04:03 - 12.05.07
Scapegoats
I'm feeling a bit confused based on the news reports today. A lot more contradictory information which seems to indicate that someone isn't being truthful. Or maybe there is more than one truth in the matter. For example, I read this report on digital piracy in 2005 produced for the Motion Picture Association of America. Even though Canada was included in the study our country didn't even rate a place on the bar graphs produced to show where most of the theft was occurring. Warner Brothers has declared that they are withholding preview screening from Canada because they believe some of our citizens are responsible for 70% of all movie piracy occurring world wide. I got honours in math through school and I can't reconcile the differences in the math between the two reports. However, I can't recall any preview screenings of any of their movies in this city so it's all a bit phyrric anyway. I wonder if Ms Rowling knows that her child readers in Canada are being punished for adult behaviour.
Next up was the clutch of news stories that relate to the economic boom in this province. First there are the reports that many people are leaving the province because the cost of living is too high for them to survive on their wages - even with two adults working. Then there are the reports of rents being doubled and citizens losing their housing. Next up is the report that there were many full time jobs disappearing - a downturn in the economy. The comment in the report cites a shrinking workforce but the truth is there are less jobs available, plain and simple. One of the postings I received today offered the choice of three jobs - all located in Ontario. Last year at this time I was receiving 30 to 40 postings per email all located in this city. And then there is the information presented that our province's major industry - oil and gas - has only 100 out of 850 rigs actually drilling for oil right now. Even adjusting for spring breakup that is a 40% decline from this time last year. So why then, are the elected officials fast tracking the paperwork of immigrants to fill those same jobs that apparently aren't paying the citizens already here enough to survive on financially. How will someone with less knowledge of survival in Canadian society do any better on those wages. And why is the provincial government offloading the cost of living problems onto landlords and tenants, and tax-payers. Shouldn't the companies who are exploting their workers be told to pay proper wages instead?
And then there is the federal governments' jekyll and hyde performance when it comes to applying the legislation they themselves have often been key in enacting. In addition, the promise for a more civil and open parliament isn't even atttempted anymore.
Maybe it's an astrological aspect I've missed or maybe it's just a test. Maybe if I go to sleep I'll wake up and realize it was all just a bad dream. One can only hope, eh dear diary?
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