Hand-wringing and pontificating...

[snoopy]

...at what point do you decide to take your own ass off the fence?

While I didn't want to hijack the recent WCA thread: http://www.avcanada.ca/forums2/viewtopic.php?t=34269, I can stay silent no longer, particularly given the lengths our company has gone to in the Quest for Justice vein.

Once again we see hue and outcry from the pilot group, in support of better pay, better conditions yadayadayada. One responder asks "Did anyone else walk out in solidarity?" another replies: "The rest are just sitting tight watching what will happen."
another shouts ""Pussys This is the point in history where the rest of you who have been screaming about shitty working conditions, pay, whoring, etc should be showing absolute support for these 2 guys." and helpfully suggests how they should sacrifice themselves for the betterment of Canadian Aviation. And a few more take up the call: UNIONIZE!!! SHOW THEM!!!! GET OFF YOUR ASSES!!!! WE'RE WITH YOU, BUDDIES!!! BOYCOTT!!!! "We need more of our peers willing to stand-up - no we all need to stand-up - we can't let this continue to happen. We need to stand up together and fix the bullshit labour practices that pilots are forced to work under."

Wow, I feel so pumped up right now - sign me up.... wait a minute... are any of these helpful cheer-leading bystanders actually participating? Well, hmmm. No, in the case of WCA, it appears that only SDflyer is surveying forces from within to see if it is worth stepping out on the proverbial limb....

How often do we see this in a group? Pump up the troops! Fire up a passionate call to arms! Do something!! And then some poor sucker takes the bait, steps out on the limb and WHAM goes the axe - problem solved, situation normal - all fucked up.

Remember this: http://www.avcanada.ca/forums2/viewtopi ... highlight= ??? All the outrage! The disbelief! Bastards! How dare they charge us $55 processing fee REVOLT! BOYCOTT! So I did some research. I posted that the total pilots affected: 62,775, amounting to an estimated $4,153,435 worth of revenue. It was suggested that we organize, to utilize strength in numbers. Shortly afterwards the post died - along with the supposed cause.

So at what point does one get off the fence anyway? I don't know what the official answer is, but here's mine.

When you discover something you truly believe in, and you're willing to sacrifice everything for. When you've found something so important, that you are prepared to shed the pressure of your peers and stand alone for what you believe in. When you realize that you can no longer stay silent, but that in speaking out you may become enemy number one. That realizing this, you know you must do it anyway but you'll try to do it gracefully and live with the consequences. When you're prepared to spend a lot of time and effort, in potentially unfamiliar territory to become involved. When you're doing it for yourself and your own beliefs, not for others.

Our company went on national news, and took our views all the way to Parliament Hill in protest over the poor state of the industry in which we are trying to operate, the failure of Transport Canada to adequately regulate the industry, and the abuse of power that Transport Canada is capable of. We stood alone.

Though it breaks my heart every day that we do not fly, I found something I truly believe in and something worth fighting for. No regrets here - I can only hope my partner feels the same. But I can tell you from personal experience, you can expect to stand alone.

So when I read all the griping and complaining, followed by prompting and egging on, I wonder. I wonder when will that person, each person, decide to get off their own fence? When will they decide to risk everything for what they believe in, instead of cheering others on from the sidelines.

Thanks for listening,
Snoopy

[Cat Driver]

So tell us CloudCover, what have you done for the betterment aviation?

At least Snoopy,widow, Carholme and I have stepped foward knowing what the cost would be.

Want to know something, it was worth it having at least done something to try and bring about changes to a corrupt government department, Transport Canada Civil Aviation.

Here is a news flash for you CloudCover, the internet is the best means of getting a message out we have ever had.

[Beechball]

Snoopy, I am not at all familiar with your particular situation but that was a fantastic post!

[snaproll20]

Well said, SNOOPY.

Unfortunately, many of us have tried to seek justice and relief from the dishonesty and stranglehold TC has on us. But nobody really cares.

I put up a poll concerning the need for an Ombudsman (recommended by a Justice). It was viewed by a huge number of people, but less than 30 voted.

So, go figure.

[Cat Driver]

Unfortunately, many of us have tried to seek justice and relief from the dishonesty and stranglehold TC has on us. But nobody really cares.

It's typically the Canadian way snaproll, remember Chretien claiming that the elections in Zimbawbe were fair and demoncratic?

The only difference in Chretian and Mugabe and their idea of democratic is the color of their skin.

With a change of party from Liberal to Conservative have we seen any changes?

[Doc]

And, the climate has never been better to back up your fellow pilots. if the ax falls, you'd be unemployed, for what?....twenty minutes?

[Widow]

Rant away Snoopy. CloudCover appears to have missed the fact that you have been using your energy for things other than ranting.

BTW, I have a meeting this week with SCoTIC VIP "PJ" ...

[Cat Driver]

widow, I just love the lack of understanding of how the system works in Canada when it comes to making changes in government departments, this is a perfect example of ignorance of the subject.

Quote:
If care about bettering humanity either run for office or pick up your version of of the AK.

How much of our time has been spent trying to get elected officials to actually do something and how much power does an elected official have to actually do something unless the power to be at the top wants change?

Running for office would be a total waste of time.

But he did have a point if he meant AK47, having spent a great deal of time working in countries where the AK47 is a common tool carried by many people I agree it is an effective tool used properly.

[Widow]

I don't want to see any more people dead Cat. Just penniless and behind bars.

[Apache64_]

Hey Snoopy,

Great post. Keep up the fight.

Apache

[Cat Driver]

I don't want to see any more people dead Cat.

Nor do I widow, my comment was meant to point out that when people are driven to use AK47's as a means of fighting government they are desperate beyond hope.

Somewhere there has to be a middle ground in the enforcement of law. I have witnessed people being put on their knees and beheaded because that was that societies method of law enforcement. However when you have a government wherein their own people who are supposed to ensure the law is enforced show a utter contempt for the law as we have here in Canada you are now on the other fringe of law enforcement or rather lack thereof.

So people such as you, Snoopy, Carholme, Snaproll and myself to name a few are well within our rights to use the internet to try and bring about change.

[FamilyGuy]

Snoopy well said. Just so you all know, I've stepped up for a principle in my industry before and paid a price - do it again in a heartbeat. But there was a time I wouldn't/couldn't - it ain't easy. Can't help you all here except to point out the obvious from a "safe" distance - something I don't take lightly.

However, all us humans are collectivley is ideas and thoughts. Words and thought ARE power - quick check of history shows the lengths man will go based on nothing more than thoughts and ideology. Sometimes all we need is a spark to start that fire - sometimes a leader to follow - other times necessity takes care of all of it.

Cloudcover - the real power lays with the common man. You don't need to run for office or pick up an "AK" to effect change in Canada. You just need to beleive and be persistant. THEY are expecting you to lose interest after a while - its a common tactic - ignore them long enough and they go away - they win.

Nothing worth having comes easy....

[CID]

Here is a news flash for you CloudCover, the internet is the best means of getting a message out we have ever had.

The internet has good reach so on that point I totally agree. Unfortunately, it's full of crackpots. Be very careful with the information you find here in cyberspace.

Unfortunately, many of us have tried to seek justice and relief from the dishonesty and stranglehold TC has on us. But nobody really cares.

Yep. TC and the Canadian government in genera is evil. That's why Candians are all in such poor shape and airplanes are falling out of the sky daily. It has nothing to do with the slime that proliferates in the industry. When pilots chose to risk their passengers lives it's TC's fault and somehow the past Liberal governments.

[. .]

---just went through and deleted the standard garbage

this thread is too good not to.

[Cat Driver]

Though it breaks my heart every day that we do not fly, I found something I truly believe in and something worth fighting for. No regrets here - I can only hope my partner feels the same. But I can tell you from personal experience, you can expect to stand alone.

You are not alone Snoopy, I stood up to a corrupt regulator in 2001 and finally after all this time I am not alone.

What I lost was time and money and personal possessions.

What I gained was a victory over wrongdoing at the very top of TCCA and as a bonus finding out that the lack of morals goes right to the top into the office of the Director General Transport Canada.

To solve their problem he actually came to my home, it turned out that he was just like Merlin Preuss , just another dishonest self serving piece of human garbage and a liar to boot.

So my losses were offset by being able to without fear tell the world that the regulator is corrupt beyond beliefe at the top.....and I have documentation to prove it.