If someone has to proclaim that they 'are not ageist'...

My graduation in 1979, married and 7 mos. pregnant!
Tuition was $484 per term, which I earned
working summers.

If someone has to proclaim that they 'are not ageist', then methinks there is something smelly here. I'm not a Baby Boomer, but I'm married to one. We are the majority of the population right now. We have a right to our opinions. But we are the ones who vote and pay taxes!
We didn't borrow money to pay for our university education. We worked for four months to pay for it. We did not rack up thousands of dollars in tax-free loans.

Ivory Tower Blues, an excellent Canadian book about Canadian universities tells us,
Throughout, the authors argue that fewer and fewer students are experiencing their university education in ways expected by their parents and the public. The majority of students are hampered by insufficient preparation at the secondary school level, lack of personal motivation, and disillusionment. Contrary to popular opinion, there is no administrative or governmental procedure in place to maintain standards of education.

Not everyone SHOULD go to university. The jobs aren't there, and many cannot achieve at a university level, and we must face this fact. Universities stuff classroom with underachievers, who will not be failed, and profs cannot and do not give students realistic marks. I know, I taught at the University of Ottawa. Some students beg and argue about marks, but don't feel compelled to attend classes. They expect to get 'A's. They don't expect to earn them.

A Macleans Magazine young-looking journalist wrote:

Idle No More, and the reliable Old Fart

Emma Teitel on Friday, January 18, 2013 6:31am - 98 Comments

Emma Teitel
calling us old farts!

I would like to coin my own term for people like McParland, and Barbara Kay, and Margaret Wente, pundits who defecate rhetorically on every liberal protest movement that makes the nightly news. My term is easier to remember. I like to call these people FAIPOFS—For all Intents and Purposes, Old Farts. Not necessarily physically old, that is (I’m not ageist), just unfathomable to fathom as young...

U of A

I wonder why she has to label, typecast and group people? Name and Shame? Where are the columnists who would report the news, rather than write some of the facts and then wax eloquently about them? It used to be you would read an article to find out the 5 Ws, Who, What, When, Where, Why - and the good ones would answer the So What question. All people of my generation are not Conservative, we differ as much as small l liberals!

 The above article points out that writers like Barbara Kay, who feels that Quebec students who ought to finance their own education, isn't entitled to an opinion without being named and shamed. Truthfully, it is the elected politicians who are in control of our tax dollars, for which they can be held accountable. They are supposed to represent the majority of us, those actually paying taxes, rather than those like Occupy, who do not. Youngsters who do not vote have no voice, and, therefore, have no right to complain.

Kay writes: As my colleague Matt Gurney noted in a recent column, inflation in Canada from 1991-2007 rose by 35%, while tuition costs throughout the country rose as high as 275% in Alberta (in Quebec a comparatively paltry 111%). Read more (National Post)

Caitlin at Waterloo U.

Occupy Ottawa - in a pub!

 Someone has to pay for it: heat, hydro, new buildings, professor salaries. Salaries are meagre, and research is poorly funded. Higher education is cheaper for users in the province of Quebec, more highly funded by taxpayers, but then, they also have inexpensive day care! As you might recall, the students 'went on strike' (from which employment and which employer?) in order to protest tuition hikes in Quebec. Kay did her research, granted it was based on another journalist's research that she quotes tuition rates (sigh), and calls for an examination of tax-funded universities. University funding includes donations from alumni, and I get requests from all three that I attended.

 I have long read many journalists, like Margaret Wente who bashes teachers without having enough information to support her rants, and wrote an article without crediting her sources. I keep wondering why I bother reading those who cannot do research, and why I truly care about their uninformed opinions. Truthfully, I do not care for their opinions. I am an old fart, I guess, with opinions of my own! On the other hand, rather than an argument between generations, maybe it is an argument between those who think they have a liberal entitlement to our tax dollars.

University of Alberta

Then there are those who have children, but have no means to support them.
My school chum had three kids by the time I graduated high school. She, of course, did not graduate. She quit after grade 11.

Occupiers are blaming the wrong people

Student residence, The Hub

MARGARET WENTE
Laurel O’Gorman is one of the faces of Occupy Toronto. She believes the capitalist system has robbed her of her future. At 28, she’s studying for a master’s degree in sociology at Laurentian University in Sudbury. She’s also the single mother of two children. “I’m here because I don’t know what kind of job I could possibly find that would allow me to pay rent, take care of these two children and pay back $600 each month in loans,” she said.

Occupy & Canada

Many in the Gen Y generation resort to pseudonyms and anonymous comments.

The Occupy movement is one of them. There were arguments about banning videotaping at one point, wearing masks in parks, attacking the so-called 1%. (It's more like the 0.5%!)

Yes, here I am watching those, many of whom do not have an income, nor contribute other than time and energy to the world, complaining about the poor and the rich! Bravely occupying a park.

You've read them; self-important comments, arrogance or rudeness more often than not. As if me and my generation did nothing for the poor, the environment, the economy, the world around us.

We're doing well in Canada, 
much better than many other countries.
Norway is richer than we are due to several reasons: Both Canada and Norway benefited in 2007 and 2008 from rising world energy prices. But the oil and gas sector accounts for a much larger proportion of the economy in Norway. 

Bike tour, 2011

To have those in Ottawa occupy a park is, to me, ridiculous. Writers are posting facts, such as millionaires (the 1%) control 40% of the world's wealth, not 99%. But this isn't so for Canada. For those of us who are not in the top10% and most of us aren't in the bottom 10%. We lie somewhere in between.
Compare Canada's debt with that of Greece.

Social indicators are clear
Canada, in 2009, our per capita GDP was $39,795. Not bad for a country with 1/10th the population of the US.

Afghanistan's was $457; Haiti's was $626; US $44, 872; Kuwait, $36,668; all in US dollars.
Compare Canadian's income and per capita GDP with that of other countries.
In 2008, Canada’s GDP actually grew, while six peer countries suffered negative growth. 
In the 1970s, Canada’s GDP per capita was $17,812, the fourth highest of its peer countries

Compare Ottawa's homeless with that of underdeveloped countries, e.g., Haiti, where many have volunteered. We have infrastructure, which our taxes pay for, and agencies to help meet the needs of our homeless.

In 2009, Canada's total median income was $68,410.
[Census families include couple families, with or without children, and lone-parent families.
Source: Statistics Canada, CANSIM, table (for fee) 111-0009.
Last modified: 2011-06-28.]


The homeless
There will always be those with and those without. The 'make poverty history' ideologies make me angry. There will always be those on the fringe, there will always be those who are homeless due to various reasons. A recent death of a homeless man revealed how many agencies and resources had been devoted to helping this man who could not choose to get the help. The individuals and agencies involved need to be lauded for respecting him and his choices.
Here is a fine example of a wonderful agency: Shepherds of Good Hope–

Homeless Shelters Prepare for Cold Weather

The housing market
According to the Ottawa Real Estate Board, average house sales are $343,701, which is an increase of 5.2% from 2010.
Of December’s sales, 177 were in the condominium property class, while 522 were in the residential property class. 

Employment
Our employment rates have gone up.

Things are slowly improving

There will always be those in the top 0.5%, truly the 1% that have been misnamed.

Those of us in the middle, who donate our time, money and energy, resent being told that Canada needs occupation. Occupy Perth has been the latest invention. When I look around, see the work being done by me and my volunteer peers, I feel good about my generation.

I see the snowmobiles sidle up to the gas pumps, the young people driving to the gas station to fill up their luxury boats, I wonder where the blame lies for the angst of the 99%, or the 0.5% occupying parks.

Play time in Parry Sound!

Save me from the Occupy: 99% can't take that to the bank

There is much talk of salaries, capital, and income these days.
The Occupy activists tell us that we are the 99%. It doesn't seem right that statistics are bandied about the way they are. I decided to do some research. Most of us in the middle class pay most of the taxes. Those of us who are retired, also volunteer with those in need.

1% of the world’s population control 99% of the world’s wealth
Writers are posting facts, such as millionaires (the 1%) control 40% of the world's wealth, not 99%. But this isn't so for Canada. For those of us who are not in the top10% and most of us aren't in the bottom 10%. We lie somewhere in between.

There is a different between personal wealth, which includes your assets minus your debt. Economists define marketable wealth in terms of real estate, stocks and bonds. Income refers to your salary, and includes income from investments: dividends, interest, royalties and rental income.

Occupy This
Some write [Occupy This] that, like me, they believe that you are paid according to your education, experience, knowledge and skills. Most of us fall into the category of hard-working, tax-paying individuals, who support one another in society. I cannot put myself into the 99%. I believe that we are all part of Canadian society, and we all help one another. What happened in the US did not happen here in Canada. Those who speak of the 1% are sadly mistaken. The bankers who broke the system are not paying for it. Those of us who enjoy our parks are footing the bill for the occupiers. In Ottawa, it was estimated to be $39,000.

The Lower Half of the Top 1% in the USA
The 99th to 99.5 include physicians, attorneys, upper middle management, and small business people who have done well. Physicians, of course, graduate with huge student loans, the cost of education being astronomical. On earned income in this group around 25% to 30% of total pre-tax income will go to Federal, State, and Social Security taxes, leaving them with around $250k to $300k post tax.

The Upper Half of the Top 1%
Unlike those in the lower half of the top 1%, those in the top half and, particularly, top 0.1%, can often borrow for almost nothing, keep profits and production overseas, hold personal assets in tax havens, ride out down markets and economies, and influence legislation in the U.S.

It's not the top 1% in the US
We must go beyond the top 1%

• The top 1 percent paid an average income tax rate of 24% in 2009. 
• Almost exactly the rate paid by those making $500,000 to $1 million. 
• Those in the $1 million to $10 million bracket paid a higher rate, 26 percent. 
• Those making more than $10 million paid a significantly lower rate, 23.3 percent.

Canadian Public Salary Disclosures: 2011 (reflecting 2010 salaries - Source: government of Canada)

• Annual Salary: Supreme Court of Canada Chief Justice: $361,300
• Annual Salary: Supreme Court of Canada Puisne Judges: $334,500

Income and earnings

Release no. 8: May 1, 2008

• Median earnings of Canadians employed on a full-time basis for a full year changed little during the past quarter century, edging up from $41,348 in 1980 to $41,401 in 2005 (in 2005 constant dollars).
• Between 1980 and 2005, the median income of all economic families of two or more people increased 11.1%, from $59,709 in 1980 to $66,343 in 2005 (in 2005 constant dollars).

Economics & Family and incomes
All of these statistics are from StatCan. I created the graphs.

Government of Canada - Proactive Disclosure
The Government of Canada requires the mandatory publication on departmental Web sites of travel and hospitality expenses for selected government officials; contracts entered into by the Government of Canada for amounts over $10,000, the reclassification of positions and grants and contribution over $25,000.

Salary for Canadians, according to the 2006 Census Data (reporting 2005 income). This is affected by many factors.

For Ontario’s million dollar list:

63,000 public servants hit six figures: Annual Sunshine List discloses salaries

Public servants, specifically 63,761, make $100,000 or more a year (in salary and bonus alone), according to the annual Sunshine List. It has grown by 18% over the previous year and more than 90% over three years.

Chair of Ottawa-Carleton District School Board earned $210,072:

OCDSB boss quits to be with family | Ottawa & Region

25 Aug 2010 –  Dr. Lyall Thomson has already left his $210,072 job to be with ailing family in Alberta, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board trustees said.

Salary for Ottawa-Gatineau Residents, 2005

InfoWay: Details of Kramer’s $517,428 pay package – including a $380,000 base salary – are available on the Internet for all to see.

Provincial Governments Salary and Expense Disclosure

In Quebec, as a rule, public-sector salaries are considered personal information, making it is illegal under the province’s access to information law to disclose pay figures. Offenders who reveal public-sector salaries can be fined between $200 and $2,500.

Occupy Ottawa comes to Perth's O'Reilly's Pub

'Occupy' (Ottawa) cost city $39,000  December 08, 2011

Responding to the Occupy Ottawa protest in Confederation Park cost the city about $39,000, staff say. The city's emergency and protective services...

22_Minutes ThisHourHas22Minutes 

The cost to repair a park after Occupy Toronto could reach $60,000. Said 1 protestor: “I think they got our message about wasteful spending”

Joe Cowen

I was surprised to hear the OCCUPY Ottawa was coming to Perth.

We are a small town of 6,000. Well, I say 'we', I don't live in town, but Greater Perth, Lanark County, is about 18,000. Many of us travel into the big town to shop, eat, or go to the various entertainment venues.

One of my regular pubs, O'Reilly's, was the location for this event. They are big supporters of local musicians.

From the event's facilitator, and Occupy Ottawa activist, Joe Cowen, we heard from an articulate number of young people. Joe is from Perth, and is concerned about the corporate media’s negative portrayal of the Occupy movement.

Point of order

Well-spoken, he made a number of great points, and explained the rules of engagement, hand signals perhaps better meant for a deaf community gathering, and I have attended a few. I love to clap, laugh, and express myself aloud –but that's just me!

"Mike check", doesn't mean check out the dude beside you... it means, am I talking loudly enough, as in microphone. You can learn something new every day!

The pub was full, as you can see. Staff were run off their feet fetching coffee and water. Some were eating, but not many.

'Twas a full pub! 

There was much talk about the Occupy Ottawa group who welcomed the homeless, those with addictions, and those abusing alcohol, into their camp. The group organised and found some resources to help these people.

Lots of agreement here!

Although, Ottawa has had a strong history of assisting those on the street, from homeless shelters, to emergency housing (e.g., Shepherds of Good Hope, The Ottawa Mission, The Elizabeth Fry Society, to name a few),  Occupy Ottawa members spoke of their work helping the poor and homeless .



  

Charlotte spoke eloquently about herself,
and her activist family.

About Obert Madondo

Founder and editor of the Canadian Progressive World (CPW) blog. Canadian Blogger. Editor. Writer. Social/political activist. Zimbabwe-born. Ottawa-based. Progressive. Global citizen. Globally-conscious. Survivor. Anti-status quo. Unapologetic.

The Guardian

1. The Occupy movement: how did we get here?
   

   
   

   There was a time at the start of all this where it seemed the protesters’ concern was simple: they were demonstrating against aspects of the capitalist system.

   Many of those who sympathized with the movement were on board because of what happened as a result of the 2008 financial collapse.

   They felt a few investors brought about the crisis by playing fast and loose with rules in order to make a few extra bucks.