Once Again a Question of Trust!

Last week it was the horse meat scandal! This week it's the fish scandal! Then there are rumours about orange juice! As long as the product is fit to eat or drink why don't they just put inside the package what it says on the outside label? Then let the consumers decide. Ah, but there's the rub! It appears that some of those who are supposed to look after our well being have let their lust for profit (or power!) get in the way.

Is it because I am getting old or is it really getting more and more difficult to differentiate the good guys from the bad? It would be much simpler if the good guys went back to wearing white hats and the bad guys to black hats. Or was there some evidence of racism in those old cowboy movies as well?

For six months Kevin Page, Parliamentary Budget Officer, has been trying to get information from department heads with no luck. Told it is not part of his mandate! Did they mean none of his business?

Not Hard to "Pull the Wool" Over
His Eyes!

Andrew Weaver, University of Victoria,  accuses our government  of withholding  scientific information from us so we won't object to their apparent pollution plans! Did we not call this pulling the wool over our eyes at one time? Someone better tell them we no longer wear woolen wigs!  No wonder the youth of this country do not show up at the voting stations. Indeed they are more likely to talk about 'social' issues instead of political ones, and depend more on 'flash mobs' - texting and social networking- to express their point of view.

What this comes down to is trusting others. The dictionary says that trusting someone means that you believe they have your best interests at heart. It is an absolute must in personal relationships, especially in marriage. But it is also necessary in the work place, in social organizations we belong to, the police, in government and in just about all of our relationships to others. It means we are able to rely on others to do the right thing.

Some believe that it is a natural disposition possibly learned in the family. When we trust then  everything else is much easier. But people have to 'earn' our trust, and we have to 'earn' the trust of others.

So given the way things are today I am forced to ask again: Who can we trust? If we can't trust our government to do the right thing (of course how do we know what the right thing is for the majority unless the majority is truly informed and has the ability and freedom to make their opinions heard?) If we can't trust our boss, it results in a very unhappy work place. If we can't trust our friends, then we really don't have any friends!

This breakdown in trust makes it very difficult to participate in our society in a meaningful way. The areas of trust seem to be narrowing. At this point in time I have to 'pretend' I trust our government, our merchants, our organizations and even some acquaintances. But when it comes to spouse and family, there is no room for pretend. Either I trust them or I don't !

I am happy to say even though I have become a 'non trusting' person in so many other areas of our society, I have no doubt about the trust that exist between me, my family and my closest friends. It is this firm trust that makes it possible to enjoy life without anger or bitterness. I do hope the day will come, not in my lifetime perhaps, when we citizens can once again say: trust has been restored to our nation.

In the meantime keep buying the products you need to survive, keep trusting the government to do the right thing, and keep believing that trust is the glue that keeps us strong and happy.  In my corner I will try to keep my white hat clean!!nMMeantim keep believing that trust is the glue that keeps us strong and happy.

And that's Dick's View of the World this Week