The best example of actions speak louder than words is Rex Murphy. His discussions with himself are renowned and really for most a form of amusement. Murphy has made his way in Upper Canada by simply talking - but then again he is not alone there - that's the problem.
Below you will find a story from VOCM news today. In it Murphy continues to talk about what others should do - but does nothing - himself - to fix the problems in Newfoundland and Labrador.
He pontificates about what opposition parties should concentrate on - in order to stop the rubber-stamping of the status quo.
First - it appears Murphy missed the entire election and that his media colleagues were pontificating that the Liberals were only focusing on the rural divide and problems in outport communities. Somehow Rex missed that.
As a Rhodes Scholar - Mr. Murphy - might like to get his hands dirty and do some of the work required to correct the problems. Perhaps Mr. Murphy would shut-up talking about it and do something. Perhaps Mr. Murphy should leave Upper Canada and take up permanent residence here in the province - then make a living by developing and implementing progressive policy.
Rex should spend some of his time explaining - in plain English - what he would do to correct the fishery - without fighting with Ottawa. Did you miss something Rex? Ottawa or the feds are responsible for the collapse of the stocks and it is costing our rural people and their communities over a billion dollars a year. Perhaps Rex would like to address the inequities of the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act (equalization) - by explaining why the program is designed for Quebec. Perhaps Rex would like to address the hydro-electric sector in our province and discuss how ludicrous it is for us to focus on "greening up" Canada - when we already pump 5,000 MW's from the Upper Churchill to Canada.
Newfoundland and Labrador is in a "silent" crisis Murphy says. Nothing silent about it Rex - however people such as yourself who would rather moan about it instead of rolling up your sleeves - do not help the situation.
While his words are sexy to other sesquipedalian commentators - his virility weakens when actions are required.
Murphy knows full well how difficult it is to fight a dictator - he tried and lost when he challenged Joey and ran as a PC. He sought and achieved a Tory nomination but then withdrew from lack of funds. Murphy knows.
We have many people in this province who fight this battle on the ground daily. It is not easy - nor is it simple. But rural communities have been front and center in our discussions and we are fighting hard for them.
Murphy would be better off examining how inaccurate polls were used to diminish Liberal votes and to demoralize voters generally. He would be better off examining the media coverage - of which he is a part - that exacerbated the questionable polling and rendered the election process useless.
If he were in the outports today - he might hear the following - get off your arse - stop whining - and do something about it. Go yell at Stephen Harper and educate the Upper Canadian elite about the abuse of Newfoundland and Labrador within the "con"federation.
VOCM story below:
One of the sharpest political pundits in the country suggests it's time the province's opposition parties start addressing the questions raised by the depopulation of rural Newfoundland. In Saturday's National Post, Rex Murphy breaks down the results of the provincial election and concludes that Newfoundland and Labrador is a province in denial. Murphy says the province is facing a crisis and that the Liberals and NDP have to build policy that is "more than about oil or fights with the federal government." Murphy says the two opposition parties have to work towards building an identity that appeals to the entire province, and develop policy that addresses the "crisis" that is being created by the evacuation of the outports and shrinking economic activity outside the St. John's oil boom. Murphy says Newfoundland is in a silent crisis that began with the closure of the inshore commercial fishery 20 years ago. Murphy says the fact that none of the parties had the courage to address the questions posed by that crisis, may partly explain why voters as he puts it; "simply rubber-stamped the status quo" in last week's election.
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