Apathy is the Solution for Fishery Woes? John Furlong's Answer?

When I first read "Assigning blame for lost jobs helps no one" I gasped, shook my head, and then settled into a period of remorse - as yet another Newfoundlander and Labradorian had been overcome by a rogue wave hitting the beach off the Fisheries Broadcast.

John Furlong's article does nothing more than justify apathy, dissuade questions and accountability, and marginalize any person who is fighting for the survival of the fishery (that is in any other way than resettlement and downsizing).

I took from his piece that one who owns assets has the answers and those who work within the sector do not. The Corporate merchants - they are the ones we need to look to for the way forward.

This story followed another by Furlong titled, "Change in the N.L. Fishery: Get used to it" and are both pro-apathy pieces from the Fisheries Broadcast host.

Fortunately for John - his corporation saw fit to have an entire program on this resource and not replace it with one called The Supermarket Broadcast - in recognition of that renewable natural resource. But he will get to retirement on it - unless perhaps the Sullivan's file a complaint with Stephen Harper and get the show cancelled before Furlong's on-air farewell.

To compare the loss of fishplants and that industry in dozens of rural communities to the loss of a supermarket in the middle of St. John's is absurd and irresponsible. Further if the oil economy is right - there may be a replacement in the area sooner rather than later - as the buoyant population of the city - and the free-flowing wealth will be catered to.

Then Furlong goes on to talk about the racket regarding the loss of the train. We all got over that right? What a joke. The highway cannot tolerate the traffic of heavy vehicles, we do not have a divided highway across the province, we have lost the ability to have fed input (cash) as we gave that up to for a piece of a road being widened without any ongoing funds for maintenance. As for the narrow gauge argument - that was propaganda as well - as many still exist or have made some changes to standard gauge and remain a very efficient, reliable, method of transporting goods and in many cases people.

The townies did not "need" it therefore it can go. There were political buddies that made money on the changeover to highway transport. Just to make sure it never came back - a quick destruction of the assets was employed and now we get to fight over snowmobiles, atv's or hikers.

Looking for answers is a real problem for Furlong and he is asking that you stop too. As one of the richest pieces of geography on the planet we had better keep looking for answers or future generations will have nothing left. In Furlong's world there would not be a need for a new host for the Broadcast in the future - who would listen? The Penney's Barry's and Sullivan's of the world do not need the CBC and may in fact hate tax-dollars being used for it. What they need is increased profits, greater access to the raw resource, and little to no interference by the owners of the resources, the people - through their elected bodies (both provincial and federal).

As the owners of what was one of the best renewable fisheries in the world, significant hydro-electric resources, forestry resources and fresh water coupled with non-renewable wealth such as minerals, oil, and gas - we have not done very well have we?

This quote from Furlong is particularly disturbing:

"We live on what used to be the world's richest fishing grounds. Year after year we turned out a fishery that was uneconomical, not very competitive and pretty well uninspiring. There's plenty of blame to go around to explain that."

Okay John, what happened to the resource? When was it uneconomical? Was it more beneficial for the merchant, the fisherman, or the plant-worker? When was it "not very competitive" - and how was it uninspiring? There's plenty of blame you claim - okay John - who is to blame? What is the role of the federal government? Who will make up for the billions in lost revenue to this province? If you do not want to consider workers, communities, or entire populations as relevant - how about the cash?

Your outward feelings on people like Dr. Phil Earle or Gus Etchegary are also quite revealing. What do you think their agendas are? Who are they trying to harm? Why are they so dismayed at what is happening? Is their information incorrect? Are they nuisances for continuing to ask questions? Do you believe they do not want a positive outcome? Are you annoyed because they want answers? Do you find them foolish for wanting a reason for the collapse - in order to find the best way forward for all our people not just the merchants?

The moratorium was supposed to be over by now - the stocks were supposed to be recovered - what happened to that? What does John Crosbie think went wrong with that? If there has been a harm and a party was constitutionally or legally responsible for the management - then there is blame and there is compensation. We have not been compensated John. You do understand John that a supermarket in St. John's is not a renewable resource nor is it or was it the responsibility of the federal government to manage. You do understand John - the government believes that the retail market in the St. John's area is so hot - that we have jobs now that can't be filled - so likely there will be immediate and like opportunities to those displaced by that closure in Churchill Square. You do know that many of those working in the retail sector are doing it while attending university or college or may be supplementing retirement income. You also know that most in the fishery are in it as a lifelong occupation.

I wonder if the employee in a St. John's supermarket somehow cannot find work in this "hot" retail market suddenly found that they could not pay their mortgage due to revenue loss - would they suffer a devaluation of that asset? This in comparison to somebody losing a job in a rural community - that also happened to lose the entire industry - rendering their asset essentially valueless. Do you John see any difference there other than the one difference you did quote?

You do realize John that a supermarket being lost is not going to cause too much economic upheaval over the next 20 years - whereas the loss of natural renewable resources will cripple us when the oil is gone. What is the difference between the two from a straight economic perspective?

If you believe that no further study is needed to determine cause - then tell us what was the cause? If that cause or causes include the federal government mismanaging the resource - then there has been an injury and where there is injury there is remedy through compensation.That compensation would do a number of things; including but not limited to - allow the proper compensation for lost wages, career, and asset devaluation - no different than what would be awarded in other litigation's such as victims of accidents. The compensation would allow the province to complete more not less scientific research of the fishery. The compensation would allow the survival of communities until the resource recovers or until other industrial opportunities are found. It would also allow those affected start-up funds for other ventures such as the development of land in St. John's purchased at $4000 an acre. Perhaps the fishers should be awarded provincial parks, or rivers for small-hydro development. Perhaps the entire quota should be delivered to the communities, fishers and plant-workers to sell in Asia.

Why are any resources in the hands of an OCI as a corporate entity when owners of the resource are shut out?

What Furlong has concluded is the who,what,where, when and why is discouraged while "get used to it" apathy is encouraged. Do not be fooled by this approach people - the continued destruction of this industry and resource will harm your children and their children much more than the closure of a supermarket in Churchill Square and will impact our ability to deliver health care, education, and build essential infrastructure a decade out.

If you can at all believe that the oil resources will eventually be exhausted - it is not a stretch for you to consider what next.

In every other resource sector, hydro-electric, mining, forestry, and oil we have been a population that has not processed enough finished product - and as a result we did not enjoy maximum industrial benefits. If other countries and provinces can create wealth - without their own resources - but simply by processing ours - we have to ask ourselves - what are we doing?

If we do not ask why - or who is to blame - we will NOT find a solution that works for people - we will simply capitulate to a few wealthy shareholders who will take whatever we will give them - the less they have to commit the better.

OCI knew what they were doing when they got the buy from FPI and from the time they got their hands on it - was the time they started to plan to reduce commitments and maximize profits. This is fine for a supermarket chain - it is not fine for a natural - renewable - resource owned by the people.

There is no doubt the answer is giveaway - now we MUST ask why we continue to allow it.

John Furlong has his own opinion and we are allowed to have ours. We are permitted to ask questions and demand answers despite John's feeling that this is a waste of time.

We don't have to "get used to" anything - in fact we are fully within our rights to tell those we elect and employ that we will not get used to it and if you can't do what we need and want - we can hire somebody else.

The slow death of communities and the fishery sector has been in part very orchestrated and very planned. Bit by bit - while urban populations are bored and growing with a temporary oil bonanza - one by one rural communities are being decimated. The townies do not want to hear the "whining" of fishermen - in a sense telling their great-great grandparents to shut-up.

Part of the placation of the fishermen and plant workers was a new boom in the shellfish sector. What John will become of that? We are only mismanaging that because we are suffering from the mismanagement of groundfish.

Watching each other bleed until enough of us are gone - is not the answer. Stepping up to the plate - showing some real guts and fighting for what is right - includes the asking of questions.

Two interesting story ideas for John:

1. Is your job being impacted by the disaster?

2. Why do more rural Newfoundlanders and Labradorians carpool than commuters in the city?

Thank you to social media - for I fear that if mainstream media still had control - we would know nothing of our impending death. That is unless is was crime in the courts or carnage on the highway.

If we believe that the only wisdom is that which comes from our elected government or journalists - apathy has won. There is nothing in the world more damaging than good people encouraged to do nothing and actually listening to that advice.

One thing has become completely predictable - the mantra of "stop asking questions". What's up with that?

Line-ups New Energy? What's Important?

iPhone 4 HERE
AHL Hockey
Justin Bieber
Future Shop Sale
To see Kate's wedding dress

Rolling Stones
Playoffs NFL
Playoffs Basketball

Lineups to VOTE? Sleeping overnight outside your polling station? Pushing people to get to the ballot box first? Pre-order your ballot months in advance? Getting a family member to wait in line for you - so you can be first to vote? 42% did not VOTE

Pretty sad isn't it.

New Energy

It's all about the Economy Stupid!

Stephen Harper says to Canadians - the election is only about the economy.

Stephen Harper and the Conservatives found in contempt of Parliament - Harper says Canadians don't care about that. It's all about the economy!

Stephen Harper has lied and lied to provinces, interest groups, and individuals. Harper thinks Canadians don't care about this. It's all about the economy!

Cabinet Minister's caught lying - misleading - cheating. Harper says that's not what Canadians worry about. It's all about the economy!

Harper's office employs criminals - turns the RCMP upside down - and allows ethnic profiling for votes. Harper says Canadians do not consider this a priority. It's all about the economy!

Citizens of Canada are routinely thrown out of Harper election (public) events and routinely roughed up at G-8 - like a third world dictatorship. Harper says Canadians really don't mind these distractions. It's all about the economy!

Students at a University have a special ballot and Harper goons first try to stop it (apparently physically) and then protest the vote to Elections Canada - that coincidentally is the same body they ignore and then break the law with "unique" election financing. Harper believes these are not problems Canadians have to be concerned about. It's all about the economy!

An election is called and the first thing Harper establishes is a question limit per day for the media. He ignores the tenets of democracy and counts on - we - the people accepting this obvious display of dictatorship. It's all about the economy!

What do you honestly think this man might do with a majority? It's all about the economy!

Gutting of public service? - Probable
Gutting of universal health care? - Probable
Gutting of Canadian values? - Likely
Elimination of CBC? Right up on the list
Freedoms gone or twisted to suit his personal religious beliefs? I will predict that
Patronage appointments? Completely
Prisons and children? Full and build as you go - regardless of cost
Wars? Yes we will be shoulder to shoulder with the USA in all military conflicts
Americanization? Absolutely - they will essentially own us
Environment? What environment

There is a reason this extreme right-wing fanatic has been rejected by Canadians - there is a reason we have not given him a majority.

It's not about the economy!

Do you have an opinion? Politicians need you to shut up!

Sue's Blog wanted to delve further into the House of Assembly today - particularly the new buzz word "cluster".

That and further discussion on the Lower Churchill fiasco and the bad Peter Kiewit joke will have to wait a day while I issue the following warning to the public.

If you have an opinion on a politician or a particular political party and you express that opinion publicly you must appreciate the following:

Not only do politicians listen to Open Line programs but they record and transcribe them as well. Next they identify the individual expressing the opinion and depending on the persons commentary - you are marked.

Politicians and their zealous supporters will hack your facebook account, hack your blog, hack twitter, set up pages under your name and generally violate your privacy. Worse - certain politicians will attempt to impact your employment and try to have your opinions suppressed.

With respect to the VOCM list of talk shows - while informative to the general public and a great place to get issues out and debated - politicians will mark you if they feel you are impacting in any way whatsoever the message they wish to deliver.

It is fine for Bill Rowe to suggest to the caller that there are no punches pulled - however Mr. Rowe must appreciate that while listeners and callers to his program are great contributors and supporters - and in fact generate good advertising dollars - they may find themselves subject to partisan political intrusion into their private and professional lives.

In our political environment and the strong-arm tactics used by those in power - it is important that callers know that their lives may be very negatively impacted by the choice to participate publicly.

Since my blog was resurrected in January of this year - I have had all my online social media accounts hacked. I have had threatening anonymous comments to my blog. I have experienced attempts by politicians through several people to undermine my employment. This of course was also the case when I was an active and regular contributor on talk shows both on CBC and VOCM.

The latest came from a "opaline darwin" making me the administrator of a facebook page. Interesting choice of name they used and certainly is one more confirmation that evolution needs some help.

You have all heard talks of whistle blower protection in the past - where employees of government or government agencies should be protected if they reveal information of significant importance to the public and government programs. We have heard that teachers, nurses, and other professionals employed by government are "frightened for their jobs" if they speak publicly. This includes information that is of importance to public health and safety.

Unfortunately - the person working in the private sector, or those running a small to medium size Newfoundland and Labrador business are also under constant professional threat if they participate in public debate where politicians or their parties are being critiqued.

So what do we do? The easiest thing is to shut-up, go away, mind your own affairs, and learn that if you want to be successful in your personal life - grab on to and promote those in power. Change your political stripe to whichever party is in power. Praise don't criticize government or big business. Call talk shows to congratulate whatever Minister of the day is making some announcement or another. Praise the media and the host of the program you are talking to while saying how great a job the government is doing.

The other option is to speak openly about it and tell our politicians that this behavior will not be tolerated and learn once again to protect our freedom of speech. Protect one another and our right to express an opinion and demonstrate loudly when political hacks call a program to personally attack or threaten a genuine caller.

In our past there have been two great travesties:

1. The giveaway of all our natural resources - while everybody stayed silent to protect their own interests.

2. The Mount Cashel affair and the associated atrocities perpetrated on generations of  innocent children while everybody stayed silent to protect their church, priest and in some cases politicians and their own interests.

Newfoundland and Labrador is one tenth of what we could be today because the pride has been beaten out of us both figuratively and literally.

The fighting Newfoundlander and Labradorian has been told to shut-up - tow the party line - listen to your leaders - and do not object.

You really think this is a mature and sustainable democracy? Do you really believe that those in power are not using that power to silence critics?

Do you remember when myself and Ed Hollett were chastised publicly by Premier Danny Williams for daring to challenge things like the fibre-optic disaster? What do you believe this does to a person working in the private sector. Has the Premier not just said to every potential employer and business opportunity out there - to avoid these people?

If a project such as the Lower Churchill can be argued economically and socially as a good project for us the people - then these tactics would not be required to sell it. It is the largest red flag that anyone could plant in front of you - the voting public. It is telling you that critics have real points to make and that something stinks.

The talk show hosts will not lose their jobs and will forever be able to continue on in private life without a blemish. They also have the power of the microphone. Callers - however - who criticize government policy or a big resource deal should really understand that until the public starts to protect the right to speak without enduring unwarranted and damaging punishment from those they criticize - they should hold their tongue and understand the consequences.



Look around you and see who is sitting on boards of crown agencies or in high profile positions within government. How do you think they got there?

For those of you who do call the talk shows - how many times have you heard your neighbours and friends say you should get on and talk about that - while they refuse to do the same? Or they might say - you are good at that - and I can't do it - you know my job and all.

If we do not change this culture of essentially forced silence - we will lose whatever future might have been for our children and grandchildren.

What way are we going to have it? What will we accept as people? If you are one of those involved in these negative partisan activities - shame on you - you are hurting the future of your own children.

To the politicians - our "leaders" - what a disgrace you are - particularly when you let a colleague engage in such backward behavior while you sit by like the gang of a bully and do and say nothing while allowing tax dollars to pay for some of these activities.

If we don't find the guts of our codfish - we will either sink to the bottom or be pecked into oblivion by a seagull standing by like the opportunistic feeder of the dregs.

Let them eat Cake says Fabian Manning - OR crumbs

APATHY IN POLITICS - FABIAN SUPPORTS EQUALIZATION CHANGES and  LIES COSTING US BILLIONS

 

 

    

 

    

WHAT IS HIS PUNISHMENT - A SENATE SEAT AND THE ADORATION OF NEWFOUNDLANDERS AND LABRADORIANS. 

   WHAT IS A COD AFTER A SEAL FEAST? GUTLESS

Full story in today's Telegram