Well ...

There really aren't that many bonafide trolls.

I would argue that for the most part only about 5 to 10% (if that) of the commentors are almost certainly paid (or associated) shills for political parties and/or organizations like the Fraser Institute, or bonafide trolls.

And while some may be trolls or shills, I am not sure it would be justifiable to block their participation. After all, for the most part they are pretty easy to distinguish: They tend to pop drive-by posts that are cleary partisan, and then vanish altogether when the facts prove them either wrong, or liars.

I think for the most part we are just a bunch of deeply interested, but somewhat divisive folks practicing our democratic franchise.

Also, it's usually pretty difficult to really distinguish between a troll and someone who is just angry and ignorant of the issues they speak on. Not to mention that I doubt we could find a consensus on the acceptable definition of troll. In Internet circles there seems to be a confusion between those who use the term troll as in "trailing a baited line" and those who use it as "creatures that dwell in caves, mountains, or under bridges" jumping out at suspect times to trap the unwary.

On the Issue of Justice, Access to

First, I'll explain why I can't make any donation. I am preparing to go back to court with what I believe is an unprecedented case addressing this issue. I'm arguing that the lawyers' monopoly (courtesy of the Legal Profession Act) is unconstitutional. That's a public interest case (and no, this one is not tilting at windmills).

There's a very full public record on public interest cases, and it says they tend to cost a great deal of money. I have written to the A.G. (the letter is posted online) and await a reply about whether I, with no resources of my own, can get any help in preparing and presenting the case.

There are of course many other serious issues worthy of the Tyee's and the public's attention. However a point I wish to make is that we have seen for a long time, and will continue to see, many stories about specific failings in our justice system, yet to date no journalist has attempted to connect the dots and tackle the larger issue. There is a fundamental systemic problem and I suggest it can be articulated by starting with an examination of the conduct of the Ministry of Attorney General, an agency that in my view is failing, fundamentally, to serve the public interest.

Thanks Again David

My cheque is on the way.

I'd like to see an investigative report on the connections between various initiatives of this government which favour particular individuals or companies which are in some way linked to large political contributions to the BC Liberal party.

tyee- best journalism money can buy?

Yeah, I don't have any money to bribe Tyee into covering this absolutely incredible election issue, so you're on your own: why are both the NDP and the Libs still demanding that Victoria build and operate a billion-dollar, land-based sewage treatment plant and sewage sludge plant, when the present, marine-based system has been found by scientists, engineers and public health officials to be quite adequate?

For more information on the unnecessary sewage treatment plant:
http://aresst.ca
http://rstv.ca
http://sites.google.com/site/sewageplantsvictoria

democratic deficit

Christy Clark and the Liberals may be out, may be not. Dix might be in or not, but either way my biggest and getting bigger beef every year is that a precious few individuals at the top control all of our politics. Regardless of what mandate they get, most MLAs turn into neutered chorus lines for whatever policies the leaders, increasingly centred in the Premier's office, put out. I know we two referendums on the first-past-the-post system were defeated, but I honestly believe unless the electorate finds some way to reconnect and matter to every MLA, then political participation will fall. That means more and more decisions will be made by the few that get the ear of the senior ministers and premiere.

Elections won on messaging, so why focus on issues!

As usual, your coverage on issues is excellent, but elections are won on messaging and how parties portray themselves. So why not step out of the box and move on to messaging and how it works.

Preaching to the choir??

For the most part I suspect all this great reporting will do little to engage the vast majority of the public who simply have tuned out to the whole process.
Partisan bickering (a strong suit in BC) offering nothing but criticism of the 'other guy' without anything substantive, or proven to offer as an alternate.
Both sides have enough skeletons in the closet, that anyone paying attention wouldn't trust any of them.
Sad commentary, but I think it is a fair comment.

Suggested coverage

I'm on welfare and can't afford a donation - here are issues I'm interested in:

Transportation - Why is Translink spending money on fare gates for Skytrain when they'll cost more to operate than will be recovered?

Poverty - Why can't the government give transit passes to welfare and E.I. recipients? Transportation cost is a significant barrier to them obtaining employment or training - and issuing passes could be done at a very small cost for pass manufacturing only.

Q&A

"Why can't the government give transit passes to welfare and E.I. recipients?"

Because they need to feather their retirement funds. And because they hate poor and/or unemployed people.

elections BC

In depth reporting over the election that brought us Christy Clark. The way the number of ridings kept changing and the sudden surge in her votes at the end of the count. Also why are the final tallies being withheld until September?

Corruption is the biggest problem in BC today.

I'd Donate But I Am On A Fixed Income

Sorry, I would if I could afford it. There are by far many serious issues facing BC today. Poverty is a good starting point, Accountability is another. I think though that at the end of the day the BC Liberals are done. Change after all sometimes can be a very good thing.

I will donate

Despite being on a fixed income because real news is something I can't go without.
When it comes to what to discuss I will leave that to the Tyee and the Liberals who have left us readers with plenty of stuff to talk and rant about.
I wouldn't worry to much what people have to say in the comments section but rather focus on the articles and what the writers have to disclose. It is easy to leave the comment part out.