Life Is Not Purgatory

Things to Think About
I had my interview for the local job today. It went quite well, as far as I can tell for the hour and half long interview. I'll be receiving an offer letter by email in the next few days and will consider it over the weekend and get back to them after I interview for the postion in Banff.

Student Vote
Well I got 8.4% of the votes amongst the high school students I talked to. And given my lackluster performance at the JH Picard Forum (I hated the format). I did pretty good.

I guess that bodes well for the next election as almost 10% of the youth would have voted for me.

The Morning After
Sigh. I should be happy right?

I should be thankful that I did as good as I did at the forums, and that maybe I got one or two people to get out and vote, whom otherwise wouldn't. I set a goal for the number of votes I wanted, and ended up far from the mark. Although I really thought I'd be able to reach it.

On the plus side I got called by both of my employment nibbles today. I have an interview tommrow at 1:00pm and another for the job in Banff on the weekend.

You Are From Neptune

You are dreamy and mystical, with a natural psychic ability. You love music, poetry, dance, and (most of all) the open sea. Your soul is filled with possibilities, and your heart overflows with compassion. You can be in a room full of friendly people and feel all alone. If you don't get carried away with one idea, your spiritual nature will see you through anything.

Job Hunting?
I sent out a few 'feelers' during the campaign and have gotten a few nibbles in return. On Saturday I received an email from a hotel in Banff that is interested in interviewing me. While this morning I received an email from another hotel in the Edmonton-region doin much the same.

To be frank, it releives me imensely that I am acutallly getting interest as I was begining to worry that none of my feelers had returned any interest.

My wallet is getting awfully thin.

Election Day
It's kind of odd for me, getting ready to go out and vote, know that when I get the ballot from the Poll Clerk and getting behind the blind that when I open up that balot my name is going to be there, third from the top along with five others.

I know I stand the smae change as the proverbial snowball in hell, but I also know that if elected, I would give it all my effort and I would pour myself into the job. I want to win.

But I won't, and thats the part that stings the most. Regardless of how many doors I knocked on, how many people I talked to, they will goto the polling station, get thier ballot with they reflect upon what I said, and why they did or did not agree with me; and then look at either Gene, Aman or Nathan because they 'stand a chance'. Many will change their minds and abandon me, despite thier agreement with my principles.

Regardless, I proactively thank those that voted for me, even if it's not enough.

Contempt of the Press?
We interupt this election campaign to bring you this rant.

I'm not a strong supporter of the nerf news attitiude in the media however, I have to look at this story and wonder what going on.

Confidentiality is the life blood of investigative journalism. Eroding that principle erodes the entire concept of Freedom of the Press. I am greatly disturbed.

WP Wagner Forum
At 9:00am five candadates sat down in high school desks with a bottle of water and a paper placard indicating name and part affiliation. The students for the most part seemed interested in what was being said from the firery Green to the calm Tory.

At the end of the forum, I was congratulated even by Gene's supporters for my performance and a stayed about an hour later talking to several interested people about my beleifs.

Here are my opening and closing statements:

Opening Statement -
Our MLA’s are required to represent their constituents. This includes those that voted for them, those who voted against them, and even those who did not vote. Very few candidates can claim to have earned the votes of the majority of their constituents, as nearly 45% of eligible voters did not do so last provincial election. While some can claim a majority of votes cast, many cannot even do that with the current first-past-the-post system.

Democracy is the rule of the majority, with due respect given to the opinions and rights of the minority. Often we seem to forget that - for the sake of political expediency.

The politics of left versus right invariably leads to polarize disputes based upon partisan ideology and rhetoric, where very little actual debate is conducted. Good government is that which can find the compromise and middle ground that is acceptable to many rather than governing within the rigid confines of political ideology and dogma.

Those who do not vote do so for a multitude of reasons:
- Some see one political party as much the same as any other, and they learn from examples of other provinces that sweep out so-called ‘bad governments’ only to replace them with another that does much the same.
- Some do not care who runs the government, so long as they are left alone to run their own lives.

Active participation in the democratic process is a fundamental requirement to cause change; during the campaign, on election day, and beyond. It is the obligation of the electorate to demand accountability from their representatives, and the obligation of your elected representatives to heed the demands of their constituents.

Closing Statement
A significant flaw in our current representative democracy is our dependence upon ‘political parties’ for direction. What were once loose affiliations of like minded individuals has generally given way to rigid hierarchy. Our MLA’s are required to follow the edicts of their party leadership should they wish to maintain their committee assignments, and in some cases their cabinet positions. This may run counter to their actual job: to represent all their constituents in the Alberta Legislature.

Even this forum originally did not invite me here because of my Independent status, and the format they presented me asked to relate to you in my closing statement why you should vote for my political party, and how my party meets the needs of the youth.

In Edmonton Mill Creek, November 22nd is not an election for Ralph Klein, Kevin Taft or Brian Mason… It is an election about Gene, Aman, Nathan, Eric or myself; and whom you believe should represent you in the Alberta Legislature.

I believe that democratic reforms are necessary to provide more accountable, responsible government. I believe that rational discussion between MLA’s would accomplish much more than adhering to political ideology, while hurling rhetoric across the floor of the Legislature. I believe that one MLA can make a difference, and there one voice the should be just as loud and just as effective as any other, regardless of party affiliation or lack thereof.

We are awash in oil royalties, arguably the wealthiest province in one of the worlds most developed nations. There is no reason why 83 individual MLA’s cannot find a middle ground between cutting taxes and increasing expenditures on programs that are important to the majority of Albertans; like health care, infrastructure, and education.

Accountable, representative government is available – but only if the electorate demands it. That is why on November 22nd, I am asking the residents of Edmonton Mill Creek to hire me as their MLA.

Walking Several Miles
Ow! My feet hurt! Other than that I think everything is going pretty darn well. I've raveceived an excellent reception from 75% of the people I've talked to, with the other 25% being uncommittal, or have already made up thier minds as to how they are voting.

Shani did an excellent job assisting me over the past two days. My father will be helping me this morning/afternoon and Robert will help out after work this evening. Rationally, I know that I stand next to no chance, however, if I can tap into the dicontent with the entire system, I stand a slim, (like a snowball in hell), chance of winning.

Tommorow being Rememberance Day, I'll just be distributing flyers and working on finding an actual job after the 23rd.

It's Official
At 12:04 today my nomination papers were accepted by the Returning Officer for Edmonton Mill Creek, along with five crisp $100 bills. Now starts the campaign.

I'm now working on the flyers I hope to distrubute, and will issue the nifty 'Campaign Worker' ID cards that the returning officer gave me to any who want to help out.

Candidacy Update
At 4:32pm today, I filed my registration with the Chief Electoral Officer. I have until Monday, November 28th @ 2:00pm to collect the signatures of 25 electors from the Edmonton - Mill Creek electoral district, and then pay my $500 deposit.

- CFO: Filled.
- Offical Agent: Filled.

Apparently several of my former employees are willing to help me campaign, and I am accepting any and all help that is offered.

Wanted
- 23 signatures from electors residing in the Edmonton Mill Creek electoral district.
- 1 Chief Financial Officer
- 1 Chief Registered Agent

It's official, I picked up the forms and have the $500 in my pocket. I'm running for MLA.

Stages of Dismissal
The first stage after being dismissed from a long-time position is can best be described as 'Dazed and Confused'. At first I had thought that 'Stunned' was stage one, and confused was stage two. But given the amount of fluctuation between the two over the past day and a half they were simply one stage.

Star told me yesterday I was the most relaxed she'd seen me in years. I'd have to agree byt thats me into stage two: 'Contemplation'. I've been thinking about what I want to do - the problem is everytime I sit and think about it I get more ideas, and thate doesnt help narrow the field any. I guess I'll jsut have to make a list and hope clarity is a future stage. So here is the list so far:

Hospitality - Lets face it. I can easily make this my career. I can make good money at it, network and use it as a springboard into politics.
Education - I think I would make a good social studies teacher, and guidance counsellor. I also think in addition to being good at it - I'd enjoy it.
Police - Although I do not meet the physical requirements for the EPS if I deceid this is what I want to do I can get into shape and have laser surgery to meet the vision requirements.
Politics - I could run as an MLA this election and use the next three weeks to campaign as an Independent. No chance of winning but my name would be out there.
Humanitarian - Every now and then I feel the urge to drop everything and head overseas with the Red Cross, World Vision or others into places where I can help. Although I don't admit it much - I'm a really big softy and this may be right up my alley.
Oil Field - Heck, It's not rewarding at all but I know enough people that I can get a job to make a ton of money to pay for Education, etc. I don't drink much or do dope so it's not like I'm going to squander it all in camp.

Thats my list for now... I'll add more later.

A Sign
At 11:30am MST I was dismissed from my employment as Rooms Division Manager. Although I was stunned by the situation, I cannot say that I was surprised. Several times over this past month I have sat in my office considering tendering my resignation; and I'll admit I said aloud alone in my office (at about 10:15am) after getting off the phone with a particualilly nasty guest, "I'm done."

It was a very amicable departure. I was not 'walked' from the hotel. I still attended the 1:30pm meeting of the AECH Security Committee (of which I was Vice-Chair). I returned at 3:00pm to clean out my desk and then surrendered my keys. The cellphone I get to keep until the end of November, when my benfits will expire.

All told, I'm not 'upset' - just stunned. I will need a little bit of time to centre myself and find out what I want to do. Right now, I'm at a loss for words.