Soap Box
These are some of my letters to local papers just for interest
How secure and sustainable is the world’s monetary system?
Considering the international fluctuations in financial values, immense national debt loads, and the dependence on a world economy; should we, or dare we ask, how secure is the entire global monetary system? We know that since the nineteen sixties the gold standard for currencies has been replaced by paper cash and more recently electronic Digital Information Money (DIM). Trillions of dollars worth of DIM currencies have been created somewhere, stored and transferred by millions of computers around the world that have no system of management, overall security, or fundamental control.
The population of the planet is in some way affected by this DIM controlled world economy, we live in a time when the pressing an ‘enter’ or ‘delete’ button on a computer can affect the lives of millions of people. The process of creating, borrowing, lending, investing and spending trillions of dollars worth of intangible and untraceable computer generated capital every day, can only last for a limited period of time in the course of human history.
Cultures in the past have developed trading and bartering systems that have worked without using money as a medium of transaction. Questioning the world’s interdependence and control that is based on electronic information should be considered, in the event that someone inadvertently pulls out the wrong plug.
How could human activity possibly affect the climate on planet Earth?
The earth's climate is affected by many influences, like an intricate and dynamic jigsaw puzzle the change in one piece affects the entire picture. The term 'global warming', and the focus on greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere over simplify the discussion. Impacts on the climate include effects from cosmic, atmospheric, terrestrial, marine and human activity.
The earth's diameter is about 12,800 kilometers, the human activity on our planet mainly influence between 7 and 10 kilometers of the surface land, sea and air. In perspective, human's affect a thin line on a picture of the earth 95 cms. or three feet across. The direct heat generated by burning 1000 barrels of oil per second, millions of years accumulation of gas and coal, and all nuclear generated heat, affect the climate. Drilling and pumping water from millions of wells and draining land around the world, dramatically lower ground water tables and alter surface water levels, this in turn changes local and global hydrologic and climate cycles. The particulates and ice crystals created by tens of thousands of planes, millions of cars, industry and agriculture cause global dimming, the shading and reflecting of sunlight that cause a cooling effect on the earth. Many other human activities have an effect the global climate and our current understanding on the subject is limited.
The long term plans for this area should prepare for a changing climate by becoming more independent in food and other necessities of life and by making adaptations to our services and infrastructure to reduce further impact on our local climate. Recent letters to your paper have disputed the human relationship to climate change. We owe it to future generations, and get more young people involved in the climate debate and finding solutions, their future quality of life and wellbeing depends on it.
Buying in to Canadian sovereignty
Warming trends and melting arctic ice will provide more international access to Canadian territorial land and water, raising the question of Canadian sovereignty and security in the north. A unique way to connect the people of Canada with the sense of national identity and a clearly defined northern boundary could be possible with an opportunity to invest in a new 'Canadian Sovereignty Bond'. This new bond would be similar to a Canada Savings Bond with some distinctive characteristics. Each bond would correspond to a small area within Canada's sovereign maritime and land boundary.
As an example one hundred dollars could represent one specific hectare of land or water identified with an individual UTM metric coordinate printed on each bond. Canadian Sovereignty Bonds would provide the investor with a sense of Canadian ownership, symbolically connecting them with an actual place on the map; as well as a secure investment with interest. This concept could also apply to collectable coin sets, representing a little piece of Canada.
Billions or trillions of dollars are being created to 'bail out' a faltering world economy; this scenario invites some basic questions that should be asked in case the bubble bursts. The world economy is built on a fundamentally flawed monetary system and debt based growth, could this entire system collapse? Where does the multi billions of bail out money, come from? If some entity is lending this kind of money; who or what are they, where did they get the money from, and do they expect to be paid back? If the US treasury and many other institutions are creating hundreds of billions of dollars out of thin air, how is this overseen or controlled? Should economic 'growth' be calculated with most of the products and services financed with borrowed equity? If the world's current monetary system did implode what preparations should we make?
Logic indicates that the current world economy has a limited life expectancy. Shipping stuff around the planet and throwing it in the landfill within a couple of years is not sustainable. We have an opportunity, with good insight, planning, leadership, and new found knowledge, innovation and technology to develop local and regional economy. It is prudent to start thinking and moving in a direction of self sufficiency and less dependency because the people running this ship are looking for land in the wrong direction.
Elected Responsibility
Every few years elections are held to find people who will represent their constituents at provincial, federal, local government and school board levels. They have a responsibility to the public to make ethical and transparent decisions and to be accountable for their actions. The level of public trust in government's ethics and accountability is challenged at times; the situation could be improved, if all individuals seeking a position in government participated in a 'governance ethics course' prior to being nominated for election or applying for a job. A curriculum in governance, legal, ethical, social, financial, accountability and other skills could be developed through centers of higher learning, and made available on line. Achieving a high level of competence would be a major asset in an election campaign.
Even entry level job in many food establishments require an applicant to pass a 'food safe' and 'serving it right' course. On the other hand, an individual can be elected to a position funded by taxpayers, making important decisions involving the wellbeing of the public and large amounts of money, with little or no civil service training.
The people in all levels of government have a demanding and challenging job. Achieving a good understanding of 'Public Scrutiny 101' would make these positions more fulfilling.
Raising the bar for male role models
Living in a community with the most senior population in Canada brings with it an interesting dynamic; where are the young men in the Oceanside Area? Working for a living, at social, cultural, recreational events, it is quite unusual to see the male proportion of the population between the ages of 16 to 30. The few young men I see around appear to be dejected, disconnected and lacking self confidence. Statistics show that young males are achieving poorer results throughout the education system; is this a sign of the times? Within the next few years this demographic should be taking a significant role in leadership and the local workforce.
In my youth a few decades ago; becoming a mature, dependable man was the expectation soon after adolescence. At the age of 15 we were out of school and working a productive 40 + hour week. Responsibilities were expected by the age of 17 or 18 and by the time we reached 21 we were considered an adult in all senses of the word.
Is it possible that the lack of respectable male role models and the constant portrayal of middle aged men in advertising and comedy as brainless morons could have a negative influence on the self esteem and confidence of boys and young teens? The news is overloaded with examples of bad behavior and lack of ethics and morals by men in positions of trust; combine this with the influence of The Simpsons, Trailer Park Boys. A young man believing that his future looks that bleak could be tempted to pull his hoodie over his head and hide in his room playing video games. We older folks need to raise the question, can our community, schools and economic drivers do a better job of preparing boys to become respectable men.
Money From Thin Air
We need to seriously question the Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Act (FIPPA), that is about to be implemented. This 'Act' could have far reaching implications, way beyond the trade deals, manufacturing and selling of our resources. Virtually all trade around the world is transacted using 'fiat' money, and this system of finance originated in 11th century, in China.
Fiat money has no intrinsic value; the currency, declared by a government to be legal tender, only has value as long as the people have faith in that particular monetary system. The value of most currencies is not represented by tangible printed money at all; it is created by computers out of thin air in the trillions. Intangible, digital, faith based, thin air money is being produced with many legal tender names including Yuan, Dollar, Euro and Yen.
This dubious currency is being used to acquire vast amounts of irreplaceable materials and resources, which have real tangible and strategic value. We should ask our Federal leaders; are we, as a nation prepared to plunder and pillage our land, risk our water, wildlife, sovereignty and security in exchange for MADE IN CHINA, faith based, intangible, digital, thin air money?