Fri - January 26, 2007

Alberta University Enrolment 


Alberta is rich. Rich in $. Rich in oil. But Alberta has numerous problems. A lot of people will draw attention to short term problems such as the cost of living or lifestyle. We live in a society of ambitious people that would sooner work hard to make more money to avoid a problem than to work harder at fixing a problem. This impacts public schools, playgrounds, neighbourhoods, and the long term health of the province. I went to university, the first in my extended family to do so. Growing up in rural Alberta, from Edson to Coronation to Red Deer university was not always a priority. Of my 20+ cousins, 9 aunts and uncles, parents, and sisters I'm the only one who has a Master's degree. I have two younger cousins that started university and one who finished. I have several cousins and my one sister started college. This sample, my first cousins, aunts, uncles, and immediate family - around 40 people here are the university attainment results:

1 graduate degree
3 undergraduate degree

3 university educated people among the 40. Less than 1% of my family has earned a university degree.

In Alberta, we often say, well that doesn't mean much. College or Technical Schools are just as important. My extended family does a bit better in this post-secondary category and because they are my family I will not being to try to talk about happiness or quality of life issues related to being educated at what level, but I will look at the province as a whole and compare that to the rest of Canada.

In Canada, the combined (college and university) attainment rate in 2001 was 39%. In Alberta, the combined rate is 33.3% - about 15% less than the country. The college/technical school attainment rate of 22% also falls short of the national average of 26% - also 15% less.

During a period where Alberta was lead by a high school drop out, Ralph Klein, university enrolment in Alberta experienced an increase of 4% between 1999-00 and 2003-04. This was 80% lower than the national increase of 20%.

The 2002-03 university participation rate (18-21) in Alberta is 16.2%; the corresponding Canadian rate is 19.7%. The provincial participation rate has increased by 1.1 percentage points between 1990-91 and 2002-03, as compared to an increase of 3.2 percentage points in Canada as a whole. Alberta’s participation rate increase was the country’s second-lowest.

Only 68% of Alberta parents aspired to have their children attend university, compared to the national average of nearly 72%. Parental aspirations for their children to attend college in Alberta, at 11.9%, were also below the national average of 16.5%.

So Alberta is wildly successful without all this university and higher learning stuff. I guess you don't have to be educated if you are born with liquid gold on that silver spoon - except that Albertans are not wildly successful. Some are - no doubt, just like people everywhere there are successful people with and without university education, but.......

In 2003, the average university graduate earned nearly $15,000 more than a college or technical school graduate and around $17,000 more than a high school graduate - every year. In Alberta, the university degree translated to a salary $13,000 higher than technical school and $25,000 higher than high school.
 

Posted at 04:08 PM     Read More  

Wed - February 15, 2006

Why is Hamas in Power? 


It seems that a lot of people and even some press would like to convey that it is consistent with Palestinian desire for violence. This of course is consistent with American-style collective memory. Saddam was in power because, at least, in part the Americans helped put him there. The Taliban ruled Afghanistan because, at least, part the Americans helped put him there. These are just recent examples. Please remember Iran, Guatemala, El Salvador, Vietnam..... Well the American and Israeli record in stabilizing regions with their own sponsored violence is long and littered with thousands of innocent lives taken. What does this have to to with Palestine?

Hamas was supported by Israel in the late 1970's directly according to reports . Israel wanted a counter-balance to the PLO. 
Israel was certainly funding the group at that time. One U.S. intelligence source who asked not to be named said that not only was Hamas being funded as a "counterweight" to the PLO, Israeli aid had another purpose: "To help identify and channel towards Israeli agents Hamas members who were dangerous terrorists."link
The people of Palestine voted a new government in that happens to be Hamas. Not a good thing for the ongoing peace process you might say. Well there was no ongoing peace process - the BBC also reports on this non-existent peace process. Did the people of Palestine reject the Fatah party because it was ineffective in negotiating peace with Israel - this is possible. The US and Israel, one might assume unintentionally, are partly responsible for the rise of Hamas in Palestine - have a listen to the interview with Dreyfuss for a few other arguments. I suppose that Hamas will get WMD's next.

So when people suggest that showing empathy and attempts to understand why a group of people is against another is the characteristic of a "bleeding heart liberal". They are deflecting or ignoring history and truth. Using one's memory, world history, facts, and being able to walk in others shows are desirable characteristics, if not having these makes an ignorant jerk or at least biased. 

Posted at 08:34 AM     Read More  

Mon - February 13, 2006

Freedom of Speech 


I have the right, many of us do, to walk into a crowd of angry soldiers (of any faith) and spread hatred. Do I expect that they will not lay a hand on me? I have the right to walk up to a police officer in an alley and call him or her names or insult their intelligence, religion, career choices, etc, but I don't think it is all that wise. I have the right to talk about bombs at an airport, but that would be stupid. I have the right to walk into a biker bar....

Some people argue that the press has the right or freedom to publish insulting cartoons, in fact I think a lot of people believe that the press has an unlimited right to say what they please. I will not argue that they should not have the right to publish a cartoon. However, it is well worth noting that the press is already censored, so suggesting that publishing insulting cartoons is beyond the pale is just wrong. A newspaper can publish nude photos, but won't. It can't publish pictures of naked children. European and Canadian laws don't allow questioning the holocaust.

So now urged on by, first, European papers, now Canadian and Iranian papers we are on track for a one-ups-manship contest in insults. Let's hope it doesn't get any worse. Let's hope that first arming then years later invading Afganistan and Iraq, abu Grahib, Guantanamo, torture and rendering practices, restricting Arab and Muslim movements in "so-called" free countries, and destabilizing a complete region of the world doesn't make Arabs and Muslims any more sensitive to what I hope is perceived hatred against them, cause any further over-reaction.

Of course, no over-reaction is justified, but would you stand in the middle of an angry crowd (arguably justified) and incite hatred? I encourage those that are so caught up on freedom of the press to ask why they don't see anti-semetic, nude children, anti-American, anti-Christian images and messages in their press as a balance. Those that believe that some Muslims and Arabs are over-reacting might want to ask why. Perhaps their child is in a Western prison, or sister has been tortured, or brother is missing since the some of the west has come in, and others have permitted, to "stabilize" a region.

Americans seem to accept that progress does not come without violence. From the American civil war, to slavery, to civil rights, to riots in the 80's in Los Angeles they should not be surprised by violent reactions to irresponsible actions. The home to the Rodney King riots should not question violence over cartoons in another part of the world. In Canada, we should be reaching out not inciting. We should not be exercising the right to ask a bikers girlfriend out. We may feel we can, but why? 

Posted at 08:09 PM     Read More  

Fri - February 10, 2006

Join Ted to Save English Language 


Ted Menzies, a unilingual Alberta MP, has been given the job to protect the English Language in Canada as the parliamentary secretary to Francophonie in Canada. His job can't be to help the francophones, so it must be to save English. You go Ted, the English need you - save the anglophone. I know some people that speak french maybe I could help too. 

Posted at 08:21 AM     Read More  

Tue - February 7, 2006

Inflation as a plan for a Conservative government 


One way to raise taxes without raising taxes is of course to cause inflation. A good way to do this is to put more money into the economy. The Conservative Child Care program has the "unintended" consequences of raising taxes for young families, contributing to inflation, and raising interest rates that would hurt young families and benefit those with no mortgages and less equity investments.

Most people in their 50's and up benefit from high interest rates that are connected to inflation concerns. Most wealthy people don't care if interest rates are high - house is paid and investments can be directed to take advantage of high inflation and high interest rates. So by giving people money, a government increases taxes and support from certain segments of the population. Including the segment of the population that the child care program is supposed to benefit, but in fact may hurt more than it helps.

Here is a quote from futurecasts.com

"Monetary inflation is actually a tax by which government - by expanding the money supply - transfers wealth from its people to itself. Indeed, inflation is perhaps the most destructive tax that can be imposed - but unfortunately it is the easiest one for a government to impose on its people. It also results in the transfer of enormous amounts of wealth from the hands of ordinary people to the hands of those speculators shrewd enough to take advantage of the price volatility inflation causes in the markets."

Ok, so fight the conservatives or ride the wave and be one of those shrewd speculators. I think a bit of both is in order. What about the mortgage? What about equity markets? How long will these policies impact the economy? 

Posted at 03:32 PM     Read More  

Get a plan, you may be in trouble 


So Harper and his Conservative government wants to cancel the existing childcare plans with 10 provinces and create his own with a $100/month per child bribe to Canadians. Don't get sucked into this plan as it is most likely, if you're anything like most Canadians, that this $100 will go towards credit card companies and banks - not child care. The average Canadian with 6 year olds and younger is going to have a mortgage around what - $200,000? Their credit card debt will be around - maybe $1000. Well according to reports it is much worse than that:
 
"In total, (young Canadian families) now owe roughly $340,000, spread across a mortgage, three lines of credit and two credit cards. Every month, $920 goes to pay interest on the cards and bank lines, and another $1,460 toward the mortgage." report 

Posted at 09:01 AM     Read More  

Wed - September 28, 2005

2k for Katrina and Rita Victims 


Boy are Albertan's looking smug. The average Alberta household did not get slammed by a hurricane, flooded by poorly planned levees, and deserted by authorities when requiring rescue, but they do get the same amount of assistance from the Alberta government as Katrina and Rita victims are receiving from the US government. Who deserves that 2k more? I guess you get the government you elect.

Perhaps the best thinking here is that spending and saving wisely, plus a good dose of planning can save billions of dollars. Now of course, there is not a lot one can do about nature, but there are some things, specifically a good levee in New Orleans, that could make a billion dollar difference.

What will the 2k do in a Katrina victims pocket? What will the 2k in a Albertan's pocket? I wonder if you had asked a resident in New Orleans now if that small tax cut they got was really worth the hardship and 2k they are getting now. As my 4-year old sings, "It's just like a magic penny, spend it, lend it, give it away and it comes right back to you". It's mostly headed back to the government and the richest 1% of the population, so perhaps the pressure to cut the amount that goes to government should be replaced with some good long term planning and decisions that don't involve such hardship along the way. 

Posted at 02:37 PM     Read More  

Wed - September 21, 2005

No heat - well I got 400 bucks 


Thanks to all of you shelling out big $ this winter for gas and heating oil. If you lived in Alberta you would get $400 care of well, wherever its coldest this winter. What a plan, spend $50-100 per household to administer the program. Well I guess I will take my $400 and save it for my daughters bus fee next year, or it could go to pay 1/3 of my health premiums. My plan put it towards the things that residents in other provinces don't pay for.

The government's plan, reward consumption, pollution, and give even more money to the Hummer-drivers out there.

Course, the $400 will come in handy when looking at that heating bill this year - oh boy was the privatization plan a good one. I want to start a company in cooperation with the Alberta government and have them pay my bills. Anybody want to start a private school with me, the government pays real good. How about a utility company. Well folks we are probably too late, all the graft has been handed out to friends. And get this the auditor approves. 

Posted at 08:14 PM     Read More  

Tue - September 6, 2005

A Hyundai and a Plan 


A Hyundai and a plan - go to New Orleans and give people water. Duke University students help Katrina victims when the government can't. Forget jurisdiction and seeking permission to help. Don't have any money to give to the Red Cross, drive there and help people yourself. That is what these three did. Maybe if there was no FEMA, National Guard, State, and Federal governments, more people would have gone to New Orleans to help- maybe this would be more effective. In the early days of the rescue operations, it seems clear that it would have been. 

Posted at 09:33 PM     Read More  

Thu - September 1, 2005

Katrina Update 


Of course the plan is still to little too late and really still just a plan. What a mess! Move in troops after the shock and awe to maintain peace - I thought the US government learned that lesson in Iraq. 

Posted at 09:14 AM     Read More  

Wed - August 31, 2005

Katrina Update 


Now the various governments and private relief organizations have a plan! All of us should be asking about what are municipal, provincial, and federal plans are for a similar predictable event in your city. For example, if you live in Vancouver do you have a way to get from your rafters to your canned food and bottled water in the basement? Do you store life jackets and emergency supplies in your attic? Are there emergency amphibious vehicles available on 2-days notice to your city?

When and where should the billions of dollars be spent - to rebuild or to prevent? 

Posted at 09:12 AM     Read More  

Tue - August 30, 2005

Katrina - Billions of Dollars of Damage and No Plan 


Katrina was reported to be cataclysmic. People were predicting the worse. Were the plans good enough? I'm struck by a number of things I have observed.

People are waiting to be rescued in their homes, on roof tops, and in trees, but there does not seem to be a lot of help. I know the reporting is sketchy due to the logistics, but I have not seen or heard of any massive rescue efforts. Where are the navy, marines, air force, and army?  

Posted at 07:42 AM     Read More  

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