Dealing with the cards in hand..........

Well I was going to take a deeper look into what makes a leader, but right now I'm dealing with other issues. A family member in the hospital, and being there to help in any way I can. That does kind of point to something a leader should possess, that being able to respond to a crisis at hand, willing to pull up there sleeves and help and being able to change direction in a moment's notice to help.

The election is coming soon and this event has made me think as to which leader in our pit of choices would actually be able to do this. Not only do it, but with compassion and grace and still carry on afterwards and changing direction once again. Who is best able to put together a team of people who can work together and get things done. Who can best work with the others within the other parties. Plans are not written in stone....... a leader must be flexible enough to be able to respond or adjust.

Quite frankly once I started looking at this issue I really doubt Stephen Harper as a leader. He called his government dysfunctional, he couldn't get it to work. How much of that is actually a reflection of him and not what he has to work with?

I will continue to ponder this leadership topic and am more than willing to share my thoughts on it. The election is only one week away. To close to completely investigate it fully. I encourage everyone to go and vote their conscience. What can you really live with for four more years.

There is a small niggly part of me that swears this election was called in order to announce a partnership between the Republicans of the States and the Conservatives of Canada. Like I said it kind of twittering away there somewhere inside of me. I personally don't see this happening but I'll wouldn't be surprised.


Post Scriptum........ Ok so I was just glimpsing over some news and this is the one thing that is bugging me. Stephen Harper is going on to say the Canadian Banking industry is not in crisis. I don't ever remember anyone saying it was! I can imagine people are kind of skiddish, but to think that since so much of Canada's investments as far as jobs and new investments come from outside of Canada than how in the world does he not think the banking fiasco does not effect Canada. Again I prove my point that he is delusional. How can he not connect the dots.

The Stephens - you have some 'splaining to do!!!

So I picked up a Metronews this morning after dropping my child off at school and I came across this article, which I thought was pretty funny and so timely.

Here's a little excerpt to bring you up to speed.

What campaign attack ads need is a commentary track, just like the ones that come on DVDs and Blu-Ray discs, except these commentaries would tell you what the people who made the ads are really thinking.

from Metronews, Mike Tennant

Here's the thing - the attack ads are a strategy that Harper actually brought in let's not forget that. They changed the legislations saying that they could do whatever they wanted. Damn to the standards council! But Mike does have a point about the intention behind the ads. However, there is one minor thing he left out. Although they are attacks ads there is always some grain of truth there. The onus is on us the voters to uncover the truth behind those headlines.

It's nice they give us these pointers and these markers to look into, but really whose got the freaking time. Instead, let's forgo all the crap that's coming at us and start looking at those topics that personally effect us. Aside from just looking how things just effect us personally we than need to take into account the bigger picture. For instance, I may not live in Alberta, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't be concerned of all the Multi-National entities coming in and carving up the land and not taking into consideration the environment. Plus all the jobs that go to non-canadians. Which quite frankly I find absolutely hilarious and short sighted on Harpers' part.

Let's not forget the current conservative government is in the midst of making a trade agreement with the European Union which implies that more and more of this will be happening. Let's also not forget Harper has a way of giving corporations many tax breaks. So ultimately if you look down the road, in 20-30 years we will be left with and even huger mess to clean up. Harper is in fact going to sell out Canada, bankrupt the government or worse!! He doesn't have the best interest of working Canadians in mind. As a country we can not survive alone on just importing everything and providing service. It's seriously an unbalanced approach.

Our country CANADA is a great country!! Is worth more than just a little thought about putting an X next to someone's name and making them responsible for our future. CANADIANS need to stand up and make sure our voices are heard at election time and beyond.

The ultimate question should be - What kind of CANADA do you want to live in?????

A new revelation! HA!

So last night for some unknown reason I started to think back to when this election was called and why. Just exactly why are we having this election right now?????? And than I remembered ....... oh yeah it's because Harper said parliament was dysfunctional. Yeah that's right dysfunctional! So than I started thinking what would make parliament not dysfunctional? Which brought me back to leadership. Yup, leadership.

A good leader works with what he has. If they are truly a good leader than their leadership qualities would transcend and make right what is dysfunctional. And to truly make it functional would mean to work with all the strengths within the personalities that is set before you. So that brings me to this my final question.

Is Stephen Harper really leadership material, when he must disband parliament in order to make it work for him. Who's he really looking out for?

P.S. Ok I just want to mention or better yet add .......... that by working with the personalities set before you I mean to cross party lines and to get the entire government working together. I am by no means suggesting he rely soley on his own Conservative members whom seem to continually F*** things up!

Imagine ....... the members of parliament working together to make this a better country together. Hmmmm.... sounds like cooperation. Maybe it's just a pipe dream of mine!!!

Election food for thought

I wouldn't normally spend so much time on politics, but of course there is an election on and I just spent a little bit of time watching some CBC commentary on what's up on the political front today. I found it kind of interesting that they happen to hit on the topic of election behavior which is what I posted on just the other day. Or maybe that was today, but I did write it a few days ago before the election was officially announced.

So what did happen today.......... well apparently the Harper's conservative accidently (yeah right!) posted an unflattering flash page on their website. I find these kind of tactics and behavior ridiculous. One really has to wonder about the values and judgement used. Cyber-bullying is no better than any other kind of bullying. It's something that has been quite a topic in the mainstream world.

Now just the other day there was a court case of one gentleman writing an email regarding another person. He only sent it to one other person, but that other person sent it on to some others and the person who sent the original ended up in court for defamation. The guy ended up having to pay $5000 to the injured party.

Now here's my point, if the political parties were fined for every time they inappropriately represented someone else I think that would go a long way in restoring some respect within the government. Change needs to happen in this country and I'm sad if we would have to actually have to spend time having to relearn behaviors especially at such a level.

This brings me to the issue that behaviors are learned and as a government who is not only representatives of the general population they are also leaders which we look to for leadership. Now what kind of leadership do we have if they feel it necessary to become bottom feeders and in turn distract the general public from the real issues. As representatives who I think would strive not only to represent the voting population should also set the example for the future voters....... and these are the same at risk individuals who are very impressionable in emulating others.

So again, shame on the leaders who continually use the bottom feeder tactics. What exactly is it that you say to your children, Stephen Harper when one of your children ask or better yet behave in the same way. Nothing like sending mixed messages to our children. Ultimately isn't everything we do a legacy that we leave for the future generations? Is this the type of legacy you really want to leave?

Now let's stick to the issues!!

So how does the American election affect Canada?

That's a big topic and for those of you who thinks it doesn't affect us you're living in your own little reality. First let's take our present Prime Ministers relationship with the US leader. On the surface it may seem like there isn't really that much going on there... passing acquaintances but underneath it all, there is nothing but the interest in Oil that is the connecting factor.

Yup that's right I said the bad word Oil and everything the republicans do is tied to Oil. One is because many of them have personal interest and wealth in the Oil industry. Now to say the industry includes only oil is a bit deceiving there are other industries and interests involved here. Like the production of ethanol for the new alternative fuel, but ultimately it's self interest and not interest for the quality of life for americans.

Here's my take on this and it's only my take...... I go on what my instincts and intuition tell me.

Alberta is in a way the Canadian Texas with all it's Oil producing fields and it's attitude. The PM really doesn't give a hoot about all Canadians, but mostly what will benefit Alberta in the long run. Now I can't really blame any particular PM that would come from any other province especially since the usual experience is we only ever have PMs that come from Quebec. (which in itself is a bit suspect and suspicious, but a little bit more understandable for many reasons).

I do find it a little suspicious that Harper of all times has chosen now, right now an October election. An election that will take place before the American election. Historically in Canada we don't have long huge drawn out campaigns, but there is something inside me that says there is more to this election than meets the eye. What exactly this is I can only take a guess.

There is one thing I'm grateful for and that is there haven't been any attack ads. Attack ads on everything from a person's character to their ability of as a leader. These types of ads are an American phenomenon. Canadians are generally kinder and more supportive hence our reputation as a Peace loving country and peacekeepers and makers. The basic thing to this is...... we spend so much time teaching our children about bullying and how not to be a bully or how to deal with a bully. Yet these types of ads do nothing but perpetuate that very kind of behaviour.

Now if I'm not mistaken we are talking about adults here, adults that are educated, adults who claim they have ideals, morals and values. Plus I'm sure these adults deal with teaching these very same issues to their children. So when if ever has it been considered alright to perpetuate the very same behaviour and attitudes we don't want to see. Our leaders need to be leaders and although this may seem like the tiniest smallest thing they need to worry about it's this very kind of example they need to set. We are all watching!!!! Don't forget it.

In fact to point out an example, when Stephen Dion was elected the Conservatives started a campaign discrediting him based on out of context speeches. All I can say is shame on the conservatives. Now on the other hand have you noticed the newest ads put out by the Conservatives, they do not slam anyone in fact they qualify no one but their leader and that's how it should be. (okay so I spoke to soon and now since the election is officially underway the mudslinging is about to begin, but as long as they stick to their records and not their characters are we still one step ahead? Hmmmmmm..........?????)

Now back to how the US election affects us. The thing is if you have been watching any of the campaign unfolding in front of our eyes you have to remember we get a very different perspective the outsider's view that isn't skewed drastically to sway us to see just one side. We actually get to see things from the broader perspective, we get to look at the larger picture. And if it wasn't for Youtube and other social networking sites, the good US citizens too may only be getting a specific view. With all these new things available to them they get to take in the broader perspective if they want. If they're interested.

So in the larger perspective in my opinion you have Obama who I believe and feel that he is completely aware the entire world is watching. As a fairly new political player with a short history of experience he has taken on a very experienced running mate.

McCain on the other hand although maybe more experienced by his years of service has chosen a relatively inexperienced running mate and a female to boot. My gut is telling me he is pandering to get voters he might not otherwise get. Not only that but to go after more Oil in Alaska that is in a national reserve to boot. Yup there is the Oil connection again. Now Palin may be a bit of a spitfire and the token female, but truthfully as a VP would mostly be ineffective not only to the country but in some ways not with Alaska's best interest at heart.

With Canada situated in the middle between Alaska and the rest of the US it will definitely affect the Northern environment and trickling down to the rest of Canada. Now either way the election goes Canadians are looking at our trade agreements being under scrutiny. And rightfully so, the North American Free Trade Agreement has never in any way or form ever been beneficial to Canadians, in fact in many ways it has been detrimental in the loss of manufacturing jobs and many other issues. These agreements have basically taken the spotlight off the service to citizens and placed the service squarely on private enterprise. There is no balance. So it is no wonder that the rich get richer while the majority is forgotten. Again personal interest on part of the government. Plus it is no wonder that the Free Trade agreement was one that was penned and signed by both Republican and Conservatives.

If you just look at the pattern of how the economy does while each perspective party is in power both here and in the United States, what would you rather have. You would think that if a Conservative or Republican party were truly conservative in their ways the money wouldn't be going out the window in droves. And each and every time it's always the Liberals and Democrats that come in to reset the economy and bring it back into balance. Now you would think with a record like that the choice would be obvious. Republicans/Conservatives in my view are equal to Enron's executive corruption. Now I'm not saying that corruption does not happen within the Liberal/Democratic realm cause well that would be someone with there head in the sand, but you really can't fault a government that creates jobs and reduces the debt and takes care of the people who voted them in.