Are you with the grain, or against it?

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

I am definitely in the against the grain category when it comes to most topics. Or at least I think I am. Maybe there are more people out there that think like me that I know. When you read the news and listen to the general public's impression of things, I find myself constantly shaking my head. I get this sense that the world (at least the Western world) has it's priorities entirely messed up. The things that get the masses upset versus the things that can't even catch the media's attention frustrate me to no end.

Here are a few examples...The new Canadian Conservative government is going to give $1200 to every parent with a child under 6 to help pay for childcare costs. No thank you. What are people supposed to do if there are no available childcare spaces for them to spend their $1200 on? I think most Canadians will end up spending that money on beer. Spend the money where it will actually do something. I am going to donate mine to the NDP party.

North Americans are collectively boiling about the state of gas prices. Maybe if you weren't driving freaking gas-guzzling kill-the-environment tanks every day, you wouldn't be so upset about spending $90 to fill up your tank. I think gas hikes are a good thing. It seems to be the only time that people stop and think about whether they really need to drive from here to there and actually use words like conservation. Because they feel the economic impact. Maybe those car-poolers, bus driving, bicycling types aren't so foolish after all, they might start to think. Cutting down on gasoline consumption might not end up as a result of environmental concern but out of personal financial interests, but regardless, the outcome is the same. And stop whining and go out and get a small, fuel efficient vehicle next time. Don't even get me going on the whole gas guzzling society that we live in...but I think I've already started.

What do you think?

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at 9:54 PM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.

1.  Anocsanamun said:
   10:26 PM  

   I think I try to be with it = but fate makes me go against

1.  Alysa said:
   10:39 PM  

   I agree about the gas thing. But I drive a very gas friendly car and the prices are still gouging me. I have a 10 gallon tank and it's 25+ to fill it up. There is a movement in Texas at the moment where instead of throwing fits and just avoiding gas all together, we avoid just the biggest companies. Which doesn't bother me much since I buy at local lesser known gas stations.
   I go against the grain on a lot of things, sometimes I push it too far. I believe us against the grainers are the ones who make the world better, we keep them on their toes.
   xoxo
   Alysa

1.  Michelle said:
   12:33 AM  

   I totally agree with you, the damn media need a ffot up the backside and the general public need educating on media myths.
   A few years back, our illustrious liberal govt decided they'd give every woman $2,000 dollars every time they had a child!!! Well, you need not be Einstein to figure out every second teenage girl decided to have a kid!!! Insane :(

1.  Stephanie said:
   7:35 AM  

   This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

1.  Stephanie said:
   7:37 AM  

   Harper and co. live in lala land if they think that their little scheme will help those in most desperate need of childcare. Frankly, I would be tempted to spend my credit (assuming I lived in Canada and had kids) sponsoring a theatre group of gay men and lesbians promoting multiculturalism and vegetarianism through modern dance and mime. Just to piss the conservatives off a bit...

1.  Cathy said:
   8:25 AM  

   anocs;
   welcome!
   
   Alysa;
   I agree with you. Let's save the world :)
   
   Michelle;
   Do you still have this? Crazy...
   
   Stephanie;
   I like your idea. I was going to donate mine to the NDP party and then send Harper the receipt.

1.  Michelle said:
   8:53 AM  

   Yes Cathy, sadly, we do have it still, it's called the 'Baby Bonus'. I failed to mention one of the reasons behind the so called initiative is because Australias population rate is falling. Many couples are now choosing not to have kids, or just the one.

1.  Cathy said:
   8:58 AM  

   Michelle;
   Yes, well, $2000 about covers the financial and emotional burden that parents bear in the upbring of a child, doesn't it! Great incentive. ;) There are lots of children in Africa; perhaps the Australian government could give them each $2000 to come. Sigh...

1.  missbhavens said:
   12:04 PM  

   I've always been bothered by people whining about high gas prices, but it's easy for me to say, because I don't drive. Somewhere along the line, owning a car stopped being a luxury and started being something you were just expected to start doing when you became 16. Anyone who says "many people need cars or they can't get to work" should try living in Europe for a spell. Lots of those people need to get to work, too and gas is way more expensive. Way.
   
   Any kind of tax bonus or kickback or credit for having kids ticks me off. I don't have kids. can I have some extra money for stuff?

1.  Devil Mood said:
   1:07 PM  

   I think I'm against the grain as well...listening to the news is my favourite way to get angry at the world.
   People won't change until we're totally out of petrol and have to resource to other forms of energy...it's sad. When I watch american tv I always wonder why they all need those huge SUV when the roads are all perfect and plain...there're no heights! And don't take me wrong when I say american...it's a general term.

1.  Anonymous said:
   1:32 PM  

   I go with it sometimes, against it other times - it's issue by issue for me.
   
   Re the child care thing - I'm for a credit that allows parents to decide where and whether they want to have their kids in daycare. Some parents want to stay home in those preschool years and if this can help them do that, then I'm cool with it. (but then again, how far does $1200 actually go - but that's another story)
   
   Fuel prices - I agree on the SUVs. Crazy things, and something like under 10% of them actually ever see an off-road drive. Most of 'em are on the highways. I'm feeling the prices now for our pickup that we have for the farm (thank goodness we don't take that baby for long drives). I wonder, how many people will change their daily plans based on gas prices? Hopefully there will be some who decide to try something new.
   
   btw Cathy - sweet pics on the blog, as always. I really have to get around to doing one of these. Hi to Mr. C for us.

1.  Stephanie said:
   4:54 PM  

   I think like you think.
   
   Haven't had much time today, but THIS is what has me all riled up today. Oh, how I hate this place. I vote!!!

1.  Eric said:
   4:58 PM  

   That is all they are talking about over here. Nevermind our troubles in Iraq, but gosh, aren't gas prices getting high?
   
   I actually think it would be a good idea to raise gas taxes, or to have a SUV tax to foot the bill for funding alternatives, but I fear that we will only change out dependence on oil when we are forced to.
   
   My family has a small SUV out of necessity (more like a wagon actually), so this would hurt us, but the way I see it, it's a little hurt now, or a lot later.
   
   My ideal car is a VW GTI. There are some days I wonder how I can be American.

1.  fb said:
   7:10 PM  

   It's been weird not being allowed to drive for almost a year.
   
   When you walk you really start to notice how pepole drive too fast.
   
   I don't think I need to buy a car again but will rely on rentals when I need one although ultimately my job will probably necessitate one.
   
   In the last Budget they put an SUV tax on but I don't think it will make a difference after all the people who own these vehicles have already paid out so much the fee is nominal to them.
   
   They're only now considering rideshare lanes on the motorways in the UK.
   
   Still plenty of cars in, out and around central London...

1.  Anonymous said:
   7:40 PM  

   Wow! That was deep grained.

1.  x said:
   9:29 PM  

   Cathy, may i join Stephanie in that lesbian-homo-vegetarian thing?
   Plus, i understand help with childcare is needed to many many people, but i'd like to see the government that offered parents the chance to work fewer hours for the same pay, in order to stay with their kids and save on that childcare money.
   xx
   P.S I don't drive a car and i agree.

1.  Jennifer said:
   11:03 PM  

   People who think against the grain are the ones who change the world! :-) I agree with your sentiments about gas prices. Although high prices hurt my wallet, I think higher prices is the only thing that will get western industry and governments off their butts to develop true alternaties to oil... either that or will make Canadian tar sands (is that what they're called?) the next thing to wreck the environment. I've read a lot lately about "Peak Oil" and how the world may be running out of cheap, easily extracted oil. Cheap oil and gas are likely things of the past (especially if there's another war in the middle east)... we better start getting used ot it!

1.  sjobs said:
   11:08 PM  

   Cathy, Damn I drive a small SUV and the gas prices are killing me. I cannot sell my house for about a year and I dont' really want to move to Minneapolis anyway.
   
   I hate the government in the US. I wished I could find a way to get rind of them. What frightens me is that Bush is just as much an terrorist as the leader of Iran. If they decide to battle it out I hope that they go for a dull instead of nuclear war....
   
   Mary

1.  Cathy said:
   11:25 PM  

   I can't properly respond to you now, because I am swamped with work, but I wanted to say thank you for all of your comments, dear friends. So many against-the-grainers; I love it!
   
   and BARB!!
   You need to start a blog; I said hello to Mr. C for you and hi to you and Mr. G :)

1.  Foxy said:
   2:55 PM  

   i am a north american with one of those gas guzzling suv's you mention and for the most part i think you are right. we definitly think twice now about going anywhere because of the gas prices. but with 3 kids, we have not yet found a big enuff vehicle that is environmentaly sp?)safe to drive..is there one?
   
   the whole thing is so corrupted i think, starting from the govt, down to the small and big companies.
   
   but yes, at this rate it will force people to make big changes because who can afford not to?

1.  missy said:
   3:22 PM  

   I say put money in making more cycling paths. If it's safe to cycle, people will do it. It's more environmental and people get some exercise.
   
   xx

1.  Dr. Deb said:
   3:30 PM  

   It really depends on the issue. I can go with something or be against it.
   
   ~Deb

1.  Skye said:
   5:56 PM  

   HI! I am diffently against the grain. You're right they never mention some things and if they do it's about 4 days late. (pick a topic) right now I'm still cheering for the Chinese lady that upset the big deal this morning!!

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