of cereal box French.
Canadian legend Neil Young did not have a microphone on him either – he had an audio prompter in his ear so he could hear his taped performance and follow along.
As did K.D. Lang (whom I have seen live several times…)
When Nelly Furtado and Bryan Adams “played” at the O.C. Brian left his microphone by his side when he started singing – but quickly “corrected” a few bars into the song.
There are many, many music rehearsals for the opening and closing ceremonies – and what you hear at home is a digital recording of one of the “best takes”.
If there is any doubt as to this fact, ask yourself why none of the artists ever make a mistake during their performance.
As a guitar player, singer and piano player of over 25 years, I would like to say that the whole “taped” thing offends me – but it doesn’t.
It is a personal choice that each artist makes – whether to “compromise” or not and how they do it.
For more reading on the subject, check out David Atkins (executive producer of the 2010 ceremonies) on the subject of O.C./C.C. Olympic lip syncing…
Quote of the day: “I think Nickelback’s music incites violence. For instance, when I hear a Nickleback song….I want to kill Nickleback.” -Brian Posehn
The Olympics are over. Do I love Canada more?
Hate to say it.
I do.
The party is over. Now it’s time to pay the caterer.
Comment [4]
Winter Fun Food and Adventure Victoria - Am I Canadian · Wednesday February 24, 2010 by colin newell
The Canadian Winter Olympics are in full swing. All eyes on the ice nation above the 49th parallel.
And although lots of people are making fun of the Canadian experience – as if they know the difference between a Canadian and a… well… someone else.
What exactly is it to be a Canadian?
Beyond the eh jokes… and the I’m so sorry jabs.
Beyond the Stephen Colbert schtick.
Beyond The Simpsons or Family Guy lampooning a Canadian courtesy of a Canadian writer living in L.A.‘s impression of the Canadian experience.
Beyond The Guess Who belting out American Woman.
Beyond William Shatner.
Beyond Tom Brokaw trying to explain Canada to an unwilling nation south of the 49th parallel.
Beyond Bryan Adams and Nelly Furtado miming and syncing into switched off microphones at the 2010 Olympiad open ceremonies…
What distinct thing defines the Canadian being? A few ideas…
Stopping to talk to an elderly gentleman wandering the sidewalk – who seems lost and returning 12 minutes later to find that he has been in a no-injuries car accident and making sure he is OK.
Waiting for the police car.
Running into a lovely Olympian from a few years gone by and flirtatiously asking her how often she is recognized…
“As often as I smile…” she quips.
Canadian.
Slowing down the car to yield to a full size deer that seems to be having difficulty crossing a slippery urban street.
Running into the governor of California and after simply raising an eyebrow and smiling getting a Austrian accented “Thanks for not making a big deal…”
Canadian.
Being beneath the radar is Canadian. Being above the radar is Canadian.
Being in a room full of people taking a collective sigh that legend Gordon Lightfoot is alive and well is, well, ever so Canadian.
That we don’t actually have a Canadian Idol is really Canadian. Figure it out.
Not really being able to explain the Canadian essence…
Canadian
