Of one thing I can be sure - despite the economic woes of the United States or the plight of the fishery and communities in Newfoundland and Labrador - grown men passing a ballie and grunting while hitting each other chest to chest - will always take precedence.
In Canada or Newfoundland and Labrador that may be replaced by Sydney Crosbie taking a piece of wood and albeit - skillfully - guiding a rubber disc into a net .
Somehow - the willingness to change ones schedule - skip an important anniversary or birthday - ignore anything else going on around amazes me - one will find a way to watch their "favorite" "athletes".
Most of these same people - a good chunk of the population - will not make the same effort to vote, attend a public debate on critical public issues, enter into the public fray of discussion, and/or be actively concerned that their children may not have a future in this province.
I can assure you that there are as many people or more willing to go to bat for their "favorite" hockey player and contact Don (clown) Cherry rather than go to bat for a pediatrician who may save a child's life.
Example: How many people made sure to watch the Super Bowl commercials to the point of being well-versed in them versus the number of people who read the Auditor General's Report or the Provincial or Federal Budgets?
How many people know more about the biography of Sydney or another "favorite" "athlete" versus the biographies of candidates seeking election in their district?
How many people would make sure they got out to see their favorite musician (in from the States or Upper Canada) or Bobby Orr etc, despite a snowstorm versus how many would use the snow as an excuse to not get to the polls?
57 million viewers watched the presidential debate 2008 versus 111 million watched the Super Bowl this weekend.
An estimated 59.1 per cent of Canadians cast votes in 2008 general election — a figure that appears to be a record low in the history of Confederation. Newfoundland and Labrador was at 48.1 per cent for that election.
What happens when a soap opera is preempted for an important political statement? Ask NTV!
We complain about a surgeon's salary - responsible to save the lives of relatives - while we are disgusted when our "favorite" "athlete" is traded after unsuccessful contract talks.
Average Salary of a NHL Hockey Player - 2008 estimates $1,906,793
Average Salary Cardiac Surgeon - 2010 estimates $ 275,000
Average Salary of a NFL Football Player - 2009 estimates $1,700,000
Average Median Salary of Canadian Soldiers - 2002 estimates $50,000
To make matters worse - the "hero's" of football, basketball, etc have real issues with anger management, drugs, alcohol, cheating.
I can certainly conclude that Sydney Crosby's concussion has received much more media attention than significant homelessness issues during the same time. Why? Because that is what we demand. Kate (the princess to be) will dominate the news from here to wedding day - every single detail will be examined and reported by panels of journalists in a way that I could only hope to see the Senate or Equalization examined. Why? Because this is what we demand.
While we watch populations of people around the world - fighting hard to get a democratic system - we will sleepwalk our way out of one. Democracy requires participation and it is not the responsibility of a few people - it is not the job of a few politicians - it is not make-work for sign manufacturers or volunteer canvassers or the lucrative payday for PR firms - it does not belong to corporations but does belong to you and me (despite how our politicians behave) - it is not a word but it is state of who we are and what we stand for.
We must take control of the following issues:
The Fishery
The Lower Churchill
The Forestry
Mining/Oil and Gas
Employment
Social Issues (Education, Health, Poverty, Crime, Child Advocacy and Protection, Housing)
Outmigration
Corporate Influence
Seniors Pensions
It must be our priority over the coming months if we are to secure our childrens' future.
Partisanship must stop and we must demand that government stop intimidating those who ask questions and criticize policies.
We must seek the best people to elect to public office and head up government agencies - not people chosen for us by an elite party club or through rewarding partisan loyalty.
Who do you think is ultimately responsible for decisions we are making for the children of today and generations to come?
The Super Bowl Syndrome - the puppet masters of politicians depend on it!
oops I interrupt this blog for an important announcement from your beer company...
1 comment:
Right on the mark Sue.
Do you mind if I snipe some or most of these ideas in my election platform in the fast approaching federal election.
I was surprised today to hear Hugh Segal, a long time national PC organizer, to call for a Guaratened Annual Income.
This is the way to go. Set an average baseline for a living wage and pay for it with dismatling of the useless offices of HRDC etc.
Everyone works, if able, and if they cannot earn enough in the year, the government will make up the gap from the national average.
I have many more ideas that I feel are the best for the voters not the fake politicians.
Like the Arab World, now is the time for Statesmen (none gender) rather the recycled greedy politicians. These are in all our current parties.
We need Real Change for a Change.
Wayne R. Bennett
NL Independent Candidate
Former NL First Leader
Humber - St. Barbe - Baie Verte
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