Reel Rave!
Did I mention that I started a movie blog? I did. It's called: Reel Rave! If you like movies, then spare a moment or two and mouse-click on over. Comments and suggestions are welcome. There's still much work to be done, but it's a start.
It's not everyday you get a chance to see something like this. It gently nudges you to remind you that they are much bigger and more important things happening in the Universe.
These things have been happening since before Man was born and will continue to happen long after we've gone. No matter how much we try to control nature, our lives and even those of others, there are just some things that we have no control over.
A question and a thought or two, on privatization and the RBPFDISCLAIMER: IANAE (I Am Not An Economist), IANAPO (I Am Not A Police Officer) and IANAP (I Am Not A Politician).
A few of you, by now, should know that I tend to think about random things while I'm on the road, going to and fro. These trips give me the occasion (opportunity), to think, question, reflect and generally study things while waiting at a traffic light, or while sitting in traffic (but still keeping a constant vigil on the flow of traffic in front and behind me, talk about multi-tasking!).
Today was no different. While I was not doing this sort of thinking (or philosophizing?) while driving home, the question came to me much later (at around 2:45 AM).
What would happen if we were to privatize the RBPF?
Don't laugh. I'm asking a serious question. Spare it some thought. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, Wikipedia has the following to say:
"Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of business from the public sector (government) to the private sector (business). In a broader sense, privatization refers to transfer of any government function to the private sector including hardcore governmental functions like revenue collection and law enforcement."
Why, in the first place, would a government want to transfer ownership of a business from the public sector to the private sector? If you can answer this, then maybe you can apply the same thinking to why a government would want to (OR NOT WANT TO), transfer law enforcement to the private sector.
So back to the question, what would happen if we were to privatize the RBPF? Do you see better pay for the officers? More equipment and resources becoming available? What about the negative effects, i.e., having a private company providing law enforcement services? If you've got an answer, my e-mail address can be found on the side-bar, alternatively, feel free to leave a comment. Based upon feedback, I will try to dispense my own humble opinion in a week or two, as I'm currently preparing for an exam.
However, I will leave you with one possible result of privatization: I'm pretty sure that our taxes pay for law enforcement (as well as for other social services). Privatization should, in theory, result in less taxes paid to a government, however, it would also mean no law enforcement for society unless you pay a private firm to provide such services (how would the poor be able to pay and should they even have to pay in the first place?).
In conclusion, one of the many roles of government (correct me if I'm wrong), is to provide basic protection of life and property (be you rich or poor). This is a social service. I can't remember where I read it, and I'm probably bastardizing what it is I read, but the essence of it was this: We, as citizens or members of society, in effect give up certain rights and freedoms when we agree to be governed. In return, it is the government's role to protect society from internal as well as external agression, conflicts, threats, etcetera. That is the price we pay for this security and stability.
The 19-year-old chart-topping R&B songstress became the first Barbadian to win a Grammy Award when she won Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for her popular hit Umbrella featuring Jay-Z, on Sunday night at the 50th Grammy Awards ceremony. [via The Nation Newspaper]
"One of them twice flew about 2,000 feet over the deck of the USS Nimitz Saturday while another flew about 50 miles away, officials said. Two others were at least 100 miles away, the military reported. U.S. defense officials said four F/A-18A fighter jets from the Nimitz were in the air. The Russians and the U.S. carrier did not exchange verbal communications." [via CNN.com]
"Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko is in Moscow to try to persuade Russia not to cut gas supplies to his country in a dispute over an unpaid bill." [via BBC NEWS]
Danish police have arrested three people suspected of planning to attack a cartoonist who drew caricatures satirising the Prophet Muhammad. [via BBC NEWS]
Baby, It's Cold Outside!DISCLAIMER: IANAM, I Am Not A Meteorologist (but I have been feeling really cold recently).
We island folk have been experiencing some irregular weather these last couple of weeks. The Nation newspaper wrote about it today, and has confirmed what most of us already knew, it has been unusually cold!
We're talking temperatures as low as 21.3 degrees Celsius. Now before you pooh-pooh and laugh off our concerns, remember that Barbados is in the Caribbean, i.e., in the tropics (a.k.a, the temperate zone?), i.e., in a tropical climate, where temperatures are usually between 28 and 33 degrees (at least, that's what my little in-car temperature gizmo reads whenever I push the button).
If you really want a laugh, then you should hear how some of us protest the half an hour or so commute to work, or the fifteen-minute wait while stuck in traffic, but that's island life, eh? I've been up North a few times, watched T.V and heard the horror stories from others and I've learned to appreciate that commute times and time spent waiting in traffic, are all relative and highly subjective.
But when the temperature drops to 21.3 in Barbados, it does cause quite a stir. As such, it was no suprise to find one or two funny comments on the weather in The Nation's article:
'Basically, I just go under the sheets but I don't mind it. In fact, I like it because I get to sleep much better at nights since it isn't too hot," said Pastor Ricardo Payne of Elim Gospel Church, Workmans, St George. However, one of the members of his congregation added: "No, no! It's too cold at nights, man, I can't deal with it!"'
However, this comment takes the cake:
'Another elderly woman who lives in Bath, St John, said: "This cool air don't bother me. When I start to see snow is when I'll get worried."'
Ma'am, you're not the only one. If it were to start snowing in Bim, I'd get plenty worried too!
Please do not send me any junk mail, especially the Viagra or Cialis stuff.
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