Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 24, 2012, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE A10 OPINION A10 SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 2012 POLL Previous Polls: Should Sam Katz run again for mayor in the next election? Yes 23% No 77% Would you jump into the Red River to save someone in trouble? I've got lifesaving skills; I'm sure I'd do it. 8% I can swim. I'd like to think I'd try. 24% I'd look around for something floaty to throw in. 21% I'd call 911. 39% Not sure I'd get involved. 4% I've already saved someone from drowning. 4% What's your opinion of the government's airport surveillance plans? I thought airport conversations were already monitored. 9% If you've nothing to hide, why worry? 32% I don't like it. Smells like a violation of privacy to me. 33% There is no privacy anymore, except in your mind. And they're probably already working on thought police. 25% Has the financial unrest in Europe affected your investment plans? Yes, I'm now on Freedom 95 51% No, I'm good... cash in socks plan 49% BLOG OF THE WEEK: LOVE ME, LOVE MY WINNIPEG S IGH. Well, looks like the North End is to blame again, even when it isn't. By now you've all heard about the story about the puppy found in a dumpster, but what I bet you didn't know is that Jefferson Avenue is in the North End. That's because it isn't. Although according to the Free Press story it is. Here is how the story ran: A little Rayne never hurt anyone, so why would someone toss the cute little puppy into a city Dumpster? That's what staff at Winnipeg's Animal Services Agency - and a whole bunch of Free Press online commenters - are asking after the eight- week- old shepherd- collie mix was found wet and cold in a North End Dumpster last week. Rayne was given medical care and vitamins, and "( has) been eating a lot while she's been here," said Gordon, noting the puppy has gained a pound in the few days since she was found in a Dumpster on Jefferson Avenue. Now, admittedly, I'm more sensitive to these sorts of things and although it would be hypocritical of me not to complain if this was a positive news story that was being pegged as the North End if it happened on Jefferson, I don't think that kind of mix- up generally happens the other way around. I don't know where exactly on Jefferson Rayne was found, but it was likely somewhere in West Kildonan or The Maples, NOT the North End. I have another example of how the media often gives a negative bias to the North End. In this article from the Free Press on Saturday, there were six fire incidents reported ( well, eight, but two were two- for- one deals). The two fires that were OUTSIDE of the North End simply had their approximate address given, no neighbourhood. Three were listed giving both the xxxblock of xxx AND it was pointed out that was in the North End, and one was listed as being in Shaugnessy Park ( so, they do get points for not calling it the North End, since, y'know, it wasn't). I've taken the liberty of tweaking this article for the Free Press . THERE were two house fires and six garage fires in the city overnight Friday. The first fire broke out in the 400 block of Boyd Avenue in St. John's in a garage late Thursday, causing $ 8,000 in damage. This was followed by a fire at a home in the 1300 block of Raleigh Street in Munroe West at around 12: 40 a. m. There was a total of $ 20,000 in damage to the home and contents. Hours later, police were called to a garage and shed fires on Magnus Avenue in the Shaughnessy Park area at around 2 a. m. An hour later, another fire broke out in a home in the 600 block of Selkirk Avenue in William Whyte ( or it could have been Dufferin, depends what side of the street it was), causing $ 80,000 in damage. Soon after, at around 3: 30 a. m., there was another garage fire in the 100 block of Enfield Crescent in Norwood, causing a total of $ 35,000 in damage. At around 6 a. m., firefighters were called to another two garage fires in the 200 block of Pritchard Avenue in William Whyte . The total damage from the first fire was $ 10,000, while there was no damage estimate available for the second. No one was injured. Of course, it also could have been written in a more simple way that would force those hell- bent on coming up with a negative attitude towards a particular area to do some research: THERE were two house fires and six garage fires in the city overnight Friday. The first fire broke out in the 400 block of Boyd Avenue ( no neighbourhood name given) late Thursday, causing $ 8,000 in damage. See how easy that was to stop shouting NORTH END? I am no dummy, I know there is crime here, and I'm not against it being reported; the crimes are a fact, facts should be reported. All I ask is that in a city already so biased against a particular part of town is that the media don't fuel the fire. As you just read, we have enough of them here already. Follow this blog at lovemelovemywinnipeg. blogspot. ca HEY, MEDIA, it's time to set some boundaries By Winnipeg Girl T he first of a year- long series of articles on the widening gap between rich and poor and the shrinking of the middle class had readers eager to add their two cents to the cause. People need a hand up, not the traditional handout. This is where welfare fails people, they start relying on it too much, and this is where the current provincial government has failed them. There are dozens of agencies and church groups in the North End and West End out there already doing awesome work without government funding. If our provincial government shaved off just one per cent of their fat and gave it to these agencies to do their grassroots work, I can guarantee that they would have five to 10 per cent reduction in homelessness/ people on welfare and more people with jobs. With less poverty, you see less crime, less hospital visits and less of a strain on our civil service. - WinnipegHome Yes comrade, we are all victims. Where is Harper ensuring our entitlements as Canadians? He should force more rich people from Calgary to move to Manitoba so we can educate them with our high taxes. These new taxes can be used to make more government jobs. Let us pray that one day we will not have to fend for ourselves. - jon dingleberry No one in Canada should have a low quality of life. Disabled or able. We offer free education, free health care, and hundreds of resource programs. If you are hungry there are food banks. If you do well in school you can get a scholarship and move on to college. Canada has endless opportunities and amazing programs. Unemployment insurance, welfare, we offer so much help to those in need. I feel truly lucky to live here! - slamb For everybody being rude and hateful towards people on welfare - not everyone is scamming the system. Some people really need it. For people on disability, welfare is considered income and thus taken off your disability cheque. If you make too much, CPP cuts you off your disability. I have looked into what my disability would be as I have a disease that one day might prevent me from working. I would get $ 630 a month. My rent right now is $ 900 a month ( and I don't live in a palace). - supergirl42 Most of the people are ' poor' because we make it easy for them to be poor. When the WFP trots out people like this as their example of why the system is unfair it makes me question whether anyone there has a clue. The system is actually unfair to those of us that work, pay taxes, and contribute to society. Able- bodied people like Mr. Shwartz are precisely why we are in a position where our roads are crumbling, our hospitals are Third World, and we can't adequately look after ' the poor.' - donnyboy The idea that a family of four can live on $ 30K a year to maintain a " modest, basic standard of living" is problematic. I know one couple who raises their now three kids on that amount but man do they have to be resourceful! They cook all their meals from scratch, do all their own home renos, take advantage of every loophole and tax incentive possible and they still just barely scrape by. Both mom and dad were raised well, however, have many skills, and are very well- educated. Most people living in poverty just don't have what it takes to create budgets, support each other, and navigate red tape. Many were raised in broken homes and don't know how to parent properly or carry on healthy relationships, to name just two roadblocks. - evadwal People need to remember these rules; 1. Life is not fair, get used to that fact! 2. WORK for what you need and want, otherwise LEARN TO DO WITHOUT! 3. Don't like the current economic situation you're in? WORK at changing it! 2. If you are having a hard time supporting yourself and/ or making ends meet, DO NOT HAVE KIDS and DO NOT EXPECT OTHERS TO PAY FOR THEM!! - Capital B Jumping right into the gap How often do you wash your hands? 1- 5 times per day. 23% 5- 10 times per day. 37% 10- 15 times per day. 29% More than twice an hour. 7% Whenever my mother makes me. 5% A_ 10_ Jun- 24- 12_ FP_ 01. indd A10 6/ 24/ 12 12: 19: 36 AM ;