Chris LaBossiere's Blog - Latest Comments

Re: A Father’s Letter to His Daughter

KarenUnland — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 00:07:12 -0000

What a gift, Chris. I can only hope to be so wise with my kids.

Re: The Rant of an Idealist

Chris LaBossiere — Mon, 27 May 2013 23:30:10 -0000

My friend Ken Cantor tried to leave a comment and had difficulties. I am sharing his well worded thoughts here as he has asked:

“Thanks Chris… you are not alone in your sentiments.

I for one share them and ponder some of the “slide” you lament” It can be particularly vexing because I have never met a politician who entered politics for personal gain and not a desire to make things better. I sometimes think there is even a reflection of that after the slide commences where it is a manifestation of “I am worth it and entitled to it because I [still] have so much to contribute that is so valuable to the good of the public”.

Now when I say these things, I am not condoning them. As far as I am concerned it engenders behavior that should put people in jail, not in office. One of the things we need to do - and that the media needs to do – however, is to stop enabling this and start reclaiming our governments. It is not “Harper’s government” or “Chretien’s government” or “Redford’s government” or “Ford’s government”. They are the government of Canada or the government of Alberta or the government of Toronto etc. and these are our institutions, not the politician’s institutions. I think a good part of the slide we lament started as soon as stopped referring to those institutions as the government of Canada and the government of Alberta and the government of Toronto etc. and gave them to whomever happened to be Prime Minister or Premier or Mayor at the moment.

We – and not the current crop of miscreants - have created a disconnect and the slide you wrote about is only one manifestation. I think falling voter turnout, a difficulty in attracting suitable candidates and many other things result from that collective abdication. If we continue to give away our governments, is it any wonder that the recipients will eventually start to treat it as theirs and not ours? And is it any wonder there is such apathy when it happens (or such apathy when it comes to government across the board for that matter?)? After all, this isn’t happening within “our” government, it’s happening within “their” government. So not only are we divorced from the faults (including any accountability for them), we are equally as divorced from those myriad things that continue to be done well (which deprives of the pride those things should engender and which should be a foundation for all of us, not just for those who supported “that” government).

Every time I read a newspaper article or listen to a radio report or watch a television commentator talk about “Harper’s government” or “Chretien’s government” or “Redford’s government” or “Ford’s Toronto” I cringe. No wonder the general public starts to become disenchanted and disconnected and behavior and accountability on all fronts starts to suffer (or slide as you chose to phrase it). Yes there are politicians who “are fucking up a really good thing” but I can’t help but wonder if we aren’t as guilty as they are when we are the ones who gave up that really good thing and handed it over to them. When there is no respect left for government, it is not only government behavior that will “slide”, our own behaviors will slide with it.”

I am not sure what to do with the above thoughts but you are free to add them to your blog post or circulate them as you see fit.

Ken

Re: The Rant of an Idealist

Chris LaBossiere — Sat, 25 May 2013 15:49:02 -0000

Good point..

Re: The Rant of an Idealist

Don Eglinski — Sat, 25 May 2013 15:25:09 -0000

I definitely agree with you and perhaps some stringent guidelines as to how a party behaves (Alberta Party?) can set itself apart by focusing on both the platforms they believe in as well as the larger picture you paint, which is to behave accordingly. Honour and character as tantamount to platform.

Without such focus, Coke wouldn’t outperform Pepsi. The liquid itself is arbitrary at this point.

But until the whole of gov as a brand and and as a system is addressed, it will be nearly impossible to re-engage the public at large. Just my opinion.

Cheers!

Re: The Rant of an Idealist

Chris LaBossiere — Sat, 25 May 2013 15:19:37 -0000

Don:

I have no doubt that you are quite right, from a macro perspective. Even the best people, in a bad system, will under-achieve even our simplest expectations.

But it's beyond me and probably my lifetime to try and imagine something wholesale different than what we have now. Can it happen, of course. How it happens will almost certainly have to come from a sudden, seismic political event.... and that might be wishing for something we don't really want.

Until then though, I am compelled by what I know can be impacted immediately. We have real examples of great leaders with worthy character and even without the system changing, we should expect people to act within a framework.

I think we are both right... I just tend to look at things less esoterically.. and more from how can we work with what we know and have.

Re: The Rant of an Idealist

Don Eglinski — Sat, 25 May 2013 11:41:15 -0000

We need these pains to occur regularly to demonstrate to everyone just how faulty the system we have is. It isn’t the best, but it is better than the rest. Today, we have the logistics and designers capable of designing a new one, rather than relying on a manner of gov leftover from an antiquated era—which is more and more often being exploited.

This is a design challenge, and the industry is mature in the US and UK, Germany and across Scandinavia and the Netherlands. As biology and psychology have shown, environment affects our behaviour. The next challenge for us, as a global community, should be how to redesign our governing institutions based on modern science and design—neurology, organisational and cultural theory (see Geert Hofstede), behavioural psych, open source software, communications theory, aesthetic and form, architecture, et al. All these can be utilised to make for a better system by which we _allow_ ourselves to be governed.

Re: The Rant of an Idealist

Don Eglinski — Sat, 25 May 2013 11:27:59 -0000

“Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.” Thanks for writing this, Chris. The party that proposes systematic transparency to ride the unspoken rules you identify here will see what gov needs is not more politicos but a new org willing to challenge the system itself. Till then, each and every one of them, honest and ill ilk alike, will be seen by the masses as one and the same. Further, because of how people process media and stories such as this, it _feels_ broken to us at what I will call the somatic level. We intuitively know beyond words that the system doesn’t live up to the level by which we might trick one another into believing it is supposed to.

Give me people willing to challenge the system itself with new ideas (see: Tim O’Reilly’s gov 2.0 talks about government-as-platform provider, or even to an extent Ron Paul). Even in business, this is how change happens. You cannot disrupt from offering more of the same. You have to challenge the position of the entire institution, and in a way throw out the baby with the bath water.

Re: The Wildrose Reinvented. Maybe it’s time?

Chris LaBossiere — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:08:27 -0000

Fair enough indeed Don. I think the WRP will define what Capital C Conservative means in an Alberta context. And I truly think we need to get on with that debate.

The PC Party is floundering because they are trying to be everything to everybody, yet still doing nothing at the same time.

This post might be a call to action, or it might just be by my impatience.. but either way, I'd like to see something break. So we can start fixing it.

Re: The Wildrose Reinvented. Maybe it’s time?

Don Martin — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 23:48:10 -0000

A very fair article Chris. Quite a large number of us, especially younger ppl in the WRP, are very grateful for the course that is being set. It is true, whether you believe in a culture of responsibility and smaller (and by that I like to think more efficient) government, one that does not need to reduce it's level of service to Albertans is indeed an important debate to be having. It has maybe taken us a little long to get here than we have hoped, but really the slow and steady may be best.

Re: The Wildrose Reinvented. Maybe it’s time?

Susan Wright — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 17:23:34 -0000

Well done Chris. The WR party has matured over the last 12 months, recognizing the need to adapt if it hopes to form government in 4 years. The PCs aren’t helping themselves with their ill-considered reactions to the doctors’ contract dispute, the changes in pricing pharmaceuticals, mandating that all universities become “Campus Alberta” (whatever that is), installing an industry insider (Protti) as the Chairman of the Responsible Energy Development Board, pushing Keystone XL by boasting about an environmental record that falls far short of the mark and burdening us with this horrendous budget.

I don’t have an issue with the WR’s aggressive tone. An opposition party MLA told me that the WR are the only party that has ever gotten under the skin of the PCs and they’re bristling at being held to account. And not a moment too soon—Alberta is buckling under the weight of this blotted and self-serving government.

Re: The Wildrose Reinvented. Maybe it’s time?

Chris LaBossiere — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 16:22:35 -0000

Don, we woud agree 100%. If you read this carefully, I am trying to say that which I believe to be true, not for which I believe in.

The difference though, and the value in saying it, is to get the alternate discussion going.

Time to open this narrative.

Re: The Wildrose Reinvented. Maybe it’s time?

Don Eglinski — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 16:15:25 -0000

Well put. I am interested see what happens next. Unfortunately, until I see the political right evolve their communications strategy to rely not on negative campaigning I can’t ever see myself supporting a group of people that treat their fellow politicos in such a vitriolic manner. It is bad for the brand of both the province and the country, and sets a poisonous example for Albertans who identify with the party. It says, loud and proud, that we are OK with this behaviour.
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Re: Ralph Klein – The Alberta Everyman who led with authenticity

Chris LaBossiere — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 17:57:29 -0000

Thanks Lynn.. I'll take that as a compliment, although I can sense the trepidation on my conclusions ;)

Re: Ralph Klein – The Alberta Everyman who led with authenticity

Don Eglinski — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 16:34:10 -0000

Thanks, as always, Chris

Re: Ralph Klein – The Alberta Everyman who led with authenticity

Lynn Hruczkowski — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 16:13:52 -0000

Thanks Chris -- as always, a thought-provoking and engaging perspective.

Re: Wildrose populism offers no real solutions.

Lars Lehmann — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:11:09 -0000

Couldn't agree more Chris. Finding better alternatives which cost less, are more effective has got to be a priority - not just in Justice, but in every service government delivers. Mocking attempts at finding those alternatives just for political gain doesn't help anyone in the province - taxpayers, victims of crime or those who have ended up in the courts. Creativity is what is needed going forward, not reactivity.

Re: Wildrose populism offers no real solutions.

CuJoYYC — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:56:56 -0000

Not all that baffling really.

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservative."

- John Stuart Mill, philosopher and economist (1806-1873)

Re: Wildrose populism offers no real solutions.

Will Munsey — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:10:12 -0000

The problem continues to be that there's no credible option to un-elect the moribund (and entitlement-entangled) PC party with a party that seeks to govern in a progressive, cooperative, open way. People sit by and criticise the Alberta Party for not having detailed policy (which is a somewhat fair criticism), but it is the one party that's actually trying to move forward through positive contributions and ideas. If Albertans want a electable option... they need to get active and either change the direction of one of the traditional parties (making them more than galleries of naysayers), or get involved and build the moderate Alberta Party into that credible option. It remains the best potential vessel for progressive, moderate Albertans to create an option committed to better policy and the public interest... leaving behind past wrongs and animosity.

Re: Wildrose populism offers no real solutions.

Connie — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 12:54:44 -0000

Thank you for writing this, Chris. Wildrose shows their true colours once again. Baffling that they even have one seat, really.

Re: Wildrose populism offers no real solutions.

Chris LaBossiere — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 11:45:55 -0000

Approve.

Re: Wildrose populism offers no real solutions.

AlanSchtweetzsch — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 11:31:17 -0000

Consider that it's not just justice that challenges governance, but equally health care.
Healthcare in AB seems like an almost unsolvable puzzle to me right now. So much demand, and really committed hard working staff can't snap their fingers to create more money and instantly have more beds. Mum's been in a bed for 2 weeks now, and no surgery slot yet. Hoping she'll be able to get in today. And then 10 recovery and monitoring days *after* surgery will be needed. Albertans, support your health care staff.

Re: Wildrose populism offers no real solutions.

Randy — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 07:33:24 -0000

Being an Populist opposition is the easiest job possible. Just sit back and throw stones at whatever the government proposes without regard for the effectiveness or practical applications of anything you put out there. The Wildrose party has let down Albertans. They have the opportunity to finally provide this province with an effective opposition. Instead they are acting like junior high school kids trying to show off to their friends.

Re: Wildrose populism offers no real solutions.

-G.Mac — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 07:16:57 -0000

Amen.

Re: Southgate Volkswagen & Audi Edmonton

Chris LaBossiere — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:18:47 -0000

Don:

Good that you took the time to respond and clarify the mistake. Rest assured I have no animosity for your dealership, but I certainly was shocked to see that the car was simply relisted.

If that was a mistake, then that is probably best for everyone. I'll add the comments to the post above, and let anyone who wants to consider your statement, the chance to do that here.

Re: Southgate Volkswagen & Audi Edmonton

Don_Gray — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:20:54 -0000

Dear Chris,

My name is Don Gray and I am a Sales Manager at Southgate Volkswagen. We met on a few occasions during your purchase of the Porsche and eventual refund. I am truly sorry to hear that you are feeling this animosity towards our dealership.

Please let me explain that the fact the car appeared on online for sale was a mistake. Someone in our dealership accidently switched the status to "Ready-For Sale" which then starts a process of listing the vehicle online. This vehicle is NOT FOR SALE! We corrected the mistake first thing this morning but unfortunately the vehicle will not be removed from our online listings for 24 hours after making the change.

I really apologize for any misunderstanding this has caused. We pride ourselves as being an honest and reputable dealership. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or concerns.

Sincereley,

Don Gray
Sales Manager
Southgate Volkswagen
780 438 - 8888
dgray@southgatevw.ca