Peter Townshend Thought and Writings

02/18/2025

Why Is This Politics Thing So Frustrating For Me.

I have to admit. I absolutely hate politics.

There is no way that I would like to have every one of my words hyper-analyzed and twisted to fit someone else’s narrative… and often be completely different than the message that I had intended.

I would despise having to disparage anyone for the purpose putting myself ahead of them to win my job. I don’t believe anyone wins when putting others down, and I firmly believe that everyone’s opinions are valuable.

Most importantly, I could not handle the lies. Twisting the truth and manipulation by dishonesty is absolutely like nails on the chalkboard for me.

It seems like to be a politician today, you must have to have severe character defects.

- Justin Trudeau has had multiple violations of ethics laws for the purpose of receiving personal benefits and profits for his family.
- Donald Trump cannot open his mouth without something dishonest coming out of his mouth, is a convicted felon, adjudicated sexual predator, and prolific con artist.
- And every day you see new stories of politicians being charged, convicted, or accused of legal or ethical misgivings. Even local politicians have been dragged through ethical challenges.

I have always wanted to do the right thing and help people, but could never do it at the expense of my character.

And isn’t character and trust really the foundations of real growth and change? Can we really make progress for the people if there is any question on whether or not there are ulterior motives? Before we can make progress, I believe there are certain fundamental requirements our politicians should meet in order to represent us.

1st. Politicians must tell us the truth! There should be a law that if you are unwilling to make the statement in court, you should not be able to make the statement in public to the voters. A politician is caught lying, they should be immediately disqualified.

2nd. Mudslinging should be illegal. All politicians should be respected leaders and realize that while politics should be argued and debated, the people need to be treated with dignity. Democracy is based on arguing for and against an issue in order to build the best possible solution.

3rd. Politicians should be encouraged to vote for their constituents and not “whipped” into a decision by a party. Once all the arguments are made, the best solution should be voted on honestly and not to move one party’s agenda forward. The idea of people being put into the wrong position because it was right for the party, but wrong for the people should be another case for immediate disqualification.

Now that I have that off my chest, I will step down off my soap box. The real change we need to make is within ourselves. I try my best every day to hold true to my most important values. Honesty, integrity, and empathy.

Perhaps the real change will come in politics if we the voters can choose the right politician to meet these values and hold accountable those that can’t.

02/16/2025

Are we be manipulated into being an antagonist in someone else’s grand scam?

One thing that Hollywood has taught us, the story of every hero must have a villain. So much so that we start creating villains where there are none. The neighbour that cuts down that hedge you took such great care of for years, but was preventing her from safely exiting her driveway; the salesperson that unfairly wouldn’t give you that deal you wanted, when inventory and increased expenses where devastating their business; and more blatantly, the person who has different political views than you do.

Over the last decade, our neighbours to the south have been manipulated into believing that their fellow citizens, who may just have a different ideology, are enemies that continually do what they can to ruin their country and destroy their future. It is a manipulation that put one person in power with no consequences for their actions.

This person needs a new enemy in order to keep the power they have seized. Internal struggle is no longer enough. In order to keep power he must have even greater enemies. These enemies cannot be the same enemies of their political counterparts, they have to be one that their opponents hold in regard. Russia and North Korea? The enemy of our enemy is our friend.

So the allies become the enemies. We now take advantage and have been silently stealing all these years. We took advantage of our allies and are bleeding them dry.

When we now boo their anthem, cancel our travel plans and stop buying their products, are we simply becoming the enemy their grand manipulator is trying to paint us as? When his policies fail, are we creating the scapegoat he needs to blame his failures on?

Yes, we need to protect ourselves from these attacks, and from the economic consequences of his actions, but we also must agree that his actions are going to hurt our friends, his citizens, as much or more that it will hurt us.

Our two countries have lived in peace and prosperity for over 200 years. I am sure that if it was up to most of our counterparts, they would agree that the threats against Canada are frivolous, counter-productive and spiteful, but is their a bigger picture in play?

If so, what can we do to protect ourselves and build our economy while not trying to punish the US? He will fail anyways, I would rather our friends in the US blame the bully and not lay responsibility on the smaller brother to the north.

PS These are my thought and my thoughts alone. None of this should reflect on my place of employment or their subsidiaries. What is more important to me is my integrity and the honour to respect everyone’s thoughts and opinions. Please share them with me so I can learn, and help open my mind to new perspectives.

Regards,

Peter

12/20/2020

Looks like fun!!

12/18/2020

Drop by and check out our new website www.BrockvilleNissan.com. Lots of great new features!!

Brockville Nissan sells and services Nissan vehicles in the greater Brockville ON area.

11/25/2020

Cool look at the Nissan Z... I would have to trade in both kids 🤷‍♂️

(Click the "CC" button in the right-hand lower corner of the video to switch on closed captions in English or Japanese) Since first laying eyes on the 240Z, ...

11/25/2020

Inside the 2021 Redesigned Nissan Rogue