Sue's Blog

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Rural Newfoundland and the Big Land - Sick of Tory Times

Tory Times are Hard Times is a thought resonating throughout rural Newfoundland and Labrador this election. The true blue - taking from you - is all that most rural communities are seeing in this province.

There is a change in the air and it's a little like Confederation - if my Dad's memories serve me well. The Townies versus the Baymen is what is going on. Tens of thousands of people sick of the Oil wealth that evades them. Tens of thousands of people understanding that the Dunderdale administration is not interested in their future - they are interested in the game of politics. Baymen sick of being treated like second class citizens in their resource rich communities.

The Townies are huddled in St. John's metro dictating the direction - and dishing out some scraps to the rural towns during the election period. Typical, merchant mentality hiding in the back allies of the Capital's downtown counting money from construction and engineering - I think there was over $170,000 donated from like firms to the Tories last year. No wonder!

Public Relations morphing into "independent" polling gurus - predicting the end is near for anything not PC. Yes the media - talk shows - any place they can spin.

The pulse however is beating a little differently than the power brokers like to see. The blood is back in the veins of the fishermen, the loggers, and miners. The spine is there and starting to show it's true strength - the pullers of the oars in this vast land. The Labradorians rich in minerals/ores and hydro potential - polluted by the greed of the townies who absolutely refuse to allow benefit for the people.

The entire townie entourage condemning the fishery from whence they came and salivating at every drop of oil stripped from the future. The poor townies - they do not understand that without the bay there is no town and their children have no future. The poor townies - they do not understand the Big Land and their frustration if not downright anger at the energy "experts" telling them that yet another hydro development is necessary for the Island and now Nova Scotia.

No I think they really get it - and thank God they do. Who wins government - is controlled outside the overpass and the Baymen and Labradorians can control the outcome.

When the oil is gone - and it's coming fast - where do the townies turn? They can turn to the bay where their fellow Newfoundlanders and Labradorians watched their communities collapse, their houses devalued, their jobs disappear, their children flee to Alberta, and their voices go unheard and ask them for their help - they are going to need it; that is unless this government is defeated and policies are developed and implemented that will secure not eliminate our future.

The Tory mentality of fighting with pensioners, front-line health care workers, small business owners, and people without financial prowess - is very obvious. Just look at what they had money for and then tell the 22,000 public service pensioners to beg somewhere else. 

Yes Tory Times are Hard Times even when we are "have" and oil is being exploited.

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