Canadians turned out in droves two days ago to vote for a new federal government. Apparently over 70% of eligible voters made their way to their respective voting centres to cast a vote. I imagine that most if not all of those who voted (and I'm certainly not one of them) felt that their vote could "make a difference."
The four main choices were, Conservative, Liberal, NDP, and the Green party. Even for someone like myself who spends next to zero time listening to the mainstream media, it was still difficult to not be bombarded with the pre-election party hype about how a vote for "them" was going to be the right choice going forward. Every party, including the Green party had at the very top of their agenda, jobs and growth. Jobs and growth, jobs and growth, it's all about jobs and growth. "Just vote for me and I'll make sure to provide more "JOBS AND GROWTH." Now, you would have thought that at least the Green party would put the environment ahead of jobs and growth, but if you thought that, you would have been wrong.
Not once did I hear Stephen Harper (Conservative), Justin Trudeau (Liberal), Tom Mulcair (NDP) or Elizabeth May (Greens) bring up the fact that it is IMPOSSIBLE to have infinite growth on a finite planet. I guess they all figured that we can just keep on digging up, burning up, trashing up the planet, without any consequences. After all, "we've got technology, dude."
If any of these "leaders" spent a few moments to actually THINK, they would have to understand that you just can't continue to use up any particular "resource" no matter what it is, and expect it to be there forever and ever in order to maintain ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. (On a small side note, it's interesting how the word SUSTAINABLE, has now wiggled it's way into the narrative. Continued development = bad, sustainable development= good.) Of course, if any of them were to admit to that truth, ( the impossibility of infinite growth on a finite planet), then they would also have to question the concept of ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. And if they questioned that, then they might have to question just why they're up there in the first place asking for your vote? But we are way, way too far into this set of living arrangements called industrial civilization to make any significant changes at this point. This makes all political parties, irrelevant. The system will continue to pulverize the living world that we and all other species depend upon for life, until, in the end, even life itself won't be possible. But you won't hear those politicians talk about that. As far as I can see, politicians have two primary goals. The first is to get elected, and the second is to stay elected. Harper managed to keep the second goal going for quite some time, but now it's Trudeau's turn. The slogan for his party was "real change." I'm not sure what the difference is between change, and real change, but perhaps the Liberals didn't want to align themselves too closely with the Obama, "hope and change" mantra. We've all seen how well that has worked out since early 2009.
Maybe a much better slogan for any politician to promote would be the words of a painting that is hanging on the wall here.
I'm not holding my breath to find a politician that would have these words as their campaign slogan.
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Aside from that lovely painting, I have a few more photos and videos to share this week from my location in the woods on Vancouver Island.
A BEAUTIFUL SUNFLOWER IN THE GARDEN
RINGO, LOOKING SUSPICIOUSLY LIKE BILL THE CAT FROM MAPLE BAY (see below)
MY CURRENT "HOME"
And to round things out for the day, a few videos of my friends next door who love to eat apples.
Next week, I may or may not be able to do a blog as I might be on the road. Check back on the 28th to find out.
Happy Trails,
Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer
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