Don’t you just love it?
You did your homework, looking around for a contractor to
put new siding on your house … or a new deck, perhaps. You mention to a friend
that you plan on doing some work and what you found out. He suggests a company
that he has a good history with so you phone them and they come over, take a
look and quote you a price.
Let’s say the price is $2,000.00.
And let’s even say that the work is done well and on time.
When the invoice comes in the total is $4000.00 double what
had been quoted.
You complain that the quote was for half that and the
response is, “Well, that was only a guess. And we had problems.”
And then he adds, “Do you have that quote in writing?”
In addition there is a lot of shabby work and late finishing
that the buyer is expected to accept.
Don’t you just love it?
You’ve been watching what’s happening in your area and your
country and you can see room for improvement. An election is coming up so
you’re paying attention to what the candidates think is important, attempting
to determine if it aligns with your thoughts. There are a half dozen you could
vote for and each has made statements about issues that have nothing to do with
each other making it difficult to understand if they have any solid conviction
on any subject. Then a candidate you where leaning away from suddenly makes a
solid statement about the issue you are most concerned with, so you vote for
him/her.
Then, after “your” candidate is elected, he says that he
won’t be implementing what you desire because, “Well, that wasn’t what I
meant.”
During almost 70 years of observance I’ve seen these
sly/lying/dishonest (as the case may be) operators succeed many times in the
short term. However in the long term those around them eventually understand
what disgusting creatures they are and they lose. The result is very satisfying
for REAL people but it sometimes requires a long wait to achieve that
satisfaction.
There was a time, back when life was simpler that crooks,
thieves and lyres were easier to identify. That is one of the reasons why my
novels are set in those times. I like my main protagonists to be people, that
is to say they make mistakes as all humans do. However, overall they are right
and they win.
And the “black hats” lose.
I like it when that happens, be it life or fiction.
Another reason I write the stories I do is to promote this
country I was born in and of which I am proud. I’m tired of reading (and
hearing) the stories in either history or fiction of how Canada’s past is full
of everything being done right by accommodating, thoughtful, considerate
individuals all saying “Thank you,” and “Oh no, after you.”
Sunday dress in the 1920s
"Beaver" family, Peace River about 1911
I also believe we should be celebrating those who actually
built the country; the mothers and fathers, the explorer/surveyor, the trapper,
the logger,
Boston Bar freight wagons, 1870
.
Wagon Train, Cariboo Road
the farmer, the teamster and teacher. Instead we spend most of our
time celebrating those who built themselves and what they accomplished for the
country (and that includes most countries) was secondary; the politicians,
philosophers and lawmakers.
Make a comment: Tell me what you think about Canada's history or the history of your country should you one of those unlucky enough not to enjoy this great land.
Let me know if right and wrong, lies and truth, and moral actions are important to you.
Oh, and just to make sure we understand that history is full of all kinds of human endeavors and needs here is a picture of "Jenny's Place" and it was not a girl's school. This pic happens to be from Wyoming ... its hard to find one from Canada because, as mentioned above, historians tend to be "selective."
