A pocket full of mumbles such are promises

The Simon and Garfunkel song "The Boxer" tells a story that many folks can relate to. It seems to me every 4 years we hear many promises in election campaigns only to find them unfulfilled after the campaign. It is so easy to promise hand outs to voters but that is not what we need. A hand up or even just to be left alone would be preferred compared to the expensive fairy dust programs and magic wand gifts of our money back that our governments use to keep us from revolting.

I believe that the middle class have had their pockets picked far too long and a new type of politician is needed. Governments latest promises are for New Jobs in the Green Economy and yet forget that our strength as a nation was built by manufacturing, resources and farmers. One in 5 jobs in Canada are now in public services at all levels and the trend will see this reach 1 out of 4 soon. That leaves 3 people working to support every public sector job. Hospitals, schools and other public services have a larger administration portion than ever and front line workers seem to bear the brunt of any funding cuts. Outsourcing to the lowest bidder has also created risks to our security and our health.

A middle aged factory worker that spent 20 years faithfully working at their job now looks at a dismal future and retirement is only a dream. Governments do not realize that a significant portion of our population can not afford to go to school or just do not have the ability to successfully complete a formal education.

But there is hope! Jeff Rubin wrote a book called "Why your world is about to get a whole lot smaller" http://www.randomhouse.ca/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307357519&view=print
In the book he talks about peak oil and it's impact on North America. We got a taste of what over $100/bbl oil was like before the economy sewered. It's not all bad news though - when shipping and transportation costs rise, it becomes cheaper to buy locally. Furniture manufacturers in North America became competitive once again, folks switched to more local food because for the grocery stores it became cheaper to buy locally too. Staycations, getting out of our cars and talk of New Urbanism where jobs and retail are built closer to where folks live rather than apart became more economically attractive to consumers.

Logistics is the key in returning economic prosperity to North America. Walmart grew by using this strategy but even Walmart has started to look at manufacturers located closer to it's warehouses and stores for competitive purchases. Dollarama has many Canadian made products from manufacturers in Quebec where it's main warehouse is located. Canada Post has an opportunity to help small providers of goods ship across our land at a reasonable cost. Locally in Oxford we have many businesses that can provide savings to local purchasers (Hino makes light and medium duty trucks and yet locally we seem to favour foreign made ones at greater costs). Ingersoll has a direct route to 3 border crossings and most of central and southern Ontario. Many suppliers to CAMI have empty trucks leaving every day that could be filled with local goods and central warehouses. Ingersoll is a logical location to capitalize on this future trend.

In business I have a reputation for under-promising and over delivering. I have witnessed so many businesses flounder and fail by over-promising and under delivering. Polticians who we elect to serve us, need to go easy on the promises and work harder on delivery.

I want to be Mayor of Ingersoll to show others how it can be done.

Cheers
Tim Lobzun