September 5th, 2008 at 11:52 am

Aketch: that would only be the Americans who have watched the PC ads and think “that Steve Harper guy - seems like a nice fella - Prime Minister of Canada and still has time to play with his kids”

September 5th, 2008 at 12:02 pm

Dear Sir,
Are you speaking of democracy, or life?

“it provides luxuriant distractions that convolute the perceptions of those that dwell within its comfortable bosom…”

That sounds like life itself to me….

Under what regime would you feel free? We are, all of us, faced with the Sisyphean challenge of pushing that boulder up the hill every day, and then watching it roll down again. I’m not certain it has as much to do with democracy, as the human condition generally.

September 5th, 2008 at 12:06 pm

I think Obama is worth his words. I watched his speech. It stirred me deeply. He made me want to change aspects of my own life.

I think we can truly fail to recognize in ourselves how defeating and psychologically interminable it can be to live in fear all the time. It makes one want to sit at home, order a pizza and watch playboy all night. We’ve all lost something in the last 8 years. The idea that ‘democracy’ means something is probably the least and most basic of the things we’ve lost. 1998 can look like some kind of failed utopia compared to 2008.

Obama will do good. Positivity is the new dictum. Carry it with you into battle.

September 5th, 2008 at 12:21 pm

Well said Matt. I couldn’t agree with you more.

September 5th, 2008 at 12:25 pm

I hate elections in this country. Because of our politicians insistence on making the other guy look like the bad guy instead of getting anything done, it feels like I’ve been in the middle of a continuous campaign since the day I turned 18.

Of course, when they do decide to make a move on something, it always seems to be directed towards the one element of this country that will make me proud to be Canadian until the day I die: our arts and culture - well, lately anyway. I know the issue may not be as important as some others (environment, Afghanistan, etc), but it’s still irking me to no end to know they cut funding to not one, but two programs that allows bands and artists to tour the world (and promote Canada along the way!) just because one band is called Holy Fuck. I don’t know if it’s because it’s yet another attempt at censorship (Hello, bill C-10!) or because they just don’t like one band’s name, all I know is I’m almost crying at the idea that my tax dollars are being redirected to the Olympic torch relay without a true explanation. For the love of God, if you’re going to redirect it to the Olympics, make it go to the opening ceremonies - you know, potentially the only avenue some artists may be able to wing to get some international exposure in the next few years.

As I said, I know the issue is somewhat unimportant to the issues that will be focused on, but be lost without my background in the arts in general - and I’m fairly certain all the artists I’ve heard over four years of CBC Radio 3 podcasts at work share the same opinion as I do.

OK, I’m done for the time being. Hope that was articulate. I’m slightly pissed. :)

September 5th, 2008 at 12:48 pm

[quote comment="63944"]Chad Rawks:

Is that the official position of the Chad Kroeger Fan Club or are you just a renegade and disgruntled Nickleback fan? Enjoy the golf game - it’s not a real sport you know.[/quote]

Thank you for the chuckle ~ I needed it!

September 5th, 2008 at 12:53 pm

KET: I guess the quality of who you have to chose from is all relative. In the Yukon our Premier is a former heroin smuggler (not a good one either - he got caught). On the upside - we have an excellent drug plan in the Territory.

September 5th, 2008 at 12:55 pm

[quote comment="63938"]What will your reaction be WHEN McCain wins??

You’re kidding, right?

C’mon, you spend your entire existence preaching and humming your ideology to your liberal choir.

It’s so funny reading close minded opinions such as yours.

Actually, it’s not really funny; I feel sad for you. I mean think about your existence; sitting all day in your shitty apartment, scouring the internet for articles/opinions that support your own, and then pass these stories along to the lemmings. You get mad, upset, quickly insult (censor and delete) any and all that don’t adhere to your strict opinions. You eat bad food and smoke too much, have major mental issues, and still boo-hoo about your ex-wife. Pathetic.

You really should, I dunno, get laid once in awhile, smoke a joint… do something to unbunch your panties. You live in one of the most beautiful cities on the planet, but do you ever go outside? No. Do you have any real hobbies except for music and conserative bashing? No.

I’m going to have a beer, eat a hamburger and go play golf. You…. continue to sit at your computer, and wonder why life sucks so bad. Have a good day.[/quote]

Your existence must be so much fuller. Instead of taking a moment and forming meaningful opinions, you insult the most intimate and personal aspects of the blog. Who cares what he eats or how much he smokes? And the last I checked this is his own blog, where he sets his own limits on content, and if he wishes to write about his ex-wife, or his mental illness, or any other topic that blows his skirt up, it matters very, very, very, very little on what your reaction might be.

And if drinking beer, eating hamburgers, and playing golf are an example of a full life, then I am more than content to sit at my computer and eat macaroni.

September 5th, 2008 at 12:58 pm

[quote comment="63934"]Aketch: that would only be the Americans who have watched the PC ads and think “that Steve Harper guy - seems like a nice fella - Prime Minister of Canada and still has time to play with his kids”[/quote]
My favourite part of that commercial (which I hate with a passion but always seem to watch to the very end) is the awkward shot of Harper they close with. THAT’S the most likeable they could get him to appear? I’ll forgive him the sweater-vest and bad haircut (that just makes him seem folksy, I guess), but what the hell is with that creepy, leering smile? He looks like the kind of guy I’d keep away from small children.

September 5th, 2008 at 1:07 pm

[quote comment="63938"]I feel sad for you. I mean think about your existence[/quote]

Just a question Chad, why would you visit the site of an individual you obviously can’t stand, bash his work, his views, his personal life and basicly take cheap shots at that person? I mean you knock Matt for sitting at his computer, allthewhile as you yourself are typing this form a computer.
It just doesn’t make any sense to me.

The cool thing is that I know you’ve checked back to see how many comments and responses you’ve got as a result of your tirade because you are reading this right now.

And who needs to get a life?

September 5th, 2008 at 1:12 pm

Chad Rawks, give your fuckin thick head a shake for a quick sec will ya…

if you dont like what you read here, GET OFF THE FUCKING WEBSITE and get back to your pansy ass golf game…

AS IF you took the time to actually type that bullshit. note for next time: spend less time bashing mg and more time defending your political position, or are you like most conservatives whos mouths write cheques their asses cant and dont cash???

sheesh!

September 5th, 2008 at 1:25 pm

The guy has a right to his opinion. I am very open about my personal life, if he wants to take cheap shots then so be it. I’m sure thousands of people do it that don’t leave comments. This website isn’t something that I dedicate my time to because I have nothing better to do. It’s something I dedicate my time to because it’s something worth doing. It has, in truth, saved a life or two because of my openness about my illness, and for that alone what can the comments of one person matter?

September 5th, 2008 at 1:33 pm

Chad-

Who pissed in your Cheerios?

September 5th, 2008 at 1:39 pm

[quote comment="63956"][quote comment="63938"]I feel sad for you. I mean think about your existence[/quote]The cool thing is that I know you’ve checked back to see how many comments and responses you’ve got as a result of your tirade because you are reading this right now.

And who needs to get a life?[/quote]

Ha ha! Great point.

September 5th, 2008 at 1:53 pm

I should be free to go loopy, loopy, loopy inside this free country (freer continent, god bless)
I shouldn’t be called a radical when I say “Listen, bud, your system is shit
your freedom is a joke
and you’re not allowed to laugh at it
or they’ll cast diminutive arcana from the tome of their cabal
and you’ll find yourself suddenly very small and frightened.”
I’m called a madman when I laugh myself to tears.

I ask you your freedoms:
you have the freedom to try all the tasty treats from across God’s Good Earth
at the same grocery store, provided you have the stomach and/or money;
you have the freedom of the Playboy channel beamed straight to your TV,
to play golf with your coworkers and order pizza at 3:30 AM;
you have the freedom to speculate idly as to how hard your next master will whip you and with what,
and come the election can place your faith in a ballot of alms as a token of good faith;
you have the freedom to shoot guns at the wrong people and collect refunds on the bullet casings;
you have the freedom to defend your prejudices from the barbarian invasions;
you have the freedom to eat beef at every meal, because damn cows are a tasty animal.

All we ask is that you wax the shafts of plutocrats and keep believing in your God.

You wouldn’t do this if you had the choice, would you?
You wouldn’t get up and go into work tonight or tomorrow.
You wouldn’t be a clerk, a salesman, lawyer, fast-food employee,
stripper, soldier, factory worker, professor, farmer, miner,
martyr, machinist or masochist.

You dreamed too once.
You dreamed.

What
happened?

September 5th, 2008 at 1:56 pm

[quote comment="63973"]make your phone wring[/quote]

*ring

September 5th, 2008 at 2:02 pm

Great post Matt.

Over the past few years my opinion of democracy as practiced has diminished steadily. We have precious little power to affect the decisions of our elected representatives. I used to believe that a mixed member proportional representation electoral system (like Germany, where one branch of parliament is elected based on percentage of the vote and the other based on a first past the post riding system similar to ours), would be a victory for democracy, as our current system is highly undemocratic (36 per cent of the vote makes you prime minister). But I now have very little faith in democracy. Our politicians don’t answer to us, but rather to corporate lobby interests. Too much reform is needed and too little will to do so exists in Ottawa.

Aside from the lack of true representation, the political bickering and deadlock that has defined parliament for the past year is an absolute joke.

I might still push for the NDP in my riding, as the candidate has a good chance against the popular Liberal, but I might also vote for an outsider or refrain altogether.

September 5th, 2008 at 2:12 pm

[quote comment="63938"]What will your reaction be WHEN McCain wins??

You’re kidding, right?

C’mon, you spend your entire existence preaching and humming your ideology to your liberal choir.

It’s so funny reading close minded opinions such as yours.

Actually, it’s not really funny; I feel sad for you. I mean think about your existence; sitting all day in your shitty apartment, scouring the internet for articles/opinions that support your own, and then pass these stories along to the lemmings. You get mad, upset, quickly insult (censor and delete) any and all that don’t adhere to your strict opinions. You eat bad food and smoke too much, have major mental issues, and still boo-hoo about your ex-wife. Pathetic.
You really should, I dunno, get laid once in awhile, smoke a joint… do something to unbunch your panties. You live in one of the most beautiful cities on the planet, but do you ever go outside? No. Do you have any real hobbies except for music and conserative bashing? No.

I’m going to have a beer, eat a hamburger and go play golf. You…. continue to sit at your computer, and wonder why life sucks so bad. Have a good day.[/quote]

I have three words for that:
OH MY GOD…

I personally do have more of an affinity for people being open and honest about their feelings, thoughts and what is moving them than for those who find it a cool thing to abuse others via the internet because they don’t have to look them into the eye and otherwise were too much a coward to tell them right into the face.

I see Matt’s mild reaction and I pay lots of respect to his generosity as I wonder how this must hit him personally considering that it actually caused me a feeling of dismay and I wasn’t even aimed at.
It’s just such a degenerated, mean-spirited and hateful way of approaching another person obviously for this person simply having another view on certain issues.

September 5th, 2008 at 2:22 pm

[quote comment="63960"]The guy has a right to his opinion. I am very open about my personal life, if he wants to take cheap shots then so be it. I’m sure thousands of people do it that don’t leave comments. This website isn’t something that I dedicate my time to because I have nothing better to do. It’s something I dedicate my time to because it’s something worth doing. It has, in truth, saved a life or two because of my openness about my illness, and for that alone what can the comments of one person matter?[/quote]

There must be a faint glow around you today…you are a “good” man….water off a ducks’ back…

Today especially, I need to remember this…thank-you.

September 5th, 2008 at 2:29 pm

“It’s fine to point out the problems, and it’s fine to argue that they’re depressing and discouraging (because they are). However, dissent without taking up some action to remedy the defects you see is thoroughly destructive because it just leads people to apathy. Vote for the lesser of two evils, if that is your assessment of the candidates, but do vote (at least)!”
Very well said! It sucks and our limited choices suck but a person who is not willing to push to rectify the mistakes they see- in whatever capacity they are able- really has no right to bitch about the problem.

September 5th, 2008 at 2:38 pm

P. Martini:

The problem is that the political elite have engineered the system to reduce choice in elections (less so in Canada than in the US, but the argument still applies here). Both Republican and Democrat party insiders work hard to push independent and third party candidates off of ballots across the country.

If I choose not to vote, that is my response to my lack of true choice and it is as equally valid a political action as voting. It is my political choice.

September 5th, 2008 at 2:49 pm

[quote comment="63993"]There is no incentive to vote, even for the lesser of how many evils. The choices are so small, and the differences between them, at least in Canada, very little. The personal ideologies of the parties running in Canadian elections is inconsequential given the fact that both the Liberal and Conservative parties act in very similar ways.

Either you vote for the two parties that won’t work together long enough to effect any real change, or you throw your vote away on fringe parties.

So why vote at all?[/quote]

How do you actually cast a vote in Canada? Electronically (computer) or manually (election paper)?

September 5th, 2008 at 2:57 pm

I was having coffee with a friend the other day - he is an elder First Nations gentleman and has a very distinct, whispering, throaty way of talking. We were discussing the candidates:

” I dunno Smartie - “Prime Minister Jack Layton” sounds too much like “pre-mature ejaculation”. I hope he doesn’t win”.

Coffee came out my nose.

September 5th, 2008 at 3:04 pm

[quote comment="63997"]Election paper and a pencil[/quote]

Then go and cross the paper out. That will at least make your voice count unlike you weren’t just showing up at all. You will be included in the over-all election turnout then without having actually voted for a certain party. That’s real protest. People in the USA obviously do not have that chance.
I am seriously pondering this method myself with regards to the parlamentary elections in my country next year since i see myself confronted with a similar problem of feeling clearly misrepresented by the parties running for election.

September 5th, 2008 at 3:16 pm

[quote comment="64000"][quote comment="63997"]Election paper and a pencil[/quote]

Then go and cross the paper out. That will at least make your voice count unlike you weren’t just showing up at all. You will be included in the over-all election turnout then without having actually voted for a certain party. That’s real protest. People in the USA obviously do not have that chance.
I am seriously pondering this method myself with regards to the parlamentary elections in my country next year since i see myself confronted with a similar problem of feeling clearly misrepresented by the parties running for election.[/quote]

i have spoiled my vote (which is what they call it when you check off too many candidates or do anything other than use one simple X or check mark to make your choice..this includes frowney faces haha but my personal way of doing it is by crossing out the names of every single candidate) in every single federal and provincial election i have ever been eligible to vote for; it lets the government know that you feel there is no real “choice” between candidates..

and theres no way im just gonna settle and pick “the lesser of two evils”..

and believe it or not, they DO count the spoiled votes..my hope is that the number of spoiled gets larger every time an election rolls around…

September 5th, 2008 at 3:20 pm

KET: I loved your 1st comment that you left. Terrific anology for today’s state of affairs.

Great post, Matt. But, it does leave me feeling a little hopeless. Do we embrace anarchy to force change? (not saying you’re saying that…just thinking out loud) I think that scares me more than the present system, but perhaps that’s just what “they” want the average Joe to feel. It is all so confusing and tiring.

September 5th, 2008 at 3:21 pm

[quote comment="64001"]The paper is all black except where the checks are supposed to go.

I have thought about spoiling my ballot, but it amounts to nothing when the only person who really responds to it is the individual counting that particular vote.[/quote]

Well, if it wasn’t just you but thousends who did so, it could indeed make a difference. Imagine a turnout of maybe 60% - and over-all results for the big parties of maybe 20% and 25%. It would be obvious then that at last 55% of the canadian people (those 40% who didn’t vote at all and those 15% who spoiled their ballots) don’t view their policies as an option - the majority of eligible voters.

September 5th, 2008 at 3:26 pm

In Germany it would look like that on election day:

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/218/wahlzettelausgefuelltay3.png

;))

(the red writing reading “Bite me, everyone!”)

September 5th, 2008 at 3:30 pm

Wow…
Chad…
Congrads man…
you sound like an even bigger dick than me…

September 5th, 2008 at 3:38 pm

[quote comment="64002"]

i have spoiled my vote (which is what they call it when you check off too many candidates or do anything other than use one simple X or check mark to make your choice..this includes frowney faces haha but my personal way of doing it is by crossing out the names of every single candidate) in every single federal and provincial election i have ever been eligible to vote for; it lets the government know that you feel there is no real “choice” between candidates..

and theres no way im just gonna settle and pick “the lesser of two evils”..

and believe it or not, they DO count the spoiled votes..my hope is that the number of spoiled gets larger every time an election rolls around…[/quote]

Yea, that’s what I am saying. I have to admit that I never spoiled my vote so far but by now political landscape over here is somewhat corrupted and intoxicated that I am pretty disallusioned and I simply refuse to just have myself reduced down to what we call “Stimmvieh” over here which means that people only vote for other people’s power trip.

September 5th, 2008 at 3:49 pm

commie! haha

September 5th, 2008 at 4:21 pm

I have found some interesting information on Sarah Palin, purportedly from a local housewife name Anne Kilkenny who has known Palin since 1992

from thepresedentialcandidates.us:

“What follows is an open letter written by a resident of Wasilla, Alaska named Anne Kilkenny.

I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992. Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a first-name basis. Our children have attended the same schools. Her father was my child’s favorite substitute teacher. I also am on a first name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more City Council meetings during her administration than about 99% of the residents of the city.

She is enormously popular; in every way she’s like the most popular girl in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and won’t vote for her can’t quit smiling when talking about her because she is a “babe”.

It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She kept her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents for seven months. She is “pro-life”. She recently gave birth to a Down’s syndrome baby. There is no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby. She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.

She is savvy. She doesn’t take positions; she just “puts things out there” and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit. Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin’s kind of job is highly sought-after because of the schedule and high pay. He arranges his work schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishing their major source of income. Nor has her life-style ever been anything like that of native Alaskans. Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters. She’s smart.

Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000 (at the time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about 670,000 residents. During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had given rise to a recall campaign.

Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a “fiscal conservative”. During her 6 years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over 33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation (1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they benefited residents.

The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration weren’t enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it with indebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? or a new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for construction of a multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to build on a piece of property that the City didn’t even have clear title to, that was still in litigation 7 yrs later–to the delight of the lawyers involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the community but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5m for road projects that could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any borrowing.

While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office redecorated more than once. These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city. As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus in Alaska. Rather than invest this surplus in technology that will make us energy independent and increase efficiency, as Governor she proposed distribution of this surplus to every individual in the state.

In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she recommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects, even while she proposed distribution of surplus state revenues: spend today’s surplus, borrow for needs.

She’s not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideasor compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren’t generated by her or her staff. Ideas weren’t evaluated on their merits, but on the basis of who proposed them.

While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin’s attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the Librarian are on her enemies list to this day.

Sarah complained about the “old boy’s club” when she first ran for Mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of “old boys”. Palin fired most of the experienced staff she inherited. At the City and as Governor she hired or elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people, creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and eternally grateful and fiercely loyal–loyal to the point of abusing their power to further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged happened in the case of pressuring the State’s top cop (see below).

As Mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla’s Police Chief because he “intimidated” her, she told the press. As Governor, her recent firing of Alaska’s top cop has the ring of familiarity about it. He served at her pleasure and she had every legal right to fire him, but it’s pretty clear that an important factor in her decision to fire him was because he wouldn’t fire her sister’s ex-husband, a State Trooper. Under investigation for abuse of power, she has had to admit that more than 2 dozen contacts were made between her staff and family to the person that she later fired, pressuring him to fire her ex-brother-in-law. She tried to replace the man she fired with a man who she knew had been reprimanded for sexual harassment; when this caused a public furor, she withdrew her support.

She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in help. The City Council person who personally escorted her around town introducing her to voters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council became one of her first targets when she was later elected Mayor. She abruptly fired her loyal City Administrator; even people who didn’t like the guy were stunned by this ruthlessness.

Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything publicly about her.

When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah got the best, Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: one of the few jobs not in Juneau and one of the best paid. She had no background in oil & gas issues. Within months of scoring this great job which paid $122,400/yr, she was complaining in the press about the high salary. I was told that she hated that job: the commute, the structured hours, the work. Sarah became aware that a member of this Commission (who was also the State Chair of the Republican Party) engaged in unethical behavior on the job.

In a gutsy move which some undoubtedly cautioned her could be political suicide, Sarah solved all her problems in one fell swoop: got out of the job she hated and garnered gobs of media attention as the patron saint of ethics and as a gutsy fighter against the “old boys’ club” when she dramatically quit, exposing this man’s ethics violations (for which he was fined).

As Mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from Senator Ted Stevens. Lately, she has castigated his pork-barrel politics and publicly humiliated him. She only opposed the “bridge to nowhere” after it became clear that it would be unwise not to.

As Governor, she gave the Legislature no direction and budget guidelines, then made a big grandstand display of line-item vetoing projects, calling them pork. Public outcry and further legislative action restored most of these projects–which had been vetoed simply because she was not aware of their importance–but with the unobservant she had gained a reputation as “anti-pork”.

She is solidly Republican: no political maverick. The State party leaders hate her because she has bit them in the back and humiliated them. Other members of the party object to her self-description as a fiscal conservative.

Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah.

They call her “Sarah Barracuda” because of her unbridled ambition and predatory ruthlessness. Before she became so powerful, very ugly stories circulated around town about shenanigans she pulled to be made point guard on the high school basketball team. When Sarah’s mother-in-law, a highly respected member of the community and experienced manager, ran for Mayor, Sarah refused to endorse her.

As Governor, she stepped outside of the box and put together of package of legislation known as “AGIA” that forced the oil companies to march to the beat of her drum.

Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked toglobal warming. She campaigned “as a private citizen” against a state initiaitive that would have either a) protected salmon streams from pollution from mines, or b) tied up in the courts all mining in the state (depending on who you listen to). She has pushed the State’s lawsuit against the Dept. of the Interior’s decision to list polar bears as threatened species.

McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah will be a heartbeat away from being President. There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more knowledgeable and experienced than she. However, there’s a lot of people who have underestimated her and are regretting it.

CLAIM VS FACT

•“Hockey mom”: true for a few years
•“PTA mom”: true years ago when her first-born was in elementary school, not since
•“NRA supporter”: absolutely true
•social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUT vetoed a bill that would have denied benefits to employees in same-sex relationships (said she did this because it was unconsitutional).
•pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as Governor to promote it.
•“Pro-life”: mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down’s syndrome baby BUT declined to call a special legislative session on some pro-life legislation
•“Experienced”: Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of Alaska. No legislative experience other than City Council. Little hands-on supervisory or managerial experience; needed help of a city administrator to run town of about 5,000.
•political maverick: not at all
•gutsy: absolutely!
•open & transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good at explaining actions.
•has a developed philosophy of public policy: no
•”a Greenie”: no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores and disconnected parking lots. Is pro-drilling off-shore and in ANWR.
•fiscal conservative: not by my definition!
•pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park in a city without a sewage treatment plant or storm drainage system. Built streets to early 20th century standards.
•pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax burden on residents
•pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city government in Wasilla’s history.
•pro-labor/pro-union. No. Just because her husband works union doesn’t make her pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any claim that she is pro-labor/pro-union.

WHY AM I WRITING THIS?

First, I have long believed in the importance of being an informed voter. I am a voter registrar. For 10 years I put on student voting programs in the schools. If you google my name (Anne Kilkenny Alaska), you will find references to my participation in local government, education, and PTA/parent organizations.

Secondly, I’ve always operated in the belief that “Bad things happen when good people stay silent”. Few people know as much as I do because few have gone to as many City Council meetings.

Third, I am just a housewife. I don’t have a job she can bump me out of. I don’t belong to any organization that she can hurt. But, I am no fool; she is immensely popular here, and it is likely that this will cost me somehow in the future: that’s life.

Fourth, she has hated me since back in 1996, when I was one of the 100 or so people who rallied to support the City Librarian against Sarah’s attempt at censorship.

Fifth, I looked around and realized that everybody else was afraid to say anything because they were somehow vulnerable.

CAVEATS

I am not a statistician. I developed the numbers for the increase in spending & taxation 2 years ago (when Palin was running for Governor) from information supplied to me by the Finance Director of the City of Wasilla, and I can’t recall exactly what I adjusted for: did I adjust for inflation? for population increases? Right now, it is impossible for a private person to get any info out of City Hall–they are swamped. So I can’t verify my numbers.

You may have noticed that there are various numbers circulating for the population of Wasilla, ranging from my “about 5,000″, up to 9,000. The day Palin’s selection was announced a city official told me that the current population is about 7,000. The official 2000 census count was 5,460. I have used about 5,000 because Palin was Mayor from 1996 to 2002, and the city was growing rapidly in the mid-90’s.”

This is frightening information in that it reassures the notion that the Republicans chose a successor for Mccain, if he wins since he will realistically be dead during his first term. They have chosen someone ruthless, kniving, and dishonest which are all the credentials one needs to lead that party.

September 5th, 2008 at 5:43 pm

totally unrelated to the topic, but there’s a daily poll over on http://www.chartattack.com as to who is more overrated, MG or weakerthans (Matt’s winning….or losing depending on how you look at it). I think the real question is, who are the weakerthans? I do occasionally listen listen to Kingston K-Rock online which plays a fair bit of canadian bands and have never heard of them.

September 5th, 2008 at 7:31 pm

[quote comment="64007"][quote comment="63992"]P. Martini:

The problem is that the political elite have engineered the system to reduce choice in elections (less so in Canada than in the US, but the argument still applies here). Both Republican and Democrat party insiders work hard to push independent and third party candidates off of ballots across the country.

If I choose not to vote, that is my response to my lack of true choice and it is as equally valid a political action as voting. It is my political choice.[/quote]

I don’t know that they so much “push” candidates off the ballot. I do think that the system is set up to try to ensure that only “legitimate” (and I use that term advisedly) candidates are on official ballots. If you open the ballots up and let every Tom, Dick, and Harry onto the official form, you create a three-foot-long list of candidates where you’re searching for the option you want. The same rule applies during the debates (where I believe you need 15% of the vote to get onstage). Yes, everyone should have a fair shot… but how do you accomplish anything meaningful if there are fifty people onstage clamoring to make their voice heard?

(An additional psychological benefit to a two-party system is the fact that someone can with with a majority, rather than a plurality. Could you imagine a major election where the winner garners 20% of the vote? What sort of mandate can you claim where one out of every five people supported you?)

My philosophy in politics is an incremental one. I vote for the candidate that more closely resembles my version of utopia–in this case, Obama over McCain. Presuming he wins, the overal political spectrum moves slightly to the left, making the “norm” somewhat more liberal. Then, next time around, maybe the next Democratic candidate is slightly MORE to the left, as the previous candidate’s position became more accepted. And the next time, slightly more to the left. Does that actually happen? Only if there’s a consistent trend of winners from the left (which is unlikely). But very few people ever find a candidate who exactly matches their personal beliefs–even if they get to choose from a pool of fifty candidates. So I take what I can get. While refusing to vote is a valid action, it does not make a statement to the candidates, the parties, or the voting public. People draw conclusions from words, not from silence.[/quote]

Multiparty systems are much fairer. I tend to be pragmatic in my choice. If my party can’t win, it should at least be capable of influencing major parties in a positive way. I too vote for the lesser of the evils.
Parliamentary democracy itself isn’t as badly flawed as long as the way in which its members are elected is fair. In Australia, we have compulsory voting and a preferential system for both houses. It is less frequent that Australian politics becomes a stupid dichotomy, at least compared with the US.

September 5th, 2008 at 10:09 pm

[quote comment="63960"]It has, in truth, saved a life or two because of my openness about my illness, and for that alone what can the comments of one person matter?[/quote]

Um, mental illness isn’t something to be taking a stab at a person for.. it’s the way he said it… ‘you have mental issues’.. it’s like he said that site is fully fueled by your mental illness. It’s fueled by personal belief, passion and probably many other things too.

ha ha ha at Chad telilng a rockstar to get laid once in a while… I think it’s hilarious that we all think we know what Matt does every night.

Who said his apartment was shitty?

September 5th, 2008 at 10:28 pm

Chad Rawks:

I have been posting here for less than a year I would guess. Ever since General Petraeus spoke in front of Congress before the Surge. In all that time, I have taken pride in never calling others names or belittled them or tried to make them feel less than valued members of this community. I admit to being sarcastic and take steps to think twice before I post, to prevent that. I am a well known dissenter on this forum. I have had words with MG and some of the other posters, but it has never been personal. As you can see, I am still here, free to discuss and dissent. I hope that is because while some enjoy my posts and some don’t; I am at least polite and respect the other people here. By using the language you used in your post, you have embaressed yourself. You have exhibited a meanness that is not called for. If we ever hope to have some Peace and Love on this continent, we need to start treating each other better.

BLOGIC:
You don’t need to live in fear. Find the people who you fit in with and try forging local friendships. A lot of this political crap is just words. I’ve seen hundreds of politicians promise and pledge till they were blue in the face. All lies. The sun will rise and fall, these politicians will grow old and die; and your generation will Rule!!! What Great Revenge!!!!

Tuulli22:
My daughter was diagnosed as having ADD when she was quite young. We stuck with her and advocated for her and have been able to get her excellent health care. She is 17 now and doing great in school and wants to be a Marine Biologist or a pro Wrestler. I guess what I am saying is; yes thank you to Matthew for this blog, but don’t forget to give yourself credit for fighting your fight. Never give up!

September 6th, 2008 at 12:17 am

Way to take the high road Matt, there’s a lot to be said for respecting others opinions. Certain people on this site could/should take a lesson from that. You’re well appreciated and respected here… Deanne

September 6th, 2008 at 1:15 am

[quote comment="63938"]What will your reaction be WHEN McCain wins??

You’re kidding, right?

C’mon, you spend your entire existence preaching and humming your ideology to your liberal choir.

It’s so funny reading close minded opinions such as yours.

Actually, it’s not really funny; I feel sad for you. I mean think about your existence; sitting all day in your shitty apartment, scouring the internet for articles/opinions that support your own, and then pass these stories along to the lemmings. You get mad, upset, quickly insult (censor and delete) any and all that don’t adhere to your strict opinions. You eat bad food and smoke too much, have major mental issues, and still boo-hoo about your ex-wife. Pathetic.
You really should, I dunno, get laid once in awhile, smoke a joint… do something to unbunch your panties. You live in one of the most beautiful cities on the planet, but do you ever go outside? No. Do you have any real hobbies except for music and conserative bashing? No.

I’m going to have a beer, eat a hamburger and go play golf. You…. continue to sit at your computer, and wonder why life sucks so bad. Have a good day.[/quote]

chad, what the hell is wrong with you? have you ever had mental issues? do you even know what a “mental issue” entails? what have you done for society lately? i have done nothing, i’ll admit that..but i care about people and it it is all one can do to get out of bed everyday knowing that the world around you is falling apart and there is nothing one singlehandly can do about it..maybe to you, on the outside, can preach to him about how he lives in such a beautiful city..have you ever been to downtown burnaby on a saturday morning at 2:00 am? come to think of it, have you ever been to downtown burnaby on any given morning, afternoon, or evening? just because a place is by the sea, or has gorgeous mountains doesn’t mean that it is all peaches and cream on the inside..are you even a true matthew good fan? do you listen to his lyrics? do you listen to anything he has to say when given the opportunity? smoke a joint..what kind of lame ass advice is that..did it ever occur to you that maybe some people want certain doors in their minds closed? people like you are superficial and selfish..i was diagnosed with ADHD, depression, anxiety, and bi-polar disorder as well..my personal take is that people like me that maybe feel more than they should and are attuned more to human pain and misfortune in this life, and are ill-equiped to handle it..our conditions are just labels so that “doctors” and others can group us all in a corner and poke and prode and wonder as to why we have such a grim outlook on everything..LIFE buddy..life is hard and it is harder when you can forsee anothers pain and there is not a damn thing you can do about it. this life is not about pleasing ourselves, life is about doing what is decent as a human being, and reaping the benefits of being kind to one another. all of us hurt..so what if he wants to vent about his ex? so what if he has worse days than others and goes on a verbal rampage??? he is human, we all are and sometimes this life is more than any of us can take..maybe for people like you it is easy to push all reality aside and enjoy your happy little golf game, pretend that there isn’t someone your age on the other side of the planet who is trying to feed his family of seven and is probably entering his last few years of life…probably doesn’t even know what a golf ball is or what a beer tastes like…it’s ignorant people like you that make this world harder and harder to tolerate..as for you matthew, you’re stronger than alot of us and they fact you can put everything so clearly and concisely and pinpoint everything to a tee and make sense of the mess we live in is utterly amazing..please keep writing, and please keep singing, please keep playing your guitar, for sometimes the melody evokes feelings we all have but cannot put words to.

September 6th, 2008 at 3:57 am

[quote comment="64028"] the real question is, who are the weakerthans? I do occasionally listen listen to Kingston K-Rock online which plays a fair bit of canadian bands and have never heard of them.[/quote]

Hey! No cracks about the Weakerthans please, I pretty much like that band! Just saw them live here in Dresden around the end of june, they were pretty good.

;DD

September 6th, 2008 at 4:37 am

[quote comment="64040"][quote comment="63991"][quote comment="63960"] It has, in truth, saved a life or two because of my openness about my illness[/quote]

Yes, I’m sure you did.
For what I can tell of myself:
this site is one of the few places where I can onpenly speak about my mental problems. On wednesday I got my ultimate diagnoses of ADHD which is, as it now turns out, responsible for many of the problems I had and still have with depression and anxiety. Without your blog it would have never come to my mind that I was hyperactive as a kid and thus developped multiple disorders in behavior and I’d never linked that to the depression I was suffering from.
Before I started to regularely drop in, I wasn’t half as aware of what was going on in my life and I wanna say thank you for that.[/quote]

I also received this diagnosis a few months ago…care to chat about it? if so, please email me at
daala13@gmail.com
Thanks!
Miranda[/quote]

Hi Miranda,
thank’s for taking care that much. Maybe I’ll get back to it later. Currently I really don’t know how to feel about that diagnosis. To be honest I feel nothing at the moment. On one side it means some sort of certainty about the roots of my problems, that it’s nothing caused by my lifestyle or myself as a person but that it is something physical, biological that happened to me accidentally. On the other side it means that my problems aren’t explicitely curable like the flu and that I have to live with it for the rest of my life. There’s something fucking definate about it.