The Fine Print

Sunday, February 13, 2011

This is what I said I wouldn't do...

By : Dennis Stein

I said I would not write opinion pieces when I started contributing to The Observer, but I cannot resist any longer... The approaching holiday season has already upped everyone's stress level, and drawn all the people out of their holes that want to RIP US OFF!!!
I really don't hear much about high gas prices anymore, but perhaps I have deafened my ears to people who complain about it, but accept it as the way of things. Even when we read that a barrel of oil is just about at the lowest it has ever been, dollar wise. People complain about Hydro One and Enbridge, and their increased delivery charges, The HST, Green 'Eco' tax, and of course our government at large... Don't think for a second that I am defending any of it, because any of these things make my blood pressure rise.
I think the thing which makes me reach a full blown rage, is that we seem to be powerless against these things, or that the majority among us who care about it simply go on with our daily lives and think there is nothing we can do about it. I remember one day a gentleman being in front of me in line at a store to pay for his gasoline, and complaining about the price. Upon glancing out the window to look at his vehicle, I noticed he was driving a Cadillac STS. I could feel the heat of anger... I won't disclose what happened, but it really ticked me off that the fellow could give the young lady manning the store a scathing rant over the 2 cents extra he had to pay today, but had he ever tackled an elected official about it? Doubtful.
The other obvious trend these days is the maximization of profit by corporations large and small, at the employees and even customers expense. How many times have you noticed only two cashiers open lately, with a large line of people waiting? Sound familiar? Here is the translation: The company is saving money on employees to service YOU,... their customer!!! They take for granted that you will swallow hard, and accept that they are doing what they CAN to serve you...If someone becomes angry about it, who takes the heat? The employee at the cash...
Now you are back at work, where your employer continues to wring every last productive minute out of you, and if you are still lucky enough to have a union, the company doesn't seem to care what your collective agreement says. For the love of God, don't get injured - a report would be life-ending! It will put you into a hell of WSIB claim paperwork the size of Everest, threats from your company's Insurance carrier and your 'puppet' bosses, the frustration of a gazillion voice mail or automated menu phone calls ( with no answer ) and ultimately the loss of your wages and or your job for doing nothing wrong.......
I hope this has been an enlightening update to life on planet Canada... Wake Up, everyone. It is time that all of these groups and companies are reminded who the boss really is - The Customer who buys your product. The Employee who makes your business run. The Voter who puts you in office...

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The main console came to life, and LEDs began to light up everywhere in the darkened cockpit. It had been three months in cruise mode, and an audible beeping woke her from cryogenic sleep. Kara was drowsy, not with it yet. The computers came back online slowly, and the bay where she slept lit with a faint light. She was cold. Yawning and rubbing at her eyes, she sat up, sweeping blonde hair out of her face. The console was flashing with an indicator for a message waiting. Can’t even wait for me to be conscious, she thought sarcastically. There were several hours to spare before there was any need to make corrective maneuvers in her ship’s course in order to dock with the atoll, so she reached for her housecoat and told the galley computer she wanted her tea. It was ready in an instant, and she held the acrylic mug in both hands, feeling the warmth promised by her favorite morning drink. Was it morning? she mused briefly. It certainly didn’t feel like it. Reading the incoming messages, Kara shook her head. They knew she was the only one inbound to them, knew that she had their precious spares aboard. Still, the bullshit. She tapped out a quick reply, and headed to get dressed, the shower on board being little more than a tight closet. Kara spent a lot of time to make sure she was as well groomed as possible, an ingrained idea that she followed on a daily basis. It was better than nothing, and she always arrived smelling much better than her male counterparts. ‘Mailers’ were a group that were different than most others. Tough. Able to weather any storm. She hadn’t even glanced out at the stars today, she suddenly thought. Something she normally loved about these long runs between humanity when Kara first took this job. As the shower door closed and sealed, the small ship sped forward, having dropped from lightspeed, gliding effortlessly through the vacuum of space…

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