Politics, Leaders and Loyality

Some times during the journey of life we meet people we genuinely like and yet do not understand why. In politics the art of manipulation is taken to the extreme as the parties and their personnel attempt to shape the voters psyche and as such it is sometimes difficult to discern truth from perception. I am an idealist and believe in the fundamental good of mankind sure I have been let down in my life but I remain of this opinion more stronger than ever. I have been aware of these views and the fickle nature of people since my first election at the age of 16 and although I am leery of people I meet solely through the political process I also know people are good and positive. Every now and then I get a real pick me up where my instincts and undying belief in people turns out to be true. This can be said of my sincere appreciation, admiration and respect for Sharon MacArthur. She has done "yeoman's duty" and taken the "captains lead" on trying to keep the Liberal cause and Liberal party organization alive and well in Manitoba. She continues to serve as President and has done a great job amidst many odds and even more detractors "hell bent" on usurping her presidency. She is not the easy going and bubbly effervescence that Bobbi Ethier, she is not the intellectual presence John Scurfield was, she is not the consummate meeter and greeter that Avis Gray was and she is not the political junkie that Tim Ryan was but and this is a big BUT she is an honest, authentic, sincere Liberal who ONLY wants the best for the Liberal party and our centrist cause and whom is willing to do ALL that she can to support that. She has a little of all those presidencies I mentioned and a little more of the rural work ethic that keeps her going 24/7 - 365.

On a personal note I had discussed the possibility of running for President of the LPCM and had a great team assembled to run a dynamic and refreshing campaign but at the end of the day my team felt it may not be my time - I agreed. For my part I seek counsel from those I respect and my team is right. In the meantime the Liberal movement is alive as I have seen this by helping out in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario Provincial Elections in the last 12 months. I have done pretty much everything within the Liberal Bureaucracy from riding executive positions to provincial executive to assistant in Ottawa to AGM Chair and national campaign and enjoy working with people of like mind and spirit. I also realize that for an organization to grow and evolve the players need to change through a strong foundation of success.

For the next president of the LPCM we may need to move to a different path but NOT at the expense of loosing any ground with the foundation on what remains from a once vibrant 20,000 membership. Your guess is as well as mine as to who can do that and how we as a party get this done.

I do know without an election I would be of the opinion to "break" Sharon's arm and ask her to stay on for another term. She has a done a fabulous job !!!

Forest Processing Industry Crisis - NWO in dire straits !!!

Whomever does not think that our Canadian economy is subservient to the American only needs to look at the layoffs and catastrophe the high Canadian dollar is playing on Northwestern Ontario. Buchanan Forest Products the second biggest employer on the land of "milk and honey" (NWO Region -Kenora to Marathon) has to pretty much pay off its entire workforce. I am not an advocate of state interventionism in the economy but the Federal Government needs to help the company, a family owned business, traverse the next 6- 8 months. I would advocate a stronger position at the NAFTA table including a more aggressive attempt to recoup the 4.5 billion dollars American Companies "took" from us in a tariff war of the 90's AND some band aid Human Resources dollars to the affected employees and their families in the 6-8 months.
The bigger question is will the Reform/Alliance/CPC do something or stick to their "watching form the cheap seats" strategy. If Joe Commuzzi is the guy to change the situation and his letter to the Prime Minister (Fridays Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal) is the big move - NWO is in trouble.