The WoodLawn Review

The good citizens of Nova Scotia really need to ensure the heads of their politcians are on straight or someone is in need of a good lesson in political timing.

The Globe and Mail has published an article on the matter of Nova Scotia’s Premier Rodney MacDonald’s request for an “injection of infrastructure funding needed in the province as economy falters“.  Could the Honorable Mr. MacDonald have worse political timing….ever?!

To be blunt, Nova Scotia missed their chance.  You could have used the Commonwealth Games to leverage Ottawa for tons of cash, but no YOU BLEW IT. 

Lets review why……

Reason 1

Rodney McDonald hopes to pry funds from the Federal Government because his province’s economy is on the ropes.  In case Rodney does not realize, all of Canada, the world no less, is currently experiencing economic troubles.  So the line is long for hand outs. 

Lets look at Canada’s situation a little more closely and Nova Scotia within it. 

Gaining the most press are the folks effected by the auto industry debacle.  The province of Ontario has the potential to experience thousands of job loses.  In addition, the west is seeing a considerable slow down as the price of oil and oil demand weakens, and we cannot leave out the lumber industry as Canadians read about closures of mills on a regular basis.  Just a few examples of what is effecting Canada.  Unfortunately, Nova Scotia’s woes fall a little farther down the list.  Which brings us to Reason 2.

Reason 2

Our government is in complete dissarray (politely speaking).  As this article is being written a couple of Tory Staffers, after pretending to act as spontaneous supporters outside of Rideau Hall,  are putting chains on the doors of Parliament.  Therefore, until January 29th of 2009 the bank is closed.  To further delay any ”injection”, comes the issue of whether any Tory budget will survive.  Should it be defeated, Canada will have to wait for the  ’Coalition’ to transition into power followed by a new budget.  On bright side, Nova Scotia may not need the money as the economic downturn may be over by the time Canada’s parliamentry mess is cleaned up. 

Reason 3

Nova Scotia is relegated second-tier player when it comes to political influence.  No matter how much support Rodney has pledged to Mr. Harper in the past, his province will be pushed to the way side as the more important provinces [see votes] are spoiled.  Ontario will have to be dealt with first and now that Mr. Harper has ‘pissed off’ Quebec, lots of funds will have to go their way.  Mr MacDonald, do not hold your breath for money.

Commonwealth Games…Lost political capital.

Now lets look back a couple of years.  Stephane Dion is coming fresh off his win at the Liberal Leadership convention, election talk is swirling, and Stephen Harper has yet to completely upset parliament.  So Mr. Harper is in a position to spread some wealth just in case an election is called.  Now factor in Halifax is poised to represent Canada on a global stage.  How could a Prime Minister politically resist ponying up money for such a good cause.

Back in Nova Scotia confusion is at a fevered pitch as to whether they can afford the Commonwealth Games.  It is clear HRM (Halifax Regional Municipality) will need some serious cash to deal with infrastructure and improvements for the Games.  One could even argue other parts of the province will be in need of improvement dollars as well.  Instead of using the advantage they were given, Nova Scotia gives up completely on the games without putting any type of real pressure on Ottawa.  

Hear is the key point. At the time, no one else has their hands out!!  The economy was is good shape.  No other political priorities existed trumping the ‘Games’.

Seems as though those “games” really could have been a nice hedge to looming economic times.  If a politician could not see the great opportunity the Commonweath Games provided, what else will he miss.

Thanks to an Obma victory, the wall may be cracking in the racial divide inhabiting the US.  By no means has the wall fallen, but clearly the country has taken a few good swings at starting some cracks. 

If race is a dwindling issue, who will society aim their prejudice energy at?  Are Gays and Lesbians the next group to be at the bottom of the ladder.  A great deal has been made with California’s victorious Prop 8, but we must not lose sight similar legislation was successful in 2 other states.   In addition, voters were asked to vote on similar legislation in the 2004 election.  All successful.

Such ignorance by caucasions should not be a surprise to anyone.  Given the history of the caucasion; hate, prejudice and neglect has been a staple.  The continuation of this behaviour by minorities can be described as nothing more than a shame.

Jews, Blacks (African American), and any other minority have at one time or another has been treated in the most inhumane manner imaginable.  Concentration Camps, Slavery, The Crusades, being the ‘new’ people as a result of immigration, all of these groups know what it is like to be treated with hate.  So why project that hate to someone else when you have known it in its worst form?

“For his wife Selma, 87, as for many Jewish Americans, the ties to the Democratic party were also umbilical. Yet she did not like the idea of an African American president…”     -guardian.co.uk

Selma’s remarks may not longer hold true, as Florida and othe states ushered in the Obama era.  Unfortunately a ‘great schelp’ is not on the horizon for the Gay/lesbian movement. 

In a twisted sign of togetherness, no matter the race, color, or religion,  the [ignorant] majority of society can all agree to hate homesexuals.   How can anyone argue this point.  Society sees them as different.  Their behaviours effect no one but themselves, but just as skin color, sex, and religion has been enough to create divisions, now who a person loves is grounds for hate.  

Shame on those who had to sit at the back of the bus.  Shame on those who have relatives with marks on their arms from WWII.   Learn from the your dark experiences in your history and remember how it felt.

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It would seem those who make up the paranoid and ignorant demographic of the ‘excited’ States are leading the charge of the insane.

FORT WORTH — Allan Craig is scared for the country and for himself.

So less than 48 hours after Democrat Barack Obama was elected president, Craig went out to buy an M-4 rifle.

“It’s for protection,” the 57-year-old funeral director from Weatherford said. “I’m fearful for our country. I think there will be violence. People want to go in and take over this country .?.?. trying to destroy America.

“I will protect myself and my family.”

Craig is part of a wave of people nationwide who, even before the election, began stocking up on guns and ammunition amid fear that Obama might put new gun restrictions in place after he takes office Jan. 20.

Obama has said he respects the constitutional right to bear arms but said last year that he wants to restore the ban on assault weapons.

The buyers are increasing demand for guns and ammo, swamping stores and causing prices to rise.

Law enforcement officials and Obama supporters say fears about unprovoked violence against Americans, from outside and within, are overblown. And they definitely see no legitimate need for people to rush out and buy weapons.

“People have had all this time to buy whatever they wanted since the assault-weapons ban expired,” said Tarrant County Constable Sergio DeLeon, an Obama supporter. “There’s no legislation in place prohibiting them from that. I think a lot of fear has been built up by right-wing radio.

“There’s nothing to suggest that Barack Obama and the new administration would generate any cause for security concerns for the people of this country.”

Craig said he’s heard all that and still wants to stock up, and he expects to have a lot of company from others unhappy with the results of the election. “I’m in a state of mourning for our country,” Craig said.  Cont’d–>

If anything, the campaign created more ignorance within  the Republican base.  The “terror” of Socialism has clearly stuck with some folks.  In an attempt to come across as knowledgeable about the past in the hopes of pointing out our mistake, some Moms for Sarah Palin are evoking the specter of Jimmy Carter.  In a ironic twist, the example cited below simply gives credence to the election of President Obama.

moms4palin explains her stance with a story from her childhood:

I was a kid when JImmy Carter was in office, but I remember a few things. I remember seeing hostages on the news and hearing Walter Cronkite tick off the days they had been in captivity. I didn’t understand much then, but I knew there were people who didn’t like us… and they were winning. I remember my parents constantly telling me what we couldn’t afford. Vacations. Bicycles. New clothes. I remember how excited my father was when Ronald Reagan was elected. I could tell he expected better days. He was right.

After reading this excerpt, many significant points should be glaringly ironic when compared to the situation of today.

1) “I remember seeing hostages on the news and hearing Walter Cronkite tick off the days they had been in captivity”

…..As the war in Iraq went on, did we not see Americans held as hostages and even executed on the internet?

2) “I didn’t understand much then, but I knew there were people who didn’t like us… and they were winning“

…..In the last 8 years America has seen its approval rating around the world at a an all-time low.  The US has been historically unsuccessful in Afghanistan and Iraq, even if Elizabeth Hasselbeck keeps claiming the ’surge’ worked.

3) “I remember my parents constantly telling me what we couldn’t afford. Vacations. Bicycles. New clothes.”

….As corruption and mismanagement of the economy occurred over the last 8 years combined with high oil prices, approximately 1 million jobs have been lost in 2008 alone, many citizens certainly will not be able afford vacations or bicycles….oh and don’t forget mortgages.

4) “I remember how excited my father was when Ronald Reagan was elected. I could tell he expected better days. He was right.”

…..With record turnout, most notably from younger voters and minorities, clearly a large part of America is excited and emboldened about the election of President Obama and “they are right”.

Just as Sarah Palin was only effective when spewing scripted talking points, the Mom for Palin cannot articulate their point past the basic campaign fodder.

The dust has settled and history has been made.  To the demise of progress, groups still exist who do not understand the concepts of inclusion and respect for others.  ‘Moms for Sarah Palin’ can be described as one of the above.  Often referred to as a demographic, ’Moms for Palin’ may in fact ultimately mobilize in one form or another.

Sarah Palin has become the ‘Hillary Clinton’ to conservative, Christian, white female, lower to middleclass voters.  This demographic feels they can relate to Sarah Palin as those liberal women rally around Hillary.

It makes me physically sick to see Barack HUSSEIN Obama stand in front of a row of American flags for which all of the men in my family have fought for, and continue to fight for. He has not ever been proud of old glory, and will do everything in his power to destroy her prestige. http://moms4sarahpalin.blogspot.com/

As if the alter ego of a Hilary supporter, the ‘mom for Sarah Palin’ is paranoid about the future and the supposed direction the Socicalist Obama is going to take this country.  She is a woman who feels the US is in Iraq to ‘take the fight to the enemy’, neglecting to realize Al Qaida did not mobilize in Iraq until after the US entered.  The Sarah Palin Mom sees the tragic events of November 5th (the election) as futher proof we are in the process of End of Days.  Somehow the Mom for Sarah Palin feels the perspective VP Candidate exemplified their values.

Prepare to meet Al Quaeda on American soil, girls. We have taken the fight to other lands in an effort to protect America.http://moms4sarahpalin.blogspot.com/

Fortunately for the Obama campaign and America, Sarah Palin conjures the same reaction within the Democratic base as Hilary does within the Republican base.  The Sarah Palin effect even carried an additional bonus.  Political pundits will argue her presence motivated and swayed the undecided voter; out of her favour and toward the Obama camp.

To the benefit of the country, the Mom for Sarah Palin has missed their opportunity to be a force in American politics.  They will most certainly be a fringe force, providing Sarah Palin herself a large enough audience to become very wealthy.  Can you smell book deal, speaking engagments, talk show appearances, clothing line and maybe even the “Sarah Palin: Hunt Socialist from a Helicopter” Alaskan tour.  

The 2008 campaign proved it has become apparent devisive tactics are far less effective. More attention needs to be paid to embracing a larger swath of voters.  Motivating your base only gets the candidate so far.  Four or eight years ago the Mom for Sarah Palin could have been a force much as the envangelicals were, thankfully times they are a changin.

America, you may not fully realize or comprehend the true magnitude of your election.  The choice of Barack Obama is not historic simply because he is a black man, historic because he is a man who creates hope.  Hope for you and hope for the rest for the world.  The world and America has not had a leader, in over a  generation,  who inspires hope as this man does.

In speaking to you as a Non-American, I can tell you the world has taken a large sigh of relief.  As you are often told, America represents the pinnacle of accomplishment and dreams.  Unfortunately, those images began to erode.  You have been taken down the wrong path, the true influence America had carried is gone.

Whether it is terrorism, trade or the economy, all these issues will be better served with the world behind you, rather then their back turned to you. Fortunately, in President Obama, you have a person the world will listen to.

The rebuilding will not be over night, but in much better condition today then yesterday.