That's right, folks. Unemployed and living the dream. After 5 years of post-secondary, I have no fruits to show for my labor...and I like it. I'm sure my parents are proud.
But it isn't that peculiar - I know many recent (and not so recent) graduates from post-secondary institutions who are in the exact same predicament; loads of debt, plenty of knowledge, little to no job prospects. Luckily for me, this is only temporary - I start working at the university again part-time on Monday for the month while waiting on a callback from StatsCan, and I'm returning in September to start a Bachelor of Education. Before you say "why the hell are you doing a B.Ed.? There are no teaching jobs other than up North!" - I am aware of the situation. I recognize the fact that my job prospects will be no better than they are now. But I love teaching. It's my favorite thing to do. I love being involved in the process of learning, and helping others to understand concepts or look at things in a different light. The most rewarding feeling is seeing the light go off in someone's mind, seeing it click for them. I wouldn't trade that for anything.
So I will suck up my pride and apply to Canadian Tire, Sobey's, and every other retail outlet surrounding my apartment. My goal is to make enough money to pay my rent and have fun this summer. It's only 3 months, and I could care less what I do for income during that time (I draw the line at prostitution and the drug trade - I feel my education did not adequately prepare me for those professions. Perhaps the B.Ed. will help?).
Most people would have gone crazy by this point, sitting at home with no real responsibilities or expectations placed on them. I, on the other hand, have reveled in it. I love puttering around, tidying up, finding new recipes, and listening to CBC Radio 1 constantly. My apartment has never been so clean! If things had have worked out differently, I know I would have made a fantastic housewife. My girlfriend is currently reaping the benefits while she can.
While I know this cannot last forever, I plan to enjoy it while I can; it may be the last time I can be willfully unemployed. Until next Monday, I will continue to play my guitar all day, read books at random, play terrible computer games for hours on end, and make my girlfriend increasingly jealous.
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
The Election Hangover
For years I've avoided the blogging universe, but have recently conceded defeat and joined the masses who believe that their every thought, feeling, and opinion deserves to be heard (for the record, fellow bloggers: they do not. No one really cares that John Lennon is totally the greatest musical artist that ever lived, that you had KFC for supper, or that you believe the world would be better if everyone had a kitten. Really. No one cares.). With that, I shall spew my opinions as often as I like, and perhaps someone will agree with what I have to say...at the very least, hopefully you will be amused.
After spending the previous weeks harassing friends, family, and acquaintances (occasionally strangers) to vote in what could have been an historic election in Canada, I anxiously anticipated the results. I sat glued to the television last night, fingers crossed that the mustache (aka Jack Layton) would pull through and make for an exciting (and unprecedented) 4 years of governance. Initially, I was positive. Hopeful. As the results from the Maritimes rolled in, I was pleased with the results - no major changes or upsets aside from Labrador, everything seemed to be going as I'd hoped (save Peter MacKay's re-election - although I knew it would be impossible to unseat him, I really wanted him gone. I've never gotten over his pathetic heartbroken demeanor after Belinda Stronach left him and his party; besides, he's one of Harper's best minions...no thank you). Quebec turned orange, much to my elation, and that's where my excitement and hope were deflated. ONTARIO: WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU THINKING!? Seriously. 20 seats to the Conservatives!? You and you alone, GTA, guaranteed Harper's majority government.
You may think, 'what's the big deal? Maybe things will actually get done in Parliament without the constant distractions and interruptions that often come with minority governments'. In a sense, I would say yes, you're right. But what you're forgetting is that the Conservatives are only concerned with cutting corporate taxes, getting rid of the deficit, and smaller government. What this translates to for the average Joe (or a student such as myself hoping to enter the public service in the next 5 years into a job most likely funded by government spending) is NOTHING. It means that huge corporations will be rolling in the dough, while we are fighting to stay afloat. By cutting corporate and sales taxes, the government is dramatically reducing its income. Since they will trying to balance the budget simultaneously, the strain on the country's finances will be exacerbated. Without income via taxes coming in, the government will have only one option to increase income: cut spending. Nothing new. But the extent to which they will cut spending will certainly be new.
For students like myself who did not qualify for entrance scholarships to university (I took a year off after high school, then went to college for 2 years), I rely heavily (read: can't go without them) on student loans and grants. I also rely on my university to keep a cap on tuition increases, since I can't really afford to attend now. Without government funding, universities have no choice but to increase tuition...which leaves me and countless other students shut out. Not just low income students from single parent households, I'm talking middle class, dual income households who 10 years ago could easily fund their children's education.
But it goes beyond that. Many of my closest friends and family members work in sectors that rely heavily on government funding to employ them. Some work for Community Services, other for non-profits, etc. Many of these employers need funding in order to employ these people; these could very well be among the first areas cut in spending. And health care? Welcome to the wonderful world of privatization, folks! Health care costs have been increasing steadily, with no sign of it slowing down. This means government spending needs to increase dramatically just to keep up, let alone improve existing programs or create new ones.
It just doesn't add up. We have an aging population that requires care, with a new generation that needs to be educated in order to keep up the status quo. By reducing spending, this becomes less and less of a possibility.
Let's do the math: -(spending)+-(deficit)+-(taxes)= + economy ?
Hmmm...this is the argument Harper is making - decrease spending, taxes and the deficit to improve the economy...and Harper is an economist? Give that problem to a bunch of third graders and even they will tell you that it's wrong. Perhaps Mr. Harper should refresh his memory on basic arithmetic.
I apologize for the lack of positivity and humour. Hopefully that will come through next time.
After spending the previous weeks harassing friends, family, and acquaintances (occasionally strangers) to vote in what could have been an historic election in Canada, I anxiously anticipated the results. I sat glued to the television last night, fingers crossed that the mustache (aka Jack Layton) would pull through and make for an exciting (and unprecedented) 4 years of governance. Initially, I was positive. Hopeful. As the results from the Maritimes rolled in, I was pleased with the results - no major changes or upsets aside from Labrador, everything seemed to be going as I'd hoped (save Peter MacKay's re-election - although I knew it would be impossible to unseat him, I really wanted him gone. I've never gotten over his pathetic heartbroken demeanor after Belinda Stronach left him and his party; besides, he's one of Harper's best minions...no thank you). Quebec turned orange, much to my elation, and that's where my excitement and hope were deflated. ONTARIO: WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU THINKING!? Seriously. 20 seats to the Conservatives!? You and you alone, GTA, guaranteed Harper's majority government.
You may think, 'what's the big deal? Maybe things will actually get done in Parliament without the constant distractions and interruptions that often come with minority governments'. In a sense, I would say yes, you're right. But what you're forgetting is that the Conservatives are only concerned with cutting corporate taxes, getting rid of the deficit, and smaller government. What this translates to for the average Joe (or a student such as myself hoping to enter the public service in the next 5 years into a job most likely funded by government spending) is NOTHING. It means that huge corporations will be rolling in the dough, while we are fighting to stay afloat. By cutting corporate and sales taxes, the government is dramatically reducing its income. Since they will trying to balance the budget simultaneously, the strain on the country's finances will be exacerbated. Without income via taxes coming in, the government will have only one option to increase income: cut spending. Nothing new. But the extent to which they will cut spending will certainly be new.
For students like myself who did not qualify for entrance scholarships to university (I took a year off after high school, then went to college for 2 years), I rely heavily (read: can't go without them) on student loans and grants. I also rely on my university to keep a cap on tuition increases, since I can't really afford to attend now. Without government funding, universities have no choice but to increase tuition...which leaves me and countless other students shut out. Not just low income students from single parent households, I'm talking middle class, dual income households who 10 years ago could easily fund their children's education.
But it goes beyond that. Many of my closest friends and family members work in sectors that rely heavily on government funding to employ them. Some work for Community Services, other for non-profits, etc. Many of these employers need funding in order to employ these people; these could very well be among the first areas cut in spending. And health care? Welcome to the wonderful world of privatization, folks! Health care costs have been increasing steadily, with no sign of it slowing down. This means government spending needs to increase dramatically just to keep up, let alone improve existing programs or create new ones.
It just doesn't add up. We have an aging population that requires care, with a new generation that needs to be educated in order to keep up the status quo. By reducing spending, this becomes less and less of a possibility.
Let's do the math: -(spending)+-(deficit)+-(taxes)= + economy ?
Hmmm...this is the argument Harper is making - decrease spending, taxes and the deficit to improve the economy...and Harper is an economist? Give that problem to a bunch of third graders and even they will tell you that it's wrong. Perhaps Mr. Harper should refresh his memory on basic arithmetic.
I apologize for the lack of positivity and humour. Hopefully that will come through next time.
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