This morning I was listening to an interview with Joe Pantalone on CBC radio one. He just recently lost the race for Mayor of Toronto to Rob Ford. Mr Pantalone has been in politics for 30 years. He’s articulate. He seems thoughtful, intelligent and pleasant. Everything Rob Ford appears “not” to be.
The host asked Joe Pantalone what he thought could be the reason behind Toronto’s swing to a Conservative mindset, and he gave the most likely answer I’ve ever heard. He said “the world is in the grip of global anxiety”, and people when faced with fears tend to look for answers in the safest way. (I’m paraphrasing.)
I can’t help but wholeheartedly agree that that is exactly why a right-wing conservative mentality is on the rise. Fear.
The Conservative Party of Canada just killed Bill C-311, (requiring the federal government to set regulations to bring greenhouse gas emissions 25% below 1990 levels by 2020, and to set a long-term target to bring emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050) furthering my belief that Stephen Harper and his cronies don’t give a rat’s ass about the environment.
People can control economies… (for the time being) until such time that our planet says “no more”. The “global anxiety” that Mr. Pantalone spoke of, is quite real. But I don’t think the heart of it is a financial recession. Granted, people having no means to support themselves or families is of huge concern to everyone.
I happen to think natural disasters are of bigger concern. And caring for our home… this planet… the only one we have… is of much greater importance than securing economies that will fall when the earth can no longer sustain us. “You can’t conduct business in a burning building”.
Global anxiety could be triggered at a very low-level of consciousness within us when our habitat is threatened. Volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, fires, storms… I’d say we’re getting our fair share of threats to our existence as a species. Religious folk (ie: my mom) wag a finger and claim it’s prophesy from the bible coming true. Perhaps. Who knows?
I tend to think a virile, unchecked, expanding species like our own, hell-bent on consuming and multiplying without any consequence is bound to hit a tipping point of “self-fulfilling” prophesy. When is the wake-up call, that we can, and will use things up? I think it was years ago.
People are still sleeping.
Are you with me? [x3]
You're not golden
And I'm getting tired
Act like you own the place
When really you've only just arrived
I caught first glimmers
In hides and skins
Look who's all grown up
Black swanning about the solar winds
You're gonna lose it all
And find yourself on your knees
So, get a grip and you might
Flow, reverse the great, slow bleed
I've tried patience, but
You always want a war
This house won't tolerate any more
Stop this right away
Put that down and clean this mess up
End of conversation
Put your back in it and
Make it up to me now
The cold shoulder
Folded arms and looking up
You've never listened
And carry on careless, regardless
This is not a fire drill and
If we hold any hope
It's harmonic connection
And stereo symbiosis
These legoland empires
Choking out mine now
You're everywhere, everywhere
Multiplying around me, child
A strain on my heart
This rock can't tolerate any more
Stop this right away
Put that down and clean this mess up
End of conversation
Put your back in it and
Make it up to me now
Baby, behave, we'll make it work [x8]
(Baby, do you love me?)
Whoa , oh, oh, oh
Whoa , oh, oh, oh
Whoa , oh, oh, oh (yeah)
Whoa , oh, oh, oh [cont]
You're only what you give back [x5]
Back
Stop this right away
(Baby, behave, we'll make it work) [cont]
Put that down and clean this mess up
End of conversation
Put your back in it and
Make it up to me now
Stop this right away
Put that down and clean this mess up
End of conversation
Put your back in it and
Make it up to me now
Are you with me? [x3]
You're only what you give back [x5]
Back
(You're not golden
And I'm getting tired
Act like you own the place
When really you've only just arrived)
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