Friday 26 April 2013
Wednesday 24 April 2013
If a man who can not count finds a four leaf clover, is he lucky? (Speech made Nov 21st 2012)
There are important questions that must be asked from time to time, such as, "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"
- Stanislaw J. Lec
Stanislaw J. Lec is often mentioned among the greatest writers of post-WW2 Poland. He was one of the most influential aphorists of the 20th century, known for lyrical poetry and skeptical philosophical-moral aphorisms, often with a political subtext[1]. Another question that he asked was, "If a book about failures doesn't sell, is it a success?" But the question that I feel is most fitting for not just tonight but for this election is: "If a man who cannot count finds a four-leaf clover, is he lucky?”
The "luck" described around a four leaf clover has to do with its rarity based upon three leaf clovers - it's a probability issue. There is a very low probability of a clover growing with four leafs, and that makes it "lucky" if you find it. I don’t know if your saw the news the night Kim and Charlie Swan announced they were running as Independent candidates... on that broadcast I noticed that when they showed the file picture of the UBP it had Kim Swan, flanked by Louis Jackson, Bob Richards, Trevor Monis and Grant Gibbons … and then when the news posted the file footage of the OBA what I saw was Craig Cannoniare flanked by Louis Jackson, Bob Richards, Trevor Moniz and Grant Gibbons. This brings me back to my main question "If a man who cannot count finds a four-leaf clover, is he lucky?”
At first glance, one could say all clovers look alike but just like the man in my question, it's not based on the counting of the leafs, it's based on the comparison of one clover to the other - he would not need to be able to count, only be able to differentiate between a clover with three leaves and one with four via some perception.
The man in this question is Bermuda … and the clovers in which he has to differentiate between are the two parties. One “clover” has leaves that sprout from a stalk that is rooted; they claim of championing the youth and boast how they have more youth running as candidates then the other party but how many of their younger candidates are in winnable seats? Another leaf represents their original claim advocating austerity measures and once it turned out to be unpopular they backtracked, another leaf was their original stance against Futurecare and once that turned out to be unpopular, backpedaled and claimed that it was a miss understanding. The final leaf on this clover represents their broad , generalized and vague statements on “hot button topics” such as CRIME, the ECONOMY and UNEMPLOYMENT and recently absentee voting via the internet and “youth” unemployment. Their “solutions” were either not fully thought through or just reworded descriptions of ideas polices and legislation in which the Government has already enacted.
On the other hand we have a clover whose leaves sprouted from a stalked that is rooted in The 1979 Constitutional Conference which through their efforts resulted in “One Man One Vote of equal value” because the preceding system of having one vote for each piece of land you owned only benefited a select few. Another leaf represents the championing of the reduction of the voting age from 25 – 21 and then again from 21 to 18. The fact that currently we have college students that are pushing for the right to vote via the internet is just a continuation on of the trail which they had already blazed.
Another leaf represents the introduction of political parties which took the power away from the merchant elite, allowing and giving the majority a voice in regards to the running and direction in which they as a country moved forward. Yet another leaf on this clover represents present day canvassing prior to the growth of this “clover” when it came time for the country to go to the polls. Sitting MP’s and candidates sent a letter out stating they were running for office and looked forward to your support. Keep in mind this was before 1979 so they ran virtually unopposed… until Dame Louis Brown Evens said… I’m not writing a letter I’m going to go out and meet each and every one of the residents in my area … and with that canvassing was born. The final leaf represents Investment into the country $1.3 billion in capital expenditures which put and has kept the Bermuda construction industry working, $1.1 billion in health care benefits which has provided more Bermudians with access to better quality health care, $250 million in assistance to the Bank of Butterfield which resulting in saving approximately 800 Bermudian jobs, last year’s payroll tax exemption and job creation plan which has examined additions to any employer in any job sector, any industry in the island which take on apprentice are also exempt.
Imitation is the greatest form of flattery - often imitated never duplicated - (Bible verse on you can tell a tree by the fruit it produces) At a glance the OBA seem to be a new party, but I have seen it before. The OBA gives new meaning to the term Party Politics as their Party was formed for Political prosperity for its members and not out of social necessity for the country. As for the PLP, I feel lucky to have them. Whether or not "luck" exists is the true question, it really is just a term to describe low probability, like the word miracle. Some of you might be asking how does that relate to the election, quite simple because your average Bermudian doesn’t follow politics as closely as they should - most of us read the newspaper and watch the news and feel as though we know are sufficiently informed on what’s going on. Some of these same persons will quickly tell you that there’s no place in Bermuda for Party Politics or that all politicians are alike.
Stanislaw J. Lec is often mentioned among the greatest writers of post-WW2 Poland. He was one of the most influential aphorists of the 20th century, known for lyrical poetry and skeptical philosophical-moral aphorisms, often with a political subtext[1]. Another question that he asked was, "If a book about failures doesn't sell, is it a success?" But the question that I feel is most fitting for not just tonight but for this election is: "If a man who cannot count finds a four-leaf clover, is he lucky?”
The "luck" described around a four leaf clover has to do with its rarity based upon three leaf clovers - it's a probability issue. There is a very low probability of a clover growing with four leafs, and that makes it "lucky" if you find it. I don’t know if your saw the news the night Kim and Charlie Swan announced they were running as Independent candidates... on that broadcast I noticed that when they showed the file picture of the UBP it had Kim Swan, flanked by Louis Jackson, Bob Richards, Trevor Monis and Grant Gibbons … and then when the news posted the file footage of the OBA what I saw was Craig Cannoniare flanked by Louis Jackson, Bob Richards, Trevor Moniz and Grant Gibbons. This brings me back to my main question "If a man who cannot count finds a four-leaf clover, is he lucky?”
At first glance, one could say all clovers look alike but just like the man in my question, it's not based on the counting of the leafs, it's based on the comparison of one clover to the other - he would not need to be able to count, only be able to differentiate between a clover with three leaves and one with four via some perception.
The man in this question is Bermuda … and the clovers in which he has to differentiate between are the two parties. One “clover” has leaves that sprout from a stalk that is rooted; they claim of championing the youth and boast how they have more youth running as candidates then the other party but how many of their younger candidates are in winnable seats? Another leaf represents their original claim advocating austerity measures and once it turned out to be unpopular they backtracked, another leaf was their original stance against Futurecare and once that turned out to be unpopular, backpedaled and claimed that it was a miss understanding. The final leaf on this clover represents their broad , generalized and vague statements on “hot button topics” such as CRIME, the ECONOMY and UNEMPLOYMENT and recently absentee voting via the internet and “youth” unemployment. Their “solutions” were either not fully thought through or just reworded descriptions of ideas polices and legislation in which the Government has already enacted.
On the other hand we have a clover whose leaves sprouted from a stalked that is rooted in The 1979 Constitutional Conference which through their efforts resulted in “One Man One Vote of equal value” because the preceding system of having one vote for each piece of land you owned only benefited a select few. Another leaf represents the championing of the reduction of the voting age from 25 – 21 and then again from 21 to 18. The fact that currently we have college students that are pushing for the right to vote via the internet is just a continuation on of the trail which they had already blazed.
Another leaf represents the introduction of political parties which took the power away from the merchant elite, allowing and giving the majority a voice in regards to the running and direction in which they as a country moved forward. Yet another leaf on this clover represents present day canvassing prior to the growth of this “clover” when it came time for the country to go to the polls. Sitting MP’s and candidates sent a letter out stating they were running for office and looked forward to your support. Keep in mind this was before 1979 so they ran virtually unopposed… until Dame Louis Brown Evens said… I’m not writing a letter I’m going to go out and meet each and every one of the residents in my area … and with that canvassing was born. The final leaf represents Investment into the country $1.3 billion in capital expenditures which put and has kept the Bermuda construction industry working, $1.1 billion in health care benefits which has provided more Bermudians with access to better quality health care, $250 million in assistance to the Bank of Butterfield which resulting in saving approximately 800 Bermudian jobs, last year’s payroll tax exemption and job creation plan which has examined additions to any employer in any job sector, any industry in the island which take on apprentice are also exempt.
Imitation is the greatest form of flattery - often imitated never duplicated - (Bible verse on you can tell a tree by the fruit it produces) At a glance the OBA seem to be a new party, but I have seen it before. The OBA gives new meaning to the term Party Politics as their Party was formed for Political prosperity for its members and not out of social necessity for the country. As for the PLP, I feel lucky to have them. Whether or not "luck" exists is the true question, it really is just a term to describe low probability, like the word miracle. Some of you might be asking how does that relate to the election, quite simple because your average Bermudian doesn’t follow politics as closely as they should - most of us read the newspaper and watch the news and feel as though we know are sufficiently informed on what’s going on. Some of these same persons will quickly tell you that there’s no place in Bermuda for Party Politics or that all politicians are alike.
Mayonasie Jar and Two Cups of Coffee ( PLP Nov 8th 2012 Warwick Rally Speech)
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous . . . "yes."
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided. "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things; God, family, children, health, friends and favorite passions, things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter; like your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else; the small stuff."
"If you put the sand into the jar first", he continued "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. So pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities, the rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked; it just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
I share that story because when it comes to Politics.. Constiuency 24 has become my political “Mayonaise jar” and the issues rasied by residents and voters … they are my golf balls… take Dunscombe Road for instance that’s a golf ball… Tribe Road #2 another Golf ball , the young men on Ord Road another Golf Ball … Quarry Hill , Coarl Hill , Privateer Lane … and if thoes were the only issues within 24 my jar would be full.
The pebbles … the pebbles in this jar represent ACTION … On Dunscombe Road the residents pointed out that during the building of Whale Watch the heavy trucks left the road worn and torn so I reached out to the Minister and I'm pleased to say that Dunscombe Road is next on the list for being repaved… that’s a pebble.
Tribe road #2 is plagued with having an obstructed entrance and exit - once again I reached out to the Minister who came and personally looked into the situation and I can stand here tonight and say that a solution is in the works … another pebble down.
In my canvassing I came across a group of young men who were gathered in this one spot on Ord Road and even though they weren’t on my canvassing list and in some cases didn’t even live in Constituency 24, my canvassing partner and I stopped to talk with them and to be honest I think they canvassed me as I canvassed them. In spite of their first impression with the bandana, baggy jeans etc, one shared with me his aspirations to be an architect…another shared a business plan that was perfectly timed to take advantage of the Blue economy which the government is about to embark; the only thing they didn’t have was current employment. Before we left those young men I arranged for them to meet with a potential employer and I’m pleased to say that all 10 of those young men are now gainfully employed … NOW THAT’S A PEBBLE!
We have the Golf balls which is the vision to see what needs to be done … and we’ve got the pebbles which is the action to accomplish the goal set out by the vision. Now it is time to introduce the sand… the small stuff … and for that I rely on the Oppostion … when they go into the media and talk about changing the constitution in order to have fixed term elections … sand ( how is that going to get you employed?), passing legislation to allow for a petition to be filed to remove sitting MP’s … MORE SAND … ( how is that going to help fix the economy?) and my opponent going public and saying that the government now is purposely with holding information from the police so that more people can be shot … THEY DO SUCH A GOOD JOB SHOVELING SAND … THEY SHOULD BE WITH WORKS AND ENGINEERING!
I know there's a saying about not taking sand to the beach… but Madame Premier could you please tell MP Craig Cannonier not to bring it to the House of Assembly! The coffee will come after the election, because even though I will be an MP… I hope to have a moment or two to sit down and have a cup of coffee with a friend…and speaking of friends .. I would like to recognize one of my best friends … DAD … could you please stand up…
In actual fact we all have a political jar, which we make every effort to fill with Golf Balls … and the pebbles which represents the actions we take in serving our respective constituencies… and on a national scale Madame Premier it would be the platform and legislation that you take to parliament each week ..day in day out, year after year that the opostion doesn’t fill your political jar with their small stuff. Criticism here complaints there, and opposition for no other reason then them being the Opposition…and as long as we stay focused to the people of Bermuda then the responsibility that we inherited from our founders, the promise to the people who gave us the responsibility of government in 1998 will always be realized if we focus on the big stuff.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous . . . "yes."
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided. "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things; God, family, children, health, friends and favorite passions, things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter; like your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else; the small stuff."
"If you put the sand into the jar first", he continued "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. So pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities, the rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked; it just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
I share that story because when it comes to Politics.. Constiuency 24 has become my political “Mayonaise jar” and the issues rasied by residents and voters … they are my golf balls… take Dunscombe Road for instance that’s a golf ball… Tribe Road #2 another Golf ball , the young men on Ord Road another Golf Ball … Quarry Hill , Coarl Hill , Privateer Lane … and if thoes were the only issues within 24 my jar would be full.
The pebbles … the pebbles in this jar represent ACTION … On Dunscombe Road the residents pointed out that during the building of Whale Watch the heavy trucks left the road worn and torn so I reached out to the Minister and I'm pleased to say that Dunscombe Road is next on the list for being repaved… that’s a pebble.
Tribe road #2 is plagued with having an obstructed entrance and exit - once again I reached out to the Minister who came and personally looked into the situation and I can stand here tonight and say that a solution is in the works … another pebble down.
In my canvassing I came across a group of young men who were gathered in this one spot on Ord Road and even though they weren’t on my canvassing list and in some cases didn’t even live in Constituency 24, my canvassing partner and I stopped to talk with them and to be honest I think they canvassed me as I canvassed them. In spite of their first impression with the bandana, baggy jeans etc, one shared with me his aspirations to be an architect…another shared a business plan that was perfectly timed to take advantage of the Blue economy which the government is about to embark; the only thing they didn’t have was current employment. Before we left those young men I arranged for them to meet with a potential employer and I’m pleased to say that all 10 of those young men are now gainfully employed … NOW THAT’S A PEBBLE!
We have the Golf balls which is the vision to see what needs to be done … and we’ve got the pebbles which is the action to accomplish the goal set out by the vision. Now it is time to introduce the sand… the small stuff … and for that I rely on the Oppostion … when they go into the media and talk about changing the constitution in order to have fixed term elections … sand ( how is that going to get you employed?), passing legislation to allow for a petition to be filed to remove sitting MP’s … MORE SAND … ( how is that going to help fix the economy?) and my opponent going public and saying that the government now is purposely with holding information from the police so that more people can be shot … THEY DO SUCH A GOOD JOB SHOVELING SAND … THEY SHOULD BE WITH WORKS AND ENGINEERING!
I know there's a saying about not taking sand to the beach… but Madame Premier could you please tell MP Craig Cannonier not to bring it to the House of Assembly! The coffee will come after the election, because even though I will be an MP… I hope to have a moment or two to sit down and have a cup of coffee with a friend…and speaking of friends .. I would like to recognize one of my best friends … DAD … could you please stand up…
In actual fact we all have a political jar, which we make every effort to fill with Golf Balls … and the pebbles which represents the actions we take in serving our respective constituencies… and on a national scale Madame Premier it would be the platform and legislation that you take to parliament each week ..day in day out, year after year that the opostion doesn’t fill your political jar with their small stuff. Criticism here complaints there, and opposition for no other reason then them being the Opposition…and as long as we stay focused to the people of Bermuda then the responsibility that we inherited from our founders, the promise to the people who gave us the responsibility of government in 1998 will always be realized if we focus on the big stuff.
PLP Rising Stars Speech (Oct 15 2012)
HUGO … IGOR … FELIX … EMILY … FABIN … ALL NAMES OF HURRICANES THAT IMPACTED OUR ISLAND IN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
IN ACTUAL FACT … BERMUDA WAS FOUNDED ON THE BACK OF A HURRICANE LIKE THESE … A SHIPWRECK BROUGHT SIR GEORGE SOMERS ON SHORE … SO ITS SAFE TO SAY THAT WE KNOW A THING OR TWO ABOUT STORMS AND STORMY WEATHER.
STORMS ARE SO PREVALENT IN OUR HISTORY AND SO MUCH A PART OF OUR CULTURE THAT WE DEPICTED ONE ON OUR FLAG … SO WHY DON’T WE TAKE WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED FROM LIVING IN ADVERSE CONDITIONS AND APPLY IT TO POLITICS?
YOU SEE… MY GRANDFATHER LIKE YOUR GRANDPARENTS KNEW WHEN STORMY CONDITIONS WERE APPROACHING … BY EITHER USING SHARKOIL OR WATCHING THE SPIDER SPIN ITS WEB CLOSER TO THE GROUND. A SPIDER WEBS’ ABILITY TO ADAPT TO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF STRESS IS THE KEY TO ITS REMARKABLE STABLITY. SPIDER WEBS CAN STAND UP TO A VARIETY OF STRESSES … INCLUDING HURRICANE – FORCE WINDS.
RECENTLY I HAVE SEEN THE EFFECTS ACROSS THIS ISLAND FROM A DIFFERENT KIND OF WIND … A WIND THAT REMAINS CONSTANT … A WIND WHOSE EFFECTS CANNOT BE PREDICTED ONLY RECORDED … THOSE ARE THE WINDS OF CHANGE. A SPIDER WEBS’ DESIGN AND THE UNIQUE PROPERTIES OF ITS SILK … ALLOWS JUST A SINGLE THREAD TO BREAK SO THE REST OF THE WEB REMAINS UNHARMED. IT’S STUNNING BECAUSE ENGINEERED STRUCTURES DON’T BEHAVE THAT WAY - IF … A BUILDING … A CAR … OR AN AEROPLANE … IS EXPOSED TO LARGE MECHANICAL STRESS IT TYPICALLY BREAKS AS A WHOLE AND THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE BECOMES DYSFUNCTIONAL.
IN THE CASE OF THE SPIDERS WEB … ONE HAS TO NOT TAKE A STEP BACK … BUT A STEP CLOSER AND LOOK AT THE INTRICACIES OF THE WEB TO FULLY APPRECIATE HOW IT RELATES NOT ONLY TO US IN THIS ROOM … AS A PARTY … BUT ALSO AS A GOVERNMENT AND EVEN MORE SO, A SOCIETY. REGARDLESS OF HOW HARD THE WINDS OF CHANGE BLOW … HOW DRASTICALLY THEY SHAPE THE LANDSCAPES OF THIS COUNTRY, AS LONG AS WE CONTINUE TO TAKE OUR INSPIRATION & MOTIVATION FROM ONE OF NATURE’S SMALLEST CREATURES WE WILL BE ALRIGHT.
LETS GO BACK IN TIME & I’LL SHOW YOU HOW THE WEB THAT IS TODAYS GOVERNMENT WAS BUILT. PICTURE THIS … FEBURARY … 1963 … THE FOUNDING OF OUR PARTY … OUR 1ST AND MOST IMPORTANT THREAD - THE REDUCTION OF THE VOTING AGE … FROM 25 – 21 … ANOTHER THREAD IN 65 A FEW THREADS BROKE … BUT THE WEB REMAINED UNHARMED!!! WE CONTINUED TO ADD THREADS AS THE PARTY SPUN ITS WAY INTO THE 70’S WITH OUR EVER INCREASING PRESENCE IN THE HOUSE … ANOTHER THREAD - NEW VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM … ANOTHER THREAD IN 1979 @ THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE WHICH LEAD TO THE INTRODUCTION OF … ONE MAN … ONE VOTE … OF EQUAL VALUE … ANOTHER THREAD!
AT THE TIME IT WAS NOT JUST US AS PARTY MEMBERS THAT REALIZED THE STRENGTH & SUPPORT THAT THE WEB OF THE PLP PROVIDED … THE GENERAL PUBLIC DID AS WELL. HOWEVER … AS WE ENTERED INTO THE 80’S DESPITE THE GROWING SUPPORT FOR THE PARTY … REMEMBER THE WINDS OF CHANGE NEVER STOP BLOWING & IN 1985 THOSE WINDS OF CHANGE WERE BLOWING AT A GALE FORCE - IT’S A GOOD THING A SPIDERS WEB CAN HANDLE HURRICANE FORCE WINDS!
DESPITE THAT FACT … THE PARTY TOOK SOME DAMAGE … YEAH … WE MAY HAVE ENDED UP WITH A FEW BROKEN THREADS, BUT THE OVERALL STRUCTURE REMAINED - WHY - BECAUSE SPIDERS WEB SILK “CHANGES” AS IT IS TUGGED. MY FATHER OFTEN SAYS … THE MORE THINGS CHANGE … THE MORE THEY REMAIN THE SAME … HERE WE ARE IN 2012 & THE WINDS OF CHANGE ARE HOWLING. ITS NO SECRET THAT PEOPLE WANT TO SEE A CHANGE IN THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING … THEY WANT TO SEE THE ECONOMY PICK BACK UP … A CLEAR AND DEFINITIVE END TO THE CURRENT GLOBAL RECESSION … OR AT LEAST BE ABLE TO SEE THE LIGHT @ THE END OF THE PROVERBIAL TUNNEL.
I BELIEVE … THAT WHEN WE HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THEY WANT CHANGE … ITS NOT NECESSARILY A CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT AS MUCH AS IT IS A CHANGE IN THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS AS A PARTY AND AS A GOVERNMENT. THE BEST WAY TO FACILITATE THIS CHANGE IS TO GO BACK TO THE BASICS … GO BACK TO THE DAYS OF FREDDY WADE & HIS VISION … HIS VISION OF REGROUPING AND REPAIRING.
LETS APPLY THAT TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY … LETS WORK ON REPAIRING THE “BROKEN” THREADS IN OUR WEB … WE CAN DO THAT BY IDENTIFYING WHAT WE SHOULD STOP DOING … START DOING & CONTINUE TO DO WHEN FACED WITH TOUGH TIMES OR LONG JOURNEYS … THE ANIMAL KINGDOM WORK TOGETHER TO OVERCOME.
IF … EVER … THEIR WAS A TIME FOR US TO BAND TOGETHER THAT TIME IS NOW … WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER NOW MORE THEN EVER … TAKE THE CANADIAN GEESE FOR EXAMPLE … THEY FLOCK IN FORMATION BECAUSE THEY CAN FLY FASTER & STAY IN THE AIR LONGER … BECAUSE THEY LITERALLY FLY ON THE LIFT & THRUST OF THE BIRD DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THEM …WHEN A SINGLE GOOSE GETS SICK OR INJURED & FALLS OUT OF FORMATION … TWO OTHERS GO DOWN WITH HIM TO PROTECT HIM UNTIL IS ABLE TO FLY AGAIN. WE TOO SHOULD BE PROTECTING EACH OTHER … NOW MORE THEN EVER.
THESE ARE TOUGH TIMES … WE ARE DEALING WITH A GOLBAL RECESSION … UNEMPLOYMENT … CRIME … AND YES THOSE THREADS IN OUR WEB ARE BEING PULLED, HOWEVER … “WHEN A THREAD IS PULLED … THE SILK’S UNIQUE MOLECULAR STRUCTURE UNFURLS AS STRESS INCREASES … LEADING TO A STRETCHING EFFECT.” REMARKABLY … JUST BEFORE A THREAD BREAKS IT GOES THROUGH A STIFFING PHASE … AND IT IS IN THIS STIFFING PHASE THAT IT CAN ABSORB THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF STRESS.
I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU … BUT I CANT THINK OF ANY OTHER TIME MORE STRESSFUL THAN NOW. SURE WE HAVE FACED ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE … BUT NOT SIMULTANEOUSLY. REGARDLESS I KNOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO STAND STRONG EVEN THOUGH THREADS MAY BREAK … OUR WEB WILL NOT BE COMPROMISED!!!
RIGHT NOW YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING … HOW CAN HE BE SO CONFIDENT … THE POLL’S ARE NOT GOING IN OUR FAVOUR … WHEN WE GO OUT AND CANVASS EVEN PARTY MEMBERS ARE DOUBTFUL. WITH EVERYTHING THAT THIS PARTY IS GOING THROUGH … WITH ALL THE OPPOSITION & MEDIA HAVE SAID ABOUT US AS A GOVERNMENT … HOW IS THIS WEB THAT YOU SPEAK OF STILL HOLDING TOGETHER?
I’LL GIVE YOU THE ANSWER “ THE DURABILITY OF THE WEB IS NOT JUST CONTROLLED BY THE STRENGTH OF ITS SILK … BUT ALSO … HOW ITS MECHANICAL PROPERTIES CHANGE AS YOU STRETCH IT” OUR PARTY WAS FOUNDED ON CRITICIZING THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY … BUT ITS TIME FOR OUR “MECHANICAL PROPERTIES” TO CHANGE FROM CRITICIZING TO CRITIQUING.
THE STRENGTH OF OUR WEBS “SILK” IS OUR GOVERNMENT … THE STRENGTH OF OUR GOVERNMENT IS OUR PARTY … THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF OUR PARTY IS IN YOU … THIS IS WHAT WILL SUSTAIN US, THOSE ARE THE TIES THAT BIND US !!! THAT IS WHAT WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO STAND STRONG FOR BERMUDIANS !!!
NOW TELL THAT TO ANYONE WHO DARES QUESTION US AS A GOVERNMENT … OR AS A PARTY BECAUSE AS IT HAS … AND ALWAYS WILL BE PLP ALL THE WAY & ALL THE WAY PLP !!!
STORMS ARE SO PREVALENT IN OUR HISTORY AND SO MUCH A PART OF OUR CULTURE THAT WE DEPICTED ONE ON OUR FLAG … SO WHY DON’T WE TAKE WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED FROM LIVING IN ADVERSE CONDITIONS AND APPLY IT TO POLITICS?
YOU SEE… MY GRANDFATHER LIKE YOUR GRANDPARENTS KNEW WHEN STORMY CONDITIONS WERE APPROACHING … BY EITHER USING SHARKOIL OR WATCHING THE SPIDER SPIN ITS WEB CLOSER TO THE GROUND. A SPIDER WEBS’ ABILITY TO ADAPT TO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF STRESS IS THE KEY TO ITS REMARKABLE STABLITY. SPIDER WEBS CAN STAND UP TO A VARIETY OF STRESSES … INCLUDING HURRICANE – FORCE WINDS.
RECENTLY I HAVE SEEN THE EFFECTS ACROSS THIS ISLAND FROM A DIFFERENT KIND OF WIND … A WIND THAT REMAINS CONSTANT … A WIND WHOSE EFFECTS CANNOT BE PREDICTED ONLY RECORDED … THOSE ARE THE WINDS OF CHANGE. A SPIDER WEBS’ DESIGN AND THE UNIQUE PROPERTIES OF ITS SILK … ALLOWS JUST A SINGLE THREAD TO BREAK SO THE REST OF THE WEB REMAINS UNHARMED. IT’S STUNNING BECAUSE ENGINEERED STRUCTURES DON’T BEHAVE THAT WAY - IF … A BUILDING … A CAR … OR AN AEROPLANE … IS EXPOSED TO LARGE MECHANICAL STRESS IT TYPICALLY BREAKS AS A WHOLE AND THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE BECOMES DYSFUNCTIONAL.
IN THE CASE OF THE SPIDERS WEB … ONE HAS TO NOT TAKE A STEP BACK … BUT A STEP CLOSER AND LOOK AT THE INTRICACIES OF THE WEB TO FULLY APPRECIATE HOW IT RELATES NOT ONLY TO US IN THIS ROOM … AS A PARTY … BUT ALSO AS A GOVERNMENT AND EVEN MORE SO, A SOCIETY. REGARDLESS OF HOW HARD THE WINDS OF CHANGE BLOW … HOW DRASTICALLY THEY SHAPE THE LANDSCAPES OF THIS COUNTRY, AS LONG AS WE CONTINUE TO TAKE OUR INSPIRATION & MOTIVATION FROM ONE OF NATURE’S SMALLEST CREATURES WE WILL BE ALRIGHT.
LETS GO BACK IN TIME & I’LL SHOW YOU HOW THE WEB THAT IS TODAYS GOVERNMENT WAS BUILT. PICTURE THIS … FEBURARY … 1963 … THE FOUNDING OF OUR PARTY … OUR 1ST AND MOST IMPORTANT THREAD - THE REDUCTION OF THE VOTING AGE … FROM 25 – 21 … ANOTHER THREAD IN 65 A FEW THREADS BROKE … BUT THE WEB REMAINED UNHARMED!!! WE CONTINUED TO ADD THREADS AS THE PARTY SPUN ITS WAY INTO THE 70’S WITH OUR EVER INCREASING PRESENCE IN THE HOUSE … ANOTHER THREAD - NEW VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM … ANOTHER THREAD IN 1979 @ THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE WHICH LEAD TO THE INTRODUCTION OF … ONE MAN … ONE VOTE … OF EQUAL VALUE … ANOTHER THREAD!
AT THE TIME IT WAS NOT JUST US AS PARTY MEMBERS THAT REALIZED THE STRENGTH & SUPPORT THAT THE WEB OF THE PLP PROVIDED … THE GENERAL PUBLIC DID AS WELL. HOWEVER … AS WE ENTERED INTO THE 80’S DESPITE THE GROWING SUPPORT FOR THE PARTY … REMEMBER THE WINDS OF CHANGE NEVER STOP BLOWING & IN 1985 THOSE WINDS OF CHANGE WERE BLOWING AT A GALE FORCE - IT’S A GOOD THING A SPIDERS WEB CAN HANDLE HURRICANE FORCE WINDS!
DESPITE THAT FACT … THE PARTY TOOK SOME DAMAGE … YEAH … WE MAY HAVE ENDED UP WITH A FEW BROKEN THREADS, BUT THE OVERALL STRUCTURE REMAINED - WHY - BECAUSE SPIDERS WEB SILK “CHANGES” AS IT IS TUGGED. MY FATHER OFTEN SAYS … THE MORE THINGS CHANGE … THE MORE THEY REMAIN THE SAME … HERE WE ARE IN 2012 & THE WINDS OF CHANGE ARE HOWLING. ITS NO SECRET THAT PEOPLE WANT TO SEE A CHANGE IN THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING … THEY WANT TO SEE THE ECONOMY PICK BACK UP … A CLEAR AND DEFINITIVE END TO THE CURRENT GLOBAL RECESSION … OR AT LEAST BE ABLE TO SEE THE LIGHT @ THE END OF THE PROVERBIAL TUNNEL.
I BELIEVE … THAT WHEN WE HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THEY WANT CHANGE … ITS NOT NECESSARILY A CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT AS MUCH AS IT IS A CHANGE IN THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS AS A PARTY AND AS A GOVERNMENT. THE BEST WAY TO FACILITATE THIS CHANGE IS TO GO BACK TO THE BASICS … GO BACK TO THE DAYS OF FREDDY WADE & HIS VISION … HIS VISION OF REGROUPING AND REPAIRING.
LETS APPLY THAT TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY … LETS WORK ON REPAIRING THE “BROKEN” THREADS IN OUR WEB … WE CAN DO THAT BY IDENTIFYING WHAT WE SHOULD STOP DOING … START DOING & CONTINUE TO DO WHEN FACED WITH TOUGH TIMES OR LONG JOURNEYS … THE ANIMAL KINGDOM WORK TOGETHER TO OVERCOME.
IF … EVER … THEIR WAS A TIME FOR US TO BAND TOGETHER THAT TIME IS NOW … WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER NOW MORE THEN EVER … TAKE THE CANADIAN GEESE FOR EXAMPLE … THEY FLOCK IN FORMATION BECAUSE THEY CAN FLY FASTER & STAY IN THE AIR LONGER … BECAUSE THEY LITERALLY FLY ON THE LIFT & THRUST OF THE BIRD DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THEM …WHEN A SINGLE GOOSE GETS SICK OR INJURED & FALLS OUT OF FORMATION … TWO OTHERS GO DOWN WITH HIM TO PROTECT HIM UNTIL IS ABLE TO FLY AGAIN. WE TOO SHOULD BE PROTECTING EACH OTHER … NOW MORE THEN EVER.
THESE ARE TOUGH TIMES … WE ARE DEALING WITH A GOLBAL RECESSION … UNEMPLOYMENT … CRIME … AND YES THOSE THREADS IN OUR WEB ARE BEING PULLED, HOWEVER … “WHEN A THREAD IS PULLED … THE SILK’S UNIQUE MOLECULAR STRUCTURE UNFURLS AS STRESS INCREASES … LEADING TO A STRETCHING EFFECT.” REMARKABLY … JUST BEFORE A THREAD BREAKS IT GOES THROUGH A STIFFING PHASE … AND IT IS IN THIS STIFFING PHASE THAT IT CAN ABSORB THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF STRESS.
I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU … BUT I CANT THINK OF ANY OTHER TIME MORE STRESSFUL THAN NOW. SURE WE HAVE FACED ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE … BUT NOT SIMULTANEOUSLY. REGARDLESS I KNOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO STAND STRONG EVEN THOUGH THREADS MAY BREAK … OUR WEB WILL NOT BE COMPROMISED!!!
RIGHT NOW YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING … HOW CAN HE BE SO CONFIDENT … THE POLL’S ARE NOT GOING IN OUR FAVOUR … WHEN WE GO OUT AND CANVASS EVEN PARTY MEMBERS ARE DOUBTFUL. WITH EVERYTHING THAT THIS PARTY IS GOING THROUGH … WITH ALL THE OPPOSITION & MEDIA HAVE SAID ABOUT US AS A GOVERNMENT … HOW IS THIS WEB THAT YOU SPEAK OF STILL HOLDING TOGETHER?
I’LL GIVE YOU THE ANSWER “ THE DURABILITY OF THE WEB IS NOT JUST CONTROLLED BY THE STRENGTH OF ITS SILK … BUT ALSO … HOW ITS MECHANICAL PROPERTIES CHANGE AS YOU STRETCH IT” OUR PARTY WAS FOUNDED ON CRITICIZING THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY … BUT ITS TIME FOR OUR “MECHANICAL PROPERTIES” TO CHANGE FROM CRITICIZING TO CRITIQUING.
THE STRENGTH OF OUR WEBS “SILK” IS OUR GOVERNMENT … THE STRENGTH OF OUR GOVERNMENT IS OUR PARTY … THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF OUR PARTY IS IN YOU … THIS IS WHAT WILL SUSTAIN US, THOSE ARE THE TIES THAT BIND US !!! THAT IS WHAT WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO STAND STRONG FOR BERMUDIANS !!!
NOW TELL THAT TO ANYONE WHO DARES QUESTION US AS A GOVERNMENT … OR AS A PARTY BECAUSE AS IT HAS … AND ALWAYS WILL BE PLP ALL THE WAY & ALL THE WAY PLP !!!
Forever indebted to, not forever in debt to
It has been said that when making legislation and policy alike bad cases make bad laws. This statement has great relevance to one of the Government’s most recent laws: The Motor Car Amendment Act 2013.
The recent amendment now means that a senior car owner who is granted an exemption from paying the full rate of duty shall be liable to pay 50% of the amount set out in Part B of Schedule 2 for a car of the relevant class. The Minister of Tourism and Transport, the Hon.Shawn Crockwell J.P. M.P. has stated that as a result of alleged abuse within the system, in regards to the benefit of seniors not having to pay for licensing of their vehicle, seniors will now be required to pay.
The Progressive Labour Party stands strong on the fact that, in the interest of fairness, a Government should not attempt to address the abuse of some with a penalty to all. If the Government is able to give examples of alleged abuse of the current system that would suggest that they are able to identify those alleged abusers. It is disturbing that the Government’s response to the abuse is to tax Nana and Papa instead of implementing efficient measures by introducing and passing legislation to eradicate the abuse within the system; leaving Ma and Pa to be nickel and dimed.
Seeing this Government be so adamant on pushing this amendment through and passing this law begs the question that if the Government knows or just does not care that Bermuda’s typical senior citizen is a 72-year old retiree residing in a home with a median household income of less than $36,000 a year - why do they insist on taxing them? We as the opposition believe that the best way forward would have been for the Government to recognize the contribution to the economy made by all seniors (over time) and the fiscal hardship that some are currently facing, rather than focusing on eliminating the “loss of revenue” within the system before tabling a bill that negatively impacts the quality of life of members in our community in this case our seniors.
This is why when the Progressive Labour Party reviewed the above amendment drafted by the Government, we immediately saw how unfair it was towards our seniors and as such we drafted and tabled the following amendment: “A senior car owner is granted an exemption from paying the full rate of duty as set out in Part B of Schedule 2 for a car of the relevant class” Unfortunately, none of the OBA MP’s voted in favor of this proposal. In the Upper House, the PLP senators also proposed a clause which would have allowed for seniors who are unable to afford the licensing fee for their vehicle to have the option of applying to the Minister for an exemption. This proposal did not get the support from the Government senators either.
The OBA promised us change that would have a positive impact on this country. All I see is a bad case resulting in a bad law which will have a negative impact in the form of additional taxes on a demographic that we should forever be indebted to and not have them forever in debt too.
The recent amendment now means that a senior car owner who is granted an exemption from paying the full rate of duty shall be liable to pay 50% of the amount set out in Part B of Schedule 2 for a car of the relevant class. The Minister of Tourism and Transport, the Hon.Shawn Crockwell J.P. M.P. has stated that as a result of alleged abuse within the system, in regards to the benefit of seniors not having to pay for licensing of their vehicle, seniors will now be required to pay.
The Progressive Labour Party stands strong on the fact that, in the interest of fairness, a Government should not attempt to address the abuse of some with a penalty to all. If the Government is able to give examples of alleged abuse of the current system that would suggest that they are able to identify those alleged abusers. It is disturbing that the Government’s response to the abuse is to tax Nana and Papa instead of implementing efficient measures by introducing and passing legislation to eradicate the abuse within the system; leaving Ma and Pa to be nickel and dimed.
Seeing this Government be so adamant on pushing this amendment through and passing this law begs the question that if the Government knows or just does not care that Bermuda’s typical senior citizen is a 72-year old retiree residing in a home with a median household income of less than $36,000 a year - why do they insist on taxing them? We as the opposition believe that the best way forward would have been for the Government to recognize the contribution to the economy made by all seniors (over time) and the fiscal hardship that some are currently facing, rather than focusing on eliminating the “loss of revenue” within the system before tabling a bill that negatively impacts the quality of life of members in our community in this case our seniors.
This is why when the Progressive Labour Party reviewed the above amendment drafted by the Government, we immediately saw how unfair it was towards our seniors and as such we drafted and tabled the following amendment: “A senior car owner is granted an exemption from paying the full rate of duty as set out in Part B of Schedule 2 for a car of the relevant class” Unfortunately, none of the OBA MP’s voted in favor of this proposal. In the Upper House, the PLP senators also proposed a clause which would have allowed for seniors who are unable to afford the licensing fee for their vehicle to have the option of applying to the Minister for an exemption. This proposal did not get the support from the Government senators either.
The OBA promised us change that would have a positive impact on this country. All I see is a bad case resulting in a bad law which will have a negative impact in the form of additional taxes on a demographic that we should forever be indebted to and not have them forever in debt too.
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