Memorial Day and Biomimicry
For everyone unfamiliar with Memorial Day it is a version of our Remembrance Day but was specifically for the Union soldiers who died in the civil war and was later expanded after WWI. I see on my logs that my American friends read this site diligently for some reason (maybe they are still wondering why I am trying to trade business for government). Regardless, I would like to ask my American friends and even my Canadian readers and hopeful voters - to remember those today who died to protect freedom, spread freedom or at the very least died on the orders of those in charge of the county they love. Love it or hate it America has become the dominant power on the planet earth, and while controversy continues to fly surrounding the current operations in the middle east, we must remember the men and women bravely follow orders of the leadership. The reception the Vietnam veterans received when they returned was deplorable. In Canada I feel we are at least doing a good job honoring our soldiers who fall in Afghanistan whether or not I believe we should be there, they have elected to put theirs lives on the line to protect their country. To my American friends I will quote General Patton today who said: "It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived."
In a completely unrelated topic that we have the freedom to talk about because of the lives of these men, I want to discuss biomimicry. Biomimicry is not just a word that my spell check doesn't pick up but it is also a concept that is unfamiliar to many people. There is actually an interesting article on it in the Toronto Star today - it will be on their www.thestar.com online paper, just search biomimicry.
What is biomimicry? It is quite simply technology emulating nature. If you think about technology that we have invented that have stood the test of time you will see nature. The wheel for example, the circular shape and rotational motion is mimicry of a shape found throughout nature (just cut a tree into small sections) and the rotation of the earth on its access, and around our round sun with our round moon rotating around us - its a wonder it took so long for the shape to be played with and put into use.
Janine Benyus is the scientist who coined the term (Biomimicry) and has many theories involving observing evolution in nature - though I usually shy away from theories based on theories I find elements of what she has to say compelling. She explains when we look at Nature we see water being used at the universal solvent and very few other inputs which is not what we see in nature. The article in the star discusses how automakers have observed fish and birds to make their vehicles more aerodynamic. They mention a wind turbine company using humpback whale inspired design to produce their turbines. She is working on new solar cells that would be affordable and wouldn't rely on existing processes; simply by observing and mimicking how a leaf converts sunlight to energy (okay, maybe not so simple).
What does this mean for us as entrepreneurs or workers or business owners in Haldimand? This is the forefront of technology, every "problem" we can think of probably already has a simple process that exists in nature. It reminds me of the guys out in the rainforrest looking for new anti-biotics; there is no money in it for pharma companies so rogue scientists have to lead the search. One scoop of soil has enough life to keep them busy for quite some time, they find many antibiotics, but they are looking for ones that are stronger than the strongest ones we have. This of course is no biomimicry but looking to the world around us for solutions to problems whether is is process, economy or resource is becoming ever more relevant in a resource hungry world.
Haldimand can step up to the plate and design some processes that dont exist yet - we have the brains and the resources, and together we can turn this decade into a prosperous and developmental era the likes of which have never before been seen.
No complaint… is more common than that of a scarcity of money.
Money has become a dirty five letter word. The subject is an Adam Smith quote (Not to be confused with Joseph Smith the father of Mormonism). For those who are unfamiliar with Smith he is known as the father of Capitalism, which is unfair, he is more the father of modern economics (Wealth Of Nations was written in 1776). Smith was also a moral philosopher so it is unfair to peg him as a thieving capitalist, though his work is often used side by side with other "power executive" books like Sun Tzu "The Art Of War".
Smith wrote about the "invisible hand" which guids the free market economy (the one we almost live in). Supply and demand set prices and the market regulats itself. His most famous passage in "Wealth of Nations" is : "It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self-interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities but of their advantages." Self-interest is what drives the economy; I think there is a huge difference between this and greed, but when addressing the problem of an under developed economy we need a few more of people acting in their self interest to stand up and kick start the economy. The opportunity exists for locals to take advantage of the wide open maket in the county and build wealth - as a municipality we need to make it accessible to those who are willing to work for it.
I often talk of "opportunity cost" which is an economic term which measure the amount of opportunity lost by perusing another opportunity. Adam Smith pioneered this by saying "real price of every thing ... is the toil and trouble of acquiring it". Modern economics looks a little bit more in depth, lets say the cost of going to school for three years plus the salary you miss from not working and then amortize that over your career and see if the cost was higher than the return. This is real cost. If we look at what Haldimand has or hasn't done over the last many years I am sure the real cost of things are either too low or off the wall. When you factor environmental considerations into the cost the calculation gets a lot more real (and realistic). Thankfully cities arent taxes on their carbon emissions yet - but I wouldnt but it past the provincial government; that cost might not just be measured in pounds of carbon emitted but in dollars and cents.
We need real solutions, we have real problems, and I will work with council to tear through the books, ensure the budget is balanced, and ensure that there are no surprise tax increases to our residents.
Religious Partisanship
I have taken a bit of a break from writing on this website. I have continued speaking with the community in person as I encounter them, but I have paused mostly for silent reflection. There have been some who have suggested that I promote my religious affiliation in order to help garner votes. I feel this is incorrect for any candidate. I am not ashamed of my beliefs in any way and I am sure most people of faith are not ashamed either. We however, live in a democracy not a theocracy and whether one is Muslim or Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Atheist or Hindu - one's religious belief or practice should have no significance on one's ability to lead. We are all fallible and not one of us represents a tradition completely, none among us are Jesus, Buddha, Moses or Krishna so not one of us can do anything but try.
Municipal Politics are an interesting level of government because it really has to do with the little things that make the big impact in the quality of one's life in their respective city. The Province holds the purse strings to a lot of major development as well as law making and power distribution to the municipality; above that is the Federal government that deals mostly with law, international relations and trade as well as distribution of power and funds to the province. So given the scope of municipal power a mayoral candidates views on abortion, euthanasia or the criminal code is really just as irrelevant as the God to whom one holds oneself accountable to.
This job really comes down to the person whom is going to be able to lead the city in the right direction; at least for the next three years and hopefully beyond. I encourage everyone who is voting to base their votes on the platforms of the respective candidates and not on how they look or how they pray. I would hope that every candidate in this election is in it for the good they feel they can do for the county, for most of us it is a financial sacrifice and emotionally leaving oneself open to some brutal criticism.
October seems like it will never come, but it will be on us before we know it. I strongly hope change will come to this county one way or another; I know that I would be able to economically turn this county around, develop infrastructure and innovate. I strongly believe Haldimand County can stand on its own and be know for something other than south of Hamilton north of Lake Erie.
Marketing Blitz
Some of you may have read the "About Me" section and learned that my background is in marketing and advertising - specifically using emerging and traditional technologies. In the scope of this election, you may find a letter in your mailbox, a message on a billboard or a voice on your phone. There might even be people dressed in ape suits at every major corner in the county holding signs - anything to get people out to vote.
Some of you may have received a message from me today (some people received it twice - I apologize the technology is an adaptation of the American version I used to use). I am trying to get the message out as clearly and plainly as I can; it is time for change, it is time to hand over the reigns to a new generation of socially and business minded individuals. The people I have had the opportunity to meet and speak to through phone or e-mail are the people that keep me going. I hear instances of people merging old technology with new, bringing their farm online or having dual jobs, farming or mechanical and technical or the teacher with the small home based business. There is incredible diversity in this county and I am especially excited by the younger generation who have written me telling me they want to find a way to be able to stay in the county - it breaks my heart when I hear them say they want to stay and help their parents hopefully be able to keep the farm.
Not everyone around here lives on a farm and I use farms in many examples but the same problems exist in the more urban centres. There is an incredible lack of even part time jobs for youth let alone full time jobs when they are done school. We need to encourage innovation and small business development. I know of two young guys in Caledonia who have just started businesses this year, and both of them have at least 6 employee's - it is remarkable people like them that will help mold our future.
Thank you for listening to my perspectives, I know many of mine are shared by many of you. To those of you who disagree with my positions, I respect your opinion and I will represent you the best I can no matter who you decide to vote for.
Lawn Signs and Volunteer Positions
It is probably the worst possible time to announce this considering we are going into a long weekend - but I just made the functionality available on the site and though I might as well announce it. If you look in the top list of options on this site right next to "Contact Information" you will see "Lawn Sign". You can also go to http://www.ryangeddes.com/lawn-sign/or to volunteer http://www.ryangeddes.com/volunteer/. Any help anyone in the county can provide would be most welcome, a lawn sign alone does a lot for the campaign (voting being the most important). If you believe in what I have to say and would like to see some new blood in city hall then please request a lawn sign. If you have even more energy and would like to get involved please volunteer - this is going to be a big election and I can use all the help I can get.
Thank you all.
Haldimand or Dixieland
There is a little known factoid about the etymology of the word "Dixie", most people attribute it to the Mason-Dixon line (the line negotiated by Mason and Dixon which essentially set boundaries for Pennsylvania and Maryland but more importantly separated the north from the south). In the deep south, banking institutions issued ten dollar bills that had the french Dix written on them; the English speaking Americans coined the term Dixies for these bills obviously ignorant to the french pronunciation. The more appropriate application of the word is when one is speaking of the south - where the slave trade thrived.
The confederate flag as shown on the t-shirt in the above comic, is a flag that many people don't understand the meaning behind. I shake my head when I see these things being sold at gas stations or as stickers for pickup trucks. The Confederate States of America were a group of southern states that separated from the United States and formed their own country. The main reason for their succession was the right to keep slaves. The confederacy does not represent anything positive or progressive. Some have kept it around such as the state of Alabama which didn't stop flying it until 2001 and arguably this was to remember their position in the civil war, but to many in our modern society it is akin to a swastika. Alabama was also the last state to recognize interracial marriage because they felt through their interpretation of the constitution they didn't have to. It wasn't until 2000 that they finally legally recognized interracial marriages, some 1600 of which had already taken place, some had been married for over 20 years.
I'm not going to draw any parallels between our county and dixieland other than the fact that some of our residents paint their barns, outfit their trucks or fly the confederate flag. It has no relevance to Canada, and all it does is express age old bigotry and hatred which is nothing but ugly. I look forward to the day where I can drive through this county and hopefully see Canadian flags in their place.
Another Day In Paradise
I spent most of the morning talking with some local voters in Caledonia. It was a great time; it is very interesting to hear other peoples history and opinions about the area. After solving a clogging dryer vent fiasco, my wife and I drove the lakeshore all the way to Lowbanks. She was memorized by the windmills (they are pretty dramatic looking), and I was mezmorized by the possibilities for the waterfront all the way from Nanticoke across. We have such a beautiful landscape in this area - especially our waterfront and it goes largely underused. I was hopeful as we drove back toward Jarvis, but disappointing that we couldn't find anywhere good to eat on the water. It might not be Malibu, but it is one of the nicest lake views i've seen in Ontario. I also saw some new homes that were starting at 129k, I am assuming they are geared toward the retiree, if so that falls right into my plan; if not - we should be building more affordable housing along the lake for retiree's, it is a beautiful place to retire.
Platform Update
As I am sure you know, I am constantly being bombarded with questions and comments - not to mention vicious criticisms. As a result I have updated my platform http://www.ryangeddes.com/platform/
I have done this to clarify the major things that I want to accomplish this term and remove the future dreams or complicated ideas I had in my last platform. This final one is the one that I am running with. I do believe there still could be some improvements in areas as we grow - but the integral thing is we take care of the economy, be good stewards of our environment, and establish a stable infrastructure.
I will continue posting on this blog as new events occur, I am going to remain silent however on comments people make in the media or online. There are times when silence has the loudest voice.
Ken Hewitt
Today Ken Hewitt filled his nomination papers. I searched around and haven't found any press release or information from him (I expected to read about it on at least one forum). This is not Hewitt's first political experience and he is fairly well known in Caledonia which is one of the larger population bases that I need to tap to be successful. I am not sure what his ideas for the county are but he is known for his membership in the Caledonia Citizens Alliance and his involvement with first nations issues. I would be surprised if he does not have a detailed plan surrounding the first nations as the core of his platform.
I can't really comment until he is interviewed or releases some information. The bottom line is now there are three of us officially running and Mayor Trainer the fourth who hasn't officially been nominated yet.
Another Monday
Monday is always that day where you have a million things to do and don't feel like doing any of them. I spent the day cutting wood and going back and forth between Hamilton having forgotten some things I needed the first time around. Yesterdays post was absent for a reason - if anyone is familiar with the "MacBook Pro" they will know that the adapter is supposidly unbreakable, or at least designed to be. My children have the ability to prove Apple's engineers wrong, so I am out a hundred bucks.
I am spending some time retooling my campaign plan and platform, it needs some polish and clarification before the real campaigning begins. I've also had to get some banking out of the way so I can begin raising and spending money. I will also at some point this week be announcing a campaign manager and some supporters and begin soliciting volunteers to canvas or act as scrutineers.
I will keep you posted. The future looks promising.