Doug's Blog

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

Some have you may have noticed by latest status updates on Facebook.  Today I found that everywhere I turned I faced criticism over what I was doing.  The irony is that the action I am taking is in direct response to other complaints that the same person has made in the past.  Today, someone told me I shouldn't use facebook for political activities, but that same person complained that I needed to find better ways to communicate my message.  Another person complained that they never seem to know what I am working on, so I created two Facebook accounts, post the videos of my speeches in the house on 6 different sites, use Twitter and MySpace, and am building LinkedIn connections, and have my webpage with all of the bills, speeches, pictures, videos and so on for them to view, and today he called to complain that I am relying to much on new communications technology to get the message out and that I should start using faxes.  I'm not joking.

Today was a day when it seemed that no one is happy with anything I am doing, they all have better ideas on how to do it, but not one seemed to want to help with their own solutions.  I think it was my grandpa who said to me, "Before you complain you had better meet three criteria: first, you fully and completely understand what the problem is, second, you have a solution that is well thought out and comprehensive to offer, and third, you want the job of implementing the solution."  I don't mean to sound too negative, but sometimes I am astounded by people who have nothing to offer but negative comments, expect you to act on them with no suggested solution, and then complain about the solution.  Today just happened to be a non-stop day of that and it started to wear on me a bit.  I reminded myself all day long however, that you can never please everybody, and so I am determined to be the best communiticating politician in the nation, to continue to engage the people of Alberta, continue to serve my constituents, keep everyone up to date, and . . . well, stick to the plan.

Have a good day folks.  Tomorrow, let us all smile at those we pass, pass on compliments to each other on jobs well done, and be done with letting negativity get us down