2018 - shiny and new - filled with dirt and betrayal

2018 will be an interesting year. In some ways it's already been that.

I look forward to new challenges and some open discussion about the leadership of our Province and the lengths to which some politicians will go to cover-up their dirt.

Sometimes - we all go through times of muted thought. Sometimes we try to protect innocent people from political carnage - only to find out they too are up to their necks in it.

In Newfoundland and Labrador - getting perks from politicians means you have to do some work for them. This is the kind of work that they want to keep their hands clean while at the same time entrap (maybe should use a different word) those doing their dastardly deeds.

The perks can range from contracts to recognition of some sort. In each case it is something that the person they use - wants very badly.

Friend - 1 : a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another person. Merriam Webster's Dictionary

This is always the most difficult. 

In life you have to trust sometime - but as we get older we know that trust is usually broken as lobsters crawl up that barrel. 

Special friends - those who have been a part of your life for period of time - possess the ability to hurt you - if you let them. Sadly this is also a learned lesson. 

There are those who remain - as few as that may be - and they are in for the long haul. 

It is however a fascinating study of human nature - so to speak. 

So this year shall be the year of exploring such individuals. The politicians will be easy. Others more difficult - and others will be litigation. 

There are difficult subject areas to be explored. 

1. Opioids and Addiction - and the real human fall-out for innocents and their families,
2. Muskrat Falls - how to keep the ball rolling even after it has been deemed a "boondoggle" 
3. How to get a politician to fall in line
4. The Justice system and how it continues to be corrupt on so many levels
5. How politicians get others to do their bidding - on the dirty stuff
6. The Me Too phenomenon and what the Liberals might need to clean up
7. On the way to becoming the Premier and staying there
8. Could some of the tragic murders in our province been avoided and the fall guy or gal
9. Conflicts of Interest and how they are effectively covered-up
10. The political choices we have and whether a new choice is needed  

Then there are surprises - those who you started off distrusting - actually proving to be trustworthy.

Be cautious of who is holding your quarters because as soon as they get four quarters they will change them for a dollar.      

Alexis A. Davis

the A to Z Ancestry DNA in NL politics

Let's review why we end up with governments we end up despising. Unfortunately by the time that occurs the damage has been done.

The first of this series looks at the "lifelong" party faithful.

1. Liberal Tory DNA

About 25% of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are genetically linked to one party or another. You can diagnose this condition without sending away for a test,
a) yours is a house that 1 party can rely on for life to place political signs on the lawn, in the windows, or across your garage door,
b) you have been card carrying member of "your" party for life,
c) the zealot syndrome - if you do not openly embrace even the most ludicrous ideas - without critique, question, or second thought you don't have it,
d) you find yourself plotting to undermine a person who is not with "your" party without logical reason for doing so,
e) you will disown a family member before you disown "your" party,
f) your ancestry is defined by a political party,
g) you willingly donate to "your" party regardless of what they are offering or not offering,
h) if an MHA from "your" party leaves for reasons of ideological choice on an issue - particularly in the proper representation of their constituents, the MHA - not "your" party - is guilty of treason,
i) you plan a political coming out party for your child or grandchild,
j) you believe that political parties in NL are ideologically different,
k) you believe it's a "your turn" kind of system where you wait it out knowing that "your turn" is coming,
l) you are willing to present your body at a party demonstration or event to up the headcount,
m) if you don't like "your" party's leader - you will choose not to vote - instead of looking at somebody else,
m) you don't mind if "your" party MHA does not read legislation before voting on it,
n) you phone talk-shows with speaking notes - provided by a paid staffer,
o) you treat politics like the World Wrestling Federation,
p) you assume critics of your party's position are from another party - naysayers - conspiracy theorists,
q) you believe question period in the House of Assembly is for name calling and ridicule,
r) you believe in political messiahs
s) you try to stand next to a politician from "your" party to take a much desired selfie,
t) you hang a photo of "your" party's leader/s on your wall,
u) you look for online "question of the day" and press the answer as many times as you can,
v) you plan your summer vacation around a politicians visit to your communities garden party,
w) you believe "your" party is never wrong just always fixing another party's mess,
x) you block opponents to "your" party on Twitter,
y) you attempt to get "your" party MHA's to friend you on Facebook,
z) you think this list has been established by the "other" party.

If you can relate to 50% or more of these traits - you need to rethink before our province is extinct.  

Next up - the corporate party swingers...