I am not sure if the current political climate is any different than 30 or 50 or 1000 years ago. The politicians don’t seem to be doing what is best for a city, province, or country but what is best for themselves or their egos. In Toronto Rob Ford won’t let the vision of subways die even though he gets stopped at every turn and it will cost the city a fortune to build. He still ploughs on claiming it is best for the city. While he may be right that subways would be best, there isn’t the money to pay for it. I know I would love to have a big SUV for driving to work in but I can’t afford a new car or the cost to maintain it. So I will go with what I can afford and what is best for me, not what I want the most. Saying, “The people want subways!” is true, however, I am sure if you asked them “Do you want to pay taxes?” there would be an easy answer to that one too.
In Ontario, McGuinty is no better. He commissioned a report that says we shouldn’t be doing All-Day Kindergarten but he will refuse to listen to it. Again, like Ford, this is an ego thing and not a “What’s best for Ontario thing”. Of course many people want All Day Kindergarten, it will save them on child care expenses, but that shouldn’t be the reason we keep it.
And at a Federal level there was a bill proposed to allow the police to access our internet/cell phone records without due process (and using the fight of Child Pornography as an excuse). This was proposed as the same people overturn the Long Gun Registry because it was an invasion of the rights of innocent people. This is said in the same breath as they want to invade the rights of everyone on the internet in Canada. Looking at it from a longer view the reason these two things are happening are clear. Conservative supporters want the long gun registry gone and the internet is a good target. Again, this isn’t about keeping Canada safe, it is about political gains in key demographics. Sad but true.
Maybe I should just go back to writing about food.
Yesterday was Fat Tuesday. I told my youngest son that it was Fat Tuesday and he gave me the strangest look. I promised him this wasn’t an insult to anyone but the real name of the day. I think he doubted me a little bit when I then referred to the same day as Pancake Tuesday. Thankfully I never called it Shrove Tuesday. That would have sent him over the edge. I would also have to explain what a Shrove was (and then I would have to explain penance and absolution). I also didn’t call it Máirt Inide since I am not Irish (but I want to be!). My point of all this nonsense was that I got a very big craving for pancakes. It is one of those foods that I took for granted and never really bothered with. However after seeing them on a plate with syrup, I really wanted to eat pancakes (and these ones were homemade, not boxed). But alas! I ate Turkey meatballs (which ended up being very tasty). Why were they tasty? Well, they were healthy and I only added thyme, seasoning salt, pepper, paprika, sage, nutmeg and rosemary. I also cooked them in a frying pan without butter, oil or Pam.
But I still wanted pancakes. With bacon.
And finally…
Lent starts today and I am not giving up anything. I have no idea what the hell I would even give up. I wouldn’t do it for religious reasons; I would do it to see if I could. The only thing available to be would be to give up coffee or touching myself. I am not about to do either. So I would be celebrating Lent but I could claim I am. This year for Lent I am giving up Coke! No Coke for me! I tried that once before and failed miserably. I can do it this year and it is certainly not cheating just because I already gave up Coke many months ago. Go Lent!
