Aboriginal people talk in circles, both figuratively and physically.
Circles
are a natural part of our lives; consider the sun and moon both appear
as circles, our eyes appear as circles, and even our traditional homes
are formed as circles. The Inuit iglu is a circle of snow and ice, the
tipis of the Prairie Nations are built round a circle, and closer to
home, and the Okanagan kukuli is built in a circle.
Non-Aboriginal
people can get frustrate when discussing a mater of importance with a
traditional Aboriginal person, as it is considered impolite to just
blurt out the nature of a concern or request without providing the
entire background of the situation.
I was recently talking to a
young Aboriginal woman who wanted to convey to me her desire to educate
youth at a public forum. From the time we met, to meeting her purpose,
the time elapsed was almost two hours, whereas non-Aboriginal person may
have come to the point in under 10 minutes. The significance of this
reality becomes a conflict when culturally insensitive counsellors loose
patience with clients who take too long to come to a point, talking
circles around the question, concern or request.
Corporate Canada
has an analogy when they talk about the ‘elephant’ or the ‘moose’ in
the middle of the room that everybody ignores, talking around the
problem instead of the problem, and generally encourages participants to
get to the point so that meetings are not dragged on infinitum. This
flies in the face of tradition Aboriginal concepts of problem solving.
When
we want to discuss an item of interest or importance with three or more
people, we form a circle so we can see each other when speak, giving
equal importance to all in the circle. From the time the first person
speaks, it is the person to their left that speaks next, and continues
around the circle. If there is more to be said once a person’s turn has
passed, the person must wait until their turn comes again around the
circle. It is not unusual to have three or four ‘rounds’ before
everybody has finished talking.
Talking circles are considered to
be sacred, confidential, and safe. In Aboriginal communities, anything
said in the talking circle is not repeated outside the confines of the
circle, and those who have ignored this basic tenant have found
themselves ostracised from entire communities or even entire nations.
Knowing
that rumour, innuendo and gossip are favourite pastimes of all human
cultures it can take a long time or a position of considerable trust for
a non-Aboriginal person to be invited to a talking circle, as the
concepts of confidentiality are less ingrained in European based
communities.
For my non-Aboriginal friends, if you are invited to
a talking circle, consider it to be an honour, but if you are excluded,
please don’t take it personally. It can take months if not years to
earn the privilege to take part in our traditional means of community
problem solving.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The Day After…
The day after the provincial election there a lot of people
who are wondering: “What Happened to a BC NDP majority government?”
The day after the provincial election there a lot of people who are wondering: “Where
were the Greens other than Vancouver Island?”
The day after the provincial election there are hundreds of ‘armchair quarterbacks’ trying to figure out why the pollsters, pundits and those-that-think-they-have-all-the-answers were so wrong on so many levels with their predictions that were 180 degrees away from the results.
The day after the provincial election we are looking at a new stronger mandate for the BC Liberal party, which means we get more of the same thing we have been used to for the past 12 years.
The day after the provincial election Adrian Dix can hold his head high because he stuck to his principles of running a clean campaign for the NDP, even if it lost the election for the party.
The day after the provincial election Jane Sterk can hold her head high because she did not waiver from her platform of making BC a cleaner, more environmentally friendly place to live, which pushed the Green Party to its first ever seat in the legislature.
The day after the provincial election there are hundreds of ‘armchair quarterbacks’ trying to figure out why the pollsters, pundits and those-that-think-they-have-all-the-answers were so wrong on so many levels with their predictions that were 180 degrees away from the results.
The day after the provincial election we are looking at a new stronger mandate for the BC Liberal party, which means we get more of the same thing we have been used to for the past 12 years.
The day after the provincial election Adrian Dix can hold his head high because he stuck to his principles of running a clean campaign for the NDP, even if it lost the election for the party.
The day after the provincial election Jane Sterk can hold her head high because she did not waiver from her platform of making BC a cleaner, more environmentally friendly place to live, which pushed the Green Party to its first ever seat in the legislature.
The day after the provincial election Christy Clark won the provincial political war, but lost the battle for her own seat
The day after the provincial election our electoral system of ‘first-past-the-post’ has resulted in a majority provincial government which, in my opinion, is a dangerous thing as it potentially precludes meaningful debate and legislative votes become a Liberal Rubber Stamp.
The day after the provincial election life goes on as it did the day BEFORE the election – with fewer political advertisements.
The day after the provincial election our electoral system of ‘first-past-the-post’ has resulted in a majority provincial government which, in my opinion, is a dangerous thing as it potentially precludes meaningful debate and legislative votes become a Liberal Rubber Stamp.
The day after the provincial election life goes on as it did the day BEFORE the election – with fewer political advertisements.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Please Vote
On 14th May 2013
At the BC
Provincial
General Election,
I don’t care HOW
you vote
I care THAT
you vote.
PLEASE VOTE
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
NDP? Why Not?
I live in a stronghold of the BC NDP party, and with the BC Provincial election on 14MAY, if the most recent polls are any indication, not only will our local NDP candidate get in, but the party will form the BC Government until 2018.
Being of a certain vintage, I have seen the results of a variety of government policies over the last 40 years, and based on past experience, I cannot in good faith support the NDP as without exception over the last four decades they have spent funds on social programs without the corresponding income being generated to offset the costs, therefore running annual deficits which adds to the deficit.
Mr. Dix has promised to be different – making one practical change at a time, but is still forecasting five years of deficit budgeting (at least he is saying so up front).
The choices we have in Skeena are not much better, between the Christian Heritage Party with radical policies based on the Bible, independent and green candidates that nobody has heard of, the Conservative Party that is far too bigoted for my liking, and finally the BC Liberals who have a recent track record of ignoring citizen voices (Enbridge [Northern Gateway], Kinder-Morgan, HST, DWI laws, government relationship with Teachers, etc.).
At this time I am considering it is better the devil I know, rather than the unknown of NDP political promises. :-(
Being of a certain vintage, I have seen the results of a variety of government policies over the last 40 years, and based on past experience, I cannot in good faith support the NDP as without exception over the last four decades they have spent funds on social programs without the corresponding income being generated to offset the costs, therefore running annual deficits which adds to the deficit.
Mr. Dix has promised to be different – making one practical change at a time, but is still forecasting five years of deficit budgeting (at least he is saying so up front).
The choices we have in Skeena are not much better, between the Christian Heritage Party with radical policies based on the Bible, independent and green candidates that nobody has heard of, the Conservative Party that is far too bigoted for my liking, and finally the BC Liberals who have a recent track record of ignoring citizen voices (Enbridge [Northern Gateway], Kinder-Morgan, HST, DWI laws, government relationship with Teachers, etc.).
At this time I am considering it is better the devil I know, rather than the unknown of NDP political promises. :-(
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Smoke or Dope?
Disclaimer: I am a reformed smoker, being tobacco free since 1984
I have an ethical issue with outlets that have pharmacies that also sell
tobacco products, and I am on a one person crusade to have the College of Pharmacists
considered an "either/or" policy / directive on this
issue. There is a level of logic that could not condone selling tobacco in
one area, and smoking cessation products in another.
Tobacco products can be sold from just about anywhere where there is a
cash register (gas stations, pubs/bars, corner stores, etc.) to the 17% of the
people who still use such products and continue to ignore the health risks to
do so.
Pharmacies on the other hand are part of our health system and somewhat
sacrosanct if the wealth of professional knowledge is tapped (I trust
my pharmacist as much / more than my MD and see him far more often).
The choice of the retail end of the store to sell life threatening, although
legal, products is diametrically opposed to the function of the pharmacy
and therefore makes no ethical sense.
As a citizen with a myriad of health issues, I am requesting the College
of Pharmacists to seriously consider drawing a draconian line in the annual
licencing of pharmacies: specifically, the retail store EITHER
sells/markets pharmaceutical products, OR tobacco products, but not
both.
Some retail stores may opt out of having a pharmacy as part of their mix, then reluctantly, I may have to change where I purchase my medication but it will be better than compromising my ethics.
If you have a thought on this, you too can write to them at info@bcpharmacists.org
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
SAT or FFC
As BC election-day draws closer I am torn between the “Spend And Tax” policies of the BC NDP and the ”Fact Free Campaign” of the BC Liberals. Both want my vote, especially in a predominantly NDP riding (Stikine).
My choices are actually much wider, having the luxury of being able to choose from
In the early 1970’s Dave Barrett ran for (and won) the election for Premiere of BC under the NDP banner, the celebrations were short lived as the NDP created ICBC and the Agricultural Land Reserve, lowered the drinking age to 19, preserved Cypress Bowl for recreation; started the SeaBus; air ambulance service; ended logging and mining in the provincial parks, created the Labour Relations Board, the Human Rights Code and the Provincial Status of Women Office. … then taxed BC Citizens to the point of bankruptcy. Such is the legacy of the NDP. It took us 20 years to get out of that financial quagmire.
The last 12 years of BC Liberal rule have not been a joy ride either. Two Premiers who think that traffic laws apply to lesser beings, labour unrest as contracts are torn up (literally) and long standing feuds with Nurses, Doctors, teachers, College staff, Government Staff just to name a few. The debacle of the HST (three months to bring in, two years to go out) and the resulting cost to everybody in BC and finally their claim to have a ‘balanced budget’ when the Auditor General has stated to opposite. I am convinced that the Liberals have a lot to hide, as the current Premier refuses to answer direct questions about Moody’s Bond rating, instead tangentalizing on how she intends to pay off the provincial debt within 15 years.
Doug, I would like to support you and the SAT (NDP), except I don’t want to see the Province go bankrupt in the next five years.
Sharon, your leader has a lot to answer for and she refuses to with her FFC, so BCL is a very scary place to be putting faith at the ballot box.
I still have a few days to decide…
My choices are actually much wider, having the luxury of being able to choose from
- Roger Benham: Green Party of BC,
- Jonathan Dieleman: BC Conservative Party,
- Doug Donaldson: BC NDP,
- Sharon Hartwell: BC Liberal Party,
- Jesse O'Leary: Independent,
- Rod Taylor: Christian Heritage Party of B.C.
In the early 1970’s Dave Barrett ran for (and won) the election for Premiere of BC under the NDP banner, the celebrations were short lived as the NDP created ICBC and the Agricultural Land Reserve, lowered the drinking age to 19, preserved Cypress Bowl for recreation; started the SeaBus; air ambulance service; ended logging and mining in the provincial parks, created the Labour Relations Board, the Human Rights Code and the Provincial Status of Women Office. … then taxed BC Citizens to the point of bankruptcy. Such is the legacy of the NDP. It took us 20 years to get out of that financial quagmire.
The last 12 years of BC Liberal rule have not been a joy ride either. Two Premiers who think that traffic laws apply to lesser beings, labour unrest as contracts are torn up (literally) and long standing feuds with Nurses, Doctors, teachers, College staff, Government Staff just to name a few. The debacle of the HST (three months to bring in, two years to go out) and the resulting cost to everybody in BC and finally their claim to have a ‘balanced budget’ when the Auditor General has stated to opposite. I am convinced that the Liberals have a lot to hide, as the current Premier refuses to answer direct questions about Moody’s Bond rating, instead tangentalizing on how she intends to pay off the provincial debt within 15 years.
Doug, I would like to support you and the SAT (NDP), except I don’t want to see the Province go bankrupt in the next five years.
Sharon, your leader has a lot to answer for and she refuses to with her FFC, so BCL is a very scary place to be putting faith at the ballot box.
I still have a few days to decide…
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Ideal Political Party
With the BC Provincial election looming mid-May, I ask myself, what do I want in a political party?
Social Policy
Reform of the provincial welfare system needs the first major overhaul in 40+ years. Start with the able-bodied who are on the system anywhere in BC. If they do not prove that they have applied for any type of work they qualify for their cheques are stopped until they apply for at least two jobs per week somewhere in BC. There are hundreds of good paying jobs that go begging in the North that are not being filled, and hundreds of able-bodied workers who choose to sit at home and wait for ‘payday’ – the last Wednesday of the month.
Make getting off welfare worthwhile. Currently recipients are deduced dollar for dollar when they earn money so unless the single recipient is earning $700/month there is no financial advantage to getting off welfare as they receive the same funds whether they work or not. This can be resolved by allowing recipients to keep 30% of the net funds they earn until they earn enough to be off the system entirely.
Drug testing needs to be undertaken upon application for welfare, and randomly thereafter: those currently on welfare will be tested randomly starting 01 June 2013. Any signs of illicit drugs or alcohol are an indication that they are receiving excessive funds, so the cost of the drug test is to be deduced fro the welfare cheque, and the benefit is halved for the next three months with subsequent positive tests seeing the welfare funding eliminated completely for a period of two years. The savings alone will cover the costs of the drug tests.
Business
Government has to get out of the business of being in business. Sell off all of the Government businesses and Crown Corporations to private industry. Liquor stores, BC Ferries, BC Hydro, Highway building/maintenance, and BC Place (PavCo) come immediately to mind. The government needs to reduce their employee bloat and only employ those who are working for the betterment of the society as a whole, or areas into where private industry will not venture (Government taxation at all levels, public education, health care, etc.)
Accounting and Accountability
All accounting for all areas of government must follow the same policies and procedures afforded by a GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Practices) determined by the Auditor General. Each MLA and every person working on behalf of the public needs to be held to a higher standard of fiscal accountability – accountability that can be easily understood by the average person who has graduated Grade 12. Hiding behind technicalities, lack of receipts for payments, junkets and jaunts that have no outcomes all have to stop for ALL government employees and elected officials.
The job of every government employee is to ensure that every BC citizen also has meaningful employment. Economists tell us that 95% employment is an indication of a healthy economy. Taking that into consideration, if the employment rate is below 95%, then that is the amount of pay elected officials need to accept – e.g. If the employment rate is 90%, then government employees will only receive 90% of their annual wages. If employment reaches 95%, then they get the additional 5% as a bonus and get full pay.
Economic Development
Enough studies have been done already – no need for further research to develop renewable resources for the economic growth of BC.
Instead of reforestation of clear-cut, modify the pulp/paper plants to use hemp for making paper products (NB: Every copy of the 1775 US Constitution is written on hemp paper). The plant can replenish itself in two years (vs. 30years for pine) and therefore a renewable natural resource putting people to work. That which is not used for paper products can be used to make clothing. Solar powered buildings, malls, villages and towns are a reality in Europe. Why not here? Consider that every mall parking lot could be covered in solar panels – more than enough to power the entire mall and sell back to the electricity grid (currently being done in Germany). This would leave more power for BC Hydro to use and sell offshore (i.e. to California).
Solar/battery powered cars are getting close to reality for cities like Vancouver and Victoria, but little is being done at a provincial level to encourage the building of car plants in the province to capture this market.
Labour Costs
It is well known that approximately 50% of the operational costs of most businesses are labour costs. Likewise there are a number of areas where the Government still needs to keep providing services to the general public (Health Care, Education, etc.) after selling off the ‘businesses’ where threats of labour unrest is apparent every year or two.
My ideal government would look at settling the disputes that are controlled by government treasury by signing off on 10 – 15 year contracts, with all of the COLA clauses built in dependent upon inflation over that period of time and build in the foreseeable demands of the unions. Everybody needs to understand the cost of public services therefore there needs be a new “Provincial Union Tax” of 1% - 5% to cover these costs so that our hospitals, schools, and government services remain open and functioning.
Income tax
The provincial part of income tax needs to be shifted to allow for additional lower income people to keep a little more of the funds they earn. Shift the sliding incremental scale so that the first level of tax is not payable until a person earns $21,330 per annum will allow those earning minimum wages an increase in net pay without forcing employers to pay them more per hour, therefore keeping the business overhead steady. BC political leaders need to inform Canada of this change and lobby for the tax exempt amount at the federal level to match the $21,330 instead of the current $9,800. More people with more disposable income without raising prices will see more purchases being made, driving the economy in a very positive way.
Transit Options
Transit options are only available to larger metropolitan areas such as the GVRD, Lower Mainland, Victoria, Kelowna, and to a limited extent, Prince George and Kamloops. These areas have transit options available to them that all of the other areas of the province do not enjoy, yet we can see that 80% of the population driving on the freeway into Vancouver only have one person in the vehicle. Granted, for a few, they require their vehicle for multiple trips within the city on any given day, but for the vast majority, they drive, park, work, and drive home. Fuel taxation increasing by 30% in areas that have public transit options will help pay for the province’s portion of the transit costs.
Health Anomalies
It has always surprised me that grocery stores and pharmacies which offer positive health benefits, also sell tobacco products. A Provincial government could enact a health measure that would see tobacco products only available in outlets do not sell nutrition or medical supplies.
These are just a few of the concepts off the top of my head this blustery Saturday afternoon.
Social Policy
Reform of the provincial welfare system needs the first major overhaul in 40+ years. Start with the able-bodied who are on the system anywhere in BC. If they do not prove that they have applied for any type of work they qualify for their cheques are stopped until they apply for at least two jobs per week somewhere in BC. There are hundreds of good paying jobs that go begging in the North that are not being filled, and hundreds of able-bodied workers who choose to sit at home and wait for ‘payday’ – the last Wednesday of the month.
Make getting off welfare worthwhile. Currently recipients are deduced dollar for dollar when they earn money so unless the single recipient is earning $700/month there is no financial advantage to getting off welfare as they receive the same funds whether they work or not. This can be resolved by allowing recipients to keep 30% of the net funds they earn until they earn enough to be off the system entirely.
Drug testing needs to be undertaken upon application for welfare, and randomly thereafter: those currently on welfare will be tested randomly starting 01 June 2013. Any signs of illicit drugs or alcohol are an indication that they are receiving excessive funds, so the cost of the drug test is to be deduced fro the welfare cheque, and the benefit is halved for the next three months with subsequent positive tests seeing the welfare funding eliminated completely for a period of two years. The savings alone will cover the costs of the drug tests.
Business
Government has to get out of the business of being in business. Sell off all of the Government businesses and Crown Corporations to private industry. Liquor stores, BC Ferries, BC Hydro, Highway building/maintenance, and BC Place (PavCo) come immediately to mind. The government needs to reduce their employee bloat and only employ those who are working for the betterment of the society as a whole, or areas into where private industry will not venture (Government taxation at all levels, public education, health care, etc.)
Accounting and Accountability
All accounting for all areas of government must follow the same policies and procedures afforded by a GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Practices) determined by the Auditor General. Each MLA and every person working on behalf of the public needs to be held to a higher standard of fiscal accountability – accountability that can be easily understood by the average person who has graduated Grade 12. Hiding behind technicalities, lack of receipts for payments, junkets and jaunts that have no outcomes all have to stop for ALL government employees and elected officials.
The job of every government employee is to ensure that every BC citizen also has meaningful employment. Economists tell us that 95% employment is an indication of a healthy economy. Taking that into consideration, if the employment rate is below 95%, then that is the amount of pay elected officials need to accept – e.g. If the employment rate is 90%, then government employees will only receive 90% of their annual wages. If employment reaches 95%, then they get the additional 5% as a bonus and get full pay.
Economic Development
Enough studies have been done already – no need for further research to develop renewable resources for the economic growth of BC.
Instead of reforestation of clear-cut, modify the pulp/paper plants to use hemp for making paper products (NB: Every copy of the 1775 US Constitution is written on hemp paper). The plant can replenish itself in two years (vs. 30years for pine) and therefore a renewable natural resource putting people to work. That which is not used for paper products can be used to make clothing. Solar powered buildings, malls, villages and towns are a reality in Europe. Why not here? Consider that every mall parking lot could be covered in solar panels – more than enough to power the entire mall and sell back to the electricity grid (currently being done in Germany). This would leave more power for BC Hydro to use and sell offshore (i.e. to California).
Solar/battery powered cars are getting close to reality for cities like Vancouver and Victoria, but little is being done at a provincial level to encourage the building of car plants in the province to capture this market.
Labour Costs
It is well known that approximately 50% of the operational costs of most businesses are labour costs. Likewise there are a number of areas where the Government still needs to keep providing services to the general public (Health Care, Education, etc.) after selling off the ‘businesses’ where threats of labour unrest is apparent every year or two.
My ideal government would look at settling the disputes that are controlled by government treasury by signing off on 10 – 15 year contracts, with all of the COLA clauses built in dependent upon inflation over that period of time and build in the foreseeable demands of the unions. Everybody needs to understand the cost of public services therefore there needs be a new “Provincial Union Tax” of 1% - 5% to cover these costs so that our hospitals, schools, and government services remain open and functioning.
Income tax
The provincial part of income tax needs to be shifted to allow for additional lower income people to keep a little more of the funds they earn. Shift the sliding incremental scale so that the first level of tax is not payable until a person earns $21,330 per annum will allow those earning minimum wages an increase in net pay without forcing employers to pay them more per hour, therefore keeping the business overhead steady. BC political leaders need to inform Canada of this change and lobby for the tax exempt amount at the federal level to match the $21,330 instead of the current $9,800. More people with more disposable income without raising prices will see more purchases being made, driving the economy in a very positive way.
Transit Options
Transit options are only available to larger metropolitan areas such as the GVRD, Lower Mainland, Victoria, Kelowna, and to a limited extent, Prince George and Kamloops. These areas have transit options available to them that all of the other areas of the province do not enjoy, yet we can see that 80% of the population driving on the freeway into Vancouver only have one person in the vehicle. Granted, for a few, they require their vehicle for multiple trips within the city on any given day, but for the vast majority, they drive, park, work, and drive home. Fuel taxation increasing by 30% in areas that have public transit options will help pay for the province’s portion of the transit costs.
Health Anomalies
It has always surprised me that grocery stores and pharmacies which offer positive health benefits, also sell tobacco products. A Provincial government could enact a health measure that would see tobacco products only available in outlets do not sell nutrition or medical supplies.
These are just a few of the concepts off the top of my head this blustery Saturday afternoon.
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