Category Archives: Media

Caveat emptor, Media, Provincial

Hypocrisy, duplicity and the HST – Top 5 countdown.

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Caveat: It is now early in the AM of Tuesday September 7 and this countdown is as of this specific point in time. I have added this caveat because, as noted, the principals are seemingly striving on a daily basis to be # 1. As a result the order of the countdown has changed several times. In order to facilitate finishing and publishing the countdown the order will be frozen as it is at this point in time.

Watching the evening news Thursday September 3, 2010 it seemed to me the question is not so much about whether the public is faced with deceit on the matter of the HST, but which of the five principals involved is guilty of the biggest deceit.

So here is my take on where the 5 principals involved in the HST brouhaha fall on a list from the least deceitful to the most deceitful.

Number 5 is the Liberal government.

When I started writing this the Liberals had been #4 mainly as a result of the level of distrust they have earned during their time as the government. As I was writing this piece the behavior of one of those in the top 5 shot them out of 5th place and up the list, leaving the Liberals to fall into the number 5 slot.

The fact that Liberal government only earned the #5 position reflects not the innocence of the Liberals but how considerable the offensives against TRUTH committed by the other parties involved in the HST brouhaha were, are and continue to be.

Let me preface this by saying that I am not a fan of Colin Hansen. His decisions and policies as Health Minister and now as Finance Minister have led to the rationing of mental health services even as the demands on these services grow. This rationing has lead to deaths, including those of innocent bystanders, and has inflicted undue pain and suffering on those denied mental health services as a result of this rationing.

That being said, calls for Colin Hansen’s resignation by Mr. Vander Zalm and the NDP, based on the sin of omitting to talk about the possibility of the HST, is spurious and laughable in light of the behaviours of Mr. Vander Zalm and the NDP in omitting to disclose or discuss the $1.6 billion dollars of federal money cost of repealing the HST.

If the bureaucrats in Victoria had not been talking to the bureaucrats in Ottawa about PST, GST and a HST they would not have been doing their jobs; especially in light of the Ottawa/Ontario HST discussions.

The question of when Mr. Hansen (or even Mr. Campbell) was aware of these communications or the content of the communications is not important either.

The only question of import is when did the Liberal government made the decision to accept Ottawa’s $1.6 Billion dollar bribe and implement the HST?

I rather suspect that the answer to that will ever be known past the level of reasonable doubt.

In judging the level of offense of the Liberals there are two additional questions that need to be taken into consideration. 1. Whether the HST is, in the long run, a decision in the best interest of the province of BC. 2. Given that Ontario opted to adopt the HST and that the federal government had offered the same $1.6 billion bribe to BC it had given to Ontario, was there any reasonable choice for the government of BC other than excepting the $1.6 billion and adopting the HST?

Given the budgeting needs of BC would it not have been irresponsible to turn down the $1.6 billion; especially as most of those funds came out of the pockets of other Canadians and not the pockets of BC taxpayers.

Number 4 are the citizens of BC.

Who were #2 on the list until the actions of other principals over recent days moved them past the citizens of BC who have benefited vis-à-vis their ranking not for their innocence but for their consistency in not adding to the behaviours that have placed them on this list

In regard to those behaviours: the level of lying to themselves, at least one hopes it is lying to themselves, demonstrated by the citizens of BC on the HST and the finances of the province of BC is alarming; especially at a time when tough economic and policy choices need to be made.

This outrage at politicians lying is farcical in light of the fact that voters have been rewarding politicians who lie to them by electing those who told them what they most wanted to hear, no matter how unrealistic the promises where, and punishing anyone who told a truth voters or citizens did not want to hear.

It is unreasonable to reward politicians, news media and others for lying then get upset when they lie.

Citizens are guilty of major offenses against logic; wanting more and more services but not to pay for them. For example: parents demand government keep underutilized schools open, but have you ever heard those parents state they were willing to pay the extra costs of keeping those schools open? When the costs of keeping underutilized schools open to appease parents results in other budget cuts parents do not call for closing underutilized schools so those budget items do not need to be cut; they demand the government spend more money – without raising taxes – as if the government has Rumpelstiltskin spinning straw into gold in the basement of the legislature in Victoria.

An astounding number of people who signed the anti-HST petition are not aware that a major factor in the BC government’s decision to implement the HST was the $1.6 billion bribe from Ottawa and that the $1.6 billion would come out of next year’s budget and back to Ottawa if the HST were repealed. Being against the HST and signing the anti-HST petition without being in possession of the facts is not only foolhardy but irresponsible.

It is even more irresponsible to be aware of the $1.6 billion (as are Mr. Vander Zalm and the NDP) and ignoring or burying one’s head in sand so as to avoid thinking about the $1.6 billion cost and the effect of having to repay that money will have on services, other taxes and the budget.

Choosing to believe that the media will report in a fair and balanced matter all pertinent facts on an issue so as to avoid the effort required to learn the facts themselves is further self deceit. News broadcasting is about ratings, not about informing the public; hence the ‘if it bleeds it leads’ credo of news broadcasting.

Perhaps the biggest, most self-deceptive lie people tell themselves is that they are not consuming their children’s future. Every lie citizens tell themselves to avoid dealing with issues or avoid paying for programs and services they want comes at the expense of the future, the much reduced and impoverished future our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and so on will inherit.

Number 3 is Mr. Vander Zalm.

Mr. Vander Zalm started the article in 5th place but advanced to number 3 through his actions on Friday September 3, 2010.

Mr Vander Zalm had earned the number 5 spot as he is guilty of lying by omission for his failure to address the consequences of revoking the HST. Unless Mr. Vander Zalm is so out of touch with the economic reality of the province and the lives of most British Columbians he cannot fail to be aware that, while the loss of the extra $300 million the HST would have raised for provincial coffers this year and next would inflict painful cuts on next year’s budget, it is the reduction of next year’s budget by the $1.6 billion of lost federal funds that were (or would have been) paid into provincial coffers for implementing the HST that will inflict severe reductions in services on the citizens of BC.

Paying for the loss of the $1.6 billion will fall mainly on health care and education as a result of their being the only budget areas that have $1.6 billion to cut. You cannot cut the $1.6 billion out of the next largest budget item, safety, because even if you cut the entire budget in this area – closing the courts, the jails, prisons, sheriffs, et al – there would remain the need to cut a further $0.5 billion out of the remain provincial budget.

The irony here is that Mr. Vander Zalm is guilty of the same offense he claims to be incensed about by the Liberal government – failing to disclose the inconvenient economic truths or facts that would reduce the popularity of Mr. Vander Zalm and his anti-HST campaign.

At least one hopes the high cost, $1.6 billion, of repealing the HST would cause citizens to reconsider the matter rationally.

Mr. Vander Zalm earned his move up the countdown as a result of his announcement that he would be targeting Mr. Campbell and Mr. Hansen for recall campaigns.

Recall legislation is intended to allow constituents of a riding to recall an MLA whose behavior they found unacceptable. Ignoring the question of possible negative consequences to our democracy and our electoral system this abuse of the recall legislation will inflict on government and governance, the fact remains that the legislation was intended for use by the constituents of a riding and not for the use of those outside the riding.

Mr. Vander Zalm’s malevolent abuse of the recall legislation to attack Mr. Campbell and Mr. Hansen demonstrates, beyond any doubt, that for Mr. Vander Zalm the anti-HST is not about principles or the good of the citizens of BC but about politics and settling old political scores.

This behavior raises the question of whether Mr. Vander Zalm is seeking political redemption. With the Liberals mortally wounded by the HST and the NDP mired in financial irresponsible nonsense could Mr. Vander Zalm be hoping to a Social Credit resurgence?

After all Mr. Vander Zalm is safe as long as the HST is not repealed and the cost and consequences of the loss of the $1.6 billion in federal funds is not revealed or does not come to pass. Since the Liberals, whatever their faults may be, are (one certainly hopes) to financially responsible to repeal the HST and forfeit the $1.6 billion in federal funds – Mr. Vander Zalm would appear safe of the repeal coming to pass front.

Given the willful blindness and obtuseness by BC citizens that earned citizens a higher spot on the countdown than the Liberals themselves, Mr. Vander Zalm would seem to have reason to hope citizens will not be demanding he explain the cuts to services he would make to compensate for the loss of the $1.6 billion in federal funds.

Number 2 are the NDP.

The NDP earned a higher ranking than the Liberals because, in addition to the offense of lying by omission for their failure to address the consequences of revoking the HST, the NDP have compounded the level of offense against TRUTH by their attacks on the Liberal government on funding for Healthcare and Education.

The NDP continue to call on the Liberals to increase funding for Healthcare and Education at the same time they are demanding the liberals reduce the government’s revenue by $1.9 billion ($1.6 federal money and $0.3 billion extra dollars for healthcare raised by the HST).

Besides moving them past the Liberal government on the top five countdown, this type of financial nonsense is why the BC NDP (as well as the federal NDP) need to build a strong, financial sound and responsible right wing in the party. The Saskatchewan NDP have demonstrated that an NDP government can be both progressive and financially sound and if the NDP elsewhere are to be viable alternatives to govern they need to build a financially sound and responsible wing of the party.

Post Script: Prior to NOW the NDP had been ranked #4, having been supplanted on the countdown by Mr. Vander Zalm’s efforts to achieve a higher ranking. However two occurrences have shot Carole James and her NDP to number two.

First was watching the video of Carole James speaking about how the people of BC wanted more Healthcare and Education. The second, and I admit quite annoying item was receiving an email soliciting donations to the NDP because “The BC Liberals are playing a dangerous game with democracy.”

Urging me to “Please do your part and make a donation today.”

I have a better idea; how about I call the NDP on the dangerous games they are playing with BC’s finances and financial future.

Ms. James and the NDP are, through their anti-HST policy, going to cut $1.6 Billion in federal funds out of the BC budget while they are calling for spending hundreds of millions of dollars (Billions of dollars?) on Education and Healthcare.

Leaving any financially responsible citizen wondering if Ms James and the NDP are trying to turn BC’s debt into junk bonds – or are they simply that far out of touch with fiscal reality ?

Number 1 is the media.

The media is the one group that remained unchanged in their placement on the top 5 countdown. Not surprising in light of their ongoing daily efforts to not ask any questions or convey to the public any information that would threaten to end this ratings winner of a ‘story’ for the media.

It is not just that the media is also guilty of lying by omission on the matter of the $1.6 billion that earns the media top spot as perpetrating the most consequential of HST deceits.

No, the most consequential media deceit is that they continue to foster the untruth that they are about reporting important stories, events and facts when in fact the media is about the bottom line. The priority of the bottom line has a profound effect on what makes it into the media.

Mr. Vander Zalm and outraged citizens railing against the government and HST makes far better theatre and thus ratings than Mr. Vander Zalm or citizens sputtering and trying to answer what services they would cut, or other taxes they would raise, in order to compensate for the loss of the $1.6 billion of federal funds.

Raising that question to Mr. Vander Zalm, the NDP or other leaders of the anti-HST campaign at the beginning may have scuttled the campaign with the result that the media would have lost this juicy bit of easy to cover theatre. When it is about the bottom line, it is about fermenting juicy theatre, not asking questions or raising issues that could potentially bring the drama to an end.

It is why media makes outrageous statements such as “the HST has resulted in the increased cost of most things”.

The GST is on no more items than it was before the HST came in. The PST was on more that 50% + 1(item or service) of the goods and services in the province of BC. Since the HST is the amalgamation of the GST and PST the HST was already collected (just as two separate taxes) on 50% + 1(item or service) the HST was already applied on ‘most (50% + 1) items.

If ‘most items’ have in fact gone up after the HST was brought in then the public is being bilked by those taking advantage of the introduction of the HST to sneak in price increases and blame them on the HST.

But you don’t see the media doing stories on the City of Abbotsford taking advantage to slip price increases at recreation facilities in under cover of the HST. Nor will you see mathematical checks of new prices to see how much is due to HST and how much to surreptitious price increases. Remember the GST portion was already applied to all goods and services so price increases should only occur on items to which the PST did not previously apply but now does – and those increase should be only 7%.

But that wouldn’t make for the theatre that stating “the HST has resulted in the increased cost of most things”. Which is why you get “the HST has resulted in the increased cost of most things” no matter how obviously untrue that statement is.

Theatre, ratings and the bottom line is what media is about – not the popular misconception of informing the public. Which is how and why the media earned the number 1 ranking in hypocrisy and duplicity.

Federal, Media, Municipal, Provincial

Of Politics and Media

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While I share Mr. Evans disdain for what traditional, mainstream media has become and the unacceptable way it purports to report the news as well as his disdain for what politics and politicians have become, I believe he has failed to address the root cause of the problems and challenges we as a country, a society, as Canadians and as individual human beings are facing.\


Indeed, I would assert that not only did Mr. Evans fail to address the root cause but that this root runs throughout his letters (1, 2) from first paragraph to last. Without getting to the root issue all the tinkering you do with media or politics is pointless.


I would argue that the root, the core of our problems lies not in our democracy but in ourselves. There is nothing wrong with our democracy except it involves people – us.


Mr. Evans is clearly upset with what is taking place with Mission Hospital, changes that are clearly being driven by budget considerations and limitations. Yet Mr. Evans wants to cut the extra $300 million that the province will collect from the HST this year and next and that the government has (for reasons of politics) pledged to spend on health care.


How does Mr. Evans propose the provincial government raise $300 million to replace this shortfall? Or what budget cuts does Mr. Evans suggest to offset the lost $300 million – closing Mission Hospital entirely? Or is it someone else’s Hospital Mr. Evans proposes to close?


Citing the same mythical ‘savings’ to be obtained by better management etc as the politicians do is not acceptable. What specific action(s) does Mr. Evans propose to offset the $300 million in forgone HST revenue for the provincial government?


Further if Mr. Evans and other anti-HST supporters have their way they will force the province to repay $1.124 billion to Ottawa from this year’s budget and forgo the final payment from Ottawa of $475 million in 2011’s budget.


How do Mr. Evans, Mr. Vander Zalm, the NDP and the other HST opponents want to offset this $1.6 billion? What taxes and fees will they raise and what programs will they cut?  You might also want to consider that most of this 1.6 billion came out of the pockets of non-BC Canadians but the full $1.6 billion cost that results from not implementing the HST as agreed with Ottawa, will come out of BC taxpayers pockets or from reduced funding for health care, education etc in BC.


This, typical, behaviour is why I say that there is nothing wrong with democracy and that until we, people, are willing to change our behaviour all the tinkering with systems in the world will accomplish nothing because the true cause, citizens behaviour, will remain unchanged.
We demand more services at the same time we refuse to pay for them or even demand we pay less than we did for a lesser level of services.


If you cut back the days you worked from 5 days to 3 days would you expect, or could you reasonably demand, to receive the same level of pay? Of course not, it would be irrational to expect to work 40% less and not receive 40% less pay.


Yet people are constantly seen on the news demanding school boards bear the expense of keeping open underutilized schools, as thought there was no cost associated with keeping all those schools open.


Have you ever heard those demanding that schools be kept open to say ‘we want our school kept open; we know it costs money and we will pay the extra costs associated with keeping the schools open’?


Similarly Mr. Evans praised Mr. Vander Zalm for leading the anti-HST campaign, an action which Mr. Evans approves of; ignoring the facts that Mr. Vander Zalm’s actions are clearly political and that Mr. Vander Zalm is practicing the age old political technique of lying by omission.


If this were truly about what is best for the province Mr. Vander Zalm would be addressing the question(s) of where the money to repay or offset the $1.6 billion Ottawa paid BC to implement the HST will come from or where the $300 million to offset the extra funding for health care the HST would have put in the provincial coffers will be found. What fees or taxes do Mr. Vander Zalm, the NDP and the anti-HST campaign propose to raise or programs/funding will they cut to offset the nearly $2 billion dollars they want to rip out of the provincial budget this year and next?


As long as people will embrace a politician because they like or agree with what he/she says, forgetting that Mr. Vander Zalm was such a good Premier that under his leadership the Social Credit party ceased to exist and ignore such ‘minor’ points of reality as the cost and effects not implementing the HST will have on the BC budget, programs and the citizens of BC, things will not change no matter what tinkering is done with the system.


Examine Mr. Evans suggestion of term limits in support of which Mr. Evans states “If good enough for a U.S. President to be limited to two terms, I believe the same logic applies to Canada”. Ignoring, overlooking or not knowing that the two term limit set for presidents of the USA had nothing to do with logic or reason but was entirely a political decision in 1951 designed to prevent control of the White House by one party through another 4 term president like FDR.

“Enlightened and effective political reforms are needed …” Enlightened and effective in whose judgment? As Ralph Waldo Emerson said “One man’s justice is another’s injustice; one man’s beauty another’s ugliness; one man’s wisdom another’s folly.” What Mr. Evans regards as “Enlightened and effective” will be seen as censorship, unfair or oppression by others.

How differently humans can view the same things, seeing things as they interpret them, is underscored by Mr. Evans assertion that the fact the papers did not print all his letters is proof the papers are censoring him.

I am a prolific letter to the editor writer as is my friend Regina Dalton. Not all of our letters are printed but neither of us feels that, just because a letter is not printed we are being censored as neither of us has any expectation of having all our letters published in our local print media. It is unreasonable, given the space limitations and number of letters to the editor the papers receive, to expect all the letters one submits to be printed, particularly those letters that run over 250 words.

I am not arguing that the local papers never practice censorship, observation of their coverage of local issues evidences that they have biases and that those biases affect their reporting and the letters they choose to publish. What I am saying is that the failure to print every letter a person sends to the editor is not proof of censorship.

The fact that an unreasonable expectation, all someone’s letters get printed, is not met may simply be proof of a need to examine the assumptions one has made.

Mr. Evans calls for an “impartial, unbiased and completely factual media approach “ then proceeds to editorialize about the “unwise and harmful” HST failing to provide any facts to support his claim that the HST is “unwise and harmful”. He advocates holding the press to a standard he fails to hold himself to.

Mr. Evans calls for “Freedom of the Press” yet is upset that business exercised its right to freedom of the press to support the HST which Mr. Evans opposes. In order for it to be a truly free press it must be open to everyone, even those who disagree with us.

Mr. Evans needs to remember that Media is a business that needs to make a profit to continue its existence and that its ability to make a profit is tied to supplying a product there is a demand for.

Keep in the forefront of your mind the fact that news programs are now a major source of revenue for broadcasters in Canada and elsewhere.

In calling for changes in Canadian Media Mr. Evans has failed to take into consideration that ‘the media’ in Canada is currently in a state of massive change as a result of the market forces that resulted in the end of CanWest Global’s existence. The Media that existed just a few short months ago is not the Media that currently exists.

Media depends upon a market for its product to be able to finance its operations and ultimately its existence. People are the market and thus ultimately are responsible for the product delivered by Media. People heavily watched the first ‘reality television’ shows and the airwaves became saturated with ‘reality TV’ because the lower production costs of producing ‘reality television’ meant a higher contribution to Media’s bottom line.

FOX news in the US can be as blatantly biased to the ultra right because there is a market that will support that skewed a viewpoint because it wants to hear exactly what FOX is saying. This audience is not looking for what the facts are or reality is but to hear what they want to hear and have what they believe confirmed,

As in politics the ultimate responsibility for the state of the Media lies in the hands of the people. People get the Media they will accept.

What you get when you let the state start to dictate to the Media how, what, when, were or why they report is PRAVDA. Only by keeping the government as far away from the Media as possible can you have a free Media.

Allow the state to dictate to the media and you end up with FOX type news that reflects your views but has nothing to do with being an “impartial, unbiased and completely factual media approach”.

CanWest Global failed to offer a product that there was a lucrative enough market for, that people were interested in watching, to allow CanWest Global to survive. As a result of CanWest Global’s business plan its newspaper assets went to the unsecured creditors and the broadcast assets were purchased by Shaw.

The new owners of the newspapers must provide a product that people consider relevant to their needs or they too will fail.

Government interference via the CRTC is going to shield not only the television broadcasting assets acquired by Shaw from CanWest Global but the entire Canadian over the air broadcast industry from the market, forcing Canadians to subsidize this obsolete (as currently constituted) sunset industry until such time as a government with an understanding of the changes taking place in the field of information delivery is elected to Ottawa.

Aside: The author considers the Canadian over-the-air broadcast industry as it is currently a sunset industry since it came into being to rebroadcast foreign television signals to Canadians who had no other means to view these signals. Cable, then satellite and the phone system have all become alternatives for the delivery of television signals to Canadian households. Indeed most Canadians now receive their Canadian television signals together with foreign television signals by cable, satellite or the phone system.

Had the government not chosen to interfere the over the air television broadcast industry would have been forced to both rationalize and reinvent itself as was radio with the advent of television. In order to survive broadcasters would have been required to both innovate and provide material that attracted viewers.

The assets and broadcast licenses of the broadcasters who failed to adapt to these new market realities would provide the opportunity for local ownership as change driven by the failure of current broadcasters would enable new players to enter the broadcast arena.

It is tragically ironic that a Conservative government unwilling to invest in a national housing strategy or invest in reducing the increasing numbers of Canadian children living in poverty, is prepared not only to fund billion dollar bailouts for corporations but is willing and eager to not only shield a broadcast industry that is financially unviable (as a result of technological change) from the market but also happy to provide an unending stream of corporate welfare to broadcast corporations.

As a result of this artificial skewing of the market the information technology delivery industry in Canada will fall even further behind the rapid technological changes occurring in the field of information delivery and the generation of content for delivery to consumers taking place in other countries around the world.

The point being that the traditional media that Mr. Evans wants to impose rules to ensure an “impartial, unbiased and completely factual approach“ is in a state of flux and change as a result of changes in the market.

Newspapers will have to become relevant to readers or cease to exist. In order to do this they will need to provide information of use and interest to readers – or cease to exist.

Indeed it is the very type of government interference that Mr. Evans calls for that will protect broadcast television from being forced to become relevant to viewers or fall to the side and so provide for the entrance of new players into the Canadian television broadcast industry.

Driven by technology there is a new industry (industries?) of information and content generation and delivery emerging. Abbotsford Today, The Tyee, homelessinabbotsford.com are among the emerging ‘new media’ that provide news, alternative views and examination of issues to the public.

This commentary would not be printed by traditional media, not because of censorship but due to its length and the space constraints imposed upon traditional print media. Homelessinabbotsford.com or Abbotsford Today however, can expand as much as they need into cyberspace in order to publish what they considers of interest to their readers. This emerging new media will force the old media to become more relevant to readers/watchers – or cease to exist – with no interference required.

Like politics the problem of information comes down to people. The information is out there and available to those who want to know.

If you are unhappy with the quality of our local papers let the editors know and let advertisers know you will not be using their services or purchasing from them if they continue to support the status quo at our local papers.

The power to know and to encourage change in local papers, both lie in the hands of people. The question is are people willing to make the effort to acquire useful knowledge, differing viewpoints and to bring about change?

Whether media or politics the fault lies not in the systems but in ourselves. Tinkering with the political system or media will accomplish nothing – the information is available; we can vote for whom we choose – that people fail to do so is not a fault in our stars but in ourselves.

In the final analysis one does not ‘improve’ democracy or freedom of the press by decreasing democracy or freedom by imposing limitations.

Caveat emptor, Federal, Media, Municipal, Provincial

The problem with democracy is … People.

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In reading “Why Old Politicians Shouldn’t Be Running Our City” the thought that came to mind was ‘Wow! I would never have thought that the solution to problems with our democratic government is … less democracy?

Certainly I would never have thought of removing or limiting people’s rights and freedoms as a solution to problems with government.

Of course, as a solution it does beg the question of just who it is that is going to be setting these limits on democracy and removing/limiting our Charter rights and freedoms. And just where do we stop the removal of rights and freedoms?

Or perhaps more importantly: once we permit the removal of rights and freedoms, just how do we stop/avoid having more and more of our rights and freedoms removed?

Given that the media has failed to live up to “… public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist’s credibility” – should we ban everyone currently connected to media in anyway from involvement in any form in media from this point on?

Of course that would mean we would not be hearing from the Murray Dobbins either. Unless we would have exceptions – which brings us back to who decides who can and who cannot participate.

Taking away freedoms is never a solution, no matter how convenient it may sound or in fact be in the short term.

Besides it is not in the people in office or those running for office that the problems we face and the hole(s) we have dug ourselves into lie.

As Shakespeare wrote “Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie” or the more oft quoted “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves”.

You want to stop repeat offenders – don’t re-elect them.

There was thoughtful, public, vocal opposition, opposed to Plan A because of serious questions and reservations about the accuracy, veracity and reliability of city council’s Plan A promises and predicted (profits? etc) results. The analysis of those opposing Plan A had found city council’s promises and claims to be based on predictions that were based on assumptions that were unrealistic, wildly positive and highly unlikely to occur.

Contributing to the approval of Plan A was abuse of the democratic process. The city poured $140,000 into advertising, banned posters and literature opposed to Plan A from city property and made unlimited use of city resources and manpower in promoting Plan A, The city also abused its power and advertising budget to influence (muzzle) the coverage of this issue in local newspapers.

In fact the actions of the City of Abbotsford were judged an abuse of process so pronounced and blatant that guidelines for holding municipal referendums were created to ensure fairness in future referenda.

Still, despite the abuse of the process by the city the opposition was heard, leading to Plan A barely being approved.

The passage of time has proven those opposed to Plan were correct to be concerned, that city council’s claims, projections and promises were … inaccurate.

The point here is not that the city’s numbers were prodigiously inaccurate while the numbers of those opposed to Plan A were notably accurate. Rather the point is that careful, thoughtful and realistic analysis provided a sound projection of Plan A outcomes.

Furthermore this analysis did not require knowledge of an esoteric nature but a) knowledge of fundamental financial facts all should be aware of because these facts affect people’s day-to-day lives; b) basic mathematical skills; and c) common sense.

Arriving at an understanding of the concerns raised by the opposition required not exceptional levels of knowledge and intellectual ability. What was required for the citizens of Abbotsford to achieve an understanding was an investment time and effort.

The sad reality of Plan A is not only were voters apparently unwilling to make the investment of time and effort to understand the financial consequences of Plan A, 75% could not be bothered to vote on a matter that would have profound financial effects on Abbotsford for decades into the city’s future.

By the time of the municipal election major problems with city council’s promises and claimed results had already surfaced – and yet 6 out of 7 city councilors seeking reelection were reelected.

This was not because voters did not have alternatives – they did. Moreover the turnout to vote in the municipal election was, as usual, abysmal.

If voters are going to act in irrational ways what does it matter if you don’t let current politicians run?

The problem is not that the actions of politicians are removed from reality, doing nothing to address pressing issues or solve problems.

The problem is that people keep reelection the same politicians and political parties as if they expect the leopard to change its spots and start acting in a rational manner that addresses pressing issues and solves problems rather carrying on business as usual.

Clearly the problem with our current democratic system is not in the mechanics of how the system functions but that people are involved.

Unfortunately this unwillingness to invest time and effort in order to be able to become informed and to vote is not limited to the municipal level but extends to the provincial and federal levels.

I ran into an ardent NDP supporter of my acquaintance recently and took the opportunity to ask about how the NDP planned to replace the $1.5 billion the federal government was paying the province to implement the HST if their opposition to the HST led to the HST not being implemented. I followed up by asking about how the NDP proposed to pay for the large spending increases on Health Care and Education the Party was calling for.

It was a relief when she corrected me to $1.6 billion ($750 million [with the introduction of the enabling legislation] + $394 million [the day the HST takes effect – July 2, 2010] + $475 million [one year latter – July 2, 2011] = $1.599 billion) because I had begun to wonder if the NDP, Mr. Vander Zalm or the Media were aware of the fact that not implementing the HST would cost, reduce the funds transferred from the federal government by $1.6 billion?

My concern arising from the fact not one of the NDP, Mr. Vander Zalm or the Media seems to be addressing the cost of NOT implementing the HST.

The answer given was not in the form of “we (NDP, Mr. Vander Zalm, other HST opponents) will be raising these taxes and/or fees”, nor was it in the form of “we will be cutting these programs’ or some combination of tax and fee increases together with cuts in spending (programs).

The reply to how the NDP planned to pay for the $1.6 billion dollars lost by not implementing the HST was to inform me that “it all comes out of one pocket” as if that in any way changes the reality that the BC budget would have $1.6 billion less and that the $1.6 billion must be made up either by increasing revenue (taxes, fees) or reducing spending on Health Care and Education (with the need to cut $1.6 billion only Health Care and Education cuts can reduce spending by that large an amount) – even though that is at odds with all the NDP electioneering on increasing spending on Health Care and Education.

But then we are talking party politics were, apparently, logic, financial and economic reality have nothing to do with policy or position.

Yes, government revenues come out of the same pocket, that of the taxpayer. However those revenues do not go into the same pocket. Rather those revenue streams flow into three separate pockets – a federal pocket, a provincial pocket and a municipal pocket.

The fact that the federal pocket has $1.6 billion available doesn’t mean a thing to the provincial pocket – UNLESS that $1.6 is to be transferred to the provincial pocket. Saying no to the HST means the $1.6 billion stays in the federal pocket.

More importantly it means that when the provincial government goes to pay for the services the $1.6 billion in funds was allocated to pay for – they cannot pay.

You go into a store to buy books, clothes etc and when you look in your wallet it is empty what happens? You leave the store without the goods you want to buy. If the goods are important you could take a second job to earn the extra income needed.

Unfortunately the way governments get their spending money is out of citizens pockets. So in order to offset the $1.6 billion that not implementing the HST will cost the BC budget either the government cuts $1.6 billion in costs (services) or raises other taxes and fees by $1.6 billion.

You may have noticed the nasty kicker in the “it’s all one pocket” argument the NDP supporter made.

In rejecting the HST the $1.6 billion stays in the federal pocket for them to spend. Does anyone think they are about to give that money back to taxpayers? If so, I have some lovely land in Florida to sell you. No, if we are extremely lucky the $1.6 billion will be used to reduce the federal deficit. Most likely, given the political situation in Ottawa, the federal Conservative government will find some way to spend it promoting the Conservatives electability. Something along the lines of the taxpayer funded Conservative party advertising labeled ‘Canada’s Economic Plan’.

Deficit or political pork barreling it leaves the BC provincial government short $1.6 billion. The only provincial programs large enough to ‘fund’ $1.6 billion in cuts are Health Care and Education. Given the caterwauling going over Health Care and Education in the current budget the provincial government will be motivated NOT to make the cuts necessary to offset the $1.6 billion revenue loss/shortfall.

This leaves raising taxes/revenues to cover the $1.6 billion shortage.

**** I acknowledge the BC government could increase the provincial deficit by $1.6 billion, but in the economic climate of today such a course of action will result in negative economic consequences proportional to or exceeding the $1.6 billion. ****

Which leaves BC taxpayers paying the $1.6 billion twice – once to the federal government (the pocket it is in and will stay in) and once to the BC provincial government were it is spent on the programs the original $1.6 billion was slated to pay for OR paying through $1.6 billion in health care and education cuts.

As a final cruel, ironic adding of insult to injury remember that most of the $1.6 billion dollars that would have gone into BC’s coffers for implementing the HST would have consisted of dollars that came mainly out of the pockets of other Canadians.

In rejecting the HST BC taxpayers are choosing to turn down the $1+ billion portion that came out of the pockets of Canadians who do not live in BC, turn down the repatriation of the balance of the $1.6 billion that came out of the pockets of BC taxpayers and to be out of pocket an additional $1.6 billion to replace the $1.6 billion in federal funds lost by not implementing the HST.

Makes the victory claimed by the anti-HST forces pretty much a Pyrrhic victory, does it not?

I can understand the public’s anger at the Liberals and the desire for revenge on the Liberals on the part of both the NDP and Mr. Vander Zalm.

Given the number of memorials I have attended this year for people whose deaths are in part or in full the result of policies of the Liberal government, the needless damage and suffering the policies of the Liberal government continue to cause and the increasing levels of misery, poverty, illness and even death the policy choices and actions of the Liberal Party will give rise to in the coming years I have issues and a passionate anger with the behavior of the Liberal party.

However as part of getting into recovery from mental illness I had to deal with the propensity of Adult Children of Alcoholism to be masters of self sabotage, to avoid self-destructive behavior.

Avoiding self-destructive behavior is why, while I would love to see the Liberal government and Gordon Campbell get a figurative kick in the ass, I am not willing to do it at the cost that will result from ‘punishing’ or ‘teaching a lesson’ to Gordon Campbell and his Liberals through a rejection of the HST.

Being motivated by anger (taxpayers) or the need for revenge (political foes) and acting out of anger or pursuing revenge in a way that would damage citizens and the province more than the Liberals is, to be blunt, not only childish but extremely foolish if not out-and-out reckless.

One expects politicians (the NDP, Vander Zalm et al) to be focused on their own needs (revenge, scoring political points) and pursuit of those needs, rather than the best course of action for the citizens of BC.

But the people of BC cannot allow their own anger or the desire of political opponents for revenge to dictate their actions vis-à-vis the HST.

The cost to taxpayers pocketbooks or to Health Care and Education of engaging in a fit of self-destructive pique with the Liberal government, is simply too high. However bitter, the HST is a pill that must be swallowed by the citizens of BC.

I don’t expect the NDP, Vander Zalm et al to be capable of passing by the opportunity for revenge and scoring political points since.

Indeed, knowing the $$$ costs and the potential for significant negative impacts on both Health Care and Education the NDP is pursuing their anti-HST campaign without outlining in what manner, if any, they would offset the need for significant cuts to Health Care and Education.

Questioning how the NDP proposed to offset the negative costs and effects of not implementing the HST while at the same time funding all the additional spending on Health Care and Education the NDP have been calling for since the budget was brought down, resulted in a list (Olympics, convention center, new ferries built abroad, etc) of financial misadventures of the liberals.

When I enquired what the sins of the Liberals had to do with how the NDP was going to pay for not implementing the HST and the increased spending on Health Care and Education they were advocating in response to the cuts forced by the Liberal budget I moved into the category of those who a political discussion with was a ‘waste of time”.

I asked and courteously received an acknowledged that she had assumed, from the fact I stayed focused on how the NDP proposed to cover the costs of increased Health Care and Education spending and also cover the cost of not implementing the HST, I was a Liberal supporter. When I stated I was not a Liberal supporter I was dismissed as a Green or Conservative supporter.

I earned a snort from saying that at this point I felt none of the current provincial (or federal) political parties had demonstrated they deserved, or had the ability and vision, to form the next government.

Listening to the list of financial ‘sins’ committed by the Liberals I was struck by a sense of déjà vu. The Liberals originally came to power in BC on a list of financial ‘sins’ committed by the NDP. The last election was about which party had committed, or would commit if elected, the most financial and other ‘sins’.

When faced with questions of how the parties and politicians propose to pay for their promises, whether the Liberal’s Olympics or the NDP’s rejection of the HST agreement with the federal government, what voters get is a list of the ‘sins’ of the other parties.

Our elections, both federally and provincially, are not about policies, answering voter’s questions or about why you should vote for a particular party. Elections have become about scare tactics, bogeymen, why you should not vote for the other party or parties and a list of the sins of the other party or parties.

Provincially and federally I am in the position many Canadians find themselves, without a party to support because none of the politicians and parties are about articulating a vision for Canada (or BC); they focus on telling you why you shouldn’t vote for the other parties not on points of policy but on the basis of past ‘sins’ and scare tactics based on future sins; none of the parties seems to understand or grasp the real world, especially in terms of the financial realities of today and the future as well as the needs and social fabric of Canadians and Canada.

I am not alone in this view of having no party that reflects my views of the priorities and policies that are needed, federally and provincially, to provide the leadership and governance Canada needs at this time of change.

I know this because, after finishing the paragraph about being without a party to support I ‘prorogued’ writing to allow a trip to the Library to return materials and to pick up two items on hold for me. While at the library I ran into an acquaintance and extended the prorogation to share a coffee.

Our conversation began with the current state of the Mental Health system, the difficulties one has accessing the system, the current rationing of mental health services and the current ‘horror show’ state of affairs that exists at the psychiatric ward of Abbotsford’s new Regional Hospital. Not surprising this conversation led to the current government’s policies, political parties and the political situation in general.

It developed that my partner in conversation had also been rendered party-less at the federal level by the actions of the traitor from the Maritimes, he whose name should never be spoken, betrayer of the Progressive Conservative Party, members, supporters, voters and Canadians.

We both feel that there is a need for policies to help those Canadians most in need of help, that people (housing, poverty, mental health, etc) are more important than things (bridges, Olympic venues) and that there is no reason government cannot be socially responsible while being fiscally responsible.

My acquaintance used fiscally conservative, which was the term I used before the federal Conservative party took the words responsible, thoughtful, balanced and fair out of what people now think of when you use the term Conservative in reference to fiscal/budget policy.

The current Conservative party is many things when it comes to budget and fiscal policy but they are not in any way conservative, balanced, fair or most especially responsible.

We spoke of the fact that not only are the Liberals and Conservatives doing great damage to the social fabric of the province and county but that, despite their claims to be fiscally responsible, their pursuit of their ideology is inflicting financial damage that puts Canada’s and Canadian’s financial future at risk.

We agreed that until such time as the NDP get both their fiscal policy and financial house in order, they undermine their policy agenda. That a government needs solid financial footing to fund needed social policies and programs.

Remember that it was the BC NDP who first began the demise of the Income Assistance system (currently Housing and Social Development) trying to balance (reduce the deficit) the budget. Agreeing that before we could vote NDP the party would have to strengthen its right (financial) wing.

We shuddered at the thought of the provincial Conservatives and Randy White and the damage, both socially and financially, they would inflict on the province.

We agreed that the Green party is the one current party that has promise, but that the party needs to get its financial house/ wing in order as well as attracting some solid, mature candidates.

We lamented the fact that at this time there is no party whose policy is to deliver good governance, help to the most vulnerable Canadians, ethical behaviour, to raise issues that Canadians need to discuss and address even though Canadians want to avoid thinking about or addressing these issues, provide leadership and deliver responsible and sustainable financial management.

Finally we spoke of the need for a new fiscally responsible, socially progressive, cognizant of the fiscal reality the majority of Canadians live with daily and, perhaps most importantly, aware that the world has changed and that fiscal policy needs to reflect the fiscal realities Canada faces – not what used to be or what a political party’s ideology imagines the world to be. Or the need for responsible citizens to run as independents in order to put an end to so many voters being forced to vote for the lesser of evils; giving voters the ability to vote for policies and MP’s instead of holding our nose and making the least objectionable choice.

Without change in the behaviour of voters, simply denying the current crop of politicians the right to run for office will change nothing. The parties will simply present a new crop of candidates no better (hopefully no worse) than the current bunch and the status quo will remain unchanged. As friend of mine said, our current politicians are like vermin – you get rid of one and five more pop up as replacements.

Only a change in behaviour on the part of voters can effect a change in the governance of municipalities, provinces and at the federal level. I need to amend that statement. A change in voter behaviour is required to bring about change in a controlled manner.

To quote from the Abbotsford Today article: In a very insightful column in the Vancouver Sun Monday, entitled “Consumers are in denial with social crisis looming“, Murray Dobbin, of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, argues that, in terms of consumer debt, our current ‘consumer madness’ indicates “An almost wilful denial of reality.”

“Optimists may have imagined that the current combination of inconvenient truths would cause people to pause and re-examine their habits.”

I would not have considered myself an optimist but, I admit that I had hoped as reality, particularly the fiscal/resource reality that governments around the world are bumping up against, began to assert itself people would be forced to “pause and re-examine their habits.”

It is becoming clearer that Mr. Dobbin is correct – such a hope is optimistic.

The evidence of behaviour indicates people have, ostrich-like, buried their heads so deeply in the sands of a “wilful denial of reality” that only when reality forces large tax increases or deep cuts to favourite programs like medical care or Old Age Security will Canadians and their politicians be forced to pull their heads out of … the sand.

The problem with that is, when you reach the point where reality asserts itself and forces action, it is extremely painful; as demonstrated by what is taking place in Greece.

Financial reality has asserted itself and Greece finds itself insolvent and needing a bailout from other members of the European Economic Community to avoid an economic disaster. As part of the bailout the Greek government has been forced to impose painful financial and economic budget cuts to government spending.

How did Greek citizens react to these austerity measures? Unbelief, a denial of reality so strong that it has lead to strikes demanding the Greek government go back to ‘business as usual’. Even when faced with the evidence of their economic crisis, the need for Greece to be bailed out by other members of the EEC, most Greek citizens continue to deny reality considering it to be some kind of government plot so as to impose austerity measures.

Lest Canadians feel that they would not be that unrealistic – have you heard the radio ads running that urge people demand the government change CPP so that everyone can enjoy a golden retirement. People are finding that the changes in the Canadian and world economies mean they cannot comfortably save enough money to retire on.

Increasingly those who have already retired are finding themselves pinching pennies, purchasing only those goods and services necessary to live and/or forced to go to work part-time to be able to pay the bills. Increasing numbers of people are realizing that their retirement income will have them on strict budgets cannot afford to. Increasing numbers of people are facing the reality that they will never be able to afford to retire on the levels of retirement income the are currently in line to receive.

Rather than adjusting their current spending they want the government to change CPP so that they can afford to retire. Ignoring the fact that government cannot afford to fund commitments it already has made to the public and thus simply cannot afford any major new policy initiatives. Oh yes, Canadians can be at least as unrealistic as Greek citizens.

And before Canadians pull the covers of their “wilful denial of reality” back over their heads telling themselves if could not happen in Canada they had best remember the old adage about those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

What am I referring to?

Take a minute and think about the situation Greece and its citizens find themselves in: bankrupt and needing a bailout from other countries that, as a condition of the bailout, require the imposition of harsh austerity measures by the government. Sound familiar?

Sounds eerily similar to the financial crisis situation that South American countries (and other countries around the globe) found themselves in – unable to pay or service their debt they had to be bailed out by the IMF (International Monetary Fund).

At the time it was dismissed as being a problem confined to the developing world/nations. Developed nations, such as Greece (and Portugal and Spain), rested secure in the knowledge that it was ‘third world’ problem and not an early warning sign of changing world economic and resource realities.

I recognize that as part of the “wilful denial of reality” most Canadians are in denial about what is happening in Greece serving as an early warning for Canadians to get their financial house in order. Instead of seeing Greece as a cautionary tale that financial reality will exert itself at some point, that while nations/countries can put off the day of reckoning longer than individuals or corporations a day of reckoning will come, the majority of Canadians are telling themselves “that is just Greece, you know how those Europeans are’.

Just as it was “just the developing countries, you know how the third world is”.

For those still clinging to this has nothing to do with Canada just look at the effect the situation in Greece had on the Canadian Dollar which plunged from parity with (briefly above) the US dollar to 0.92 cents against the US dollar. A response as investors flee to the perceive safety of the US dollar; a response that may well prove to be loonie.

Loonie because the assumption of the safety of the US dollar is of questionable validity – a rather sobering thought.

There are a number of economists, economic and financial thinkers who are not wedded to the established models of economic thought because they believe that the reality that that these models and modes of thinking, such as unlimited growth, are based on has changed. That, logic and mounting evidence suggests the traditional, accepted economic realities upon which we are planning and managing municipal, provincial, national and the world economy no longer exist.

People blame tax increases for the fact that, year after year and decade to decade their pay cheques do not go as far or purchase the goods and services they did. People assume that the reason that their pay cheque does not purchase the goods and services it did last year is that someone (government) is taking more (taxes) out of their cheque so that they have less dollars to spend than they did the prior year or in years prior to that.

Recently I was at an economics lecture where it was pointed out that tax rates have dropped for both rich people and poor people over the last 15 years. That there were big declines in marginal tax rates for rich people 56% in 1994 to 45% in 2008.

If taxes are falling then why do people feel they have less money to spend? Because while taxes have gone down and they have more dollars to spend, the goods and services those dollars will purchase are less than the goods and services that a lesser number of dollars purchased the year before.

This widespread but misplaced blame on taxes has consequences. This misplaced blame results in fiscal policies focused not on what are the actual problems or issues in the Canadian economy, but on what citizens (and politicians) think is the problem. The consequences of this are threefold.

First, time and resources are spent not on addressing the actual problems or issues, but elsewhere. It is all but impossible to solve problems or issues when you are not aware they are the problems and issues you need to be addressing. The actual issues and problems remain untouched when one is focused on solving problems and issues that are not really problems or issues or are not the problems and issues you need to be focused on.

Second, the actions taken in seeking solutions to the incorrect set of problems or issues can, and often does, worsen or exacerbate the true problems and issues. Additionally trying to solve the wrong problems or issues can give rise to new problems and issues.

Third, it can lead to incorrect voting decisions. If voters believe that taxes are responsible for reducing the amount of goods and services they can obtain this incorrect belief will influence, may well dictate, how they vote.

A major tenet of the federal Conservative Party’s ideology is that tax cuts are a solution to economic issues and problems or perhaps that should read any tax cut is a good tax cut. Voters, believing that increasing taxes are the reason the amount of goods and services they can purchase is falling proceed to vote Conservative. The Conservatives proceed to cut taxes and the voters … find that the amount of goods and services they can purchase has gone down yet again.

Because we are dealing with human beings, this further reduction on the goods and services they can purchase seems to convince people that somehow taxes must have gone up and what is needed is further tax cuts; even as they are demanding more (ie shorter wait times for operation, more prisons to lock up repeat offenders) from the government.

So policies are based on what is, incorrectly, perceived as the problem and upon the party in power’s ideology (currently the federal Conservatives and Liberals provincially.) The result is policies that are not based on solving what the problems and issues are but upon what are perceived and/or believed to be the problems and issues.

Take a look around the province and the country and you see the consequences of basing policies on perception and believe instead of Reality.

The amount of goods and services Canadians can purchase continues to fall rather than increase. Meanwhile homelessness, those living in poverty and the numbers of poor Canadians increase significantly. Government policies over the past several decades have resulted in what one wants to rise (wealth) falling and what one wants to fall (poverty levels) rising.

A Caveat about government policies having resulted in a decrease of wealth for Canadians: while it is true that government policy resulted in a reduction in wealth for an overwhelming percentage of Canadians these policies did result in significant wealth increases for a small percentage of Canadians. This wealth increase was not the result in an increase of the net wealth of Canadians but the transfer wealth from other Canadians, including the poorest, to the wealthiest Canadians.

Might I suggest a change in behaviour and policy is in order. Or we could continue the insanity of doing what we are doing, pursuing the government polices we have been pursuing and hoping for a different outcome.

Personally, I think the most like course of action to result in different, more desirable, outcomes is to change the behaviour.

While thinking that over here are a few more points to ponder.

Prior to our current economic challenges BC, indeed Canada, enjoyed a long and strong (labelled by governments as the longest and strongest ever) boom. What did the boom bring about?

Increased homelessness, poverty, child poverty, loss of housing affordability, loss of traditional middle class, living wage jobs which were replaced by 20 hour minimum wage jobs; this is what government policies brought about when we were in a boom – as the Canadian and worldwide economy struggles to adjust to $200 a barrel oil and other economic realities, it is frightening to contemplate: if that was what our government policies caused in boom conditions what will those policies cause under far less favourable circumstances?

When is a tax cut not really a tax cut? When the money you receive from this ‘tax cut’ will have to be repaid plus interest. The federal Conservatives financed their ‘tax cuts’ with borrowed money (deficits). As a result Canadians will have to repay not only the amount of money they ‘received’ but will also have to repay the interest costs of the money. Doesn’t seem to be much of a tax cut to me?

The emerging school of thought holds that we need to change our traditional, business as usual, economic thinking, planning and managing to reflect new realities – or suffer increased pain as a result of the fallout from the discrepancy between what we insist is economic reality versus the actual economic reality.

This new reality includes concern that the US economy has dug itself into a financial and economic hole from which it cannot, in any non-(extremely)painful, non-drastic manner recover; that the US economy is being sustained on its size and momentum, the established behaviours and beliefs of not only investors but of countries and of course denial of what is (or would be) a potentially disastrous situation.

This view suggests that countries need to get their financial behaviours, financial houses, in order so as to strengthen their economies, putting them on a solid footing to minimize the pain and fallout as the economic reality the world is in fact in, asserts itself and imposes adjustment to reality upon the world economies.

Denial, right up until you hit the brick wall of Reality, is oft a far more comfortable place to dwell that is reality.

Unfortunately, an extremely painful unfortunately, the comfortable bubble of denial will not, cannot, protect us from the SPLAT of hitting the brick wall of Reality.

Our economic and financial behaviour is like the skier on the opening of ABC’s Wide World of Sports, racing out of control.

We can choose either to suffer the ‘agony of defeat’ – the SPLAT – when reality exerts itself OR we can manage the pain by “pause and re-examine” moving out of our current state of a “wilful denial of reality” and making thoughtful, intelligent and rational policy choices.

In the final analysis simply changing the current crop of politicians for a new crop of ‘the same old’ politicians and political behaviour; tinkering with the electoral system (proportional representation etc); will change nothing.

Ultimately the responsibility and the ability for good government is in the hands, the votes, of the public and until such time as the public becomes willing to engage in a discussion/debate of reality, as opposed to their far more comfortable “wilful denial of reality”, Canada, Canadian society, the Canadian economy and indeed the future of Canada are going to continue in an accelerating downward spiral.

We can Think or Sink; no longer having the excess resources to allow us to deny reality and put off a financial reckoning, we must Choose to take our fate, however uncomfortable, in our hands or be Victims of fate and the dictates of economic forces we will have sacrificed our ability to exert influence upon by our insistence in dwelling in the land of denial and a “wilful denial of reality”.

Consider, Federal, Homeless, Issues, Media, Municipal, Provincial

Abbotsford 2010 Homeless Winter Games Daily Reports

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February 16, 2010 Day -1

Fortune (or whatever is in charge of the weather) blessed the opening of Abbotsford 2010 Homeless Winter Games with sun.

Fortune continued to shower favour upon Abbotsford 2010 in providing a fine Shrove Tuesday lunch that included the traditional pancakes and an excellent barbeque repast for dinner.

That the first medalist was awarded on the first day was unusual, especially since it was awarded in the “to dumb to come in from the rain” event.

It should have taken several days to examine and judge all the entries. However with a competitor who fell asleep on the rails and got hit by a train; who, having survived what would be a life changing event for others, kept doing the same old same old – while complaining he was getting the same old same old; and who will not be able to accept his medal because he is incarcerated as a result of behaviour that turned release into months (if he doesn’t turn that into years) of lockup ….

No other competitor was even close to challenging.

Congratulations Mr. T.

Congratulations are also in order for Mr. Harper and Mr. Campbell for medalling (a tie) in the non-homeless “to dumb to come in from the rain”.

There had been no plans to award medals to any non-homeless but when the “to dumb to come in from the rain” award was made numerous competitors and spectators protested that politicians should have been eligible because of the major impact they have on homelessness and poverty levels.

ABHOC 2010 held a meeting ad libitum to hear arguments and rule on this point. The committee felt that given their effect on homelessness and poverty Mr. Harper and Mr. Campbell should be considered but that a) it would be separate from the event that Mr. T had won and that b) given the scope of their duties they could not be judged solely on their exhaustive maladministration of homelessness and poverty.

After considering the state of the province and country, the behaviours of both men and the consequences on not only current but future generations it was impossible not to conclude that both men deserved to be acknowledged many times over for being “to dumb to come in from the rain”.

It was decided to declare a dead heat and award medals to both men when it was decided that because of differences in scale between the federal and provincial government it was not possible to decide who was dumb and who was dumber.

Congratulations to both Mr. Harper and Mr. Campbell!

*************

February 17, 2010 Day – 2

A glorious sunny day with a forecast of continued sunny and unseasonably warm temperatures, the type of weather that smiles upon the homeless and not just upon the Homeless Games.

It certainly looks as if whatever higher power is in charge of weather, that higher power is sending an unmistakably clear message as to what Canadians should be focused on and what self gratifying amusements they should not be funding by taking funds from the most vulnerable and in need of help citizens.

The weather was perfect for the buggy load out event.

The medal in the cart load out was awarded to a transient person of No Fixed Address who demonstrated an attention to detail, an appreciation for the proper distribution of weight, the center of gravity and who ended up with a visually aesthetic loaded buggy.

The Marathon, Steeplechase and Health Care Obstacle Course events got under way to ensure they are completed by the closing ceremonies. After all they are deal with government bureaucracies.

We received a request from an editor-in-chief not to keep them informed as to the progress of the homeless games and, in the context of the homeless games, informed on the issues of homelessness, mental illness, addiction and poverty.

It was a little disconcerting but it certainly goes to explain why newspapers find themselves struggling.

*************

February 18, 2010 Day – 3

Final judgment of the camp relocation event was extended overnight from
Wednesday until Thursday to give the judges an opportunity to gather over coffee.

This was necessary as none of the competitors impressed the judges to the point they felt one of the competitors deserved to medal.

It was decided to award the medal to a local homeless person who had shown the tenacity of a dandelion when it came to removal by the City of Abbotsford and its armed troops.

Leaving behind material for the city minions to vent their destructive urges on and appearing to have been defeated and forced to relocate the winner would shortly return to the site to dig up and/or retrieve the buried/cached camp materials and, like a dandelion, take root once again.

Congratulations to Mr. C

The first round of the round table discussion/debate was held.

Given: Canada boycotted the Russian Olympics in Moscow because the Soviets had invaded Afghanistan and that Russia is attending the Canadian Olympics in Vancouver even though Canada is currently part of an Afghanistan invasion.

Discuss the irony and geopolitical change inherent in:

1980 – Russian government warmongers, increasing numbers of citizens live in poverty and substandard housing while the elite lives in wealth and luxury.

2010 – Canadian government warmongers, increasing numbers of citizens live in poverty and substandard housing while the elite lives in ever increasing wealth and luxury.

*************

February 21, 2010 Day – 4

Pop can Collecting

I wonder how many citizens ever consider just how littered their cityscapes would be if it wasn’t for the homeless (and others) who collect all the cans and bottles citizens litter their cities with?

As noted in the event description special care was taken to ensure all contestants were competing in unfamiliar territory.

Contestants were assigned an area and all had the same time limit of 6 hours.

Judging was provided by the bottle depots as all bottles and cans were cashed in with the winner being determined by who received the most cash.

Congratulations to Mr. J – who not only medaled but had a most profitable competition.

Marathon/Steeplechase update

The games adjudicator received an unexpected and intensive refresher on the Marathon/Steeplechase portion of the Games when mischance placed the adjudicator in the cross hairs of the Ministry of Housing and Social Development.

The adjudicator struggles to live with mental health issues which have resulted in being on disability (PPMB). Fortunately this means the adjudicator can work part time to earn up $500 a month. Any amount over $500 is clawed back by the Ministry of Housing and Social Development.

The $500 is vital to the adjudicator as it augments the unrealistic rent allowance provided by the Ministry and permits rental of the private housing required by the adjudicator’s mental health.

26 pay periods over 12 months means that twice a year the adjudicator has 3 pay periods in a single month and will have $225 clawed back. Discipline and frugality are required to, over the course of six months, set aside funds to cover the claw back. It is a hardship but with sufficient self-control is doable.

December 2009’s cheque had the $225 clawed back as a result of declaring 3 pay periods. Salary is to be declared in the month it is received, not when it is earned. Which is to unfortunate because the extra pay period is earned over the six months and declaring it on an accrual basis would result in significantly less claw back..

This month rather than a notice of deposit the adjudicator received the dreaded “If you are still in need of Assistance, (despite having filing ‘the stub’ with yes ticked to the question: are you still in need of assistance?) please come to the office to speak with a worker. Your cheque has been held & you may be asked to submit further information.” A notice which does wonders for those dealing with anxiety, stress and panic disorders.

The adjudicator was told the adjudicator needed to file a third pay period in January because the pay periods (which end on a Saturday) were the 2, 16, 30th. When the adjudicator stated that that was not the date payment was received and that December’s cheque had been reduced as a result of declaring 3 pay periods the adjudicator was told that the adjudicator had not claimed three pay periods in December.

Fortunately (or unfortunately) OCD – obsessive compulsive disorder is among the issues the adjudicator deals/lives/struggles with and so the adjudicator retains copies of all documents. So when the adjudicator returned with the requested pay slip for the pay period ending January 30th (paid February 5th) the adjudicator had documentation that showed December 2009’s cheque had been reduced by $225 as the result of declaring three pay periods.

Presenting evidence that 3 pay periods have been declared and that December’s cheque was reduced by the $225 claw back – resulted in a demand for a bank statement.

To get monthly bank statements cost money, money anyone on assistance does not have to spare – the adjudicator cannot afford to waste limited funds on bank statements.

Because of the discipline and financial management required to survive, occasionally a printout of ‘the last ten transactions’ is printed off the bank machine to ensure the accuracy of the adjudicator’s personal accounting records of the bank balance. The last such audit printout showed that payment for the first two January 2010 pay period was received on the following Fridays.

There was a note put on file to prevent this from happening again. A note that joins the previous notes put into the file in order to “prevent this from happening again”.

The assistance levels in BC are so out of line with the actual costs of living that any unexpected, untimely reduction in cash flow starts the fast downward spiral to homelessness.

The threat to being unable to pay March’s rent and insurance is where the stress, anxiety and panic is rooted – the threat of a return to homelessness and becoming ensnared in a downward spiral of mental health.

Thankfully there is an ability to print off cheques on a timely basis so the adjudicator was able to have the security of having March’s rent safely in the bank.

*************

February 20, 2010 Day – 5

The buggy distance event was held today with each buggy loaded with 100 litres of water. While the midpoint check in location was set the routes competitors took to and from the midpoint was left to them to choose. This freedom of choice is because the shortest route is not necessarily the fastest when pushing a loaded cart.

Tampered water seals result in disqualification. An attempt to ‘Rosie Ruiz’ results in disqualification for the competitor and the driver has their vehicle impounded for 48 hours to encourage them to see the error of their ways.

Congratulations on his medal to Mr. B

The buggy sprints were also held today. The medal was awarded by the judges on the basis of time and entertainment value.

Congratulations to Ms S on her medal

Advantage was taken of the excellent ‘in favour the homeless’ weather to hold a round table outside to soak up the sun.

One homeless gentleman opened the discussion by speaking of a mindset that is focused on oneself, all about ME, the pursuit of exhilaration, the pursuit of what feels good, of getting high and that ignores the cost in its pursuit of that high.

The mindset of an addict.

How society and government, while pointing fingers at those with drug addictions lives in total denial of its own addictions and addictive behaviours such as the Olympics.

Focused on self gratification by holding the Olympics, telling itself lies – “it is about tourism, business …” to justify pursuing its self gratification. Stealing from its own children by increasing the deficit they will inherit and reducing the level of government services they will inherit/be able to fund, Ignoring the cost cuts in services to the most vulnerable in society – the elderly, the handicapped, women, children, the mentally ill, the mentally challenged, those suffering the scourge of addiction ….

We have become a society were the operating value of “greed is good” has led to a mentality of deserving and instant gratification, the mentality of an addict that ignores cost and consequences.

The consequence of the cuts to services and services unfunded is going to be deaths by neglect. Like any addict the government and society will deny these deaths, telling themselves whatever lie is needed – as any addict does.

Denial does not, will not, change the Reality of those deaths, of the consequences of this behaviour.

*************

February 21, 2010 Day – 6

No competitive events were held today. This day had been for ice events using city facilities. However, Abbotsford City Council has made Abbotsford city facilities the most expensive in the city. In some cases significantly more expensive that the fees at private facilities.

As a result long time pass holders have switched to the private facilities to save money and many families and citizens simply cannot afford to use the facilities or play sports. This while the city gives those who are well enough off to have $400 to spend on a year pass can save 31%.

There was discussion of fundraising. However, since paying the city’s usury user fees meant subsidizing a professional hockey team (the Heat) and subsidizing ever bum in the seats at the Entertainment and Sports Centre, it was decided not to hold any ice events.

Leaving competitors free to attend the Super Sunday services, listen as Joyful Noise made its joyful racket and partake of the magnificent brunch that followed. Or attend other worship services of their choice.

It also left the afternoon free to attend the Blue Bus collect a bag of foodstuffs to take home and enjoy soup, sandwich and coffee.

Aaahh the Blue Bus. In a city full of churches a church from Aldergrove has to come to Abbotsford to feed the city’s homeless, poor and hungry on Sunday.

*************

February 22, 2010 Day – 7

Travelling between points in the Valley is oft necessitated, for a variety of reasons, while a lack of money can make getting where one needs to go an interesting problem to be solved.

The travelling competition was moved up to today to allow the competitors to benefit from the sunny weather. The adjudicator did opine that it would be more reflective of normal winter conditions to wait until Wednesday as scheduled, since the forecast is for rain.

The urbicolous destinations chosen were Chilliwack and Mission for the different travel problems they present.

The medalist for the Chilliwack competition biked to and from Chilliwack, having the home field advantage of making this interurban journey on a near monthly basis.

Congratulations on your medal Mr. J – nice to see you looking so health as well.

There is regular bus service (the valley connector) between Abbotsford and Mission although roundtrip fare can present a challenge – particularly with the competition being rescheduled 2 days earlier.

The results were protested but the adjudicator ruled that while the winner did have assets that afforded her obvious advantages, this fact was a reflection of the reality of life where some are more equal than others. Otherwise there would not be people working 60 hours a week at three jobs just to keep their heads above water while so called leaders draw large salaries while ignoring the economic hardships increasing numbers of Canadians struggle with.

After all: “How unfair the fate which ordains that those who have the least should be always adding to the treasury of the wealthy.” Terence

So – congratulations Ms. G.

While the protest was being considered another matter came to the attention of members of ABHOC 2010 – an article titled Counterpoint at http://www.matthewgood.org/2010/02/counterpoint/.

That this came to ABHOC 2010’s attention at all attests to fate as the endless chain of causation, whereby things are.

ABHOC 2010 members were present to observe the events related in the commentary, indeed several members of ABHOC 2010 were questioned about the influx of homeless from Vancouver as a result of Olympics and homeless being bussed out of Vancouver.

Answering truthfully that there had been no massive influx, that in fact if anything the arrival of homeless from Vancouver was less than in prior years and that there had been no bus loads of homeless arriving in Abbotsford from Vancouver.

Not a real surprise given the increases in shelter, food and service resources in Vancouver – increases that did not occur in Abbotsford.

We are speaking of homeless, and those who have been homeless, in Abbotsford who have 5 – 10 – 10+ years of experience with homelessness in Abbotsford.

She, the questioner, was clearly not pleased with these replies and insistently repeated her demand for stories about homeless displaced by the Olympics and tales about busloads of homeless being driven out of Vancouver to Abbotsford and other outlying destinations.

When she was again told this was not happening she moved on to other homeless to repeat her questions and when they replied that this movement of homeless had not been happening she moved on to the next cluster and when that again failed to produce the answers she was seeking she moved on out of sight around the building.

Leaving the homeless she had spoken to speculating as to how long it would take her to find someone who would tell her what she so clearly was determined to find someone to tell her – without regard to the truth she clearly did not want to hear.

In about 15 – 20 (30?) minutes she returned around the building with someone, climbed into her car and drove off with that someone who apparently was telling her what she had set out to hear.

While it may make for dramatic storytelling there is not a large flood of displaced homeless, no busloads of homeless pouring into Abbotsford.

Going from homeless person to homeless person until someone tells you what you want to hear is not listening. Searching among the homeless until one finds what one wants to find is no different than the behaviour of politicians and bureaucrats.

If we are to address the issues of homelessness, addiction, mental illness and poverty we need to hear the voices of the homeless, addicted mentally ill and poor – even if those voices are not telling us what we want to hear.

Most notably when those voices are not telling us what we want or expect to hear.

*************

February 23, 2010 Day – 8

The queuing competitions went Tuesday.

Best use of time came down to choice between knitting and self improvement (Step 4, CBT to deal with social anxiety and impatience/anger).

Self improvement was chosen since it needs to be done just as one must queue to get things done.

Congratulations Mr. P.

Most creative use went to the gentleman who used a running monologue and conversation with himself to move to the front of the queue. Nice job, good technique.

Congratulations Mr. L.

On Tuesday night’s news there was Heritage Minister James Moore stating that they needed to keep the funding for “Own the Podium” from ending.

“Own the Podium” is the plan that was drawn up to provide support to athletes so that Canada would win more medals than any other country at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

The federal government supported this plan over the ten years since the 2010 Olympics were awarded Vancouver and funded it with millions of dollars and a Conservative Cabinet Minister endorsed continued funding.

A federal Conservative government that refuses to support and/or fund a national housing plan or address child poverty in Canada.

Spend millions training athletes to win medals – Yes; spend hundreds of millions, even billions, to build venues for the athletes to compete on to win those medals – Yes; Spend money to feed the hungry or house the poor and homeless – NO!

There beside Mr. Moore stating that they needed to keep the funding for “Own the Podium” from ending was Mr Campbell, BC’s dogmatist premier.

Mr. Campbell under whose misgovernance BC has led Canada in child poverty rates six years in a row, has ‘achieved’ the lowest minimum wage coupled with the highest cost of living and has assistance rates that result in people living on incomes well below what the government itself calls the poverty line, despite Mr. Campbell’s boasts about the strength of the BC economy.

Spend millions training athletes to win medals – Yes; spend billions, to build venues for the athletes to compete on to win those medals – Yes; Spend money to feed the hungry or house the poor and homeless or address child poverty in BC – NO!

Interesting – in a catastrophic way – set of priorities.

*************

February 24, 2010 Day – 9

Medals for the ‘Marathon’ and ‘Steeplechase’ were awarded today.

The Marathon:

Was awarded to a 40 year old gentleman whose EI had run out and who found himself facing an unexpected reality – social assistance is not in any way about assistance, about helping people get back onto their feet.

Even if he had managed to plod his way through the forms in a timely manner he would still have lost his apartment as a result of the unrealistic rental and living allowance levels set by Housing and Social Development.

One is torn between sympathy and a sense of justice/karma being served; justice/karma at a taxpayer getting a rude awakening as to the reality of the social safety net in BC.

Should Prime Minister Stephen Harper keep up the economic policies his government is pursuing many more taxpayers are going to have the opportunity to face with this harsh reality.

Congratulations Mr. Average Joe (anonymity having been requested)

The Steeplechase:

The judges acknowledge that the medal was awarded to an old favourite barrier raised by the system; a barrier that some members of ABHOC 2010 have personally had to surmount.

The medalist in this category is another recent victim of the Harper conservative government’s priorities and economic policies who has had the unpleasant experience of gaining personal knowledge as to the inadequacy of BC’s social safety net.

He just had not realized how mind bogglingly bureaucratized, jump-through-the-hoops the system was; having assumed the primary focus of the system was about getting employment

Not having had success in his job search to date, he had decided he needed some help with job hunting skills, resume etc and had started the course at Triangle. This is an excellent course for getting one’s job hunt on track (the course is excellent in many other aspects as well).

When he informed Social Development of what he was doing he was told that he was suppose to be looking for work in order to continue receiving assistance and that attending the course at Triangle was not ‘looking for work’.

This individual had been searching for work with no luck and had, rationally, thought that taking a course to improve his job search skills was a wise course of action to find employment. He had forgotten that he had left the real world and entered another dimension, the dimension and unreality occupied by the Liberal government and Ministry of Housing and Social Development.

In that reality one is not proactive in ones job search, but rather one must spin ones wheels until such time as the system decides you need to attend Triangle in order to improve ones skills and ability to find employment. A barrier of illogic numerous others have encountered.

Congratulations Mr. P – the look on your face was priceless.

*************

February 25, 2010 Day -10

Fate, The Force, Higher Power … whatever appellation one uses for Petaybee (PTB – Powers That Be [in charge]) continued to shower their favour on Abbotsford 2010 Homeless Winter Games.

Normally the Thursday 5PM dinner is hosted at Faith Bible (through the generous spirit of the congregation) but appropriately Petaybee arranged matters such that the congregation of Faith Bible needed to use the Church themselves, returning the Thursday night BBQ to its original outdoor location.

THE appropriate location for the closing ceremony (dinner) of the Abbotsford 2010 Homeless Winter Games.

Petaybee continued to show its favour and support for the Homeless Winter Games through the weather by the absence of rain on the BBQ, even though there were rain showers in the area.

Is it not strange how, when you are walking the right path things seem to fall into place and when someone(s) are walking the wrong path, making wrong choices, their path is strewn with obstacles and headaches?

Homeless Hobble:

The state of ones feet is a major consideration for the homeless and poor who depend on their feet to meet all their transportation needs. Indeed, given the harsh living conditions ones overall health is a concern – and under stress from daily life and living conditions.

The medal in this category goes not to a member of the homeless community but to the Florence Nightingale who, through caring, compassion, generosity of spirit, time and patience has built a relationship with the homeless; nursing not just their feet but tending to their physical health, mental health and spirit.

A relationship in which the homeless tell others that they need to see our medalist when they have medical issues. A relationship such that they will go to a doctor (a task with which our medalist will aid) and even endure the obstacles and attitudes of the Hospital when our medalist stresses the need (insists, nags) for them to go.

The effect of simple caring on the homeless and their health is profound.

Thanks Ms. N.

Health Care Obstacle Course:

dinsdale-on-health-care

Health care is problematic for the homeless as these two typical cases highlight.

Physical: A homeless gentleman had his back go out and was forced to drag himself to the road to flag down help. This is a gentleman who’s last ambulance ride to the hospital was 30 years ago after a car accident, who does not abuse drugs or alcohol or the medical system.

Yet the ambulance attendants did not believe him when he related these facts, one attendant insisting he had taken the homeless gentleman to the hospital just weeks before.

The staff at the hospital did not believe him either, treating him unprofessionally and with disrespect, refusing to believe he was there solely because he was in agony because of his back.

Not surprisingly they found nothing wrong with his back and unprofessionally sent him on his way (when he needed bed rest) without medication – so he had to endure the agony of a bad back. It has been near a month and it is still painful, for others whose backs torment them, to watch him walk.

Mental: Oh, they just left.

Duh! You have someone who is in mental distress and just how reasonable (or professional) is it to expect them to sit for hours in the waiting room to see someone then sit hours more until someone from psych comes down to take them to the ward?

The last time someone from ABHOC 2010 took someone who was clearly in distress to the hospital it was only because the ABHOC 2010 member was willing to spend the hours necessary to keep the person in need calm that the person got the help they needed.

Enlightened medical care uses peer support workers to help those in distress through the system and has systems in place such that it is not a 4+ hour obstacle course to be admitted to psych (or the hospital). But then in civilized and enlightened counties medical care and adequate resources are available – enlightened and civilized nations are not further reducing already inadequate resources.

The medal here goes not to a specific individual but to those (unfortunately) very rare individuals who will invest hours of their time to get someone the care they need.

Afterword:

The problem ABHOC 2010 has with Vancouver 2010 is not about the Olympics (OK we are not supportive of fat cat IOC members and the excess focus on commercialism) and Olympic competition themselves but about the costs and how governments (and thus citizens) have chosen to pay for the costs of hosting the Olympics.

At their root the Olympics are about entertainment, the entertainment of watching the pageantry and competitions.

Extravagant entertainment spectacle is a LUXURY and should come well after NEEDS on the public spending priorities list.

That is not true for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. They have been purchased with credit (deficits) and cutbacks or non-provision of necessary services. Cutbacks and non-provisions that will continue into the future; with the most vulnerable in our society paying the price for a luxury they could not afford to partake of.

It comes down to a question of what kind of society one wants: the dog-eat-dog, greed and mean spiritedness that underlie America OR a society that honours the principles of neighbourliness, caring and helpful spiritedness that I associate with Canada and Canadians before the recent decades of Americanization began?

If it is a return to Canadian values than tell politicians your wishes in this matter and if they do not listen – find someone in your community who is honourable and supports these values, get them to run for office, then support and vote for them.

Canada remains a democracy, despite a Prime Minister, Premiers and local politicians who act as if it was a dictatorship – until they come around to lie to voters so they can return to their dictatorial ways.

Exercise your Rights, Exercise your Voice and help take back Canada from wannabe Americans – returning it to Canadian values and the True North Strong and Free.

Addiction, Caveat emptor, Issues, Media, Provincial

Olympic Realities

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“There is nothing to criticize about people uniting in the pride and joy of their nation.”

Before issuing such a sweeping statement the author may have wanted to ask some WWII veterans whether they felt there was anything to criticize about the Germans and Japanese uniting in pride and joy of their nations to achieve their manifest destiny.

If the goal is simply to generate enthusiasm and attendance just hire the Rolling Stones to perform a free concert.

Of course it would be extremely costly but hey, cost is no object to generating enthusiasm and attendance – at least for those sharing the mindset of the author of the opening quote.

It is a mindset that ignores cost. Cost not simply measured in the dollars spent but including the consequences of using the dollars to have a blowout of a party, rather than to pay the bills.

It is a mindset focused only of the short term and thinking only of what feels good right now, ignoring the consequences of actions taken or being taken in its enthusiastic pursuit of that feels good high. It is the mindset of an addict.

In becoming a society seeking instant gratification, a society that takes the easy way out without regard to cost, we have become a society whose behaviours grow ever more similar to those individuals in our society who struggle with an addiction to mind altering substances.

Perhaps it is seeing the consequences of thoughtlessly enjoying the high and ignoring the consequences on a daily basis that denies me the ability to blindly, thoughtlessly ignore the consequences of spending billions on the Olympics and paying for those billions by making cuts to essential services such as Fraser Mental Health.

As the health region with the fastest growing population Fraser Health’s mental health budget needed to be doubled, especially after responsibility for addictions was shifted to mental health by Fraser Health.

To pay for the multi-billion dollar cost of the Olympics BC chose NOT to raise taxes but to forgo crucially needed increases in areas such as mental health services and budget cuts to already seriously underfunded services. We pay for our fun not responsibly by raising taxes, but by further burdening our children and our children’s children with OUR debts and by cutting services to the most vulnerable in our society.

The first round of these cuts resulted in programs such as the adolescent psych unit at Abbotsford’s new hospital being closed. There are still more programs that will have to be cut to meet this years Fraser Mental Health budget. There will be another round of cuts next year as the cost of paying for the Olympics continues to negatively impact the mental health budget.

These cuts are not just going to reduce the quality of life for those with mental illness and/or mental challenges or deny addicts treatment. They are going to kill people by neglecting them to death. These deaths will not be labelled as ‘Olympic Costs” but as suicide, or death by police officer or accidental etc. But they are ‘Olympic Costs’ because it is the program cuts to pay for the Olympics that will bring about these deaths.

How many deaths are acceptable as the cost of staging the Olympics in BC? How many deaths before there is something to criticize about people uniting in the pride and joy of their nation?

Moreover, how can anyone have pride and joy in a nation, a province, a city or a society that would consider the death of vulnerable Canadians ‘an acceptable cost of doing business’ in regards to the Olympics?

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

The author went on to expound:

“… but let’s also applaud what these athletes represent, and let’s appreciate community spirit at its finest.”

These would be the same athletes of who over 30 were disqualified for using performance enhancing drugs the day before the games opening ceremony was even held?

Athletes choosing to take the easy way out, to seek easy and instant gratification by winning without doing the work, so as to reap the financial rewards of winning.

This suggests that these athletes, this competition, are about winning at all costs with drug screening and doping waging a technological war between cheating; a war that attempts to have or create a level playing field.

The attitudes and behaviours of the athletes teach the young that only winning counts; that you employ any means necessary to win; that competing and doing your personal best is meaningless unless you win.

At one time the Olympics were about competition among amateur athletes but today’s athletes are highly paid professionals, working for the business that the Olympic Games have become under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee.

A committee that is noted for such applause deserving behaviours as wretched excess, greed, special interests, scandal, expensive perks for committee members, bribery, exchanges of favours, turf protection, extortion etc.

The Olympics have ceased to be about anything other than politics, money, big business and greed. Or at least that is what they are about for those who are not blinded by the glitz, glamour and the powerful Olympics Media Machine.

“community spirit at its finest”.

We are in serious trouble as communities, a country, a world and a species when the wretched excess the Olympics have become is considered as “community spirit at its finest”.

People turning out to donate, support and cheer on Terry Fox; the people who donate to, support and participate in annual Terry Fox runs; neighbours turning out to help their neighbours after tragedy or disaster strikes; the people who serve dinner in Abbotsford on Thursday nights to those who are hungry and homeless; Volunteers; these are community spirit at its finest.

That such drivel as “There is nothing to criticize about people uniting in the pride and joy of their nation” and “… but let’s also applaud what these athletes represent, and let’s appreciate community spirit at its finest” is what passes for journalism and commentary in today’s news media is a sad comment on what the news media has become.

That so many choose not to think about the myths and lies that are told around the Olympics, choosing instead to wallow in the mindset of addiction, of instant gratification, of ME – ME – ME and ignoring the consequences is why we continue to dig ourselves into an ever deepening hole.

It would certainly be more fun to ignore reality, join the party and ‘don’t worry be happy’. But I seem to be constitutionally incapable of ignoring reality and the costs and consequences of societies growing addiction to the high of instant gratification.