Poor People, Get Off This World!

 

 Poor People, Get Off This World!

Years ago, when the Calgary Flames came to town, we used to have tickets for very good seats. The Saddledome was built, and I calculated we were paying around $70 for the two of us for a game. Recently we asked a friend in Calgary if she went to any playoff games. She replied, the tickets range from $500 to $2400 each, it’s not for us poor people. I remember that the City of Calgary invested a lot of tax money, both federal and local, in the Saddledome that now is doomed to be replaced. Most Calgarians don’t have the money to pay admission but can enjoy visiting the building, viewing the architecture, and taking part in some free shows like dog competitions during the Stampede. God only knows why we were made to pay for the temporary extravagance.

Last week, my wife and I visited our local natural world-class point of interest, Waterton Park. Part of the reason we moved to Crowsnest Pass was the proximity of that park, and we have been visiting it for years. Every year we visit the Prince of Wales hotel. We stayed there, had lunches there, and always bought something at the gift shop. This time there is a ticket booth at the parking entrance with a guy in a kilt asking for $10.50 for parking. People who make minimum wage or seniors on government pensions can’t even enjoy the view from Windy Point by the hotel.

I wonder if Waterton was hit with paying for police as we are. Their police are playing a role in being an attraction in red uniforms. Now the town may have to reconsider if they need a regular police presence.

I heard our Premier on social media in the last two days. He was hit recently by his own party showing that he barely has the support of 50% of the members, and resigned. The next day, he became the interim leader to lead the party until a new leader is elected, which has no deadline. In his recent speech, he talked about finishing what he started securing the future of our energy sector. He is bragging about all the new drilling planned in Alberta. Not a word about doctors, nurses, teachers, farmers, hospitals, long-term care homes, or the rest of us.

I am afraid that the only aspect of Alberta that will survive the present administration will be oil and gas and things related to it. As services decline and the cost of living here increases, we may see a change in the kind of people who choose to live here. Already the north is populated by folks who live somewhere else and only come here to work on oil. Will we see what is happening in rural Alberta happen on a big scale? Will this become a mining planet from a science fiction story? I hope not, but mine is only one little voice.

Now there is a war in Europe. The Europeans already began to work hard and fast on alternatives to oil energy. It will be a pain to transition, but they can do it. As soon as they do, they will export their discoveries to other places and the oil-based economy will correspondently shrink. If Alberta will be an oil and nothing else province, we will play like the Calgary Flames just did. Every game is a “do or die” and the players are stressed to the max.

Is our world going to be a place for wealthy corporations to compete with each other for domination while the workers produce but have no other life but work? They will be raised for jobs and let go without care when their productive years are finished. The idea reminds me of the stories I read as a boy about slaves. Only now we have much better control and surveillance.

Alberta must work hard now to diversify its economy, improve living conditions and remain an energy hub. Energy is our specialty. Energy skills are transferable. I am scared that we will waste the critical time left to us on beating a dead horse.

 

Many of those who are rich today and have power over the destiny of most human beings on earth inherited their wealth. It’s easy to see that they differ from those who became wealthy through their own efforts. Their goal is to maintain and increase their power just to retain their advantage. Many despise and fear working people. Hardly any have the advantage of ever being poor themselves having to live by their own wits and work.

The game we play is who will be the boss. Millions of people suffer and die for someone to be the boss and their lives hardly improve. One enemy dies and another two show up. We never accept the simple truths that stare at us for generations. The secret is not a secret at all. We are all one. Just as one finger differs from another, yet they are both one body. This world was created for those who live in it and we are blessed with the ability to improve life here or destroy it. As long as we fight each other for power, we are heading in the wrong direction.

I remember an old song that had the line, “I owe my soul to the company store.” If all we have to offer is oil, we will survive, but not as the best province to live in. For that, we must do something soon before things change and we find ourselves behind everybody else.

Here is a link to my blog: https://thesimpleravenspost.blogspot.ca/  Feel free to check other articles and comment.