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Travel and see the evidence of climate change
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You can’t buck city hall
Judy Paul was clearly inspired by her reading of Teardown: Rebuilding Democracy from the Ground Up (May Advocate). I wish her and her companions every success in their efforts to “bend the rules” to achieve positive ends in her community. “You can’t buck city hall” is an expression that describes her challenge which, in an age of thousands of government-imposed regulations, is more daunting than at any time in the past. Author Dave Meslin identifies the hegemonic powers of the major political parties as well as the well-established and rigid authority of related public institutions as the main obstacles. Having been a minor party candidate in seven elections, I sympathize with his frustrations. I have not read his book (yet) but I wonder if part of Dave’s vision is to reduce the scope, size and cost of our multiple levels of governments. The best and most enduring way to restore the individual freedoms and personal responsibility that his followers evidently crave, is to repeal any and all legislation that has granted unfair and undesirable power privileges to the most powerful political groups and their cronies. Only then will the voices of people like Judy Paul and her friends get the attention that they deserve. According to Paul, civil disobedience seems to be central to the theme of Meslin’s book. This surprises me because, if advocated by libertarians like me who want less government, it would likely be described as “radical” or “anti-establishment.” Do Meslin and Paul secretly (or not so secretly) harbour libertarian sentiments in this age of ever-expanding governments? Gene Balfour, Fenelon Falls Neither author Dave Meslin nor I are arguing for less government but for meaningful ways in which citizens can engage in decision-making beyond the voting cycle. ~ Judy Paul, Haliburton
Re: Gene Balfour’s letter in May edition of the Advocate (“Life is stressful enough without believing in climate change”). It is sad to give closed-minded people a public voice. At the same time, it is nice to see open communication in print. So I will give it a try. If you can’t see climate change then let’s call it air pollution like the old days. Travel as I have to the Arctic Ocean and speak to the people struggling there to move their homes. Or, paint your skin orange and move south. Because sorry — we can’t have it both ways. Mark Lowell, Fenelon Falls
Joe Keele: Lindsay’s unknown war hero and Renaissance man
Readers of the Advocate may be interested in Joseph Keele, an Irish immigrant who lived in the Lindsay area. In the late 1880s, Joe was a private in the 45th Battalion of the Midland Regiment in Lindsay. On April 3, 1885, the headlines of the Lindsay Post shouted: “Our Volunteers Off to the Northwest.” The Lindsay Company travelled by train to Swift Current, Sask., and by steamer to Batoche. Batoche, held by Louis Riel and supporters, was taken on May 12 after a charge through the rifle pits by the Midland Regiment. Joe was in the thick of the battle and was later awarded the Imperial 1885 medal with clasp inscribed “Batoche.” This medal, approved by Queen Victoria, recognized his service as a corporal under
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