Feature Article November 6, 2003
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Memory I was braving the chilly north wind coming down The Mazinaw to pull the boat up and get the dock hoisted out of reach of winter's icy fingers when a particularly heavy wave filled my rubber boots.
"Ha, gotcha!" Maizie my favourite monster shouted in glee. "See that the seasonal winds are forcing you to get the winter chores done." "Hi Maizie," I retorted sitting down to empty my boots; that water was cold.
"I almost forgot the boat; I have been rather comfortable near the stove reading the paper promises/priorities of provincial and local politicians; the season crept up on me. I'm getting to the state I have to leave a reminder on the fridge to get things done." "Good idea, Laddie, do it all the time myself. I scratch what I need to remember in the sand; then when a wave wipes it clear my conscience is cleared as well and I live happily ever after, I tried. What is this Politicians' Paper Promises/Priorities thing? Sounds only slightly more enduring than my sand reminders." "Maizie, Maizie, I wish you would keep up with the news. The Ontario Liberals won an election with lots of promises and now are postponing if not downright reneging on them; they haven't the money they thought they would have. Looks like we are not going to be any better off than we have been over the past decade. We probably will have fewer services and more taxes or fees, the exact reverse of what was promised. That is a politicians' promise." "And the Paper Laddie, what is the Politicians' Paper Priorities?""The Frontenac News asked each local candidate to state the most important issue facing the incoming council and printed the replies. They are interesting and diverse, should be some good entertainment during council meetings if the PPP's are pursued. I wonder if the successful candidates will remember the issues. Some of them, like waste management, ground water, roads and better communicating with the taxpayer are old hat and have been around forever and still unresolved. Add to that new pressing items of broadband computer networking, native land claims, the assessment mess, economic development and probably additional downloading. There is a full slate of activity, if they remember their priorities. It would be wise of the council to post these on a board in the council chamber for remembering, and as time progresses keep a tally of the successes." "Laddie, that is a little ridiculous. I haven't heard of a political organization yet which etches promises to keep before the public. Rather hard to suggest a misquote of an oral promise when there is a graven image The last real etching was several centuries ago by Moses on his rock tablet and we haven't done that good a job remembering them, let alone keeping them. Don't assume, my innocent one, that because a politician lists a priority that it is a promise to do something about it. I suggest you keep the list of them for musing about during the next three years." She dove under after filling my waders with another splash, but as usual left a bit of wisdom floating in the northern wind.