Hey there, Mississauga (you too, Malton). Today's Blog is for "At Risk" Youth (Yes, those "At-Risk" now --or doomed to Future-At-Risk). You REALLY need to pay attention today.
I know that you've disconnected from The System. I even know some of the Whys and especially the Hows that led to your Disconnect. For what it's worth, I've "Burned-Bridges-Disconnected" too. (Well, at least as much as a 58-year old white female FAT-CAT can burn-bridges-disconnect.)
Still. You just HAVE to read something --a Mississauga News Letter to the Editor for the inevitable next time that some "suit" tells you that "You're The Problem". I hope that this man's words will help convince both your brains and your heart that it's the other way 'round.
The System is The Problem, "At-Risk" Youth, and You're its Victim.
Read Duff Conacher's Letter to the Editor. Trust me. You'll see yourselves...
"Try straight talk"
"And if any Canadian political leader and party wishes to increase their popular support, they should give up their vague, obscure, excuse-laden and, frankly, boring rhetoric and platforms.
Instead, they should get out of their elite offices and fancy hotel ballrooms, meet Canadians where they hang out and try some of Rock's plain-speaking, truth-telling, inspiring straight talk about solving the main problems Canadians actually face in their day-to-day lives — problems like being abused by their boss, being gouged by many businesses, receiving poor service from many government programs and businesses, and being lied to by many people in politics and business."
I attended and recorded every second of the Our Future Mississauga "Community Engagement Visioning Charrette". Turned out that I was the only one who got a chance to actually listen to an "At-Risk" Youth.
He, like Duff Conacher, called for politicians to "get out of their elite offices and fancy hotel ballrooms, meet Canadians where they hang out."
Here ya go.
"--especially in this day and time. You gotta to be involved in your children’s life. You’ve gotta be involved --PERIOD. You gotta to come from behind your counter and come from off your computer –take off your job title—and get out there with The People.
If not, The People are going to rise up against you. Because they’re already doing that on different parts of the earth, man. People are starting to rise up against their own government now.
And --so what makes you think that won’t happen in Canada?
Or that won’t happen in Mississauga? Why? Because we’re a city not in debt?"
I'm forced to admit that I had to help this dude out a little about "The Why" Mississauga politicians don't believe "The People" rising up will "happen in Mississauga".
Judging by this Youth's reaction, he had no clue that we were both under surveillance --let alone the degree.
The Reality is "The-System-Mississauga" doesn't have to listen. It's got eyes all around.
This part of Duff Conacher's Letter to the Editor is worth repeating.
"straight talk about solving the main problems Canadians actually face in their day-to-day lives — problems like being abused by their boss, being gouged by many businesses, receiving poor service from many government programs and businesses, and being lied to by many people in politics and business."
The Message: Direct from The Mssissauga Muse.
You, "At-Risk" Youth and "The People", are "receiving poor service from many government programs" --"and being lied to by many people in politics and business."
Yeah. I know. You already knew that.
Take it from miles of Mississauga/Peel videotape, Millionaires and "suits" with pedigree-names get listened to and A.S.A.P responded on. The very best that us "Great-Unwashed-The-People" can hope for is the pretense of listening.
Ah yes, "LISTENING"
Question for Mississauga City Hall on behalf of all non-Corporate-approved Youth.
So. How much frikkin' listenin' did YOU do at your Our Future Mississauga "Community Engagement frikkin' Visioning Charrette, Big Yellow?!
Seeing as how not a single human being from Malton (Ward 5) was there the morning and evening times when I asked if anyone from Malton was at the "Our Future Mississauga --Visioning Symposium", here's video of Mayor Hazel McCallion's entire "Our Future Mississauga Community Engagement Visioning Charrette" closing speech so you can experience it.
VIDEO: Hazel McCallion's "Our Future Mississauga" Visioning Symposium Speech
(Please note, that she gave this speech after the revelation that no one from Malton was in the audience.)
(Click here to go directly to Google Video or for a shortened 10min YouTube version, click here)
Related Topic-- TOMORROW'S COUNCIL AGENDA
4. PRESENTATIONS
(a) 2008 Corporate Awards of Excellence
Janice Baker, City Manager, Members of Council and the Leadership Team will present the 2007 Corporate Awards of Excellence to the following staff:
The City Manager will bestow the "Leadership and Empowerment Award" to [Name] (Mississauga) Corporate Security [Title], Facilities and
Property Management"
This Award will be interesting... I mean considering that it's almost been a year since Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion emailed me saying:
Signed,
The (UN-secretive) Mississauga Muse
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(Click here to go directly to YouTube or Google Video)
"We must employ every possible tactic to dissuade those who try to silence us with fear" ---The Mississauga News Editorial (2007-03-24)
Want (or worse, need) to learn more? Link to MISSISSAUGAWATCH.CA
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