Monday, May 26
Major Coolness
Tuesday, May 20
In Case You're Wondering
Tuesday, May 13
Morning Conversation
Me: You know, I'm not one to blame movies or video games for influencing violence, but even I have to admit that this recent spat of kids trying to run over cops with stolen vehicles is just a little too close to Grand Thief Auto for my liking.
Coworker: Nah. You actually avoid running over cops in the game. Boosts your star rating too high.*
Me: I guess the game is not influencing kids enough then.
Coworker: Nah. You actually avoid running over cops in the game. Boosts your star rating too high.*
Me: I guess the game is not influencing kids enough then.
* - Star Rating: How strongly you'll be pursued by the authorities in the game. If your rating gets to a high enough point, you'll basically be shot and killed within minutes.
Saturday, May 10
If You're Looking For Your Story At Question Period, You're Looking In The Wrong Place
Mary Agnes gets it.
I'm glad there's a little recognition here that the way the media chooses to cover the Legislative beat is going a long way to determine the type of stories that come up on the beat. Curtis Brown, for one, always jokes over drinks that he's found way more gems at committee hearings and estimates than he has ever pulled out of QP, and yet I can't remember seeing too many reporters covering the often dull hearings unless it was a committee dealing with something immediately flashy such as Crocus. Well, that's the beat guys and gals.
Welch is also bang on regarding the disgrace of actual bill coverage. We get a story the day it is introduced - maybe even a reaction story the day after that if it's a meaty bill - and then it disappears until the story on the day it passes. If we're really lucky, they give us a follow-up story a year or two later about the impacts of the change. But even then it's kinda ridiculous to spend three days in a row covering how a bill was nothing but trouble months after it passes rather than the months before. For example A of this type of coverage, see the Freep's coverage of the big NDP water bill from 2004/05 and the articles by Helen Whatshername in 2006.
I get that newspaper budgets are tight as hell and I get that this has often led to cutbacks and such, but is it any wonder that newspapers are bleeding readers when you can't get decent coverage of your provincial political scene?
Stop analyzing the strategy and start analyzing the issues. Spend a day or two with an issue of substance.* Start encouraging reporters to really bone up on bills and issues rather than cover them by Cliff's Notes. And maybe most importantly, please stop looking down your noses at those who run for office. Far too often the sarcastic and dismissive attitudes leak into the coverage or even in terms of how a story gets covered. I might be reading too much here, but I've got to honest, I can't remember how many stories went nowhere simply because the report didn't "get it" at first and figured there wasn't anything there to run with.
Now all this said, the pols had better get their acts together as well. Stop viewing QP as the most important portion of the day and completely mix it up. Stop the speeches in the preambles. Cut the rhetoric. Stand up and ask thoughtful questions and thoughtful follow-ups. Sure, the gov't will take a while to figure it out, but eventually those short information gathering questions will produce real answers. And sometimes those answers won't be helpful to the gov't.
And by asking them quick and without heat, you'll be able to touch upon several more topics on any given day. Cast a wide net and see how many fish you catch.
At least it would be trying something new, right?
* - If even half of the stories dedicated to the Friends of Upper Fort Gary were given to the recent Elections omnibus bill, I've got little doubt that the package would pass as is.
Still, this session, we’ve had only one scrum that I’d call remotely invigorating - the one where everyone hassled Doer about Crown corps giving money to the human rights museum. Even then, there was only a half-dozen reporters and the story died the next day. On any given day in the media balcony in the house, there’s maybe five regulars and the odd camera that shows up because a reporter needs a clip from the roads minister about potholes or something equally one-off. We’re just not covering QP the way we did, and the MLAs know this, so they’ve just stopped trying as hard.
It’s not just QP. There’s far, far fewer reporters covering the Legislature in general, competing with each other and spending time digging up stuff. CBC has all but abandoned the Leg, and no television station sends anyone down with any regularity. Space in my own newspaper has shrunk dramatically since the days of Arlene Bilinkoff and Curt Petrovich, so we’re doing fewer stories. Whole bills get briefed. That means the daily clash of Question Period, the moment where ideas and policies crystallize, just doesn’t have any impact on voters anymore. I don’t know what to do about that.
I'm glad there's a little recognition here that the way the media chooses to cover the Legislative beat is going a long way to determine the type of stories that come up on the beat. Curtis Brown, for one, always jokes over drinks that he's found way more gems at committee hearings and estimates than he has ever pulled out of QP, and yet I can't remember seeing too many reporters covering the often dull hearings unless it was a committee dealing with something immediately flashy such as Crocus. Well, that's the beat guys and gals.
Welch is also bang on regarding the disgrace of actual bill coverage. We get a story the day it is introduced - maybe even a reaction story the day after that if it's a meaty bill - and then it disappears until the story on the day it passes. If we're really lucky, they give us a follow-up story a year or two later about the impacts of the change. But even then it's kinda ridiculous to spend three days in a row covering how a bill was nothing but trouble months after it passes rather than the months before. For example A of this type of coverage, see the Freep's coverage of the big NDP water bill from 2004/05 and the articles by Helen Whatshername in 2006.
I get that newspaper budgets are tight as hell and I get that this has often led to cutbacks and such, but is it any wonder that newspapers are bleeding readers when you can't get decent coverage of your provincial political scene?
Stop analyzing the strategy and start analyzing the issues. Spend a day or two with an issue of substance.* Start encouraging reporters to really bone up on bills and issues rather than cover them by Cliff's Notes. And maybe most importantly, please stop looking down your noses at those who run for office. Far too often the sarcastic and dismissive attitudes leak into the coverage or even in terms of how a story gets covered. I might be reading too much here, but I've got to honest, I can't remember how many stories went nowhere simply because the report didn't "get it" at first and figured there wasn't anything there to run with.
Now all this said, the pols had better get their acts together as well. Stop viewing QP as the most important portion of the day and completely mix it up. Stop the speeches in the preambles. Cut the rhetoric. Stand up and ask thoughtful questions and thoughtful follow-ups. Sure, the gov't will take a while to figure it out, but eventually those short information gathering questions will produce real answers. And sometimes those answers won't be helpful to the gov't.
And by asking them quick and without heat, you'll be able to touch upon several more topics on any given day. Cast a wide net and see how many fish you catch.
At least it would be trying something new, right?
* - If even half of the stories dedicated to the Friends of Upper Fort Gary were given to the recent Elections omnibus bill, I've got little doubt that the package would pass as is.
Friday, May 9
Polar Warming
Attended a work conference yesterday and one of the speakers gave a presentation on how generational attitudes require different management styles at the office. Fairly basic stuff, however one of the points that caught my eye is that the speaker felt that "Polarized Canadian Politics" was one of the defining life events of Generation Y (1980-2000 cohort).
Help me readers...Without prejudicing your comments too greatly, I'm not sure I would describe the last fifteen years of Canadian politics as "polarized". Am I wrong about that?
If I am wrong, what events/trends would you use to reflect that polarization?
Help me readers...Without prejudicing your comments too greatly, I'm not sure I would describe the last fifteen years of Canadian politics as "polarized". Am I wrong about that?
If I am wrong, what events/trends would you use to reflect that polarization?
Sarkozy
As a regular reader of Paul Wells, I've been fortunate to follow French politics for the first time in my life. Sarko is a fascinating - if frustrating - pol to watch and while it is easy to write him off already as "all talk, no action", I'd be lying if I didn't say I hope that he might be able to turn it around.
His decision to subtly re-align the French position on Quebec-Canada relations is yet another reason to hold out hope for him.
His decision to subtly re-align the French position on Quebec-Canada relations is yet another reason to hold out hope for him.
In France where the right has traditionally been sovereignty's staunchest ally, President Nicolas Sarkozy has strong personal ties to Quebec's federalist business establishment. For months, there has been speculation that he will re-triangulate the Ottawa-Quebec-Paris relationship to treat Canadian unity as a given.Yesterday, he sent his strongest signal to date, going off a prepared speech to say that France was close to Quebec but also loved Canada and that there was no need to choose between the two.
[link]
Strike While The Iron Is Hot Prov. Tories!
What's this? The economy has become the most pressing issue to Canadians?
Sure, the strength of Manitoba's local system must mean that there's a little less worry overall about the economy at large, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't listen to some well thought out ideas and consider them accordingly.
Thursday, May 8
Oh, Like This Social Wasn't The..Most..Fun...EV-AH!
Just what a guy wants from his friends....commitment.
A Buddy Weighs In
One of my friends used yesterday's post as a launching pad for his own thoughts and fired off an email to a group of youngish Manitoban conservatives. The author lives - as many educated Manitobans do - in Calgary.
[The Hack] has a blog post today about the growing identity as "conservative" amongst younger (under 40) Canadians. Those of us who spend too much time drinking beer with [The Hack] have heard him riff on this before, but this time he's got Paul Wells and Ekos backing him up.
What is interesting about the Wells piece is how he cites increased support for two-tier medicare.
I think what it really demonstrates is that a prolonged, steady pushing of policy issues can and indeed does drive change. You don't need to get it over 50% to win, but who really thinks support won't just continue to grow as more and more baby boomers sit on waitlists for heart bypass operations?
This can and needs to be done in Manitoba. Our problem (yours I suppose, I'm not really one of you anymore) is that we shy away from anything difficult or controversial because there is "no voter support". We have gotten so used to letting the polls dictate policy that we've forgotten that with a continuous, prolonged push on issues the polls will change. Gary Filmon knew this when he won an election on crime even though it wasn't polling as in issue.
So, why do we shy away from controversial subjects like options for increased competition in hydro development? Privatization of Crown corporations? Aggressively reducing payroll and corporate taxes... increased capacity in provincial jails... increased numbers of Crown prosecutors... eliminating local school boards... eliminating health authorities... these are all issues some or all of you have discussed in the past few years. 3 years from the next election is the time to start developing our wedge issues.
I'm pleased to see that the Leader has not backed down on the Eastside Hydro issue. With a steady attack the message does get through to voters. I suspect that in the next election the electorate will go from not caring/siding with the NDP on the eastside issue to being split or even slightly favourable to Hugh.
Unfortunately I know that all of you guys "get" this... its just unfortunate that our caucus has grown so gunshy and complacent that they seem unwilling to roll the dice.
These conservative minded cohorts exist in Winnipeg. Especially amongst the under 40 crowd who have seen so many people take good educations and leave town. Nobody under 40 who has travelled to Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto or Minneapolis can honestly believe that the status quo is acceptable. This is a generation who have been screwed over by large public sector unions, witness on a daily basis the inequity of less qualified workers "bumping" them and who understand (even when employed in the public sector) that an economy is driven by a strong private sector.
Here is a thought to ponder: why does a state like Mississippi with a less educated workforce, in a less central location, far from any of the raw materials of production and in the heart of the hurricane dartboard attract auto industry factories and Manitoba does not? Why did a state like Indiana manage to avoid becoming part of the rust-belt and become a beacon of finance and tech? How did a backwater like North Carolina emerge as an economic pillar? How come huge oil finds are happening in southeast Saskatchewan, but all the oil and gas fields magically halt at the MB/SK border? (read about how the Bakken field is being driven by this Manitoba ex-pat and then try to tell me we don't lose something when half the people graduating from UofM professional programs leave town).
This rant brought to you by Hacks & Wonks and the sign at the Encana building ("the Bow") which indicates that its OWNED by a different company and only leased by Encana... a crazy notion which could maybe have applied to the Manitoba Hydro office?
Wednesday, May 7
Now Off To The Achieves To Prove Myself Wrong
I endorse this Prairie Topiary post, which is very well thought out and well argued.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I believe I said nada regarding the donations last week and while I won't play historical revisionist suggesting that it was a premeditated decision on my part, maybe it was a reflection of how little the issue riled me up. And people who know me know just low a threshold it takes to rile me up.
I suppose eyebrows are raised because the organizations in question are owned by and accountable to Manitobans, and because two of them (MLC and MLCC) pour their revenues directly into those of the government. But are the donations in question unreasonable or inappropriate?
[snip]
The opposition might have had a point if the sums being given were so huge as to threaten the financial well-being of the crowns in question or to risk putting the government in a deficit position, but the donations are entirely appropriate and reasonable.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I believe I said nada regarding the donations last week and while I won't play historical revisionist suggesting that it was a premeditated decision on my part, maybe it was a reflection of how little the issue riled me up. And people who know me know just low a threshold it takes to rile me up.
The Hack To Free Press Blog Team: I'll Add One
Post more. Simple as that.
It's no secret that my readership tanks when I don't put in the effort to write regularly. And I'm not paid to do this shtick. But when I put in a little effort (sometimes very little effort) and add two cents about a news story or idea or even another blogger's post*, I'm creating new content and new content is the lifeblood of a blog.
(If getting big readership numbers is your thing.)
* - Thanks Froggie.
It's no secret that my readership tanks when I don't put in the effort to write regularly. And I'm not paid to do this shtick. But when I put in a little effort (sometimes very little effort) and add two cents about a news story or idea or even another blogger's post*, I'm creating new content and new content is the lifeblood of a blog.
(If getting big readership numbers is your thing.)
* - Thanks Froggie.
Continental Conservatives
Over the years, a lot of people ask me why I'm fairly bullish on Prime Minister Stephen Harper's goal to turn the Tories into the 21st century version of "Canada's Natural Governing Party". Lots of reasons I would say. The success of globalization economics....The power and economic shift from eastern towards western Canada...Old world values of many new Canadians...The natural conservatism of Canadian youth.....*record scratch*
"The natural...?"
The natural conservatism of Canadian youth. At least when it comes to economics.
"You're kidding right?"
Not at all. Most twenty-somethings like myself grew up and formed their basic political values at a time when balanced budget operations and streamlining government spending were not only necessary, but demanded by the voters. When you have governments ranging from Mike Harris Tories to the Roy Romanow NDP focusing on conservative economic principles, that is going to leech into those new voters coming up.
We're also talking about a group to tends to be more individualistic and less traditional.
"The natural...?"
The natural conservatism of Canadian youth. At least when it comes to economics.
"You're kidding right?"
Not at all. Most twenty-somethings like myself grew up and formed their basic political values at a time when balanced budget operations and streamlining government spending were not only necessary, but demanded by the voters. When you have governments ranging from Mike Harris Tories to the Roy Romanow NDP focusing on conservative economic principles, that is going to leech into those new voters coming up.
We're also talking about a group to tends to be more individualistic and less traditional.
These are people who drift towards conservative parties so long as the parties give them a reason to do so.
Now this argument is not always received by my listener, who sometimes counter-argue that I'm projecting my own values on Canadian youth in general.
Nice to read that Paul Wells (and really pollster Frank Graves) basically support me. There's a counterpart group who still go left, but the core Tory voter pool potential is there.
Now this argument is not always received by my listener, who sometimes counter-argue that I'm projecting my own values on Canadian youth in general.
Nice to read that Paul Wells (and really pollster Frank Graves) basically support me. There's a counterpart group who still go left, but the core Tory voter pool potential is there.
Graves identified two big trends emerging. One is a steady, marked shift in Canadians' political identification from liberal to conservative. That's obviously bad news for the federal Liberals. The other trend looks less menacing: the emergence of two broad cohorts of under-40 voters, one broadly left-leaning, the other more conservative. Since they're about the same size they should more or less balance out. Except both of these groups of younger voters have their own generational quirks, and so far Stephen Harper's Conservatives have had better luck reaching out to "their" young voters than the post-Paul Martin Liberals have to "theirs."
Wells' article is an excellent read and if you want to get a sense of where political debate will head over the course of the next twenty years, you might want to give it a read. I'm going to come back to it from time to time.
Because That Makes Sense
The first Mordecai Richler bio would be written by an english professor...
...From Brandon, Manitoba.
...From Brandon, Manitoba.
Monday, May 5
Hope
Saw the cutest thing this afternoon. Stopped at 7/11 on the way to the gym and there was a couple of young girls there as well. One was dark skinned and wearing a hijab. The other was very much the stereotypical blonde hair, blue eyes little white girl.
They happened to be leaving at the same time as I was and when they hopped on their bikes and started peddling off, they belted out a" R-E-S-P-E-C-T...find out what it means to me..." rift of Aretha's in unison.
Don't know why, but that just made me smile. Felt like a metaphor on a number of fronts.
Despite Last Week's Snark
I should mention that I've basically solidified my stance on Insite and the idea of expanding safe-injection sights nationwide.
I'll support 'em.
Basically, when it comes right down to it, the studies that suggest they help greatly out number the ones that suggest they do not. I don't particularly like the idea of injection sites, but I'm not rigid enough to not consider them on their merits.
The Harper gov't should extend the Insite exclusion from drug laws. I wouldn't make it permanent, but I would extend it for a period of time along the lines of eight to twelve years. A time long enough to really study the impacts on the community without the constant "Will he or won't he?" that goes with a shorter extension. And I would investigate possible other Canadian locations where they might have some use.
So there you go emailer.
I'll support 'em.
Basically, when it comes right down to it, the studies that suggest they help greatly out number the ones that suggest they do not. I don't particularly like the idea of injection sites, but I'm not rigid enough to not consider them on their merits.
The Harper gov't should extend the Insite exclusion from drug laws. I wouldn't make it permanent, but I would extend it for a period of time along the lines of eight to twelve years. A time long enough to really study the impacts on the community without the constant "Will he or won't he?" that goes with a shorter extension. And I would investigate possible other Canadian locations where they might have some use.
So there you go emailer.
Sunday, May 4
Watching "The Beach" On City Right Now
All I Need Now Is A Mint Julep And A Hat
Agreed
Thursday, May 1
And Here Wiecek Figured It Was Time To Cover The Horseys
Manitoba Curling is going to be mighty interesting to follow next season.
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