Sorry, but I have to rob you
He also agrees to owner's request that dollar bills be left behind
The Associated Press
WEST DANVILLE, Vt. - A man who held up a general store in Vermont was apologetic — and more — about it.
The owner of Joe's Pond Country Store in West Danville says the man who held him up at knifepoint this week told him, "I'm very sorry I have to do this."
And when owner Jeff Downs asked the thief to leave behind the one-dollar bills, so that the workers on the next shift would have something in the till, he agreed.
A state police spokesman says no arrests have been made. He says the robber may be someone who's "just desperate, but isn't a career criminal."
As for the store owner, he's suggesting money is scarce in the wrong places. Downs says, "Wall Street tycoons can't live on millions and here is this kid willing to be shot or go to jail for a couple of hundred bucks." In his words, "Something is not right."
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27843551/
The link to this story was "Robber apologetic". A lot of people feel that robbers and the baddies out there are a different breed of people, a breed of people with no scruples or morals. They forget that first and foremost, we are all human. Of course!!! robbers feel bad when they rob a place. What, do people honestly believe that people who commit bad deeds don't suffer from their bad deeds, or a feel pangs of guilt? Dangerous offenders have been interviewed countless times and confess that they regret what they did and that they can't stop thinking about the event/misdeed. Post traumatic stress disorder for soldiers. It's hard to shoot someone and not feel guilty afterwards. Remember the NYC police officer that tasered a suspected criminal a few months back. The suspect fell to his death. The NYC went back to the precinct and shot himself in the basement.
People always feel guilty. No one is born a criminal. Yes of course there are those out there who are mentally disturbed to the point that it would appear that they have no qualms about their misdeeds, but I suspect that even the most deranged offender has flashbacks and guilt pangs. After all, we are all human. Our minds and bodies are affected and influenced by the same factors. Happy events = we feel good. Bad events = we feel pain/sadness/remorse.
It's funny. Cause the link to that story, "robber apologetic" tells me that a certain percentage of the population still feel that people who commit bad deeds are bad apples and that they never feel any remorse/regret. We are all human - of course they do. And this is all the more reason to get these people help before they get to this point. Perhaps the robber in the story owed money (gambling problems, foreclosure on his mortgage, etc.) or was a drug addict. We have to provide people with gambling/drug addictions REHABILITATION and apply preventative measures (most important), so that people aren't forced to do such things.
Now the pundits will say, forced to do such things, no one is forced to do such things. Why do people do them then? Of course there are other options, but people who are down and out and who have not had a good upbringing don't always know of the other options. They haven't had the same guidance that us more privileged folk have had.
Now the libertarian in me will say that, well how about just live and let live? Why should our tax dollars go to supporting people who have made poor life decisions? I made good decisions, I shouldn't have to pay for the mistakes of others. Does this sound like you? Well do you enjoy driving downtown without getting carjacked?
Do you enjoy not being forced to have a security system or an armed guard at your residence? If we let the people who make poor decisions suffer all the consequences of their poor decisions, without providing rehabilitation and assistance, we risk seeing our peaceful society turn into one of upturned, flaming cars, armed militias roaming the streets, etc. Let's fix things before such things occur.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Amazing Display of Humanity
This video is an excellent display of humanity in America.
Too often people critcize Americans for their (corrupt, misguided) way of life, etc. I have heard such things from certain Muslim friends and acquaintances.
When you view this video (I was moved to tears I must confess) you see just how "corrupt" and "misguided" white-Americans are. Non-muslim, white-Americans, willing to defend fellow citizens against discrimination, even though they may be of a different race or religion. You see that we are not so different after all. Tears are tears, blood is blood.
This video sadly, is likely not to be shown in mosques and to young Muslims, as the more radical imams and mullahs wish to shape their students'/followers' minds in a certain fashion. This video bucks the trend - it shows average Americans standing up for basic justice and humanity - skin colour and religion do not matter to such people. May we count ourselves among such people. Go humanity go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w45VmMyoppM
Too often people critcize Americans for their (corrupt, misguided) way of life, etc. I have heard such things from certain Muslim friends and acquaintances.
When you view this video (I was moved to tears I must confess) you see just how "corrupt" and "misguided" white-Americans are. Non-muslim, white-Americans, willing to defend fellow citizens against discrimination, even though they may be of a different race or religion. You see that we are not so different after all. Tears are tears, blood is blood.
This video sadly, is likely not to be shown in mosques and to young Muslims, as the more radical imams and mullahs wish to shape their students'/followers' minds in a certain fashion. This video bucks the trend - it shows average Americans standing up for basic justice and humanity - skin colour and religion do not matter to such people. May we count ourselves among such people. Go humanity go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w45VmMyoppM
Monday, November 10, 2008
An Epiphany
I have had an epiphany today. Yes, another one. But a great one, one that left me feeling content and fulfilled with where my life is and where it is going.
See it's tough to stay in school. 4 years to do a Bachelor's at full-time? 20,000 Gs?
I can't afford that. Time-wise, nor money-wise. So I study part-time. But then, that 4 years quickly becomes 7 or 8 years. 7 years to obtain a Bachelor's? 7 long years of toiling away in minimum wage positions, working at coffee shops and restaurants, scraping by. It doesn't appeal to you? Doesn't appeal to me either.
Add to this "torture" the fact that I study in French - not my first language. I don't know why, but i've chosen to put myself through a meat-grinder of an education it would seem. I am not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
So, while one of my professors was dragging on, rather listlessly, in French, about municipal political structures across North America, I decided that I am done studying there and will study at one of my city's finer, English-speaking institutions. Again, part-time, but nonetheless, in my mother tongue.
I will start in winter so as not to lose anytime. With 3 classes/term, I can be done in another 4 - 5 years. Not 45 but 4 - 5. It aill seem like 45 though.
But it will pay off in the end. I considered the other night, going to one of the technical colleges in my city. In fact I live right near a very reputable and well-attended one (read: well-financed, no chance of disappearing overnight as some vocational schools can do).
There, I would take a 1-year office admin. or tourism planner program. 1 year. in. out. they give you a work placement for 2-weeks, they teach you WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, and they help you acquire employment upon graduation. All that for LESS than I'm paying for a post-sec education. A 50 min bus ride away, second-language, costly, post-sec education. So, comme j'avais mon voyage avec Quebec (i've had it with Quebec), j'avais egalement mon voyage a l'Universite ________.
Im gonna go speak some good english at a uni here in the city where ill get a degree and a job with the federal government in 2011 when 40 percent of their workforce becomes eligible for retirement.
Lesson for today: Do what you love in life cause it's your life and you're the one that's gotta enjoy/endure it.
UPDATE: College is a much better option for people who feel the way I do: that education should not take a life-time (yes 7 years to a young person feels like a life time!) and cost an arm and a leg. Rather, college offers people a fast, direct, and applicable education. I will therefore be studying journalism at one of our city's fine colleges next september. I have ceased going to my francophone university. How I enjoy going to the library, reading, writing, thinking, formulating opinions on things. Too often, in this hectic and busy world, where we are told where to go, when to eat, when to sleep, we lose our sense of direction, our sense of who we are and what we wish to achieve. Taking a step back from the "chaos" (school/work/etc) I now have time to cotemplate these million dollar questions and choose a life path I will be happy with. 24/11/2008
See it's tough to stay in school. 4 years to do a Bachelor's at full-time? 20,000 Gs?
I can't afford that. Time-wise, nor money-wise. So I study part-time. But then, that 4 years quickly becomes 7 or 8 years. 7 years to obtain a Bachelor's? 7 long years of toiling away in minimum wage positions, working at coffee shops and restaurants, scraping by. It doesn't appeal to you? Doesn't appeal to me either.
Add to this "torture" the fact that I study in French - not my first language. I don't know why, but i've chosen to put myself through a meat-grinder of an education it would seem. I am not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
So, while one of my professors was dragging on, rather listlessly, in French, about municipal political structures across North America, I decided that I am done studying there and will study at one of my city's finer, English-speaking institutions. Again, part-time, but nonetheless, in my mother tongue.
I will start in winter so as not to lose anytime. With 3 classes/term, I can be done in another 4 - 5 years. Not 45 but 4 - 5. It aill seem like 45 though.
But it will pay off in the end. I considered the other night, going to one of the technical colleges in my city. In fact I live right near a very reputable and well-attended one (read: well-financed, no chance of disappearing overnight as some vocational schools can do).
There, I would take a 1-year office admin. or tourism planner program. 1 year. in. out. they give you a work placement for 2-weeks, they teach you WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, and they help you acquire employment upon graduation. All that for LESS than I'm paying for a post-sec education. A 50 min bus ride away, second-language, costly, post-sec education. So, comme j'avais mon voyage avec Quebec (i've had it with Quebec), j'avais egalement mon voyage a l'Universite ________.
Im gonna go speak some good english at a uni here in the city where ill get a degree and a job with the federal government in 2011 when 40 percent of their workforce becomes eligible for retirement.
Lesson for today: Do what you love in life cause it's your life and you're the one that's gotta enjoy/endure it.
UPDATE: College is a much better option for people who feel the way I do: that education should not take a life-time (yes 7 years to a young person feels like a life time!) and cost an arm and a leg. Rather, college offers people a fast, direct, and applicable education. I will therefore be studying journalism at one of our city's fine colleges next september. I have ceased going to my francophone university. How I enjoy going to the library, reading, writing, thinking, formulating opinions on things. Too often, in this hectic and busy world, where we are told where to go, when to eat, when to sleep, we lose our sense of direction, our sense of who we are and what we wish to achieve. Taking a step back from the "chaos" (school/work/etc) I now have time to cotemplate these million dollar questions and choose a life path I will be happy with. 24/11/2008
Obamarama 2
The world's perception re: the United States of America, has totally changed following the election of Mr. Barack Obama.
From Africa to the Middle East to the Far East to Europe, people previously critical of the United States (politically, socially, culturally, etc. are now taking a step back. Have any of their countries elected a non-native President/Prime Minister? Perhaps the "American dream" is still something that we can believe in.
Americans are racists? No no no. Look who they elected.
Americans are all right-win crazies? No no no. Look who they elected.
Europeans, Africans, Asians, citizens of the world. The United States has done the incredible. And it is amazing how overnight, perceptions of the world's most well-known country have changed (for the better).
For, like it or not, an American election is a global election. The President of the USA has an effect on the lives of billions of the world's citizens. Indonesia had campaign style Obama signs during the presidential race, as did Kenya, and as did, I suspect, many more.
This may sound cliche, but I say, Let's believe, once again, in the American dream. If a largely unknown, African-American, 2-time senator from Chicago, without contacts in the big business, without the help of "the old guard" and leading politicians, can become President of one of the most powerful countries in the world, then we can all dare to dream.
Good luck to President Obama.
From Africa to the Middle East to the Far East to Europe, people previously critical of the United States (politically, socially, culturally, etc. are now taking a step back. Have any of their countries elected a non-native President/Prime Minister? Perhaps the "American dream" is still something that we can believe in.
Americans are racists? No no no. Look who they elected.
Americans are all right-win crazies? No no no. Look who they elected.
Europeans, Africans, Asians, citizens of the world. The United States has done the incredible. And it is amazing how overnight, perceptions of the world's most well-known country have changed (for the better).
For, like it or not, an American election is a global election. The President of the USA has an effect on the lives of billions of the world's citizens. Indonesia had campaign style Obama signs during the presidential race, as did Kenya, and as did, I suspect, many more.
This may sound cliche, but I say, Let's believe, once again, in the American dream. If a largely unknown, African-American, 2-time senator from Chicago, without contacts in the big business, without the help of "the old guard" and leading politicians, can become President of one of the most powerful countries in the world, then we can all dare to dream.
Good luck to President Obama.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
HEALTH CARE PLAN
Enough is enough! The government of Canada has miserably failed its citizens. Our health care system is in a deplorable state and Ottawa has its head in the sand. The federal government is no longer in a position to decide how to fix our health care system; this domain of competence must be passed on to the cities and regions of Canada as soon as possible so that a more efficient and effective health care system can be implemented. Here is the four step, five year plan I propose:
Step 1:
We have hundreds (perhaps thousands) of immigrant doctors in Canada who are unable to practice because the current “establishment” does not accept their credentials. Let them treat us! We have a doctor shortage in this country and the waiting lists are long enough! Gatineau, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Miramichi, must now have the ability whether or not to accept the medical licenses of new Canadians. Let me tell you now that many of our cities and regions will accept them. In the first year Canadian cities and regions will be given the power to choose and this will immediately add hundreds more doctors to our system. Their credentials will be verified and they will be administered a fair test. Their competence in either English or French will also be tested.
Step 2 :
In the second year, using the current boundaries of the 308 federal, electoral constituencies, we will create a network of “health zones”. Each “health zone” will be granted its own money, powers, and mandate with respect to the administrating of health care to the residents in their respective zone. Each health zone will be given $73.4 million from the federal government.
{Canada Health Transfer for 2008-2009 will be $22.6 billion. Divided by 308, the number of federal, electoral constituencies, this amounts to $73.4 million for each of the health zones}
Add to this number another $70 million that each health zone will receive from their respective provincial governments. In the case of Saskatchewan, which will have 14 health zones (as they have 14 constituencies), only $980 million would be needed from provincial coffers. When you consider that Saskatchewan intends to spend $3.5 billion on health care in that province in 2008-2009, $980 million is a bargain. Thus, Step 2 will not only provide $143.4 million to each health zone but will also free up billions of dollars of provincial money which can then be passed on to other beneficial programs. With $143 million in hand, (73.4 million from the federal government, 70 million from the provincial governments) each health zone, with an average of 90,000 people , would be much more efficient. For example $1.5 million dollars an MRI machine.
{With just 15 million dollars we could have ten of these machines! Ten MRI machines for 90,000 people!? The entire city of Ottawa (1,000,000 people) has no more than 10. A single MRI machine does approximately 4500 scans a year . How long did you or a one of your loved ones have to wait for an MRI scan?}
Step 3:
In the third year, we will pursue an aggressive recruitment campaign of foreign doctors. We will look abroad as opposed to Canada for the time being.
{This is because the Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian College of Family Physicians are too monopolist to be part of such a plan. These ridiculous acceptance quota at Canadian medical schools: 60, 80, 100 students a year. We have a doctor shortage in this country! Open the floodgates! But no, the CMA and the CCFP like the prestige that comes with being a doctor. Only a select few in society are “competent” and “intelligent” enough to be doctors in this country. I say get off your high horse! We need doctors that can stitch people up, deliver babies, make casts, take blood. This does not need to take 7 years of expensive schooling! Step 5 will address the issue of educating new doctors in Canada}
The $143 million that each health zone will have will be used to recruit doctors from international medical schools judged legitimate and professional. For example, as sociologist Richard Florida explains: “the medical school in New Delhi is perhaps the best in the world.” With a population of 1.6 billion, India (most university-educated Indian citizens speak English) can surely provide our country with more doctors.
The recruiters (delegates from each health zone) will go to the best medical schools around the world and make new, interested graduates sign a contract with the following conditions:
-salary of $60,000 per year, non-taxed; (they will pay no income tax and will also flash their “physician’s card” at any business to be exempt from paying GST and/or PST. Many Canadian doctors might feel that this is not enough money. Foreign-trained doctors, given the chance to live in Canada, and under the rest of the generous conditions, would likely jump at the chance)
-mandatory three days off a week (less stress, opportunity to pursue other activities: business or pleasure. In case they feel that their salaries are not enough they can start a business on the side. They will have three days off a week. If they want to spend those days on the golf course they can do that too. We want our doctors to be happy. When they are happy they treat us better.)
-a maximum of 120 patients (less stress, can spend more time with each patient. The current 5 – 10 minute doctor visit is a joke)
-they will stay in their health zone for a minimum of 10 years. (failing this, Canada may send them home or fine them heavily. Because both rural and urban areas need doctors. They are not all going to flock to Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto)
So just how many doctors can a health zone buy? Well with $50 million, roughly a third of the 143 million, a health zone could employ 833 doctors! Imagine: 90,000 people with 833 doctors. To give the reader an idea of the current situation: according to the Saskatoon Health Region there are 300,000 people and 750 doctors operating in Saskatoon and surrounding area . Don’t have a calculator? This would mean that each doctor would have 400 patients. How can one doctor take care of four hundred people?
Step 4:
In the fourth and fifth years each health zone will begin and complete the construction of their own medical schools/treatment centres. Each health zone, having set aside 20 million dollars since year two would have 80 million dollars by year five. 80 million dollars (and 20 million dollars every year thereafter directed to the maintenance of the medical school/treatment centre) can build a fairly nice school. I reside in what will be the health zone of Ottawa West-Nepean (as this is my federal, electoral constituency). With approximately 90,000 people in our health zone an 80 million dollar medical school/treatment centre will serve us all quite nicely.
The medical school will work as follows:
A very brief (2 week) study will be done to see what the biggest health concern in the health zone is. If we have a high population of seniors our medical school’s focus will be senior care. If we have a higher demographic of children, our medical school will deal more with pediatric care. These are just two examples. Each medical school will tailor its education to suit the needs of the residents of that particular health zone.
As for the education itself, no program will take more than 2 years. The current 7+ years is too long. We want the youth of our health zone to consider medical school. If a student wants to do knee/hip surgeries, that is all he/she will study. They will work alongside surgeons throughout those two years until he/she is considered apt enough to be able to perform the operations. Many people may be shocked to think that a student with only 2 years of medical school could perform knee/hip surgeries proficiently. To them I say look at professional athletes. They perform over and over again their sport, and practice again and again their technique, until they are as good as they can be. Look at the way baseball players can hit baseballs coming at them at 100 mph. They practice again and again, hundreds of times a month, swinging the bat and hitting the ball.
This is how the school would train its students. The prospective ear, nose, throat specialist, or knee/hip surgeon will work alongside trained surgeons and practice on specially made “dummy” knees and hips, until he can perform the surgeries with his eyes closed.
I ask this question to the reader: when going into a particular surgery, would you prefer a surgeon who has studied and practiced nothing but that surgery for two years, practiced it thousands of times, dozens of times on real patients (under the supervision of a trained surgeon) OR would you take the surgeon who studied for seven years at medical school, “learned” everything about the body parts from the tip of the head to the toes, and spent hours sitting in lectures, but never actually performed/practiced a real surgery? Would you bet money on the baseball player who has swung the bat a hundred thousand times or the player who has read every book on baseball and studied the geometry of the sport? I would take the former over the latter in both cases and I would hope most other people would too.
Thus the medical school would pump put students in two years, highly proficient and professional in what they do. “Susan” might know nothing about knee/hip surgeries. But no need to worry about that. You go to “John” for that. Susan will treat you for any troubles you may have with your ear, nose, and throat.
Residents of the health zone would then go to the treatment centre (hospital) whenever they needed any type of care. One hospital per 90,000 people? Sounds pretty good doesn’t it?
As for the tuition costs, they would be kept very low. No more than 500 dollars per semester, and that would only be to pay for the supplies. As the medical school would have a treatment centre attached to it, most of their education would take place there, under the watchful eye of already trained physicians and surgeons. Teachers therefore would not need to be paid, although the health zone would pay a small stipend from its pot of $143 million to certain surgeons/physicians for giving special lectures to the students.
If additional money was ever needed by the health zone, a mere 20 dollar head tax would be put on all residents 1 year of age or older. Just twenty dollars annually, paid by the residents of the health zone would raise nearly 2 million dollars. Like I said, when 1.5 million dollars buys an MRI machine and 60,000 dollars employs a family doctor for a year, the money of the residents would not be wasted.
CONCLUSION
This four step, five year plan is simple, easy, and effective. Getting “sick” shouldn’t be the nightmare that it is today. There should be friendly nurses and doctors on hand to take care of you whenever you need. As it stands now, we face 10+ hour waits in emergency rooms, 1 in 3 Canadians do not have a family doctor, and for those of us who are fortunate enough to have a family doctor, we only see him/her for 5 minutes, long enough for him/her to check our pulse and write out a new prescription.
Furthermore, our doctors and nurses are unhappy. Stressed, overworked, and often unappreciated, they are people too. Why can’t they be healthy and happy? Happy doctors = happy patients.
Ottawa throws BILLIONS of dollars a year at the mixed up, mashed up system, hoping that somehow all that paper will save us. What we really need is an absolute overhaul of the system. Any smart organization delegates authority. Municipal governments have a mayor, a group of councilors, auditors and so on. There is a ladder of power. These ladders of power allow for more efficiency. The federal government does not have this ladder of power. Everything starts and stops in Ottawa. What does Ottawa know about the needs of the people of Keewatin, Nunavut or Nanaimo, British Columbia or Sherbrooke, Quebec? Let us delegate the matter of health to smaller, more organized health zones, and lets all get back on track to being healthy, happy, and productive.
Step 1:
We have hundreds (perhaps thousands) of immigrant doctors in Canada who are unable to practice because the current “establishment” does not accept their credentials. Let them treat us! We have a doctor shortage in this country and the waiting lists are long enough! Gatineau, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Miramichi, must now have the ability whether or not to accept the medical licenses of new Canadians. Let me tell you now that many of our cities and regions will accept them. In the first year Canadian cities and regions will be given the power to choose and this will immediately add hundreds more doctors to our system. Their credentials will be verified and they will be administered a fair test. Their competence in either English or French will also be tested.
Step 2 :
In the second year, using the current boundaries of the 308 federal, electoral constituencies, we will create a network of “health zones”. Each “health zone” will be granted its own money, powers, and mandate with respect to the administrating of health care to the residents in their respective zone. Each health zone will be given $73.4 million from the federal government.
{Canada Health Transfer for 2008-2009 will be $22.6 billion. Divided by 308, the number of federal, electoral constituencies, this amounts to $73.4 million for each of the health zones}
Add to this number another $70 million that each health zone will receive from their respective provincial governments. In the case of Saskatchewan, which will have 14 health zones (as they have 14 constituencies), only $980 million would be needed from provincial coffers. When you consider that Saskatchewan intends to spend $3.5 billion on health care in that province in 2008-2009, $980 million is a bargain. Thus, Step 2 will not only provide $143.4 million to each health zone but will also free up billions of dollars of provincial money which can then be passed on to other beneficial programs. With $143 million in hand, (73.4 million from the federal government, 70 million from the provincial governments) each health zone, with an average of 90,000 people , would be much more efficient. For example $1.5 million dollars an MRI machine.
{With just 15 million dollars we could have ten of these machines! Ten MRI machines for 90,000 people!? The entire city of Ottawa (1,000,000 people) has no more than 10. A single MRI machine does approximately 4500 scans a year . How long did you or a one of your loved ones have to wait for an MRI scan?}
Step 3:
In the third year, we will pursue an aggressive recruitment campaign of foreign doctors. We will look abroad as opposed to Canada for the time being.
{This is because the Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian College of Family Physicians are too monopolist to be part of such a plan. These ridiculous acceptance quota at Canadian medical schools: 60, 80, 100 students a year. We have a doctor shortage in this country! Open the floodgates! But no, the CMA and the CCFP like the prestige that comes with being a doctor. Only a select few in society are “competent” and “intelligent” enough to be doctors in this country. I say get off your high horse! We need doctors that can stitch people up, deliver babies, make casts, take blood. This does not need to take 7 years of expensive schooling! Step 5 will address the issue of educating new doctors in Canada}
The $143 million that each health zone will have will be used to recruit doctors from international medical schools judged legitimate and professional. For example, as sociologist Richard Florida explains: “the medical school in New Delhi is perhaps the best in the world.” With a population of 1.6 billion, India (most university-educated Indian citizens speak English) can surely provide our country with more doctors.
The recruiters (delegates from each health zone) will go to the best medical schools around the world and make new, interested graduates sign a contract with the following conditions:
-salary of $60,000 per year, non-taxed; (they will pay no income tax and will also flash their “physician’s card” at any business to be exempt from paying GST and/or PST. Many Canadian doctors might feel that this is not enough money. Foreign-trained doctors, given the chance to live in Canada, and under the rest of the generous conditions, would likely jump at the chance)
-mandatory three days off a week (less stress, opportunity to pursue other activities: business or pleasure. In case they feel that their salaries are not enough they can start a business on the side. They will have three days off a week. If they want to spend those days on the golf course they can do that too. We want our doctors to be happy. When they are happy they treat us better.)
-a maximum of 120 patients (less stress, can spend more time with each patient. The current 5 – 10 minute doctor visit is a joke)
-they will stay in their health zone for a minimum of 10 years. (failing this, Canada may send them home or fine them heavily. Because both rural and urban areas need doctors. They are not all going to flock to Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto)
So just how many doctors can a health zone buy? Well with $50 million, roughly a third of the 143 million, a health zone could employ 833 doctors! Imagine: 90,000 people with 833 doctors. To give the reader an idea of the current situation: according to the Saskatoon Health Region there are 300,000 people and 750 doctors operating in Saskatoon and surrounding area . Don’t have a calculator? This would mean that each doctor would have 400 patients. How can one doctor take care of four hundred people?
Step 4:
In the fourth and fifth years each health zone will begin and complete the construction of their own medical schools/treatment centres. Each health zone, having set aside 20 million dollars since year two would have 80 million dollars by year five. 80 million dollars (and 20 million dollars every year thereafter directed to the maintenance of the medical school/treatment centre) can build a fairly nice school. I reside in what will be the health zone of Ottawa West-Nepean (as this is my federal, electoral constituency). With approximately 90,000 people in our health zone an 80 million dollar medical school/treatment centre will serve us all quite nicely.
The medical school will work as follows:
A very brief (2 week) study will be done to see what the biggest health concern in the health zone is. If we have a high population of seniors our medical school’s focus will be senior care. If we have a higher demographic of children, our medical school will deal more with pediatric care. These are just two examples. Each medical school will tailor its education to suit the needs of the residents of that particular health zone.
As for the education itself, no program will take more than 2 years. The current 7+ years is too long. We want the youth of our health zone to consider medical school. If a student wants to do knee/hip surgeries, that is all he/she will study. They will work alongside surgeons throughout those two years until he/she is considered apt enough to be able to perform the operations. Many people may be shocked to think that a student with only 2 years of medical school could perform knee/hip surgeries proficiently. To them I say look at professional athletes. They perform over and over again their sport, and practice again and again their technique, until they are as good as they can be. Look at the way baseball players can hit baseballs coming at them at 100 mph. They practice again and again, hundreds of times a month, swinging the bat and hitting the ball.
This is how the school would train its students. The prospective ear, nose, throat specialist, or knee/hip surgeon will work alongside trained surgeons and practice on specially made “dummy” knees and hips, until he can perform the surgeries with his eyes closed.
I ask this question to the reader: when going into a particular surgery, would you prefer a surgeon who has studied and practiced nothing but that surgery for two years, practiced it thousands of times, dozens of times on real patients (under the supervision of a trained surgeon) OR would you take the surgeon who studied for seven years at medical school, “learned” everything about the body parts from the tip of the head to the toes, and spent hours sitting in lectures, but never actually performed/practiced a real surgery? Would you bet money on the baseball player who has swung the bat a hundred thousand times or the player who has read every book on baseball and studied the geometry of the sport? I would take the former over the latter in both cases and I would hope most other people would too.
Thus the medical school would pump put students in two years, highly proficient and professional in what they do. “Susan” might know nothing about knee/hip surgeries. But no need to worry about that. You go to “John” for that. Susan will treat you for any troubles you may have with your ear, nose, and throat.
Residents of the health zone would then go to the treatment centre (hospital) whenever they needed any type of care. One hospital per 90,000 people? Sounds pretty good doesn’t it?
As for the tuition costs, they would be kept very low. No more than 500 dollars per semester, and that would only be to pay for the supplies. As the medical school would have a treatment centre attached to it, most of their education would take place there, under the watchful eye of already trained physicians and surgeons. Teachers therefore would not need to be paid, although the health zone would pay a small stipend from its pot of $143 million to certain surgeons/physicians for giving special lectures to the students.
If additional money was ever needed by the health zone, a mere 20 dollar head tax would be put on all residents 1 year of age or older. Just twenty dollars annually, paid by the residents of the health zone would raise nearly 2 million dollars. Like I said, when 1.5 million dollars buys an MRI machine and 60,000 dollars employs a family doctor for a year, the money of the residents would not be wasted.
CONCLUSION
This four step, five year plan is simple, easy, and effective. Getting “sick” shouldn’t be the nightmare that it is today. There should be friendly nurses and doctors on hand to take care of you whenever you need. As it stands now, we face 10+ hour waits in emergency rooms, 1 in 3 Canadians do not have a family doctor, and for those of us who are fortunate enough to have a family doctor, we only see him/her for 5 minutes, long enough for him/her to check our pulse and write out a new prescription.
Furthermore, our doctors and nurses are unhappy. Stressed, overworked, and often unappreciated, they are people too. Why can’t they be healthy and happy? Happy doctors = happy patients.
Ottawa throws BILLIONS of dollars a year at the mixed up, mashed up system, hoping that somehow all that paper will save us. What we really need is an absolute overhaul of the system. Any smart organization delegates authority. Municipal governments have a mayor, a group of councilors, auditors and so on. There is a ladder of power. These ladders of power allow for more efficiency. The federal government does not have this ladder of power. Everything starts and stops in Ottawa. What does Ottawa know about the needs of the people of Keewatin, Nunavut or Nanaimo, British Columbia or Sherbrooke, Quebec? Let us delegate the matter of health to smaller, more organized health zones, and lets all get back on track to being healthy, happy, and productive.
School/Academia
I've decided to keep up with the school. I want to succeed and do well now. If it means that I have to leave people behind, or change existing thoughts/feelings on things, then I will.
I don't want to be the blue collar guy forever. I want the Master's the PhD the 90,000/year salary, the Lexus. I want to surround myself with knowledgable and intelligent people. This involves me to start focusing more on my own needs as opposed to those of the "working class".
I am no revolutionary or union organizer. I have my own needs (diabetes, et al.) and need to find a job that suits those needs. Working at a desk sort of appeals to me now. I want to wear a nice, pressed shirt to work and carry a black leather briefcase. Currently the only days I get to dress up and engage in thoughtful debate and study is Mondays and Wednesdays when I go to school. As my French improves (I study at a francophone university) I find myself taking part in more debate and loving the writing assignments.
I think the tide is turning.
I don't want to be the blue collar guy forever. I want the Master's the PhD the 90,000/year salary, the Lexus. I want to surround myself with knowledgable and intelligent people. This involves me to start focusing more on my own needs as opposed to those of the "working class".
I am no revolutionary or union organizer. I have my own needs (diabetes, et al.) and need to find a job that suits those needs. Working at a desk sort of appeals to me now. I want to wear a nice, pressed shirt to work and carry a black leather briefcase. Currently the only days I get to dress up and engage in thoughtful debate and study is Mondays and Wednesdays when I go to school. As my French improves (I study at a francophone university) I find myself taking part in more debate and loving the writing assignments.
I think the tide is turning.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Obamarama
Alrigggght. Despite all the non-believers out there, a black American has become PRESIDENT!
Steve Schmidt, John McCain's chief strategist sums the man up best:
"[Obama is] a once-in-a-generation orator. A good debater. And an eloquent message. He was the beneficiary of favorable media coverage. Ice-cold disciplined about the execution of his campaign message. He was an extremely formidable candidate.”
reference: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27549215/?GT1=43001
And there we have it. Wow. A breath of fresh air for the world. No more George W. Bush. We've had enough war and conflict for 8 years. Let's give the Dems a chance.
Now I do sort of feel for Obama. He's got some BIG expectations to live up to. I mean I suppose so would any US President, but Obama has got people BELIEVING again. BELIEVING in a better America, BELIEVING in a better world. From Indonesia to Palestine to Australia Obama was the man.
Heck one of my 16 year old co-workers even had an Obama t-shirt!
Talk about Obamarama Obamania!
People who hadn't voted in decades voted again. Their reason?
There was finally a candidate they felt like voting for.
Go get 'em Obama.
Steve Schmidt, John McCain's chief strategist sums the man up best:
"[Obama is] a once-in-a-generation orator. A good debater. And an eloquent message. He was the beneficiary of favorable media coverage. Ice-cold disciplined about the execution of his campaign message. He was an extremely formidable candidate.”
reference: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27549215/?GT1=43001
And there we have it. Wow. A breath of fresh air for the world. No more George W. Bush. We've had enough war and conflict for 8 years. Let's give the Dems a chance.
Now I do sort of feel for Obama. He's got some BIG expectations to live up to. I mean I suppose so would any US President, but Obama has got people BELIEVING again. BELIEVING in a better America, BELIEVING in a better world. From Indonesia to Palestine to Australia Obama was the man.
Heck one of my 16 year old co-workers even had an Obama t-shirt!
Talk about Obamarama Obamania!
People who hadn't voted in decades voted again. Their reason?
There was finally a candidate they felt like voting for.
Go get 'em Obama.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
a quandry
i wish i didn't have diabetes. that i didn't have to come across as an OCD type person. adding and subtracting and fine tuning numbers and bg and what i ate. wish i could just be casual bout everything. eat this, eat that, work out at this time, sleep in till this time. but i can't. my life is ruled by the clock and my blood sugars.
this poses many problems. im actually wondering whether i can stay in the job where im at. i mean, im on my feet for 8 - 9 hours, cutting meat, serving customers, filling the counter, etc. This is quite physical work and a person needs to consume quite a few carbs to do this job. some of my coworkers will eat an entire McDonald's meal or 12-inch sub. that'll last them about 4 hours.
with carbs such an essential part to this job i wonder if now is the time that i should be considering switching jobs. perhaps a desk job would be a better option? i mean that can come with its problems too: little access to food (incase my bg is low and I need to eat), deadlines to finish projects, power structure, etc.
there is no perfect work place and im a strong believer in "it's what you make of it".
i've said before that i love blue-collar type work: carpentry, landscaping, meat cutting, etc. but when my bg is good i really enjoy sitting, studying, reading, writing too. all those things that i can't seem to concentrate on when my bg is high.
as my bg stabilizes over the next couple of weeks as i work out this new low-carb regime, i wonder if i am still going to be well suited for the job in which i work?
if not i will have to leave as my health is important. i need to give it the credit it deserves. i dont want to go blind, suffer kidney failure, and endure life without my toes/feet/legs.
(diabetics, as a result of poor bg control, often have circulation problems. these problems strike hardest in the feet where circulation requires more effort. if blood vessels are damaged due to high blood sugars the blood does not circulate as well. think of sitting water as opposed to running water. the sitting water that you see on those WorldVision ads. would you rather drink/wash in that or in a running stream? standing/sitting blood, like water, is similar. and when your circulation is weak you can suffer big time infection. gangrene sets in and yeah, its not pretty. thus the reason for the amputations among the diabetic population.)
anyways. i will try my plan out today. if i have to eat carbs i will. i won't be one of those anti-carb fanatics. carbs are good for you. they provide you with energy. carbs are harmful to you when you're body is not using them. if you have a desk job you want a low-carb diet. if you do a lot of exercise/physical activity you want to consume an APPROPRIATE amount of carbohydrates. avg. 150 / person / day. to give you an idea, a banana is 20 CHO, a piece of bread is 15 - 20 CHO.
anyways. thats it for now. take care.
this poses many problems. im actually wondering whether i can stay in the job where im at. i mean, im on my feet for 8 - 9 hours, cutting meat, serving customers, filling the counter, etc. This is quite physical work and a person needs to consume quite a few carbs to do this job. some of my coworkers will eat an entire McDonald's meal or 12-inch sub. that'll last them about 4 hours.
with carbs such an essential part to this job i wonder if now is the time that i should be considering switching jobs. perhaps a desk job would be a better option? i mean that can come with its problems too: little access to food (incase my bg is low and I need to eat), deadlines to finish projects, power structure, etc.
there is no perfect work place and im a strong believer in "it's what you make of it".
i've said before that i love blue-collar type work: carpentry, landscaping, meat cutting, etc. but when my bg is good i really enjoy sitting, studying, reading, writing too. all those things that i can't seem to concentrate on when my bg is high.
as my bg stabilizes over the next couple of weeks as i work out this new low-carb regime, i wonder if i am still going to be well suited for the job in which i work?
if not i will have to leave as my health is important. i need to give it the credit it deserves. i dont want to go blind, suffer kidney failure, and endure life without my toes/feet/legs.
(diabetics, as a result of poor bg control, often have circulation problems. these problems strike hardest in the feet where circulation requires more effort. if blood vessels are damaged due to high blood sugars the blood does not circulate as well. think of sitting water as opposed to running water. the sitting water that you see on those WorldVision ads. would you rather drink/wash in that or in a running stream? standing/sitting blood, like water, is similar. and when your circulation is weak you can suffer big time infection. gangrene sets in and yeah, its not pretty. thus the reason for the amputations among the diabetic population.)
anyways. i will try my plan out today. if i have to eat carbs i will. i won't be one of those anti-carb fanatics. carbs are good for you. they provide you with energy. carbs are harmful to you when you're body is not using them. if you have a desk job you want a low-carb diet. if you do a lot of exercise/physical activity you want to consume an APPROPRIATE amount of carbohydrates. avg. 150 / person / day. to give you an idea, a banana is 20 CHO, a piece of bread is 15 - 20 CHO.
anyways. thats it for now. take care.
diabetes notebook: low-carb day
low-carb day. also happens to be election day in the US. will leave that till later.
breakfast this morning: 2 eggs, 1/2 cup V-8, carrots. 9 a.m.
11 a.m. feeling pretty good. bg is 6.9 mmol/L. right on target. diabetics should aim for 5 - 10 mmol/L. non-diabetics are 4 - 7 mmol/L.
wondering what to eat. at a crossroads. 15 NPH taken this morning. peaking. will eat max. 40 CHO. mixed with veggies and meat this should be sufficient.
work at 2 pm so I have to take that into consideration. have to build up a bit of a reserve. dont want to start work low/high. want to start work with bg at 5 - 10 mmol/L, with belly full and feeling energetic.
will update as to how this works later.
breakfast this morning: 2 eggs, 1/2 cup V-8, carrots. 9 a.m.
11 a.m. feeling pretty good. bg is 6.9 mmol/L. right on target. diabetics should aim for 5 - 10 mmol/L. non-diabetics are 4 - 7 mmol/L.
wondering what to eat. at a crossroads. 15 NPH taken this morning. peaking. will eat max. 40 CHO. mixed with veggies and meat this should be sufficient.
work at 2 pm so I have to take that into consideration. have to build up a bit of a reserve. dont want to start work low/high. want to start work with bg at 5 - 10 mmol/L, with belly full and feeling energetic.
will update as to how this works later.
LIGHTS
A great new artist. One of my new favourites, although there's really only one song of hers that I listen to. Check it out:
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=ltCvOztda3I&NR=1
The video might be considered a little lame by some. I don't mind it.
It's slowly breaking into the Top 20 and playing on the radio more often (which is where I first heard it).
She's a Toronto gal. Nice to see Canadian artists out there doing well.
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=ltCvOztda3I&NR=1
The video might be considered a little lame by some. I don't mind it.
It's slowly breaking into the Top 20 and playing on the radio more often (which is where I first heard it).
She's a Toronto gal. Nice to see Canadian artists out there doing well.
Diabetes Downer
Well I'm at that point again (comes around every month or so) where I've decided to start taking serious action with respect to my diabetes management. I have to get better control of my blood sugars. I'm tired of them being up. Normal is between 4 - 7 mmol/L (Canada, Europe) and I often find myself 10 - 14.
I have to make this a priority. Even quit my job if necessary. My health is the most important thing. Let me repeat that for everyone: your health is the most important thing. Take care of yourself.
I've decided to start blogging a little more on my diabetes as it helps me sort of keep track of what I'm doing.
So today, is Day 1 of the low carb diet. I've tried this before and it worked quite well. Lots of vegetables, plenty of meat, and when I do eat carbs they should be "complex carbs". In other words foods that take a while to break down: pasta, potatoes and whole wheat bread are the best.
moderate exercise. I can't box for more than an hour as it will require me to eat too many carbs. Carbs that will be stored away while I'm exercising, but carbs that will be released a half hour after I stop.
Alright. So this is Day 1. I'll get back to y'all tonight.
I have to make this a priority. Even quit my job if necessary. My health is the most important thing. Let me repeat that for everyone: your health is the most important thing. Take care of yourself.
I've decided to start blogging a little more on my diabetes as it helps me sort of keep track of what I'm doing.
So today, is Day 1 of the low carb diet. I've tried this before and it worked quite well. Lots of vegetables, plenty of meat, and when I do eat carbs they should be "complex carbs". In other words foods that take a while to break down: pasta, potatoes and whole wheat bread are the best.
moderate exercise. I can't box for more than an hour as it will require me to eat too many carbs. Carbs that will be stored away while I'm exercising, but carbs that will be released a half hour after I stop.
Alright. So this is Day 1. I'll get back to y'all tonight.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Ebay Item
My girlfriend and I found this amazing wine flask at Value Village this evening. Have a look. Make a bid too if you like.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120328645621
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120328645621
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Volunteer Work And Its Challenges
I don't blame people for not volunteering these days. In fact, it would seem that these days, for anyone to go out of their way, is to invite trouble. Person A can't pull over to the side of the road to help Person B with their broken down vehicle as Person B might think that Person A is pulling over to cause them harm. (case in Detroit). Man A can't do this because Woman A might think that. I'm having trouble coming up with some concrete examples, but essentially what I'm saying is that a lot of us CANNOT, even if we wanted to, go out of our way, for fear of trouble or false accusation when trying to help someone with something.
Stories of false accusation and the wrongfully convicted (I try so hard not to read them so as to avoid worrying) seem fairly common, too common, that we almost just want to retreat into our little cocoons and only associate with people we know on a first-hand basis. We are suspicious of one another.
I volunteer with the Big Brother Big Sister Association. What if I was ever falsely accused of having done something inappropriate while in the company of my little "brother"?
"Well, just tell the truth and you'll be fine," some say. Not necessarily so. From the infamous Klassen family case (Martensville, Saskatchewan) where two well-meaning foster parents took in three parent-less children, one of which accused the parents of committing various barbaric acts. If you ever read the testimonies or quotations from the case, you will see that some of the things that the couple were accused of would be better attributed to some outlandish, Hollywood, sci-fi movie involving vampires. Seriously. Read the case. Ridiculous stuff. And the worst part of the whole thing was the practical COACHING that the police and crown prosecution allegedly gave the children when taking their testimonies. Grown men and women, urging 7 and 8 year old kids to tell them more! more! about the blood drinking and satanic sexual practices that the foster parents engaged them in.
In the end it turned out that the parents had done NOTHING. That instead, it was the boy (there was a boy and two girls - either step brothers/sisters or blood brothers/sisters, I forget which) that was found to have not only been physically and sexually abusing his two sisters (it was not the parents but the boy himself!) but and threatening them and coercing them to go along with his story because he was angry with the foster parents and wanted to get back at them.
Now we have another story where we see "professionals" pursuing these cases to the end of the Earth, badgering and bullying the parents, and making more out of a "story" than is needed.
Please. Law enforcement, social workers. Catch the real bad guys: the johns, the pimps, the sex tourists, the internet predators. Get THESE people! Not the (foster) parents, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and care workers of the world.
Yes sometimes people volunteer for these organizations to be closer to the vulnerable, their prey. But the likelihood of these volunteers and well-meaning citizens committing such heinous acts is FAR lesser than the 30/40/50 year old male who doesn't volunteer. Doesn't volunteer because he is too busy sitting in front of the computer, too sick and selfish too be generous and giving of his time to such noble causes. Catch and put THESE sickos away. I was told that in the entire history of the BigBrotherBigSister Association in Canada, that there had only been ONE incident where the Big Brother/Sister was abusing the little brother.
I want to be able to volunteer, to not fear for my own safety. It's hard when we see cases such as the Richard Klassen case and this one, published in the Guardian the other day. Until the day when law enforcement and social workers focus their attention to the real perpetrators we volunteers will simply have to take care of ourselves. For that reason I remain in public at all times with my little brother. It is the same reason that teachers in elementary schools will leave their doors open. It's too bad that this is the reality as it makes people ask whether volunteering is not worth all the hassle. The police/background checks, references, 500 question-personality tests, etc. 50 years ago you could just walk right up and volunteer. Take a kid to the ball game. Help that lady out at the side of the road. These days no.
from THE GUARDIAN (UK newspaper; reference at bottom)
The only single mum in the village
Ruth Green and her two young sons moved to the country without a man in tow - and soon found themselves at the centre of a child abuse investigation
• Ruth Green
• The Guardian,
• Friday October 31 2008
• Article history
It starts with a torn-off sheet of A4 paper through the door, asking me to phone the local Child Abuse Investigation Unit. It looks so unofficial. It isn't. There has been an incident involving my seven-year-old son, Sam, that is a serious cause for concern. Within minutes I am talking on the phone to the police officer who had called at my house. Is there somebody known to my children as "uncle Mark", she wants to know and, if so, who is he?
Uncle Mark is my brother. He is a teacher at a London comprehensive. They want to know the school's address, how long he has worked there, the year he qualified. Has he ever taken my son on a walk on his own? No, Mark hates walks. Besides, he lives so far away that the children only ever visit him with me. There would be no occasion for them to be on their own with him.
My son has said that this uncle is really funny. He's so funny, in fact, he pulls down his trousers and makes wee-wee shoot out of his willy. Do I agree that is an extraordinary thing for a child to say? Yes. And no. Children think it is funny to say "willy" and "wee-wee". They are quite likely to make up what they think is a funny joke. If it described a real incident, which I am already sure it doesn't, it might be worrying. Or not. A boy and a man might go into a hedge together for a wee. And Sam is unpredictable. He had a stroke within hours of birth and, although he looks and sounds normal for his age, his development has been uneven. He has to have each situation explained and learn by heart how to respond. We have just moved house, and he may be reacting inappropriately to new people.
Sam's story was not a lie, but an embellishment of something that had happened at a recent family party. The cousins were chasing each other around trying to grab underwear, and when they threatened to make the grown-ups join in, Mark had stopped them in their tracks by showing half of one buttock and telling them the game was over.
The person Sam told his "funny story" to had gone on to ask him, "Did your uncle Mark take down your trousers?" He replied, "Oh no, I had my pants on." This is worrying, says the police officer. It suggests that when he has no pants on ... I am angry that anyone asked my son such a question.
The officer wants to know who was in the room at the time. My mother, me, Sam, some of the cousins, but I don't know which. My sister was at the party and her husband, and his sister, but they could have been in the garden or kitchen. The officer writes down their details. Can I confirm where my son was in the room? Behind my brother or in front? I can hear her pen scratching. I imagine she is making a map. She says she will call back later in the day to let me know if the children will be needed to make video interviews. The police may have to go to my brother's house.
I call Mark at work to tell him what has been reported. There's a long silence. He says, "I've got year 9 history. I've got to go back to class." We both know that if any suspicions go on record, he will never have year 9 history again, or any job at all, or access to his daughters.
Later in the afternoon the police call back to say that they are dropping the criminal case, because the "incident" had witnesses. Social services will, however, contact me, and may decide to pursue the case. I imagine that as one set of professionals has called it off, it will be simple to reassure the others, but it isn't. The social worker calls minutes later. She thinks my son's "disclosure" is still unexplained and seriously alarming. She wants to visit our home and interview Sam and his younger brother Jake, four.
On the way back from school I tell the children that they will be going in late next morning because someone wants to talk to them. I say this person's job is to find out about children's lives and it's very important they tell the truth. Jake says, "I know, let's tell lies!" They laugh. My heart sinks.
I put the children to bed and call my ex-husband. He's appalled. Why let them put our children through the ordeal? What could they do if we said no? I call the police number to ask advice, and the duty officer says I would be within my rights to say no to the interview, but the case would remain open.
I remember then that an old friend used to work in child protection, and call him. He explains that just because the evidence is not enough for a trial, social services still need to meet the children and get reports from their school and doctor. What if I refuse? That would make them suspicious. They might put a plan in place to protect the children, akin to what used to be called the "at risk" register.
I decide to go ahead. When the social worker arrives, I ask a few questions. Am I allowed to know who reported us? Yes, it was the person who runs the Sunday school. The school has been involved because, as we are new to the village, no one at church is sure of our full names. My friends had warned me about moving to the country. I remember the jokes about being "the only single mother in the village". They are not so funny now.
She has some questions too. How long have I been divorced? How was custody agreed? Are there any health concerns for the children? I explain Sam's history and stress the good progress he has made. Have there been any concerns about their progress at school? Sam has some learning difficulties - that's why we've moved house, so he can go to a school with a special unit. I would prefer not to say this. Problems with learning - like anomalies in development - can be a sign of abuse. But she will find out anyway.
I notice the sheet of paper on the kitchen table where Sam has been making a Christmas list. He's not very good at writing. The "dog set" he has written in purple felt tip reads like "god sex". Has she seen it?
Jake rolls around on the floor with his toy animals and, when asked who is in his family, lists the pets. The children have to name everyone who lives in the house. Then elsewhere. The first person in that category is their favourite, "uncle Mark". Jake says, "He's a cheeky man. When we went to a party at his house he showed his bottom. And that is the truth!" Sam dutifully lists all his uncles and aunts. Anyone else? "There's Tilly," says Jake. "She's our step-sister." The social worker shoots a look in my direction, a split-second of what looks like such triumphant hatred that my stomach turns over. The mask has been lifted and it's enough to have glimpsed the suspicion beneath.
I now realise why she had to interview the children. They are not interested in my brother. They are trying to find out who the "real" culprit is, the one who has abused my children, leaving them so uncertain about the boundaries of truth and fiction that when their uncle "triggers" a sinister memory, it appears in muddled form.
They have not asked if I have a boyfriend, and I have not mentioned it. So I must be hiding him. And here is his daughter, blowing my cover. But it's a simple confusion of vocabulary. Tilly is their half-sister by their father's first marriage. "Her real name is Matilda and she lives at Cambridge University," says Sam. I confirm the details are accurate, but I can barely speak. The shock is making me feel sick.
At the door, I ask if it is over. Subject to the school and doctor's reports, yes. She says the children are lovely. I say I understand they have to follow these things up. "It's the word 'uncle' in the context of a single mother, isn't it?" I say. She nods and leaves.
I don't have a boyfriend or partner of any kind. But what if I did? Would he be under suspicion? Under arrest? No one wants to go out with single mothers and I don't blame them. Families with one parent are more vulnerable. In addition to the danger of step-parents and other less permanent partners (the statistics are clear on this one - they are dangerous) there is only one pair of eyes on duty at any one time. A trip to the beach is a major enterprise. I am jumpy and anxious, and overreact when there's no one to talk to.
Perhaps my children do need more protection than most. Perhaps it's natural that the finger of suspicion points to us. I'm sure the person who contacted the police meant well. But next time someone is worried about something one of the children says, I wish they would talk to me before they call social services. I might be able to reassure them. If I don't, they could still make the call. After all, it's a free country.
• Ruth Green is a pseudonym. All names have been changed.
• Do you have a story to tell about your life? Email it (no attachments, please) to my.story@guardian.co.uk. If possible, include a phone number.
[http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/oct/31/family-child-protection, accessed november 2, 2008.]
Stories of false accusation and the wrongfully convicted (I try so hard not to read them so as to avoid worrying) seem fairly common, too common, that we almost just want to retreat into our little cocoons and only associate with people we know on a first-hand basis. We are suspicious of one another.
I volunteer with the Big Brother Big Sister Association. What if I was ever falsely accused of having done something inappropriate while in the company of my little "brother"?
"Well, just tell the truth and you'll be fine," some say. Not necessarily so. From the infamous Klassen family case (Martensville, Saskatchewan) where two well-meaning foster parents took in three parent-less children, one of which accused the parents of committing various barbaric acts. If you ever read the testimonies or quotations from the case, you will see that some of the things that the couple were accused of would be better attributed to some outlandish, Hollywood, sci-fi movie involving vampires. Seriously. Read the case. Ridiculous stuff. And the worst part of the whole thing was the practical COACHING that the police and crown prosecution allegedly gave the children when taking their testimonies. Grown men and women, urging 7 and 8 year old kids to tell them more! more! about the blood drinking and satanic sexual practices that the foster parents engaged them in.
In the end it turned out that the parents had done NOTHING. That instead, it was the boy (there was a boy and two girls - either step brothers/sisters or blood brothers/sisters, I forget which) that was found to have not only been physically and sexually abusing his two sisters (it was not the parents but the boy himself!) but and threatening them and coercing them to go along with his story because he was angry with the foster parents and wanted to get back at them.
Now we have another story where we see "professionals" pursuing these cases to the end of the Earth, badgering and bullying the parents, and making more out of a "story" than is needed.
Please. Law enforcement, social workers. Catch the real bad guys: the johns, the pimps, the sex tourists, the internet predators. Get THESE people! Not the (foster) parents, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and care workers of the world.
Yes sometimes people volunteer for these organizations to be closer to the vulnerable, their prey. But the likelihood of these volunteers and well-meaning citizens committing such heinous acts is FAR lesser than the 30/40/50 year old male who doesn't volunteer. Doesn't volunteer because he is too busy sitting in front of the computer, too sick and selfish too be generous and giving of his time to such noble causes. Catch and put THESE sickos away. I was told that in the entire history of the BigBrotherBigSister Association in Canada, that there had only been ONE incident where the Big Brother/Sister was abusing the little brother.
I want to be able to volunteer, to not fear for my own safety. It's hard when we see cases such as the Richard Klassen case and this one, published in the Guardian the other day. Until the day when law enforcement and social workers focus their attention to the real perpetrators we volunteers will simply have to take care of ourselves. For that reason I remain in public at all times with my little brother. It is the same reason that teachers in elementary schools will leave their doors open. It's too bad that this is the reality as it makes people ask whether volunteering is not worth all the hassle. The police/background checks, references, 500 question-personality tests, etc. 50 years ago you could just walk right up and volunteer. Take a kid to the ball game. Help that lady out at the side of the road. These days no.
from THE GUARDIAN (UK newspaper; reference at bottom)
The only single mum in the village
Ruth Green and her two young sons moved to the country without a man in tow - and soon found themselves at the centre of a child abuse investigation
• Ruth Green
• The Guardian,
• Friday October 31 2008
• Article history
It starts with a torn-off sheet of A4 paper through the door, asking me to phone the local Child Abuse Investigation Unit. It looks so unofficial. It isn't. There has been an incident involving my seven-year-old son, Sam, that is a serious cause for concern. Within minutes I am talking on the phone to the police officer who had called at my house. Is there somebody known to my children as "uncle Mark", she wants to know and, if so, who is he?
Uncle Mark is my brother. He is a teacher at a London comprehensive. They want to know the school's address, how long he has worked there, the year he qualified. Has he ever taken my son on a walk on his own? No, Mark hates walks. Besides, he lives so far away that the children only ever visit him with me. There would be no occasion for them to be on their own with him.
My son has said that this uncle is really funny. He's so funny, in fact, he pulls down his trousers and makes wee-wee shoot out of his willy. Do I agree that is an extraordinary thing for a child to say? Yes. And no. Children think it is funny to say "willy" and "wee-wee". They are quite likely to make up what they think is a funny joke. If it described a real incident, which I am already sure it doesn't, it might be worrying. Or not. A boy and a man might go into a hedge together for a wee. And Sam is unpredictable. He had a stroke within hours of birth and, although he looks and sounds normal for his age, his development has been uneven. He has to have each situation explained and learn by heart how to respond. We have just moved house, and he may be reacting inappropriately to new people.
Sam's story was not a lie, but an embellishment of something that had happened at a recent family party. The cousins were chasing each other around trying to grab underwear, and when they threatened to make the grown-ups join in, Mark had stopped them in their tracks by showing half of one buttock and telling them the game was over.
The person Sam told his "funny story" to had gone on to ask him, "Did your uncle Mark take down your trousers?" He replied, "Oh no, I had my pants on." This is worrying, says the police officer. It suggests that when he has no pants on ... I am angry that anyone asked my son such a question.
The officer wants to know who was in the room at the time. My mother, me, Sam, some of the cousins, but I don't know which. My sister was at the party and her husband, and his sister, but they could have been in the garden or kitchen. The officer writes down their details. Can I confirm where my son was in the room? Behind my brother or in front? I can hear her pen scratching. I imagine she is making a map. She says she will call back later in the day to let me know if the children will be needed to make video interviews. The police may have to go to my brother's house.
I call Mark at work to tell him what has been reported. There's a long silence. He says, "I've got year 9 history. I've got to go back to class." We both know that if any suspicions go on record, he will never have year 9 history again, or any job at all, or access to his daughters.
Later in the afternoon the police call back to say that they are dropping the criminal case, because the "incident" had witnesses. Social services will, however, contact me, and may decide to pursue the case. I imagine that as one set of professionals has called it off, it will be simple to reassure the others, but it isn't. The social worker calls minutes later. She thinks my son's "disclosure" is still unexplained and seriously alarming. She wants to visit our home and interview Sam and his younger brother Jake, four.
On the way back from school I tell the children that they will be going in late next morning because someone wants to talk to them. I say this person's job is to find out about children's lives and it's very important they tell the truth. Jake says, "I know, let's tell lies!" They laugh. My heart sinks.
I put the children to bed and call my ex-husband. He's appalled. Why let them put our children through the ordeal? What could they do if we said no? I call the police number to ask advice, and the duty officer says I would be within my rights to say no to the interview, but the case would remain open.
I remember then that an old friend used to work in child protection, and call him. He explains that just because the evidence is not enough for a trial, social services still need to meet the children and get reports from their school and doctor. What if I refuse? That would make them suspicious. They might put a plan in place to protect the children, akin to what used to be called the "at risk" register.
I decide to go ahead. When the social worker arrives, I ask a few questions. Am I allowed to know who reported us? Yes, it was the person who runs the Sunday school. The school has been involved because, as we are new to the village, no one at church is sure of our full names. My friends had warned me about moving to the country. I remember the jokes about being "the only single mother in the village". They are not so funny now.
She has some questions too. How long have I been divorced? How was custody agreed? Are there any health concerns for the children? I explain Sam's history and stress the good progress he has made. Have there been any concerns about their progress at school? Sam has some learning difficulties - that's why we've moved house, so he can go to a school with a special unit. I would prefer not to say this. Problems with learning - like anomalies in development - can be a sign of abuse. But she will find out anyway.
I notice the sheet of paper on the kitchen table where Sam has been making a Christmas list. He's not very good at writing. The "dog set" he has written in purple felt tip reads like "god sex". Has she seen it?
Jake rolls around on the floor with his toy animals and, when asked who is in his family, lists the pets. The children have to name everyone who lives in the house. Then elsewhere. The first person in that category is their favourite, "uncle Mark". Jake says, "He's a cheeky man. When we went to a party at his house he showed his bottom. And that is the truth!" Sam dutifully lists all his uncles and aunts. Anyone else? "There's Tilly," says Jake. "She's our step-sister." The social worker shoots a look in my direction, a split-second of what looks like such triumphant hatred that my stomach turns over. The mask has been lifted and it's enough to have glimpsed the suspicion beneath.
I now realise why she had to interview the children. They are not interested in my brother. They are trying to find out who the "real" culprit is, the one who has abused my children, leaving them so uncertain about the boundaries of truth and fiction that when their uncle "triggers" a sinister memory, it appears in muddled form.
They have not asked if I have a boyfriend, and I have not mentioned it. So I must be hiding him. And here is his daughter, blowing my cover. But it's a simple confusion of vocabulary. Tilly is their half-sister by their father's first marriage. "Her real name is Matilda and she lives at Cambridge University," says Sam. I confirm the details are accurate, but I can barely speak. The shock is making me feel sick.
At the door, I ask if it is over. Subject to the school and doctor's reports, yes. She says the children are lovely. I say I understand they have to follow these things up. "It's the word 'uncle' in the context of a single mother, isn't it?" I say. She nods and leaves.
I don't have a boyfriend or partner of any kind. But what if I did? Would he be under suspicion? Under arrest? No one wants to go out with single mothers and I don't blame them. Families with one parent are more vulnerable. In addition to the danger of step-parents and other less permanent partners (the statistics are clear on this one - they are dangerous) there is only one pair of eyes on duty at any one time. A trip to the beach is a major enterprise. I am jumpy and anxious, and overreact when there's no one to talk to.
Perhaps my children do need more protection than most. Perhaps it's natural that the finger of suspicion points to us. I'm sure the person who contacted the police meant well. But next time someone is worried about something one of the children says, I wish they would talk to me before they call social services. I might be able to reassure them. If I don't, they could still make the call. After all, it's a free country.
• Ruth Green is a pseudonym. All names have been changed.
• Do you have a story to tell about your life? Email it (no attachments, please) to my.story@guardian.co.uk. If possible, include a phone number.
[http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/oct/31/family-child-protection, accessed november 2, 2008.]
The Polite Politician: An Oxymoron?
I am, perhaps to the disappointment of some, "withdrawing" from the CBC contest Canada's Next Great Prime Minister. Call me a whimp or whatever you will but I cannot bring myself to criticize/debate/point fingers like a politician.
There are reasons that the House of Commons during Question Period is often referred to as more of a "playground" than a place of business or politics. Politics, that word brings to my mind visions of a stressed out thirty/forty-something party aide, Blackberry in one hand, third cup of Timmy's in the other, dark circles around his eyes.
That profession that makes good people do bad things.
Indeed as Rousseau argued, man (and woman) is most moral when in nature, acting not out of ambition, greed, etc. but rather out of pure and simple instinct: I'm hungry, I will eat. I'm tired, I will sleep.
This is not to say that man/woman was more "good" or "pure" in nature, but rather that when they did fight it was out of natural instinct and not done for political gain or some other selfish benefit.
For example, in The Count of Monte Cristo, crown prosecutor Villefort has Edmond Dantes arrested for treason. The real reason Dantes was placed in jail? Because he had knowledge of potentially damning information, information about Villefort's father that could ruin his career.
Rousseau argued that such things would not happen in nature. In other words, Villefort and Dantes would only have fought in the circumstance where Dantes was trying to go for the same rabbit for his supper as Villefort. But this conflict/fight would thus arise naturally.
Politics is a dirty business. Backroom dealings, arguing and throwing the blame at others, criticizing people. Sounds a lot like a bunch of teenagers to be quite honest.
This stuff has permeated the CBC contest NGPM. One need only look at the forum and some of the debates/criticism going on. One candidate seems to have it out for everybody and is attacking other candidates' policies left and right. (pun intended)
I can't bring myself to engage in debates with these people. One reason, because they are simply never-ending. Everyone knows a person or persons who are impossibly stubborn and would argue that water boils at -5 degrees C if they had to. (no doubt some smartass person out there is going to comment on this and say that indeed, yes, water does boil at -5 degrees C under the following circumstances:...)
Je m'en fout! I don't care. I'm too polite to be a politician.
And the sad thing is that these people don't often know how to do a good day's work on the farm or at the meat shop. They're the sort of people who are always talking, complaining or voicing some other concern. Can you see your MP mopping floors or doing dishes? Heck no.
Nope. I've decided that that's it. I'll work the next three years at the meat shop or in some other no-nonsense blue-collar job where apples are apples and oranges are oranges and then when I've obtained my education, I'll go teach those who ask questions instead of constantly throwing out accusations, who aren't whiny but often are very keen to learn and work, who listen when spoken to. Those who - stand no more than 4 and a half feet tall? Yes. Grade school kids.
The trials of a grade four classroom are nothing when compared to those I would find in the House of Commons. Working in a more mature, productive, and educated environment I'd find much more satisfaction. I'm too polite to be a politician.
There are reasons that the House of Commons during Question Period is often referred to as more of a "playground" than a place of business or politics. Politics, that word brings to my mind visions of a stressed out thirty/forty-something party aide, Blackberry in one hand, third cup of Timmy's in the other, dark circles around his eyes.
That profession that makes good people do bad things.
Indeed as Rousseau argued, man (and woman) is most moral when in nature, acting not out of ambition, greed, etc. but rather out of pure and simple instinct: I'm hungry, I will eat. I'm tired, I will sleep.
This is not to say that man/woman was more "good" or "pure" in nature, but rather that when they did fight it was out of natural instinct and not done for political gain or some other selfish benefit.
For example, in The Count of Monte Cristo, crown prosecutor Villefort has Edmond Dantes arrested for treason. The real reason Dantes was placed in jail? Because he had knowledge of potentially damning information, information about Villefort's father that could ruin his career.
Rousseau argued that such things would not happen in nature. In other words, Villefort and Dantes would only have fought in the circumstance where Dantes was trying to go for the same rabbit for his supper as Villefort. But this conflict/fight would thus arise naturally.
Politics is a dirty business. Backroom dealings, arguing and throwing the blame at others, criticizing people. Sounds a lot like a bunch of teenagers to be quite honest.
This stuff has permeated the CBC contest NGPM. One need only look at the forum and some of the debates/criticism going on. One candidate seems to have it out for everybody and is attacking other candidates' policies left and right. (pun intended)
I can't bring myself to engage in debates with these people. One reason, because they are simply never-ending. Everyone knows a person or persons who are impossibly stubborn and would argue that water boils at -5 degrees C if they had to. (no doubt some smartass person out there is going to comment on this and say that indeed, yes, water does boil at -5 degrees C under the following circumstances:...)
Je m'en fout! I don't care. I'm too polite to be a politician.
And the sad thing is that these people don't often know how to do a good day's work on the farm or at the meat shop. They're the sort of people who are always talking, complaining or voicing some other concern. Can you see your MP mopping floors or doing dishes? Heck no.
Nope. I've decided that that's it. I'll work the next three years at the meat shop or in some other no-nonsense blue-collar job where apples are apples and oranges are oranges and then when I've obtained my education, I'll go teach those who ask questions instead of constantly throwing out accusations, who aren't whiny but often are very keen to learn and work, who listen when spoken to. Those who - stand no more than 4 and a half feet tall? Yes. Grade school kids.
The trials of a grade four classroom are nothing when compared to those I would find in the House of Commons. Working in a more mature, productive, and educated environment I'd find much more satisfaction. I'm too polite to be a politician.
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