The Star this morning has reported on the plight of immigrants working through temp agencies. It should be no surprise that take home pay for such workers are a pittance when factoring in day care costs, taxes and the “pimp”. I have a client who introduced me to this label which I actually find quite fitting. Ryerson University will be reporting on these “middle men” in an upcoming report. When I lived in Vancouver for a time, I was registered with about five agencies. I’d get on the phone in the morning to see what was happening and mostly get the cold shoulder. One particular agency was responsible for the majority of my hours. One occasion led to a respectable full time job where I was able to make an impact. In fact, this position launched my “reworked career”. This should be what “temping” is all about. A worker should be in transition while pursuing a focused primary career goal. It should not be a way of life.
In Canada, we pay too much income tax. Employers are also burdened by payroll taxes which tempt them to temp out situations which arise in their business as opposed to binding themselves to legacy like costs. It makes business sense. It also reduces the burden placed on an “HR department”. Unfortunately, socialist government models impede the capitalist instinct. Workers are less inclined to promote themselves directly to employers and employers are less inclined to make commitments to workers. Ryerson will be releasing a “study” but I can espouse with confidence that one doesn’t need a PHD in economics to deduct the street level ramifications of the market condition for temps. When business can’t compete with public sector salaries and pension plans, it will look to the market for ways and means to obtain non-payroll help. Alternatively, it will close up shop or find a more business friendly jurisdiction.
There is a kindness crisis according to a poll conducted by Sesame Street. Seventy per cent of parents claim that the world is unkind to their kids. This adult senses it on the street – literally in traffic. I sense it in our political discourse and I sense it in the voidance of cordial gestures of etiquette. I sense it at the poker table and in the board room. I sense it in transit and telephony systems. I sense it in the body language of souls transfixed by their electronic “devices” and in the spoken language of those perhaps ill equipped to reach for an empathetic word when “f@ck” is at the tip of a tongue. It’s as if a new substandard came into being precipitated by a confluence of events imperceptible to the naked eye producing a cultural shift engineered by a generation naive to the values of their forefathers and the historic deeds undertaken to sew a landscape of autonomy.
Materialism as a precursor perhaps forms an element. The great divide between the haves and have-nots has never been greater. A tempestuous outreach in order to “acquire” may brew in the hearts of some looking to hurdle through patronage, political partisanship, and indifference. Perhaps, it’s a proclamation of entitlement to rudeness in the face of perceived injustice casting out emotional residue to a society dumbfounded.
My sister and I today speculated over the degree of contempt our mother would have expressed had she been alive to witness the news today of despicable behavior apparently conducted by one candidate for the presidency of the United States, Donald Trump. Our mother would have espoused that character matters in a world leader. This person would need to represent the values of the people of whom he or she would hope to lead. This person would need to possess maturity, grace, and thoughtfulness toward all ethnicities while appreciating each other’s individual differences. This person would be positive and attuned to the basic aspirations of goodness driving humanity. This person would be articulate, reciprocal, and strong with ideals compatible with shaping the common good while not interfering with one’s quest for liberty. Our mother would have expected a political campaign to be infused with conceptually intriguing debate tempting her to stretch her own boundaries of belief on public policy matters. She would have imbibed intangible “between the lines” candidate remarks and telling body language. Her attentiveness would have been keen with a perception that her children’s lives north of the border could be affected by policy produced by the U.S.A. She would have been onto him at word one.
Although hardly immune from humanity’s dark side having taught school while raising six kids, I’m frankly grateful that her life was not tainted by exposure to displays of indecency by one, Donald Trump, candidate for U.S. President.
The first presidential debate went off largely as expected with Trump doing some bulldozing while Clinton exalted in elitism. Unfortunately for the campaigns, neither attribute is appealing to the undecided. Advisors will be reeling in frustration wondering what it’s going to take for their candidates to draw affinity from swing voters. Much of Trump’s message has been strong but his propensity for wielding insults is a simple character flaw unfitting of the presidency. This messenger does in fact “live in his own reality” as characterized by Mrs. Clinton last night.
Of course in the interests of national security, the thousands of emails produced by Mrs. Clinton from her private server should not be released and suggesting their release as a predicate for Trump releasing his tax return is exemplary of poor mental capacity. Trump appears to lack the ability to hold his tongue long enough to formulate cohesive strategic remarks. He is reactionary and boorish. His manner suggests that every conceived action is perpetrated from any and all perceptions of another’s weakness. Although at times expressing empathy for the underprivileged, one is left curious about his sincerity. I contend that one massive ego at the helm of the world’s largest military power is not a formula for long lasting world peace. The conservative message was squandered in a fashion similar to substantial tax receipts entrusted to Washington and those would be tax receipts from Trump had he not had access to loopholes for the wealthy.
Robyn Hood Chronicles, Beginnings, is a masterful work in adventure written by the mysterious Cam Clark. I’ve always known Cam to be this quiet spoken fellow with some kind of bottled up force awaiting release. He had told me of a project some four years ago over lunch and despite my prodding, the evolution of this book stayed as serene as his disposition. It has been very well worth the wait.
The architecture of this craft has many moving parts dealing with the present and the past. The writing is eloquent and characters are illuminated in terms that radiate emotion. Particular characters are awarded their own voice providing opportunity for apt reflection.
It’s riveting because of the proximity you feel to the action. What you and I take for granted becomes an obvious challenge for actors enlivened by peculiar circumstances. Value inscribed motives are inherent to decisions sought by the protagonist. Interpersonal subtleties among players have implications as we learn late. Intense moments of drama recede but take precedence in the ultimate unfolding of Robyn’s quest.
