Questions, questions.

I know, I know, I know that governments should keep their sticky fingers off the judiciary, confident that court rulings will be made in the fullness of time.

Q. But how confident are we? How long must we wait? and I'll be doggoned if I can accept that a premier can't even refer to such a disturbing event as the R.C.M.P. raiding the people's Legislature ... that he can't even say that he sympathizes with people's concerns. I wish he would.

Q. I know that government should let police do their work without interference. But isn't it even possible that a premier could ask the R.C.M.P. Commissioner if things are going well ... and if there's any help needed? I wish he would do that.

I know, I know, I know: it'd be only words ... but sometimes words are vitally important because silence sends a message, too.

Good journalism, Barbara.

These are the questions. And, some of us who won't be voting BC Liberals, know the answers. Unfortunately.

Good questions. Regardless of outcomes, it will be quite interesting to see what the toxic fish farming industry donates to their Liberal supporters, some of whom are apparently family members and friends.

Careful what you eat folks. You may endanger not only your health, but the future of your province as well.

1. Gambling will get new legs under the Liberals. Big time. Having vowed to curb the expansion pre-2001, Gordo's goon Rich Coleman will seek to take full advantage of this sin tax.

2. Fish farming will continue to expand under the Liberals; it's enriching their buddies. They will 'pooh-pooh' the valid scientific arguments against floating fin farms, pointing out that many (low-paying, insecure, non-union, no benefits) jobs are at stake. Sea lice? No problem - a few tankers full of pesticide will cure the problem..

3. Labour relations...what labour relations? Collective agreements, the right to strike, the very existence of unions in BC will be threatened by another Lieberal mandate. Labour relations board: slashed in half, employment standards: lowered to a level not seen since Victorian times, injured workers: marginalized, benefits slashed, WCB regulations weighted toward employers.

4. Public service? Gordo's plan is to eliminate it entirely. Anything his corporate masters can siphon the wealth out of is on the block. Any group of workers can be reduced to minimum wage on the grand road (New Era anyone?) to fuedalism.

5. ICBC: since this efficient and profitable (and relatively inexpensive to the consumer) crown corp was spawned by the NDP it too needs to be destroyed. Why shouldn't the private insurers have a free-enterprise feeding frenzy? Makes sense to the Liberals.

6. Emergency wards? Cut those costly old-fashioned things altogether - a first aid post is just as good, every 100 km along the highway, with vending machines dispensing overpriced bandaids. Oh, and park a couple VLT's at those too.

7. Child protection: Further cuts? ..well, is the pope catholic? Does a bear shit in the woods?

8. Independent officers of Legislature: Muzzle watchdogs? No, the Liberals would never muzzle watchdogs - their plan is to euthanize them..

9. Welfare: Back to ‘workfare’? Yes. Those lazy poor just need a kick in the ass, right? Why should we, the taxpayers, help anyone out? Not likely.

10. ‘The most business-friendly jurisdiction’: Impact on nature, workers? Let's put it this way: a forest company's silviculture plan can now be presented MUCH more easily, without all that nasty red tape those bad NDP introduced with the Forest Practices Code. For example, "Log it, burn it, pave it." has a nice ring, no? And anyhow, wtf good is nature, if we can't afford to buy SUV's to drive all over it?

11(th). The hour. 15 days left. Let's oust these fuckers. Let's take back BC for the people. Let's quit the civilized and 'nice' campaign and start playing hardball. Expose the liars for what they are, and who they really represent. Tell everyone you know that another term for Gordo's thugs will leave us all gnawing on farmed salmon sitting on a stump in a clearcut. Reiterate over and over that a drunk at the wheel is a drunk at the helm. No prisoners.

And, the thing is this.

We are experiencing a time of massive social engineering and restructuring with the global economy undermining the Western World.

According to the people we elected, we are to compete with India and China and places where the wages are next to nothing.

Where are the visionaries and leaders in this country who are facing and addressing this massive disaster? When are we going to demand our 'leaders' to look out for OUR interests internationally and domestically?

There is no public debate about the greatest challenge and potentially damaging issue of our time. This is a time when we need visionaries, not minions, who are instead, facilitating the destruction of our society.

We need to ask them publically, what is your plan to protect the people of BC from these forces? What is your plan for British Columbia other than participation in the destruction of our province? How do you intend to lead during this time of upheaval?

We know the BC Liberals are aiding and abetting this engineering and not only are not being proactive and governing with wisom, but are contributing to the destruction of our country. We know they've sold us out. We have to face it.

We need to demand our politicians come up with a plan to help our province and country, or demand that they bloody well step down and let those who are willing and able take their place.

What a dark time in our history.

I'm with you tommymoore. Let's get rid of these louts and start rebuilding the province. There will be lots to fix after four years of giveaways and closures. Some of it is probably gone for good. Some of it will be tied up in lengthy contracts like BC Rail. What a disaster.

And there will be lots of criticism from the right for the time and resources it will take to restore services, repair the holes in the safety net, and put back in place the enviromental protections, or "red tape" as the liberals calls it. They will say we are going backwards, and the corporate press will drive their message. But in fact, we will moving forward from the place the Liberals dragged us back to.

I was at an opening of a NDP candidates' campaign office and former premier Dave Barrett got up and made a speech, in which he stated this is the worst government in the history of the province. I was very moved by the passion in his voice. I was reminded that this (NDP) has been a party of like minded people for a long time.

Maybe it's time we got a bit more passionate on the left. For me, the big puzzle is: WHERE'S THE SCREAM?

It's a very dark time in our history. Let's work together to change that.

right on tommymoore!!
the fibs are f'n scared. today's province "newspaper" is UNSUBTLEY advocating that ndp voters should just give up cuz its hopeless etc etc yeah right! their in big f'n trouble on VI and they know it. Plus a lot of the so-called heartlands are pissed off, as they should be, inspite of recent cynical and transparent efforts to buy them off: DONT BELIEVE THE HYPE!!
also note the fibs "wheres gordo" secret campaign. "they seek him here, they seek him there. that damned elusive pimpernel"
hes too busy hiding behind security guards and his corporate scripted lying rhetoric at george bush pre-fab pep rallies. also note that according to elections bc hundreds of thousands more people have registered to vote on May 17 than last time. maybe more than less of this new demographic have had enough aswell.
corporate rapists beware-we're comin' for U!!!!

The stupidity of the average voter cannot be underestimated. I predict we will see at least another four years of these idiots. My father voted for Mike Harris for two terms in Ontario. Imagine his surprise when late in the 2nd term my grandmother needed nursing home care and the only option was abomitable. She starved herself to death because she didn't like living in a converted electrical room complete with breaker panels. He didn't appreciate my opinion on the situation that he got exactly what he voted for. I don't feel sorry for this province. If anyone who makes under $250,000 or is old, young, in school, has children, sick, poor votes for these idiots they will be getting what they deserve. I'm buying barb wire to go around my home, just in case they win again - to keep out the desparate hordes of poor.

...ya, good questions...I have my own list for both Carole James and Gordon Campbell...but I'm not going to post them. From my perspective is that the questions are addressed to Gordon Campbell...which 'under the current' frame is who they ought to be addressed to. But why is it that one person, and a small group of crony Ministers, have virtually all of the power to decide such vital public policy matters? --and the answer is...because the 'rules' by which we allow ourselves to be govern..concentrates inordinate power in the office of Premier and a few Ministers...and regardless which party (NDP/BC Liberals/ others) gets elected....not one of those parties is interested in changing that concentration of power....in a legal sense..that gives citizens more legal rights then a Premier sitting in his Victoria office to decide such matters.

So for me, the big question, not asked in this article, "Why is that the Office of Premier has so much power to decide such matters of public policy, and is it just and democratic that it be so? Follow-up question- how can the 'rules' by which we govern ourselves be modified to re-invigorate this low-level democracy...such that many more citizens will want to participate and be involved in a meaningful manner?

...another question--more specific to BC Hydro, expressed at bcpolitics.ca ---"Will the BC Liberals Allow Market Rate Electricity Pricing in British Columbia" --as is occuring in Alberta--with the possible demise of regulated electricity pricing in that province.

It is certainly time to dump these characters before they privatize everything (ICBC being only only little bit!) Anybody following the politics here in BC knows the answers to these questions; and the only real answer is to get rid of the Liberals (oh, if only they really were liberals instead of warmed over socreds and other assorted rednecks!

Gord Craig

Question: Is it just that the sole ICBC share is held by the Minister of the Crown responsible for ICBC.....to dispose of that asset as he/she wishes with the concurrance of Premier and his 'lapdog' Fiberal MLA's? ...or ...

....is it more just that the ICBC, a Crown corporation, be transformed into a co-operative, such that every BC resident who also purchases ICBC insurance becomes a member of that co-operative. and obtains one voting co-operative share..thereby enabling each members and not just the Minister responsible for ICBC...to exercise their vote ...in electing a board of directors that will retain this public asset for the benefit of British Columbians? Of course, the charter documents of the co-op can be written up such that a 66% majority of votes would be required to sell or dispose of substantial assets of ICBC!

..what do you think? ..do you think Carole James and the NDP should be more "bold" and "creative" about this issue...at least bold enough to say in public it is worth serious investigation?

ICBC? BC Hydro? They both provide pretty good value to citizens and citizens, by way of government are the owners.

That makes it quite clear that they have to be sold.

It's just not right that citizens should get good value from citizen owned corporations.

There's something immoral about it.

No one can say exactly what that something is of course. It's just a business school mantra.

As long as they don't sell the Legislative Buildings to Disney...

Tommymore: That was great, many thanks.

With respect to ICBC, it is quite known that the private companys and their associations are still waiting for payback for their money and support.

The previous CEO was canned because he didn't want to participate in the privatization orgy.
He came in with the intent to break it down and said "wait a minute, this is good." Gordon went on record as saying Mr. Geer was "captured by the bureaucracy" before firing him for being too succesful. They brought in the former secretary treasurer of the BC Liberal party (Paul Taylor) and now it's just a matter of time.

Goodbye ICBC. Hello StateFarm, ING, Geico and larger premiums. The number of uninsured vehicles on the road will skyrocket. Insurance for young people will be almost unattainable, just like their hopes of post scondary education under Campbell and his cowboys.

well well well... aren't you all having a great time with your blather blather blather ad nauseum and so on and so on...

well well well... aren't you all having a great time with your blather blather blather ad nauseum and so on and so on...

Typical response. Why don't you answer some of the questions sirjohna?

I have a question for Campbull.
"Why do you hate working people so much?"

Count on 5% cuts for child welfare services.threse guys have already let thier management know but you will find out after the election. Kids do not matter, at least those who are abused.

Feeling a tad nauseated with all that commentary are you sirjohna?

Almost enough to chase you back to one of those right-winged rags I'll bet, eh?

But why is it that I suspect you are just going to try to control your involuntary muscle reflexes and tough it out here in the trenches, at least until May 17?

jeeves; how about if i ask my own. six questions for the leaders of the ndp, i.e., jim sinclair, jinny sims, barry o'neill and george heyman:
1. will you reopen the schools that you have criticized the liberals for closing?
2. will you open the courthouses that are now being efficiently run by conferencing and assize court judges?
3. will you eliminate the tax cuts that you have criticized the liberals for implementing?
4. will you cancel the b.c. rail deal that you have criticized the liberals for negotiating? (and no, it's not too late)
5. will you reopen the hospitals that you have criticized the liberals for closing?
6. will you provide more money for health care than the liberals will over the next four years?
ANSWERS:
1. no
2. no
3. no
4. no
5. no
6. no
case closed. have a nice night kiddies.

allan; actually the 18th will be the most fun.

What is the point of this reporting that says that we are having a "boring BC election"? Are they trying to put everyone to sleep so that they ignore the actual facts about how terrible the BC Liberals will be for another four years? The fact that nothing that they are saying can be trusted?

A close election is an exciting election. The NDP can still win it.

They always do this. Sigh.

It's just BC Politics and a media who attend their parties and chum around with them. Can you believe Global has Baldry commenting on the news about the election. Good grief. One of their best friends. He frames everything in a negative in regards to the NDP.

"It's raining. It must be the NDP's fault. Remember! They attended a farmer's alamac rain festival in 1932? They actually ate some apple pie the 4h ladies baked and didn't declare it. We don't want to go back to the dirty thirties." Talk about blah, blah, blah.

The only way to really tell how close the election is, is by how nasty the BC Liberals get. And, they're getting nasty. They had 2 plant calls on CKNW tonight callling Ms. James a name and ascribing a negative feminine stereotyype to her. Aren't they lovely? They must be nervous about the debate tomorrow. And, why not?

tommymoore, I have never heard anyone suggest putting VLT's at first aid stations before. Cuz, what else are people gonna do while waiting for the bleeding to stop?

You should be health minister! That was bloody brilliant :) Shows what the mind can do if you let it outside the box.

Maybe I'm a pervert, but everytime I hear about Campbell's "Golden Decade," I am reminded of how this government has been pissing on the poor, the sick and the old for the last four years. So maybe they're just being honest and pomising to continue our "Golden Showers," as long as the people of BC are retarded enough to vote them into office.

from:
someone without an umbrella in the hurtlands.

sirjohna:

Ms. James made it quite clear that she would have an inquiry into the BC Rail deal as we should. It is quite a large asset and when your liberal criminal associates are rumoured to have been criminally involved in the sale via influence peddling and drug dealing and fraud.

Wouldn't you want a looky-loo into that? Or is that just the way the private enterprise provides "choice and opportunity"???

I'm never quite sure whether the federal Progressive Conservative/Reform/Alliance/C.C.R.A.P/C.P.C. Party holds the same set of principles as B.C.'s Conservative/Socred/Reform/Liberal party ...

But I do know that Belinda Stronach (Ms. B.S.) flew unhesitatingly into the Conservative stronghold, even feeling entitled to try to capture the leadership, for some reason. Didn't, fortunately. But did capture the then-leader, Peter MacKay.

Of course, MacKay double-crossed David Orchard, then double-crossed the Progressive Conservatives, and then was double-crossed himself by Stephen Harper. Conservatives understand these things.

But today's news forecasts another, bigger cloud on the political horizon. The Toronto Star headline:
Stronach betting on a global lottery corporation

Magna Entertainment Corp. "could become the world's biggest firm," says Frank Stronach, Chairman of M.E.C., and Belinda's father.

Very puzzling, thought many of the M.E.C. shareholders. Wal-Mart Stores is the world's biggest firm, with sales of $256.3 Billion in 2004. But Stronach dangles the promise of "$600 Billion a year in betting revenues alone ..."

Stronach (Frank) says that horse-racing, broadcasting the races, and electronic betting opportunities can be expanded into the European, South American, and southern Asia markets, "which spend $2 Trillion annually on gaming".

There's that code-word: gaming -- the sanitized synonym for "gambling".

So, if provincial neo-Cons (called Liberals now, in B.C.) share the same cut-throat, profit-oriented philosophy, this tells us that B.C. will be expanding its "gaming" potential soon, too.

As M.E.C.'s current debt is over $200 million, some M.E.C. shareholders are "uneasy", says today's Toronto Star. Me, too. It seems bloody weird for a guy who supposedly has a big successful global auto parts corporation, to suddenly wheel around and take the low road into gambling.

I don't understand it, really. But I do recognize the hot-button code-words: gaming, gambling, casinos, slots, money-laundering, bribery, corruption, "betting opportunities".

If this is what provincial and federal rightwing parties stand for, I'm agin them all, both federally and provincially.

Conclusion:

Thank you, Barbara McLintock, for putting these questions as #1 ... if ever you have a chance to ask Premier Campbell those 10 Questions.

[I]Thank you to Barbara for thoughtful questions. No thank you's to the several comments that are negative, unconstructive, and typical of the "left" diatribe.

I, for one, try to maintain a positive spin on whatever happens. Niave, perhaps, but painting everything "black" is not the answer.

A few random thoughts: Court closures: needed to be done; waste in that system was out of control; improvements have been made and (half full not half empty) I trust we will see more.
Reduced teacher positions: not good, but what is the answer to "poor teachers" in positions of seniority (we all had those); somehow teacher "grades" should/could be part of the mix. Insurance: the federal government has not tackled the big issue - why are Canadians paying so much to "offset" the U.S. disaster ("911"). The environment: take a close look at the Green Book. There is some far reaching, thoughtful, and positive stuff there. They have goals...not like a lot of the comments above...axes to grind. Strikes: this province has had a polarized employer/employee reputation for too long. I believe we can break that mould...but it will take more looking forward than I am seeing from the Liberal bashers. Strengthening the union movement may well not be the correct positive target...weakening the businesses may not be either.
Finally, fear should not play a part in this election process. Sadly, the history of B.C. is just that...fear mongering by both sides.
B.C. has seen a "new" political party rise to form a government, pushing aside the entrenched two powers. Read a little early Social Credit history (1951 and 1952) to see how they stole votes from Liberals and Conservatives to win the right to try new progressive ideas on the province.

Keep up the work of asking the questions. I hope some of you will try to find positive answers to share with the rest of us.

Interior Bob, you're tired chamber of commerce style cliches are part of what we have to rid ourselves of if this province is ever to be people freindly.

"Half full, not half empty?"

Sure, as long as the half full goes to your business cronies and the half empty get redistributed to the rest of us.

If you are going to try to provide insightful thought, dump your silly and pathetic efforts to justify the gift of billions to the wealthy by cutting court services, school, hospitals and a whole whack of other now half empty services or benefits to ordinary BCers.

Want a few positive comments do you?
Here's one: I truly hope BC elects a government that will ensure drug dealers, influence peddlers and fraudsters will not be hired as Ministerial Assistants, aides, backroom creepies or other pots that those politically slimey types prefer to lurk away from the lights of honest disclosure.

I hope we get a government that when it makes promises such as "I will not close schools, I will not close hospitals, I will not cut Legal Aid, I will not cut the minimum wage" etc., etc., etc., it will actually keep it.

I am positive (how's that for upbeat Bob?), the next government of BC will not try to use the civil service to entice municipalities, regional districts, Indian bands and others to contribute to a political party simply to get the access we are all entitled to from our elected representatives.

I also hope we end up with a premier who doesn't get tanked while on holidays and becomes a poster boy for the really stupid.

Oh yes, I can't forget your other little gem:fear should not play a part in this election.

If you know anything about the Socreds of the early '50s Interior Bob, you would know that they came to power by painting the CCF as the red menace.

There was nothing subtle about it and it fit in quite comfortably with the ugly McCarthyism that was being pumped north into Canada by the extreme right in the U.S.

I'm quite positive the same extreme right wing influences from south of the boarder are again working side by side with the right wingers here to influence our vote.

Your suggestion that the Green Party is the answer simply confirms what I have been arguing for some time.

The BC Green Party is simply a convenient home for social and fiscal conservatives who can't stomach for Gordon Campbell.

I hate to agree with anything Sirjohna says, but I think he might be right that the N.D.P. will be afraid to reverse a lot of the bad things the Liberals have done.

I believe that the reason Harris got his second term in Ontario is because people who opposed him also found the N.D.P. too wishy-washy, felt they'd sold out their principles, and couldn't bring themselves to vote at all. It may even be possible that the N.D.P. deliberately threw that election for whatever reasons. It may be possible that the N.D.P. is trying to throw this election too. I mean, no matter how "moderate" they say they'll be, the media will bash them as "too left wing". The only way to counter this is to proclaim the truth about neo-con policies loud and clear and tell the people your party wants no part in them! The question was asked in one of last week's strings, "How come the N.D.P. aren't calling the Liberals on lying about the N.D.P. finanaces?" Well, how come they aren't? Is it because they want to lose the election again?

Go, Allan!

Thank you, Interior_Bob, for your meandering and mostly irrelevant comment. You seem to have thought out little, and your refrain: "Be positive!" means well, I'm sure. However, it's exactly your type of equivocation which isn't worth a pinch of coon shit as regards the upcoming election - you seem to somehow see a 'silver lining' in the government's policies. You characterize arbitrary cuts as needed, you do not seem to realize who has been affected by these, you state "..Strengthening the union movement may well not be the correct positive target...weakening the businesses may not be either..", which shows an incredibly näive grasp of this provincial government's union-busting policy. On the environmental regulatory policies: have you really studied the far-reaching and negative changes Gordo's gang have made? Do you realize that the Ministry of Environment has been eliminated, replaced by a "Ministry of Water, Lands, Air and Bingo Protection"? Do you know that the forest environmental policies now involve 'the fox guarding the henhouse'?? Have you considered the 1600% (and accelerating) export of raw logs from BC's forests? Have you seen how Weyco has been pillaging the forest here, harvesting immature trees like there's no tomorrow? (Which, funnily enough, there wasn't - for them!) Bob, how is it that you choose to comment here without a speck of real knowledge of the important issues? You say: "..Keep up the work of asking the questions...", as if somehow asking questions is a panacea, and will lead to a solution..jaysus, this government will not answer questions, or haven't you noticed?

how typical of the lefty zealots. interior_bob offers some moderate and balanced commentary and he immediately gets ripped apart and chastised by allan and tommy with their tired old cliches. you guys may want to consider moving to cuba, where you can really see what your naive socialist rhetoric will get you in realistic terms.
ANNE; i believe that carole james would like to moderate the ndp's policies because she understands that we can't continue in this province with such a polarized system, but she will not be able to do so as long as the bctf and the bcfed are running the show. they are far too extreme and wouldn't recognize realism is it bit them in the arse.

sirjohna, you get more shrill with each new pre-election day.

Is that panic I smell?

Hello Allan...pleased to meech you.

Back to school...The NDP (CCF) were not even a factor in the election of a Social Credit minority government in 1952. The "red baiting" came later.

In '52, in enough ridings, the Socreds got 10 votes to 8 each for the Liberals and the Conservatives. In 1953 election they got a majority. I was simply saying it has happened before.

As to the balance of the comment, I am being encouraged (by The Tyee) to involve others in reading the paper. I think that is a good idea...but will tag a warning with my invitations to ensure that they take the "comments" with a grain of something. It has been a very long time since I have engaged in "I think this" "you are wrong, stupid, naive, ignorant, uneducated, dumb, idiot" kind of dialogue. Applys to you as well Tommymoore. Make your points. I will listen. Attack on a personal level and I am out of here looking for someone who wants to work on answers.
And I am very sad to hear that those Chamber of Commerce members are part of the problem. Look around you...there are hard working folks trying to make a difference through their particular choice of non-profit community group.

Quit the rhetoric...I encourage you to communicate your ideas. The readers of these columns are not illiterate (or why else would they venture into The Tyee). Just don't treat anyone who does not show your "stripe" as somehow "beneath contempt".

Interior Bob, that last bit of advice is quite appropriate. perhaps you'll practice it yourself before coming onto Tyee to trash teachers and the labour movement in general while getting worked up over a reply that was aimed at putting a bit of perspective on what you were spouting.

I am quite sure there are many hard working business people and that some of them may even be chamber of commerce members.

I do know there are some very hard working trade unionists, who also are engaged in a non-profit agency (their union) that also aims to help the community.

But then it seems you simply don't like or want unions and won't even acknowledge the good they do for many including non-union workers who often see their wages and benefits improved simply because tight-assed employers are caught up in the same ignorance about unions.

It's your tired half-full, half-empty cliches I most object to, especially when you accuse me and others of offering only rhetoric.

I have no problem with right wingers, middle of the roaders or even Red Brigaders opining in the Tyee.

But when you specifically take sides in a discussion you ought to anticipate an equal response.

Bob, get with it. This is a public discussion, not a polite bridge game where you might even overlook an indiscretion or two just to maintain a civil atmosphere.

Try the Vancouver Sun.

We all get so fixated on our own back yards that all too often we forget to raise our eyes and look further afield. Gordy and his crew are not unique, their perfidies are not new.

There is an old Chinese curse "may you live in interesting times"..and we do. Gordy and his gang represent what is often called a neo-conservative mind set. This headset is most noticeably exemplified by Dubya Bush and his pack of hyenas.

We so easily mouth "those who do not learn from history are damned to repeat it"... we say it but we don't actually do it.

Bush and his war mongering profiteers, Gordy and his pack of pallid imitators are walking the same path trod by Hitler and his sicko's.

Oh, I can hear it already, the screech of outrage from the apologists! before you spew, take a look at what the Nazi's did in their rise to power. Bit by bit by bit the rights of minorities , of the vulnerable and least visible, were eroded. Labour unions were attacked, the courts were subverted, people became afraid, even of each other.

And just when the world thought it was rid of that mindset, Stalin continued it. Again, bit by bit , rights were eroded and cancelled.

And here we are. Gordy and his gang are pale imitators . We have federal imitators, too, and Stevie Harper would gladly lead us into Iraq, into Star Wars, into rightwing ideological wastelands.

They might CALL themselves "Liberal" but they aren't. They're mostly Social Credit with a few Reform added to the mix. They are right wing, they are punitive, they are mean spirited and they are part of a wave of down-right nastiness engulfing the world.

Gordy will have workers here competing with workers in India and China. Already much of the phone service is "outsourced". You dial a number and it is answered in Calcutta. Why? Well they can get a person for less money per week than a worker here would get in a day.

Whatever they call themselves... they are not our friends and will take us back to places from which our grandfathers fought to free us. Our grandchildren will have to re-fight those fights. Our grandchildren will have to organize "On To Ottawa", will have to call, again, a Winnipeg General Strike...will have to once more look for Solidarity.

And it isn't just US. It's a class struggle, and right now, workers of the world, we are getting the boots put to us.

good one anne; gordo and steven and bush and the nazis. my god you people are boring.
'blather blather blather' has never been more relevant.

Good for you Anne. You have obviously impressed sirjohna enough to reply even if he is a bit repetitive.

time for you to do a braincheck allan.

Thanks for your posting, Anne Cameron. We just have to keep telling it like it is--again, and again and again, it would appear!

My main concern now is my children and what kind of workplace oppression they will have to endure in their lives when even the N.D.P. wants to make nice to a business community that already has the upper hand over desparate workers. "Polarization" my ass! The workers are being steam-rolled, starting with the most vulnerable.

Yes, Anne Cameron, you are so right.

"They are right wing, they are punitive, they are mean spirited and they are part of a wave of down-right nastiness engulfing the world."

They also are really, really dumb. Because they have little imagination, they don't understand that they too will suffer under the society they are trying to create. That they will find that the benefits of our system they have enjoyed without giving it a second thought, will be gone because it is a product of a socialistic stance to government and the community.

I know they don't understandand that we are all inter-connected.

Ah, jayzus, sirjohna, is it impossible for you to connect the dots? The right wing yammer on about god, god , god...GoldOilDrugs is what their world runs on..you say I'm boring... well, I wish you were so easily dismissed but I find your head-up-anus stance scarey. You'll still be standing with your toga blowing in the wind when your grandchildren are relegated to the "supernumerary population" list and sent under the sign arbeit macht frei.

cliche-anne; yawn....

sirjohna? The village called. They need you back.. It really is scary when a third rate toadying poster suffering ano-cranial prolapsis deems the prose of a truly respected and accomplished west coast writer a cliché. I'm thinking a fellow like him gets up in the morning and says to himself, " Hey, I'm an idiot! But just 'cause I want everyone else to know it, I'm going to type tripe at the Tyee today!" It's one thing to debate an issue, another entirely to play feeble-minded, half-witted devil's advocate with such a total lack of aplomb. Anne Cameron has scraped better than you off her shoe. And how the hell are ya Cam? More fits of 'pique' please..heh, heh..

Hi there , Tommy, "and there won't be another like you soon"....the trogs demonstrate the danger of the kind of cuts to health services Gordon's Dry Gin is doing...the unskilled and inexperienced in the outlying villages don't always know to keep the baby and bury the afterbirth.

Obviously there are a few Fiberal apologists who were put out before the glue was dry.

Gorgeous day in Tahsis!! Absolute gift from Creation. Blue sky, slight breeze, the hummers have their nests built and eggs laid, and are again showing up at the many feeders. The broom is blossoming, the flowers are blooming, the crows are busy collecting long dry grass and any scraps of fabric, wool, dog hair, etc., they can find to build their nests and what looks very much like a Brewer's blackbird (the book says there aren't any here!) ((and how could a book be wrong, eh?)) is sitting in a tree just singing his heart to us all. I've been pretending I know what I'm doing helping install the glass in my new greenhouse...gotta have those fresh tommytoes and cucumberries by gum. The novel is progressing more slowly now the weather invites me outside...procrastination is something about which I must some day do something. Grandkids were here for a sleepover, went back yesterday. The four year old stepped into the boston whaler, picked up the bailer and set to work, the three year old put backpacks, jackets, and such in the boat then climbed in and grabbed the rope, pulled it to bring the boat closer to the lip of the dock and told her mom she could step in, now. "And bring our baby.", she added. I stood watching the sea dogs and grinning, I told them they were "jolly tars" and the three year old patiently replied No grandma, I'm Emily.

"every day above ground is a good day".

I love it Tommymoore! "feeble-minded, half-witted devil's advocate with a total lack of aplomb"! I need to remember those words next time I get sucked into a debate with a moron! (I don't generally approve of responding to these jerks in kind, but there was something I found very endearing about your rant.)

Thanks Anne C. for describing your day in Tahsis. Makes me eagar to have grandchildren.

You pose some excellent questions Ms. McLintock, but as our great leader Gordo has shown it is highly unlikely that he will answer them. Furthermore, even if he did, what is anything he says worth? This is the guy who promised not to sell BC Rail, to name but one example of his lack of honesty. Also, as you point out, what may be even scarier and more radical is those things he never even mentions. The only thing I would advise (to try to guess what a re-elected Gordo Gov might do) would be to subject oneself to reading literature (drivel) from the Fraser Institute. Anything they recommend could reasonably be expected from Gordo's Golden Showers, oops, I meant Decade.