This is Controversial

After a week of not blogging anything (I've been really busy, looking for a place to live, if you must know), I came across this article. For those of you too lazy to click on the link and read it, I'll summarize it very quickly: people all over the world are protesting, mostly because they have a very strong sense of entitlement.  Greece and Montreal (over tuition increases) were specifically mentioned.

Though I have always felt that I have fairly left-leaning political views, and I believe that a government's job is to take care of its people first and foremost.  Which means providing all sorts of things that the free market can't provide, such as police, health care, infrastructure (roads, rail, ports), and education. I know government isn't very efficient at a lot of the things it does, but the anger againts governments these days borders on the ridiculous. Though I expect to have all the conveniences of living in modern times (see my above list of what a government should provide, though it's not comprehensive), I'm not so deluded into thinking that I should get it for nothing or that it doesn't cost anything.  Yes, big business has its hands in government and yes that does influence some decisions it makes.  But unions influence them just as much, and it feels like once someone has something good, they'll do anything to protect that even at the detriment of others.

I'm not saying we should all just sit down and accept every government decision that comes about, especially when it means cutting services and rising taxes.  But governments must be run in a way that doesn't lose money. Someone loses out when that happens.  Who are we to say we should get all the good things and someone else should pay the price.

In my field, I've had to witness hundreds and thousands of people who have it way better than me (and many others) complain about small concession they are being asked to make.  They just don't seem to get that there are hundreds and thousands of willing people who would kill (well, maybe not kill) to have the opportunity to work at their jobs. It makes me want to shake each and every one of them and shout: "DO YOU NOT REALIZE HOW GOOD YOU HAVE IT!?!?!" Which would (in my fantasy) be followed by a lot of swearing and more shaking - though, this being reality, I'd never do that.

In the past, unions and protest movements (ok, even some today) have been helpful in advancing many worthy causes, but in many places those times have passed. At some point it switches from ensuring fairness in society to taking more than what you've earned.

So yes, I've also noticed this sense of entitlement, or "entitlement addiction" as the article calls it.  It is very frustrating for me to see since I'd love to have it as good as some of these people.

R.I.P.

Canada to Ban Inefficient Lightbulbs

I was going to post about other environmental issues (and I still might make one more post), but this story popped up today in the news.

Basically the federal government has announced that it plans to ban the sale of inefficient light bulbs by 2012. Check out the articles from CBC and the Globe and Mail.

For more information on the more efficient bulbs, read here.

I find it interesting that there is criticism of this initiative. Not only do these bulbs help the environment, but they save money for citizens. Everyone wins. The criticism seems to revolve around the fact that the government is not doing enough. Though I do not have all the facts at this moment, I would tend to believe that. However, I think those groups that are complaining ought to at least applaud the government for the steps they are taking.

One of the articles claims that lighbulbs account for only 1.5% of our carbon emissions, and that this won't make a huge impact. But surely it will make an impact. There is not one single fix to this problem, but this is definitely a step in the right direction.

Though not criticism of this initiative I have some thoughts about these new light bulbs that may not be shared with many. Maybe there have been studies done to answer my questions, but I wonder how much of that wasted energy in inefficient bulbs reduces the strain of heating in the winter. Will this effect cancel out with the savings in cooling in the summer? These are just things to think about.

All in all I find this move rather interesting. Though a small step, it appears our country is moving at least in the right direction