Climate Emergency

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Written by Gordon MacKinnon

Category: Uncategorised

Published: 10 March 2020

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Climate Emergency

My first suggestion of remedies for the climate emergency are the personal choices that each individual can make. I have made and continue to make my own choices, but I recognize that everyone's circumstance and experience is different, and as such I would not want others to impose there choices on me, or visa versa. We face this existential crisis as existentialsts, "a philosophical movement that stresses the individual's unique position as a self-determining agent responsible for making meaningful, authentic choices in a universe seen as purposeless or irrational:"

I do not own a car. I own a bicycle, and have replaced the drive train more than once.

I most often  take transit because  I  think of the cost and carbon footprint of the fuel and labour of cycling, and the risk of theft or vandalism to my ride.

I am impressed with the new CNG buses, the "new bus smell" , the sky lights therin, and the different seating layout.

I enjoy the opportunities of  reading, conversation, texting, composing email, and the reduced stress and risk of being imperiled by more entitled or less mindful vehicle operators.

Gray Matters

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Written by Gordon MacKinnon

Category: Uncategorised

Published: 07 March 2020

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Gray Matters

As we all hope to get older  these are matters of interest to all.

Many presume that seniors are independently wealthy. Well there are many who have benefited from "Defined Benefits" pensions, and appreciation of real and capital assets, this is by no means a universal experience. For those on CPP and GIS, the ever increasing cost of accommodation, medication, and food are causing stress.

When I was 20 years old I knew everything. I have learned much since then and continue to learn. There is much experience in this community.  In conversation with elders I continue to learn. I also learn that there is much frustration with the continuous evolution of services toward "apps" and on-line resources that are not always intuitive to persons who have not grown up with a smart phone in their hands. It is increasingly difficult to get in person service, and the navigation of phone trees and hold times create challenges to obtaining information and assistance.

Some of retirement age are "House Rich and Cash Poor" and face subtle age-ism as they try to compete with young people being hired by younger people who worry about generational  culture differences and its impact on the enterprise.

Hot Tub Socialist

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Written by Gordon MacKinnon

Category: Uncategorised

Published: 08 March 2020

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Hot Tub Socialist 

This is an expression I have heard, from whence I do not recall, although it seems to me that it was related to me that it came from California and was a comment on persons of privilege relating their ideals while relaxing in their hot tubs.

I have enjoyed many conversations in the public hot tub at Crystal Pool, and have for decades also visited Oak Bay Rec Centre, as well as Esquimalt, and Gordon Head.  I have never regretted going, and have benefited from the erudition, experience, wisdom, humour, and camaraderie of our communities.

As to labels, first off as being the founder of a sole proprietorship, I must admit to being an entrepreneur. I would suggest that this is capitalism only in as much as it is the leveraging of intellectual capital, and sweat equity. Yes there is an amount of capital required, but without the ideas, hard work, and temporal opportunity, capital would  likely yield better returns in mutual funds, and employment more secure and predictable cash flow.

My  pension and  CPP contributions mean that I am a capitalist. I would have more comfort were there opportunities to target and direct the investments to reap better social outcomes whilst still benefiting from capital appreciation. 

The truth I would like to relate is that there are diverse and multiple stake holders in our communities that are not mutually exclusive. There are some that would  presume to advance the interest of one stakeholder group and for convenience of branding, extol the virtues and benefits of a dogmatic approach. There are many moving pieces in a community. We need the best of all for the best of all possible outcomes. There is an incredible mutuality in our community and and underutilized depth of knowledge and experience.

I look forward to discussions with many people during the campaign to learn more, and I can often be found in the sauna, steam room or hot tub.