Right in the centre - Reality and consequences
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- Published on Thursday, March 30, 2017
By Ken Waddell
The Neepawa Banner
There is a growing divide between reality and what people want to believe. What people want to believe and what people wish were true is one thing. Reality may be quite another thing. The mainstream media and many people in the academic world seem to have a very open view to what they perceive to be reality. Here are three widely unrelated examples
The move to legalize marijuana is being touted as great progress. It may be, marijuana may have some medical benefits, it probably does. But the downside may also be pretty extreme. An MPI survey suggests that one in 10 drivers were under some drug influence. If that is an actual reality, are we to assume that more or less people will be driving cars while under the influence after marijuana is legalized.
Another reality, a much less recognized one, is coming out in the sporting world. Seems that transgender females are entering women’s sporting events and surprise, surprise, they are winning. Regardless of a person’s views on transgender issues, what kind of insanity would allow or encourage such a move. Continued to its logical extension, strength based women’s sports could be basically eliminated. One very cynical internet commentator said maybe that’s what some folks were aiming for.
Recently, Winnipeg Free columnist Dan Lett suggested that provincial civil servants were being victimized by proposed wage freezes. The Manitoba PC government is working to implement a two year wage freeze after whatever current wage agreements lapse. If it were not within the context of Manitoba running a billion dollar deficit and considering that a large majority of the province’s budget is wages, a case could be made that civil servants were being mistreated. However the reality is that the province either increases taxes, hopes the economy grows faster so more tax revenue comes in, or they cut expenses. They can cut expenses by slowing the wage increases or they can let people go. Most people would opt to keep their job at current rates rather than have their job cut.
These are but three examples of perception versus reality. Mainstream media and academics, for the most part, would have us believe a certain narrative about these three examples. Generally speaking, we are asked or demanded that we must believe that legalization of marijuana is all good, that transgender females belong in women’s sports and that a wage freeze or a slow down in increases is a bad thing.
The irony of all this is that the same people who would espouse those views will likely be upset with the logical possible outcomes. Legalization of marijuana may cause more traffic accidents, injuries or deaths. The expansion of transgender females into women’s sports could crush opportunities for girls and women. And unfettered wage increases and spending will increase our tax load. The proponents of causes should be careful what their hearts bleed for. Or be careful what you wish for or what you pray for.
The underlying issue is always, and has always been, that because a person believes something, or because a person says something, doesn’t make it the truth. Every issue needs careful examination and consideration to determine if it in fact is the way to go.
As an aside, often we hear that something is good because it makes money. If profits were the only reason, then we should all be into illicit activities simply because they make money. On the issue of marijuana, it may actually make the province some money. Based on our population, compared to Colorado, where marijuana is legalized and taxed, we could see about $200 million in tax revenue. I am sure the province can use the money, but it won’t all be profit. I hope the mainstream media and the academics will help us count the costs of this and all their other favoured initiatives.
