Telling It Like It Is...

Below is a comment I just made on Dean Ward's blog that I feel needs to be repeated here on my blog too.

Anon @9:32
"... the bloggers have their own agendas; i.e. themselves getting a council job."

Do you really think if that was my primary concern I would write the things I do and take the controversial stands that I do? Get real.

btw/ Unlike Dean, the only declaration I have made since the last election was that I would ^not^ run again. So far, I have not been given any reason why I should change that position.

FYI, I'm not interested in money (except to pay my bills and get by), power or fame. I am interested in making a difference and changing our world for the better. In this regard, I do not sense too many people in this community think likewise. Therefore, why waste ones time tilting at windmills. Maybe that will change before the next election but so far I do not see that happening, nor do I expect it to.

The establishment here and their dolts and dupes who blindly follow them are afraid of me and people like me and what we represent... 'people power'. Therefore like the last time people here will most likely follow along like sheep and vote for a name not even knowing the man because they were told to.

Since the last election I have little faith in people here in this community knowing what’s best for them and acting accordingly. Instead they do what’s best for the elites who in turn think so little of them that they don’t even give them the crumbs off their plates.

A couple of more days or so and it will be five months before the election. Let’s see who steps forward from now till then and whether or not this community can smarten up before then and show they want real leadership that can take direction and move us forward with true mountain freedom and spirit. Let’s hope so!

JP

Comment:
So what say you my readers? Do you think there is any hope for the Pass, or will we continue to stumble along tripping over our own feet all the while wondering why we can't get ahead... in more ways than one?

So far, the political field here in the Pass is light with few people declaring their intentions to run. I've heard of a couple of establishment names being floated about but nothing concrete yet. We do have five months to go so its maybe kinda early but not to early to start encouraging those who you feel can make a positive difference to consider running, and doing just that.

The clock is ticking and time is running out. What will the future hold for us? Who knows? But I do know "the secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly."




The past is to be respected and acknowledged, but not to be worshiped. It is our future in which we will find greatness.

We have until May 17th to share this video with as many people as possible.

Get involved. Be the difference you want to see for Canadians by doing your part and by getting this message out to them...


(click here to view enlarged on Youtube)

Comment:
Interesting to note that in the West where the percentage increases of people now forced to visit food banks are the highest, is exactly where the majority of TFW taking Canadian jobs is the highest in the country too? Is there a connection here? I think so! Damn right!

Since 2008 corporations and financial institutions are raking in obscene record profits while poverty, homelessness and unemployment are at record levels. Another connection here? Damn right, again! 1 in 6 children go to bed hungry in this great nation every night. The lack of affordable housing and homelessness has hit the stratosphere in this country. And if you think things are bad to worse for many these days, they are ten times worse for the First Nations people on reserves (concentration camps) that this government continues to smear and ignore.

Our government does more for multi-nationals and foreign workers than they do for their own people, while telling us with their phony misleading Economic Action Plan ads how wonderful things are with them at the helm. Ask people at the bottom to middle stratum in our society how wonderful things are and you will get an entirely different picture. Its gone from bad to worse under the conservatives.

Ya, Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin and now Mayor Rob Ford are just a handful of shiny conservative examples of what's wrong with our country today being led by self-serving right-wingers who are great at telling the rest of us we must do with less - austerity is necessary and good for us - while themselves being hypocrite pigs at the trough. GREED, excess, and entitlement is the real world they live in, and by. The rest of us are just here (in their world) to pay for it all for them.

These people and the rest of the HarperCONS constantly say one thing while doing another, all the time playing up to their dumb-downed base (who everyday now are starting to smarten up and smell the coffee (Kool aid) that has been tainted), while at the same time being dismally poor managers of both our economy and our country because of their willful blindness to history and to their failed ideology, while still caring little to nothing for those not of their class. And we the people, are paying for their ineptitude and malfeasance every day they remain in power.

The poor are getting poorer, the middle class is being decimated and the rich are getting richer and we the people living in a land of plenty are forced to go to food banks and compete with foreign workers for jobs (that aren't there anymore) in a race to the bottom, while being denied or harassed when attempting to claim U.I. we paid into but can no longer collect from this morally deficient and corrupt government.

What's wrong with this picture is what every Canadian should be asking themselves. Go ahead, ask it...




We have to realize that playing within the system is not going to work, some revolution is needed to bring evolution in the system.

CAO's (cloak and dagger) briefing meetings

The other day a revelation hit this community like a lightening bolt strike when we found out our CAO was meeting privately with council to discuss who knows what? Was beer served? Were dancing girls invited to perform? Who knows?

Read more on this here...

CAO briefing meetings defended


What we do know is this news hit us like a bombshell. After all, the last council kept the local presses rolling overtime when it was found out they were doing the same thing i.e. having private meetings among themselves.

Is this any different? The only difference I can see is this council is getting PAID on our dime to attend these meetings, while we who are paying the bills are left in the dark as to what is going on at them? At least the last council didn't charge us for their indiscretions, but this one sure is.

Not only do I find this highly objectionable but more than likely illegal, and certainly unethical and immoral in my opinion. Might as well lump democracy in with Fascism because they are both in the same category now from what I am seeing. Secret meetings, dark rooms, plots, intrigues... the list goes on and on. Today it seems with these guys its all about US and THEM.

Somebody stop the bus and let me off because I just can't take it anymore... :-(




A committee is a cul-de-sac down which ideas are lured and then quietly strangled.

News Tip: What goes around comes around when you don't play nice

In this week's Crowsnest Promoter is the following article (not available on-line)...


Ranchland waiting for Crowsnest Pass financial report

Sheena Read
Editor, Nanton News

Ranchland council is waiting for information from the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass before any actions are taken on annexation.

Ranchland council and Crowsnest Pass councils met on March 22 to discuss annexation issues.

Crowsnest Pass has proposed annexation or amalgamation with Ranchland of the Grassy Mountain area, where Riversdale Resources will be developing a coal mine.

Chief Executive Officer Greg Brkich said that he wants to see the Crowsnest Pass financial statements - "to see just what financial situation Crowsnest Pass is in," he said, before council discusses the issues further.

Crowsnest Pass administration will have budgets approved by May 1, for legislation, so Brkich is expecting to see a full statement very soon, he said.

"Not that ours is going to be done by May 1, but I have asked for an extension," Brkich laughed.

Crowsnest Pass initiated the process following a population decline and reduction in its local assessment base.


Comment:
I have it on good authority (Deep Throat 2) that figuratively speaking our municipality will soon receive what can only be construed as a letter bomb from the M.D. of Ranchland by way of tic for tac on our municipality's recent (mis)handling of the Grassy Mountain mining proposal by Riversdale Resources.

This letter I understand is a ticking time bomb reply set to go off at the next meeting of our council on May 21 (if it makes it on the agenda?) as a result of discussions and decisions made at the M.D. of Ranchland's last council meeting on May 7, regarding our municipality's proposal with respect to amalgamation/annexation with them.

Regardless if this letter makes it on the council agenda or not newspaper ads paid for by the MD and news articles regarding their decision will be printed in the Nanton News and in our own local Crowsnest Promoter in next week's editions, on May 22.

From what I understand what we will learn from these ads and articles will be very revealing and possibly quite damaging to both our mayor and council, and administration.

What else is new? These guys are a walking disaster as far as public relations goes. Next week's revelations, will be just one more. And the hits just keep on comin'.




Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy.

Mr. Mayor, Cry Me A River why don't cha

Just finished reading this months Municipal Newsletter in which our mayor in his Mayor's Corner goes on a rant it seems against anybody and everybody who has political aspirations, incumbents or otehrwise. Is he trying to narrow the field? :-)

I mean talk about somebody who needs a baby's pacifier big time (although the last time I saw him I did notice his thumb looked a little raw, maybe he's been using this instead?). Seriously, what brought on this diatribe of his against sitting councillors and those out there thinking of running for a seat on council? He basically is calling all potential political opponents to task as being unfit with only himself being worthy while at the same time chastising the general public for not understanding and appreciating all the good he has done for this community. He comes across as believing the change he has brought about is for the better but we're all too stupid to realize it.

Well, excuse me your worshipfulness, but I believe come October you will find the change you brought was the kind that was both not wanted or needed. If you would have taken the time to consult with residents here instead of simply dictating to them like some petty tyrant you would know this. Being afraid to meet with the citizens you represent, face to face, in a free and open exchange such as in a Town Hall Forum Meeting (last one held was a year ago next month. Haven't had another one since last June despite promises to the contrary) has been your undoing and downfall.

Blaming others for what you have brought down on yourself is not going to change that, just as using taxpayer money here in our municipal newsletter to attack opponents in campaign mode (why is our CAO allowing this, I ask?) will be seen for what it is, which is self-serving political propaganda. Shame on you! There is a time for what you are doing here and that is during the election campaign using your own money, ^not^ ours.

Cheap shots, dirty politics and empty promises will not win you another term on council. Admitting your mistakes and bowing out gracefully is the only honourable way out for you now. You should take it while you still can, for "in the part of this universe that we know there is great injustice, and often the good suffer, and often the wicked prosper, and one hardly knows which of those is the more annoying."

You sir, have now become 'annoying'. Be gone with you, I say.


p.s. If anyone can shed some light on what has transpired recently that has the mayor in battle-mode, please shed some light on this for us. Is he taking pot shots at Saje with his "eating their own" comment? The municipal inspection must be heating up.







Man cannot remake himself without suffering, for he is both the marble and the sculptor.

Crowsnest Builders & Developers Association Meeting

Last night, I attended the second meeting of the newly forming Crowsnest Builders & Developers Association (CB&DA) meeting chaired by Shane Stewart.

Yesterday's meeting although sparsely attended due to a combination of factors, including a mix up on dates and communicating such, the Toronto and Boston hockey game, and pouring rain to mention just a few. Nevertheless this meeting was highly energized so much so that it often got off topic but certainly made for an interesting and fruitful evening.

For those who don't know the mission behind this new group from what I can understand as an invited guest is to form an organization of business people who are already in the building trades, developers and service people, along the lines of an organization of dentists for example, who as a group can look after not only their own interests but the community's too by making themselves available to consult with council as advisers when they (council/adm.) are thinking of implementing new policies, such as raising the cost of building permits or off-site levies, two areas for example which can have a negative impact on growth and development and business here in the Pass, if not well thought out beforehand, rather than unnecessarily and needlessly paying the price for short-term gain at the expense of long-term pain.

In addition this group wants to look at various ways of marketing the Pass in conjunction with the municipality while trying to spur the latter into action as well. Along this line a few years back the municipality used to put approximately $15,000 annually into the Marketing Consortium handled by Community Futures which was used to promote our community. However, for the last few years that funding, as meager as it was, and for reasons unknown to those present, was cancelled? In other words, our municipality has no advertising budget at present. As most people know and as every businessperson definitely knows, one must spend a certain percentage of income (typically 1-5%) on advertising if one hopes to survive and get ahead in today's competitive world marketplace. We don't! This is one of the things the association wants to see addressed and rectified.

A good working relationship with our municipality and other groups and organizations in our community is this groups goal. They want to promote our community to the world in order to ensure we have a healthy and viable economy. In this regard, it was interesting to note that at Teck over 200 people annually (and their families) will be required over the coming years to maintain existing staffing levels. And that both Teck and P&H are thinking (as the rumour goes) of relocating many of their office people in Calgary to their Sparwood buildings. Including in Teck's case, to a new soon to be built 3-4 story building in the downtown core of Sparwood. These are exciting opportunities for our community, if we can capitalize on them by working closely with industry and enticing these Albertans for the most part to live here in the Pass and commute to Sparwood. This is exactly what the CB&DA hopes to do. They also have many other exciting initiatives on the books so to speak that are very progressive and forward thinking in nature.

One of which was assisting in the endeavours of John Taylor who is the Off Campus Coordinator for the Livingstone Range School Division who just happened to be last night's guest speaker. John and the school division are pushing a symbiotic relationship between the skilled trades and our high school in that he wants to see more of a vocational school aspect to education, specifically in the grades 10-12 (15 years and older) in which students can get both training in the school in the skilled trades and actual work experience towards possible apprenticeships in the field working for many of our local builders and developers. A win, win situation for everyone concerned. As well as a great opportunity for keeping more of our young people in the community by ensuring they have the future skill sets needed by our community to obtain meaningful employment at home.

For those interested in learning more about this new initiative there will be a meeting in the Community Futures boardroom in the Provincial Building on Thursday, May 23rd at 1:00 p.m. Come in and check it out, why don't cha.

And for those people interested in learning more or better yet joining the Crowsnest Builders & Developers Association their next meeting will be on Monday, May 27 at 7:00 p.m. in the same location as above.

Good things are happening in the Pass and these bold new initiatives above are just some of them. Who knows where we as a community can go with a like-minded council that is both pro-business and progressive, and learns how to effectively market itself independently and jointly with professional organizations such as this one here we speak of today.




To have the results you have never had, you must do what you have never done.

What this community needs is more Mothers on council

Here it is Mother's Day and one of the first things I ran across this morning scanning news stories and such is the following story on The Pincher Creek Voice about a mother, no different than most mothers, having the courage of her convictions and the tenacity of one who knows what must be done, come hell or high water.

My Hero

Sometimes you have to go against the most professional advice, face the authorities, make things happen when you don't have the resources. Sometimes you cant even allow an act of God to stand in your way. You just do it if it is what you have to do...

Comment:
Maybe what this community needs is more mothers on council? No maybe about it. That's exactly what this community needs.

A council made up in large part of strong-willed, independent thinking women (Gail Sygutek comes to mind), willing to debate the issues in an open forum having only the best interests of their community at heart (rather than individual interests only), caring for their community (as a mother would for her infant), ready to shake things up if necessary in order to get done what must be done.

Mothers already have this commitment and understanding, as well as strength, guidance and compassion and that is why in my opinion we need more of them on council.

Besides, Mothers are Beautiful. Look into their eyes sometimes and you will see...

"the beauty of a woman is not
in the clothes she wears,
the figure that she carries,
or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes,
because that is the doorway to her heart
- the place where love resides."

Why Women Cry




Of all forms of caution, caution in love is perhaps the most fatal to true happiness.